A Brief History of America’s Obsession With Sneakers
Invented for athletics, sneakers eventually became status symbols and an integral part of street style.
But how puny and harmless they now looked beside this huge and terrific incarnation of hate, of vengeance and of death. The man himself, for such I may call him, was fully fifteen feet in height and, on Earth, would have weighed some four hundred pounds.
Consequently I gave a very earthly and at the same time superhuman leap to reach the top of the Martian incubator, for such I had determined it must be.
He sat his mount as we sit a horse, grasping the animal’s barrel with his lower limbs, while the hands of his two right arms held his immense spear low at the side of his mount; his two left arms were outstretched laterally to help preserve his balance, the thing he rode having neither bridle or reins of any description for guidance.
And his mount! How can earthly words describe it! It towered ten feet at the shoulder; had four legs on either side; a broad flat tail, larger at the tip than at the root, and which it held straight out behind while running; a gaping mouth which split its head from its snout to its long, massive neck.
A vivid yellow at the feet
Like its master, it was entirely devoid of hair, but was of a dark slate color and exceeding smooth and glossy. Its belly was white, and its legs shaded from the slate of its shoulders and hips to a vivid yellow at the feet. The feet themselves were heavily padded and nailless, which fact had also contributed to the noiselessness of their approach, and, in common with a multiplicity of legs, is a characteristic feature of the fauna of Mars.
- The highest type of man and one other animal, the only mammal existing on Mars, alone have well-formed nails, and there are absolutely no hoofed animals in existence there.
- Behind this first charging demon trailed nineteen others, similar in all respects, but, as I learned later, bearing individual characteristics peculiar to themselves; precisely as no two of us are identical although we are all cast in a similar mold.
- This picture, or rather materialized nightmare, which I have described at length, made but one terrible and swift impression on me as I turned to meet it.
- Unarmed and naked as I was, the first law of nature manifested itself in the only possible solution of my immediate problem, and that was to get out of the vicinity of the point of the charging spear.
My effort was crowned with a success which appalled me no less than it seemed to surprise the Martian warriors, for it carried me fully thirty feet into the air and landed me a hundred feet from my pursuers and on the opposite side of the enclosure.
Never heard of Plimsolls? Well, you better check out
I alighted upon the soft moss easily and without mishap, and turning saw my enemies lined up along the further wall. Some were surveying me with expressions which I afterward discovered marked extreme astonishment, and the others were evidently satisfying themselves that I had not molested their young.
They were conversing together in low tones, and gesticulating and pointing toward me. Their discovery that I had not harmed the little Martians, and that I was unarmed, must have caused them to look upon me with less ferocity; but, as I was to learn later, the thing which weighed most in my favor was my exhibition of hurdling.
From Rubber Soles to Everyday Style
The sneaker story begins with rubber. In the nineteenth century, Charles Goodyear’s work on vulcanization made rubber stable enough to stay flexible in the cold and firm in the heat. That breakthrough opened the door to shoes with rubber soles bonded to canvas uppers. In Britain, lightweight canvas shoes known as plimsolls became common for seaside holidays and recreation, and similar styles spread in the United States.
The word sneakers is usually linked to those quiet rubber soles. Unlike hard leather heels that announced every step, rubber let the wearer move almost silently, or sneak up on someone. By the early twentieth century, mass-produced canvas-and-rubber shoes were being sold widely to American families as practical, affordable footwear.
New England’s Footwear Roots
Massachusetts has deep ties to the shoe business. Cities such as Lynn and Brockton were major shoemaking centers in the nineteenth century, and the region’s factories, tanneries and skilled workers made shoes for much of the country. That heritage carried into the sneaker era.
- Converse was founded in Malden, Massachusetts, in 1908 as a rubber shoe company and grew into one of the best-known canvas sneaker makers in the world.
- New Balance traces its origins to Boston in 1906, when it began as a maker of arch supports before moving into footwear.
Today both names keep a strong Boston presence, and the region’s long footwear history helps explain why sneakers feel like part of New England’s industrial story, not just a fashion trend.
How Sneakers Became Culture
Over the decades, sneakers moved from the gym bag to the center of everyday style. Several shifts drove that change:
- Casual dress spread. As offices, schools and social life became less formal, comfortable shoes became acceptable almost everywhere.
- Fitness went mainstream. Interest in jogging and walking for health brought cushioned, specialized shoes into ordinary closets.
- Music and street style embraced them. Artists, dancers and city neighborhoods turned particular models into symbols of identity and taste.
- Limited releases created collectors. Special editions, collaborations and restocks turned some pairs into prized items that people line up or log on early to buy.
- Technology became a selling point. Foams, air units, knit uppers and recycled materials gave brands new stories to tell with each design.
Caring for the Pairs You Love
Whether you own one pair or a full shelf, a little maintenance goes a long way, especially through New England’s salty, slushy winters.
- Clean gently and often. Use a soft brush, mild soap and cool water. Avoid soaking leather or suede.
- Air dry. Stuff shoes with paper and let them dry away from radiators and direct heat, which can warp soles and weaken glue.
- Rotate pairs. Giving shoes a day off lets the cushioning recover and helps them last longer.
- Protect suede and knit. A protective spray can help repel water and stains before winter arrives.
- Store them right. Keep sneakers in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight to prevent yellowing and cracking.
Questions Readers Ask
What is the difference between sneakers and plimsolls?
Plimsolls are a classic, simple canvas shoe with a thin rubber sole. Sneakers is the broader American term for rubber-soled athletic and casual shoes.
Why do some sneakers cost so much more than others?
Materials, technology, brand demand and limited production all affect price. Collectible releases can trade far above their original price because supply is scarce.
How do I start a collection without overspending?
Set a budget, focus on styles you will actually wear, and learn to spot counterfeits by buying from reputable sellers.
