The History of Sneakers 

    It was April 1985. Everyone was talking about Michael Jordan. He was new to the NBA. He was exciting to watch. 

    Jordan handled the ball with ease. He moved like a ballet dancer on the court. He seemed to fly through the air when he jumped. 

    But that April, people were noticing more than Jordan’s basketball skills. They couldn’t stop talking about his sneakers.

    Nike paid Jordan $2.5 million to advertise for the company. Then it made a basketball shoe just for him. Nike called it the Air Jordan.

    At the time, most basketball shoes were white. The first Air Jordans were red and black. They were stylish. Everyone wanted them—not just basketball players. In one month, Nike sold half a million pairs. 

    The sneaker was no longer just a comfortable, practical shoe. It was becoming a worldwide obsession.

    It was April 1985, and everyone was talking about Michael Jordan. He was new to the NBA, and he was the most thrilling basketball player fans had ever seen.

    Jordan handled the ball with ease. Moving like a ballet dancer on the court, he didn’t just jump—he flew through the air. 

    But that April, in addition to being amazed by Jordan’s basketball skills, people couldn’t stop talking about his sneakers.

    Nike paid Jordan $2.5 million to advertise for the company. Then it created a basketball shoe just for him called the Air Jordan.

    Most basketball shoes were plain white at the time, but the first Air Jordans were stylish, with a red-and-black design. Everyone, not just basketball players, wanted them. In only one month, Nike sold half a million pairs. 

    This proved to be a turning point in the history of the sneaker. It was no longer just a comfortable, practical shoe. It was becoming a worldwide obsession.

    For most of history, people did not wear sneakers. In ancient Greece and Rome, most athletes played their sports barefoot. 

    The first sneakers were invented in the mid-1800s. They were made for tennis and croquet. The shoes cost a lot of money. But that was fine. Only rich people had time for sports.

    In the 1900s, more workers got vacations. They had weekends off too. They found ways to use their free time. They went to gyms and parks. And they played new sports, such as basketball. 

    Basketball was invented in 1891. Converse All Stars were a sneaker made for the sport. They became known as “Chuck Taylors.” Taylor was a basketball star in the 1920s. He also sold sneakers for Converse. The sneakers became very popular. 

    For most of history, sneakers did not exist. In ancient Greece and Rome, most athletes competed barefoot—though sometimes runners raced in leather sandals. 

    But in the mid-1800s, special shoes—the first sneakers—were created for playing croquet and tennis. The shoes were expensive, which was fine, since only rich people had time for sports.

    However, around 1900 that began to change. More workers got vacations and had weekends off. They filled their free time by going to the new gyms and public parks that were being built across the country. And they participated in new sports—like basketball. 

    Basketball was invented in 1891, and the first popular sneaker wasn’t far behind. Converse All Stars—you might know these high-tops as “Chuck Taylors”—were made for the sport. Taylor was a pro basketball player. In the 1920s, he took on a second job selling shoes for Converse.  

    Still, if you wanted a pair of sneakers, you didn’t have much choice. There were Chuck Taylors or Keds. Both were made of a strong, rough cloth called canvas.

    That was about it—until the 1970s. Millions of Americans were taking up running and other fitness activities. Shoe companies started making sneakers for every purpose. You could rock a pair of Nike running shoes in bright blue. You could shoot hoops in red-striped Adidas.

    Advertising was changing too. Companies hired the most talented athletes to sell their shoes. Adidas went after tennis star Stan Smith. Puma hired New York Knicks star Walt “Clyde” Frazier. Converse had the best players in the NBA: Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Dr. J. 

    Hip-hop music also helped make sneakers cool. In the mid-1970s, rap was born at parties and clubs in New York City. Style was important. 

    In fact, hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. liked their Adidas Superstars so much they wrote a song about them. “My Adidas” became a hit in 1986—the year after those very first Air Jordans went on sale.

    Back then, you could buy Chuck Taylors or Keds. Both were made of a strong, rough cloth called canvas.

    But in the 1970s, millions of Americans started running for exercise. They did other fitness activities too. Shoe companies started making sneakers for every sport. For example, you could buy shoes that were just for running.

    Advertising was changing too. Companies wanted the most talented athletes to sell their shoes. Adidas hired tennis star Stan Smith. Converse had the best players in the NBA. They hired Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Dr. J. 

    Hip-hop music also helped make sneakers cool. In the mid-1970s, rap was born in New York City. It started at parties and clubs. Style was important to hip-hop artists. 

    Run-D.M.C. was a hip-hop group. They liked their Adidas Superstars. They wrote a song about them. “My Adidas” became a hit in 1986. That was the year after the first Air Jordans went on sale.

    Despite the popularity of Chuck Taylors, your choice of sneakers back then was still limited. You could buy Converse All Stars or Keds, both of which were made of a strong, rough cloth called canvas.

    That was about it, until the 1970s, when millions of Americans began taking up running and other fitness activities. To meet this new market, shoe companies began designing sneakers for every purpose. You could rock a pair of Nike running shoes in bright blue. You could shoot hoops in red-striped Adidas.

    Advertising was changing too, with companies hiring the most talented athletes to sell their shoes. Adidas went after tennis star Stan Smith, Puma hired New York Knicks star Walt “Clyde” Frazier, and Converse had the best players in the NBA: Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Dr. J. 

    Hip-hop music also helped make sneakers cool and fashionable. In the mid-1970s, rap was born at parties and clubs in New York City. Style was important. 

    In fact, hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. liked their Adidas Superstars so much they wrote a song about them called “My Adidas.” It was a hit in 1986—the year after those very first Air Jordans went on sale.

    By the end of the 1980s, people were buying about $12 billion worth of sneakers every year. Sure, they used them for tennis and running. But they also wanted comfort and style. They finally had one shoe they could wear to school and to parties, to work and to the gym.

    Some people even started collecting sneakers. Collectors—known as “sneakerheads”—know exactly when new models are coming out. They line up for hours outside shoe stores to buy them. 

    Today, Americans buy more than 400 million pairs of sneakers each year. Many of them are Air Jordans. Nearly 40 years later, they’re still one of the most popular sneakers of all time.

    By the end of the 1980s, people were buying about $12 billion worth of sneakers a year. They used them for sports. But they liked the comfort and style too. They wore their sneakers to school, parties, work, and the gym.

    Some people started collecting sneakers. These people are known as “sneakerheads.” They know when new models are coming out. They line up outside shoe stores to buy them.

    Today, Americans buy more than 400 million pairs of sneakers a year. Many of them are Air Jordans. Nearly 40 years later, they’re still one of the most popular sneakers of all time. 

    By the end of the 1980s, people were buying about     $12 billion worth of sneakers every year. They used them for tennis and running, but they also wanted comfort and style. They finally had one shoe they could wear to school and to parties, to work, and to the gym.

    Some people—known as “sneakerheads”—even started collecting sneakers. These sneaker fans know exactly when new models are being released, and they line up for hours outside shoe stores to buy them. 

    Today, Americans buy more than 400 million pairs of sneakers each year, many of which are Air Jordans. Nearly 40 years later, they’re still among the most popular sneakers of all time.