The Wonderful History Of Sneakers That’ll Leave You Intrigued

By Author: Aarti Seth
Total Articles: 2
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Do you love wearing sneakers? Then you’re among the millions who are in love with this footwear. However, have you ever wondered where it all began? This article gives a look into that world.

The history of sneakers is a long one but also fast-paced. It’s a footwear which, after facing several hurdles, has now emerged as a must-have in everyone’s wardrobe. However, have you ever wondered, be it Adidas Sneakers or Nike Sneakers, where did the journey of the kicks started? This article is an attempt to retrace the journey of this footwear from road to runway.

Why the name?

Sneakers – what does it mean? There’s an interesting story of how the footwear got its name. In fact, the reason lies in the soles. The rubber soles of the shoes made them much quieter than the other types of footwear. Hence, while launching the brand, around 1917, an advertiser came up with the name sneakers to portray as if they’re
sneaking.

Where it all did started?

It all started back in the year 1839 when an American scientist named Charles Goodyear made an invention ...
... - vulcanized rubber. His invention made the rubber moldable as well as waterproof. Many years later, this process was applied to shoes which ensured much more durable soles. Then eventually the early day sneakers were born which later, after crossing several paths, became the modern day kicks.

Then what happened?

By the 20th century companies were always researching on how to capitalize the potential of the rubber-soled shoes to make them more affordable. Then one company released such a shoe and it, within some years, became a hit among the players.

How did it gain prominence?

The sneakers primarily were marketed specially for sporting activities. However, soon they caught people’s attention and gained prominence as a staple in people’s wardrobe, that goes for both men’s and women’s sneakers. In fact, by the mid-1950s, even the kids were fascinated by the footwear and it because hugely popular among everyone. It wasn’t long before the sneakers also became a part of the entertainment culture like hip hop. Not to forget, soon it started appearing in movies too.

Here it’s pertinent to mention about the way that sneakers gained a worldwide fame. It was in 1936 Berlin Olympics, the US basketball team wore sneakers throughout the event. Also, Jesse Owens, who grabbed four golds, wore another version of sneakers in the same event.

The next leap

Then came the next leap when the fashion brands took a keen interest in this footwear type. High end fashion brands launched their own shows in the runway and it instantly clicked with the audience who prefer all things luxurious. And today, it has become a billion dollar industry spread across the globe.

Sneakers is a footwear type which has wide range of variety in the modern time. There are some companies which design them especially for the athletes. Not to forget, there are also those who create high-end kicks. Moreover, there are sites which have special offer that helps in customization of your favorite footwear.