The history of so-called sneakers goes back more than a century, and the development is very rapid, there are some pitfalls along the way. It all started in 1839, when an American scientist by the name of Charles Goodyear invented rubber vulcanization: the process of adding sulfur to rubber to make it flexible, waterproof and malleable. Decades later, vulcanization entered the footwear world, providing longer life for the sole. This process is applied to tennis shoes that have existed since the beginning of the 19th century, and will mark the birth of the ancestor of modern basketball.
L'Histoire de la Sneakers
Beginning of the 20th century: Two companies seek to harness the potential of rubber-soled shoes and distribute them to the general public rather than a few happy people. The US American Rubber Company developed Keds and went public in 1916. A year later, the Converse brand released their all-star shoes. In the early 1920s, the brand took off by associating its image with that of the famous basketball player and trainer, Chuck Taylor (whose name still appears on the All-Stars today).
In 1924, the German brothers Rudolf and Adolf (“Adi”) Dassler entered the competition by designing shoes for athletes from their mother's laundry room. First designed and presented as shoes intended for sporting activity, sneakers are starting to gain ground. The shoes, first designed and originally presented as shoes are now becoming popular.
The American basketball team wore Converse at the Berlin Olympics in 1936, when runner Jesse Owen won four gold medals while wearing running shoes designed by the Dassler siblings. But one day the brothers left each other angry in 1947, and each found themselves at the head of two of today's basketball empires: Adolf created Adidas , while Rudolf launched the Puma brand.
As early as the 1950s, little Americans wore sneakers with their brand new jeans (this combination caused consternation in some educational institutions). This association is also favored by stars like Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe. The sneakers are comfortable, relaxed and do not take up space. In some quarters, they display a rebellious character, eager to get rid of the overly strict dress code of society.
It will take all the same to wait a good ten more years before the sneakers do not prevail against all the other models. In the 1970s, the Nike brand made its appearance.
The brand name pays homage to the goddess of victory in Greek mythology, and the shoes are intended to help improve athletic performance. The distinctive embossing of Nike Sole was reportedly discovered after track and field instructor and brand co-founder Bill Powerman attempted to put rubber on his wife's waffle iron.
The major brands of American sneakers were founded after World War II. This goes for all the giants of the industry that will be Puma, Adidas and Nike. And before the basketball explosion, sneakers quickly became a symbol of protests against racial segregation. It was during this period that the Puma Suede will forever become the emblem of this battle against racial inequalities. We also remember the Olympic Games in Mexico in 1968 and these American runners raising their gloved left fists in order to support the Black Panther movement.
However, the fierce battle within the industry began in earnest with the advent of basketball as the number one sport in the United States. It was initially a rivalry between Adidas and Puma. It is besides the mark with the 3 bands which wins this fight because more than 75% of the players of the NBA wore adidas sneakers. Finally, Nike wakes up and puts everyone in agreement with the announcement of its iconic Air Force 1 in 1982. The coup de grace is given by the brand with the launch of its partnership in 1985 with the No. 23 of the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan. Since then, Nike has sold over 100 million pairs worldwide ...
Sneakers are everywhere today, but their meaning is also increasingly varied. They testify to a certain vision of the class, of tastes which are sporting or even musical.