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Have you ever wondered about the history of sneakers?

Today sneakers are very popular among people of all ages (children and adults alike). But once upon a time sneakers did not exist. Let us take you back to the pre-sneaker era to tell you the tale of how sneakers came to be.

Shoes have been around as long as humans have existed. Even primitive humans had a need to protect their feet from weather and rough terrain with foot coverings. Sandals made out of organic materials such as grass or leather were the most primitive shoes to exist. As our human culture and craft skills evolved so too did our shoes. Eventually shoes became not only a means of protecting ones feet, but a fashion statement. Just as clothing has changed with fashions through the ages so too have shoes.

The rubber sole used for sneakers is what makes them unique and comfortable. In the 1830’s the very first shoe with a rubber sole was produced in England by the Liverpool Rubber Company. This new type of shoe was first called a “sand shoe” since people wore them to the beach, later they acquired the name “plimsoll.” The plimsoll was a very simple rubber soled shoe with a canvas upper portion.

The U.S. Rubber Company that created an even better version of the plimsoll in 1892 and called their shoes Keds. In the early 1900’s these shoes were in high demand for their absolute comfort. Because these new rubber soled shoes were so quiet a person wearing sneakers could sneak up on someone, hence the nickname “sneakers.”

Many popular sneaker manufacturers would come to exist in the 20th century. Marquis Converse is still a well known name today for his creation of the wildly popular Converse All-Stars (also known as “Chuck Taylor All-Stars”). Shortly after the Converse shoe was a success Adi Dassler hit the shoe scene and produced sneakers called Adidas (named after himself). His brother, a bitter enemy, launched the Puma brand of athletic shoes. At this point the sneaker craze was in full force. Many styles and brands of sneakers would come to exist including Reebok and Nike.

Do you have a favorite pair of sneakers?