Etnies are one of the biggest skate shoe brands out there at this point. They make shoes for a whole bunch of sports not just skateboarding. The brand started out in France in 1986 and now make all kinds of soft goods.
The Etnies team is pretty huge and includes big names such as Ryan Sheckler who is all over the TV and magazines. Their website is evidence of how involved with the skate scene they are. They run many local events and for that reason alone they have gained many fans all over the world. They focus a lot on the UK and sponsor UK riders and events too. One of the coolest things Etnies have done is run an exchange program at events where they trade new shoes for old busted skate shoes which they then recycle.