Sneakers are considered shoes for athletes, but this fact does not prevent people who are far from active physical activity from wearing them. Sometimes it is not clear what category these shoes should be classified into: are they sneakers or sneakers of a special design? There is no exact answer to this question, but there are more than enough interesting facts about sneakers.
In the 60s of the 19th century, playing croquet was considered fashionable among pious Europeans. To make the feet of English aristocrats comfortable during fights, they came up with canvas shoes. Their sole, made of soft rubber (they learned how to make it a little earlier), did not slip on the lawn grass, was light and served faithfully for more than one season. These shoes are considered the ancestors of modern sneakers.
Over time, sports shoes made of canvas were appreciated by representatives of other sports, more dynamic and energy-consuming. Now their tops were made of cotton, linen, and leather. For decoration and additional fixation of the feet, laces and rivets were used.
The name “sneakers” appeared at the beginning of the twentieth century.It is derived from “kid” - teenager and “peds” - pedestrians. Thanks to the successful merging of parts of each of them, we got a word that we actively use.
In the 20s of the twentieth century, American entrepreneur Marcus Converse took an active part in the development of the shoe industry. He created the legendary Converse All-Star sneakers. These were shoes for basketball players. Then they were produced in two colors: black and white, but until 1941 the design of the sneakers changed several times.
But a war happened, which made adjustments to many areas of life. During that difficult time, sneakers lost popularity. For more than 20 years, people talked about them (although this happened rarely) exclusively in the past tense. It was not until 1966 that Converse resumed production. Now sneakers came in a variety of styles: low, classic (just to the ankle) and high models of different colors came into fashion.
In 2003, Converse ceased to exist as a separate company and became part of Nike. Since then, the popularity of sneakers has grown exponentially. Nowadays, the variety of these shoes can surprise even the most fastidious fashionistas.
In the Soviet Union, such sports “semi-sneakers” were also known and loved. In the 70s of the last century, they were worn by tourists and athletes (we all remember photographs of handsome men with mustaches, but in short shorts and cute high-top sneakers).
Today, sneakers are not just shoes. They reflect the lifestyle, way of thinking and mood of the one who made them an integral part of his own wardrobe. They are comfortable, lightweight and ideal for long walks. Therefore, they are chosen by people who value comfort and style “in one bottle”.
Different materials are used for production:
In addition, in shoe stores the buyer will find winter, demi-season and summer models.
In the classic version, the entire decor of the sneaker is limited to laces. But isn't it great to break the rules sometimes? Therefore, today we actively wear models decorated with embroidery and rhinestones (usually women’s versions). Animal print, rivets and buckles look unusual.
Sneakers can be combined with different wardrobe items. If some 30-50 years ago it was difficult to imagine such shoes with anything other than sportswear, today they are combined with jeans, tapered trousers, a skirt or dress (usually straight cut). Many images have been invented, the splendor of which lies in contrast: for example, an interesting combination of sneakers, T-shirt, jeans and a formal jacket.