Facts About Sneakers

The advent of the rubber sole dates from the early 19th century, but it wasn't until the 20th century that sneakers came into their own. Used first for sporting purposes, they became popular among teenagers and after that, the number of companies and designs exploded. Today you can buy specialized sneakers for all sorts of sports and all sorts of fashions. They are truly one of the most common and beloved forms of footwear ever.

  1. Early History

    • The first sneaker was created in 1800, as a simple rubber-soled shoe. The nickname "sneakers" came about because they were so quiet; they even came to be used by thieves in their sneaking. The first brand name of sneakers to be sold were Keds, followed by Converse in 1915. They came into popular use, first as croquet shoes, and then for playing tennis, hence the reason sneakers also are called "tennis shoes."

    Design

    • Bill Bowerman, co-founder of Nike, used his kitchen waffle iron to make his first sole designs. In 1971 an art student created the famous Nike swoosh logo, for which she was paid $35. Apparently she later received some company stock and gold ring with the swoosh on it. The first company to begin customizing sneakers was Vans. Starting in 1966, they would allow customers to bring in their own fabrics---even worn out board shorts---and turn them into shoes for them.

    Sponsorship

    • The first company to sponsor a black sportsman was the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory, which made sneakers. Later a feud between the two brothers, Adi and Rudolph, caused them to split and form the separate companies, Adidas and Puma. The black athlete they sponsored was Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals in front of Adolph Hitler in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. In 1983, basketball player Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins accepted sponsorship money from both Nike and its competitor Pony and then wore one shoe from each company. Needless to say, Nike wasn't pleased.

    Odd Facts

    • In 1990, 80,000 pairs of Nikes fell off a ship in the Pacific Ocean and they have been turning up ever since. Oceanographer Curtis Ebbesmeyer tracks their recovery as a way to study ocean currents. Perhaps the most expensive sneaker ever sold was made by Jacob the Jeweller. It was studded with 246 diamonds and cost $65,000 for the pair. Comedian Jerry Seinfield owns over 500 pairs of white sneakers.