Established in Torrance, California in 1999

Torrance, California headquarters

Founders: Rick Howard, Mike Carroll

Rakai

Lakai Footwear Limited is an American footwear company headquartered in Torrance, California, producing shoes specifically designed for skateboarding. Shoes manufacturer; Lakai was founded in 1999 by professional skateboarders and Girl Skateboards co-founders Mike Carroll and Rick Howard. Lakai Limited Footwear is part of Crailtap Distribution together with Girl Skateboards, Fourstar Clothing, Royal Trucks and Chocolate Skateboards.

Both Carroll and Howard decided that they wanted to make a contribution to the skate footwear industry by founding their own company rather than being sponsored.[3] One night in April 1999, while at Largo Comedy Club in L.A., Tim Gavin proposes an idea to Rick Howard about starting a new shoe company. After talking to Mike, they decide to partner up with Podium Distribution to launch Lakai Limited Footwear. In August 1999, Mike contacts Cairo Foster and asks him if he'd like to ride for his “unnamed” shoe company. When he calls to quit, Cairo can only tell his current sponsor “Mike Carroll asked me to ride for his shoe company, that’s all I know”. After hanging up the phone, he (somewhat) confidently becomes Lakai's first official team rider. In the next couple of months Andy Jenkins hires designer Andy Mueller to develop a logo for Lakai, which later becomes known as the “Flare”. Andy Mueller moves to L.A. shortly thereafter to become Lakai's art director. Anthony Pappalardo, Rob Welsh and Jeff Lenoce agree to become Lakai's first batch of amateur talent, earning a whopping $250 per month, and in November 1999, Scott Johnston decides to leave his current shoe sponsor D.C., making him the final rider on Lakai's introductory team. Kelly Bird is also officially hired as Lakai's team manager. By May 2000, the first line of Lakai shoes (Howard, Carroll, Cohort, Clay and Worthy) are delivered to shops worldwide.

In June 2000, after filming together for Tranworld's Modus Operandi, Mike Carroll decides that Brandon Biebel has to be part of Lakai. In April 2001 Scott Johnston's debut pro model is released and Danny Garcia joins the team. In November 2001, JJ Rousseau becomes Lakai's first official European rider, laying the foundation for what will eventually become The French Connection. In March 2002, after waiting for almost a year for his existing shoe contract to expire, Lakai welcomes Marc Johnson to the team. His first pro model comes out a little over one year later. Cairo Foster's first pro model comes out in December 2003. In January 2004, Lucas Puig and JB Gillet join the team, officially forming The French Connection.

In May 2004, the first ever co-brand shoe with Girl Skateboards is released, paving the way for several more notable collaborations. Among them, The Art Dump, Dominion, Wrench Pilot, The Quiet Life and Where the Wild Things Are Series. In May 2005, Guy Mariano joins Lakai after a long hiatus from skateboarding. Jesus Fernandez also joins the team, as well as Brits, Nick Jensen and Danny Brady, who were dubbed as The Royal Family. In September 2005, Alex Olson, son of veteran pro skateboarder Steve Olson, becomes Lakai's first amateur in almost five years. After months of speculation Eric Koston joins Lakai in May 2006.

In July 2006, Danny Garcia is the first skateboarder to leave Lakai, and moved onto his next shoes sponsor, éS Footwear. Mike Mo officially gets announced as AM in August 2006, and Guy receives his first pro model shoe. Eric Koston's pro models release in December 2006. In January 2007 - Scott Johnston joins the Lakai design team, beginning his transition from professional skater to footwear designer. Johnston told ESPN: "... that was my plan, to end on a good note and not bleed this career dry the way some guys do by not letting it go. Skating was so good to me, and I want to be good to it and not be one of those guys that won't go away. I still skate, I don't need to get paid for it, though."[4] In May 2007, Brandon Biebel's first signature shoe is released and in August, Independent Trucks partners with Lakai to release their first footwear collaboration ever, the Koston Select / Independent Limited Edition. In November 2007, Lakai's first full length video, Fully Flared is released.