Royal Elastics was started in 1996 by two Australians who saw an opportunity in the athletic footwear markets for laceless sneakers. They launched the Smooth style in London that same year through the likes of Offspring and Office. The brand immediately took off and soon was being sold in the coolest retailers around the world. It got so hot, in fact, that it created a new category within the footwear industry. In 2001, the owner ended up selling the brand to K-Swiss. K-Swiss also felt that the styles Royal Elastics was developing were more relevant to a greater majority of consumers which offered a far large commercial opportunity. With the backing of K-Swiss, Royal Elastics has seen a swell in production and marketability.