Vintage L.A GEAR Shoes High Top 80's Sneakers Blue/Gold Sparkle Leather. When it comes to unique footwear of the 1980s, nothing beats the popular LA Gear sneaker. The brand itself was first established back in 1983, and it quickly became a very popular shoe among kids and teenagers. LA Gear shoes featured a pretty wild style that coincided with the popular fads of the 1980s. They were bright, colorful, as well as comfortable, and it is one of the shoe companies we think of when we look back at footwear of the 80s. When we reflect on shoe companies of the 1980s, it’s hard to ignore the impact that LA Gear had. At its peak their shoes were everywhere, and the name was synonymous with the fashion of the era.