History of the Bata shoes that saw you through the schooling years...

[Narong Wongwan]

Yes those thin soles was uncomfortable but many of my classmates were using it Pretty sure they were made in Japan.

Those days China was still a closed country & the only exports were simple stuff like hardware, bicycles, etc. The stuff you get from Oriental Emporium. The Adidas ROM was a good shoe. In those days it must have been made in Germany

Recently looking at the Adidas shoes to get something like those ROM shoes but couldn't find any. The new models got strange designs that didn't appeal to me.

Yes, you are right....back then Adidas haven't outsource to Philippines or wherever.....
besides ROM, suede grazelle were also popular...

those where the pre-Nike, pre-Reebok days.....besides Adidas, there were sports brands like Umbro, Admiral, Lotto, Le Coq Sportif, Dunlop, etc.

 

[Microsoft]

my first boots were PUMA hand-me-downs from an uncle.....the first new pair i had was a pair of diadoras bought from uncle choo's shop in Plaza Singapura.
we used to play with Mitre ball just like those in big league soocer.....later i called the shots after buying my own ball (adidas barcelona) from Queensway.
i had my own Kevin Keegan liverpool jersey kit.....(admiral brand complete with number 7 printed on it)

My 1st...and unfortunately last was...err...13 stud Adidas...cant remember de name leow...neber play field soccer after a serious injury since sec 2...bery most play goalie in "plastic ball" court...Rom was a better shoe 4 de task...

Yes those thin soles was uncomfortable but many of my classmates were using it Pretty sure they were made in Japan.

Those days China was still a closed country & the only exports were simple stuff like hardware, bicycles, etc. The stuff you get from Oriental Emporium. The Adidas ROM was a good shoe. In those days it must have been made in Germany

Recently looking at the Adidas shoes to get something like those ROM shoes but couldn't find any. The new models got strange designs that didn't appeal to me.

Adidas Rom 2011...actually not so much diff frm de 70's model leh...din noe Rom was launch in 1959...

 

[freedalas]

More recently, BATA became an acronymn for Buy And Throw Away. Though I personally feel it's not a justifiable to brand BATA shoes as that. They were good and long lasting shoes that were affordable for students from not so well-to-do families.

 

[vamjok]

More recently, BATA became an acronymn for Buy And Throw Away. Though I personally feel it's not a justifiable to brand BATA shoes as that. They were good and long lasting shoes that were affordable for students from not so well-to-do families.

last me about a year each pair when i was in sec sch, should have last longer if i din't play basketball then. basketball really wear the shoe out fast

 

[Narong Wongwan]

More recently, BATA became an acronymn for Buy And Throw Away. Though I personally feel it's not a justifiable to brand BATA shoes as that. They were good and long lasting shoes that were affordable for students from not so well-to-do families.

Bata had a sporting brand....think it was called NorthStar....

 

[johnny333]

...Rom was a better shoe 4 de task...


Adidas Rom 2011...actually not so much diff frm de 70's model leh...din noe Rom was launch in 1959...

View attachment 2918

The ROM is a classic, simple & elegant design. That's why I was disappointed that it wasn't available anymore.:(

 

[johnny333]

Bata had a sporting brand....think it was called NorthStar....

I notice that nowadays Bata sells other brands instead of just their in-house brands e.g. New Balance, Weinbrenner,..

It's probably cheaper than making your own brand of shoes.

 

[Ramseth]

I wore don't-know-what-brand made-in-China canvass shoes in pri. sch. Then promoted to Bata BM2000 in sec. sch. It's not true that Singapore had no trade with PRC before PRC opened up. We had more trades then. For table tennis players, remember Butterfly (made in China) versus Nittaku (made in Japan)?

But it's true, before PRC opened up, Singaporeans traveling to China was forbidden for those under 40. Above 40, apply for restricted exit and entry visas on both sides.

 

[halsey02]

I wore don't-know-what-brand made-in-China canvass shoes in pri. sch. Then promoted to Bata BM2000 in sec. sch. It's not true that Singapore had no trade with PRC before PRC opened up. We had more trades then. For table tennis players, remember Butterfly (made in China) versus Nittaku (made in Japan)?

But it's true, before PRC opened up, Singaporeans traveling to China was forbidden for those under 40. Above 40, apply for restricted exit and entry visas on both sides.

Yes, went to ROC, we were told to remove any singlet, any thing that has label that says Made In China ( PRC). I have both Butterfly & Nittaku table tennis bats, for the pencil holding style I use the Japanese one, the other is the butterfly. Other than Bata canvas shoes, now I remember, "Arrow" brand, with the brown paper wrapper, where we use to buy from those small off the wall stalls in Chinatown. Don't know if that was made in China or some factory in SINgapore. That was my alternative pairs, when we couldn't go down to Bata Store.

 

[Ramseth]

Yes, went to ROC, we were told to remove any singlet, any thing that has label that says Made In China ( PRC). I have both Butterfly & Nittaku table tennis bats, for the pencil holding style I use the Japanese one, the other is the butterfly. Other than Bata canvas shoes, now I remember, "Arrow" brand, with the brown paper wrapper, where we use to buy from those small off the wall stalls in Chinatown. Don't know if that was made in China or some factory in SINgapore. That was my alternative pairs, when we couldn't go down to Bata Store.

I always use pencil grip with a Nittaku. It was an ECA in school and a favorite passtime in my police station among Chinese. In police station, we didn't just pass time though, we played for money stakes, at least S$10 per game. I wasn't that good or bad, on average I think I just about broke even, but it was fun.

I particularly mention Chinese particularly because of a peculiarity, no Singaporean Malay or Indian seems to be interested in table tennis.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

There was another brand double happiness which only had the pimpled faced bats....
Under HDB void decks there used to be ping pong tables, just byo your nets bought from book shops.

I always use pencil grip with a Nittaku. It was an ECA in school and a favorite passtime in my police station among Chinese. In police station, we didn't just pass time though, we played for money stakes, at least S$10 per game. I wasn't that good or bad, on average I think I just about broke even, but it was fun.

I particularly mention Chinese particularly because of a peculiarity, no Singaporean Malay or Indian seems to be interested in table tennis.

 

[Fook Seng]

When I was a little boy, I ran around wearing the funny pants, the one with a big hole at the bottom. Cannot remember the brand. Was it made in China?

 

[Ramseth]

When I was a little boy, I ran around wearing the funny pants, the one with a big hole at the bottom. Cannot remember the brand. Was it made in China?

My mother brought me to Yangtze Jiang Xiaofu at Pearl's Centre to buy pri. sch. uniform. Sec. sch. promoted to tailored by the tailor downstairs. He even offered free but my father insisted pay at regular rates.