© pinterest.com

 

How to explain the phenomena?

 

Well, we are now all aware that fashion is an eternal resumption.

Despite the fact that sneakers are sold everywhere and seen on most feet on earth, it is important to remember that the trainers were not born a few months ago. The first sports shoe was created 

in 1868 in New Heaven in the United-States, at Candde Manufacturing. Will then follow New Balance in 1906, Spring Court in 1936, Puma in 1948... and obviously, the giant Nike, founded in 1972 with the release of the brilliant Nike Air, the first air cushion shoe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© gq.com

 

"Trainers" or "sneakers"?

Sneakers originally mean shoes made for sports, but were then worn in other circumstances, which is the reason why they have been diverted from their initial use. Knowing that 9 sports shoes out of 10 do not even touch the field, they quickly become an urban fashion phenomena. For a few years, sportswear brands have offered more and more casual designs in addition to their traditional models. They develop an aesthetic approach rather than a technological one, and position the shoe as a real accessory. Because of that status, giant sportswear brands such as Nike and Adidas started their collaborative work with big name designers: Riccardo Tisci, Raf Simons, Rick Owens or Jeremy Scott. Then, the labels increased in terms of range and begun developping many limited serial models, exclusively distributed in specialised boutiques like Colette. Prices as well as their authenticity pull up the market and join luxury costs (e.g. the Jordan Shine's pair with lattice-work leather and high quality is at $400, with limited distribution up to 500 numbered pairs). Last updated space is at Printemps in Paris that just innovated the first concept in a department store: a whole area of 90m2 only dedicated to womens sneakers on the 4th floor.

 

The trainer becomes fashionable, very popular and a common denominator in a world made of a population that only stakes a claim to their own identities.
 

 

"Why are they all craving sneakers?"

 

Who would have known, some years ago, that a little black dress or a Chanel suit would be worn with sneakers? Perhaps Serge Gainsbourg who was already wearing his white Richelieu Repettos...

 

Yet, for a tenner of years, these shoes have been developed in the whole of big houses and designers' collections, their price have exploded and gone over £800 for one pair.

Will sneakers follow the same path as bags? Are they going to become a fashion phenomena with overly expensive prices and be only made for a certain social class?

 

We can interprate this mixture of manners through an observation of facts:

 

- The changing society

- The development of an urban culture that adapt to produtcs coming from the streets (now called "street-style)

- The willingness for getting new audiences and publics that correspond to today's lifestyles

- The search of comfort and sweetness in a brutal world run by stress, conflicts and wars

- The upcoming young creative minds modernised the brands' image with laid-back styles and newness

- The innovation of textile materials: the floral strand in a net by Dior, the mix of fabrics (suede, tweed, jersey and different skins)

- Men's fashion looks like it is resumpting: today, sneakers look more uncluttered and worn for night outs and big events. 

 

Trends, in terms of sports footwear, are also seen as for dancing Repetto shoes, puffa Moncler jackets, Kways or even sportswear clothing, etc.

 

These thoughts let us think that no era innovates something totally new, but recreate moves inspired from the past with advanced social and technological techniques.