| Troops were popular as an urban / hip-hop sneaker in | | | | you searched inside the lining of Troop’s sneakers, |
| the 80s and the 90s. The sneakers were endorsed | | | | you could find hidden tags that spelled out this |
| by the likes of LL Cool J, MC Hammer, Ultramagnetic | | | | acronym, displaying Troop’s “true” colors. |
| MCs, Stetsasonic, Public Enemy’s Chuck D, Flava | | | | The accusation was that Troop Sneakers was |
| Flav as well as Ghostface Killah, Cool Kids, Mickey | | | | actually owned by the Klu Klux Klan, and that the |
| Factz and Teriyaki Boys. The sneakers were bright, | | | | shoes were a KKK scheme to make money off of |
| bold and cheaply made. They did not necessarily last | | | | African-Americans. The truth is that Troop Sneakers |
| as long as other more mainstream sneakers, but they | | | | were owned by Teddy and Harvey Held (who are |
| sure made a statement. | | | | Jewish) as well as William Kim (who is Korean). None |
| Troops sneakers were first launched into the market in | | | | of these people had any connections or business |
| 1985; the company went bankrupt just under five | | | | arrangements with the Ku Klux Klan. |
| years later. It is not entirely clear what made Troops | | | | It is interesting to note that Troop sneakers is not the |
| take such a dramatic plunge. It is hard for a small | | | | only footwear company who has had this sort of |
| sneaker company to compete with big names such as | | | | problem. Rumors circulated that BritishKnights |
| Nike and Reebok. There were rumors that Troops | | | | (commonly referred to as BK) was actually a |
| closed its doors due to an embezzlement scandal and | | | | cover-up name for Blood Killers. Reebok was |
| bad management. One of the most vicious rumors | | | | accused of manufacturing sneakers in South Africa |
| was that Troops was associated with the Klu Klux | | | | during apartheid; the truth is that Reebok had factories |
| Klan. It is unclear where this rumor came from | | | | in South Africa but closed them down in 1986 in |
| (although some claim it was used maliciously to take | | | | protest against apartheid. |
| down the upstart sneaker company), but it is clear that | | | | Troop sneakers were resurrected in October 2008 |
| the rumor is categorically false. Troops has | | | | under the hands of new owners. A limited number of |
| absolutely no link to the KKK. | | | | classic Troop sneakers with updated technology were |
| Troop was said to be an acronym for “To Rule | | | | released into the market. |
| Over Oppressed People”. People claimed that if | | | | |