The Evolution of Sneakers
The Evolution of Sneakers
By: Akilah Frye
The latest sneaker trends are heavily influenced by past designs. With old designs from companies like New Balance, Nike, and Adidas back on the rise, we are reminded of our childhood and the trends of the past.
Those who once called New Balance a “Dad Shoe” are now mixing the shoe into their daily wardrobes. The brand started back in 1966 when William J. Riley, an Irish immigrant, started the New Balance Arch Support Company because he “wanted to offer people better balance through arch support.” The first New Balance shoe, called the Trackster, was created in 1961. Influenced by athletes who were drawn to the arch supports, the Trackster had a ripple sole for traction.
In 1972, the brand became a top contender in the sneaker world when Jim Davis purchased the then-small company. New Balance created its first shoe with the “N” logo on the side in 1976, and Runner’s World declared it the top running shoe on the market.
Despite the sports buzz, New Balance was not considered fashionable until 1982 with the release of the New Balance 990, which became a status symbol in areas like Washington D.C. After this, New Balance rose to popularity in the fashion world with a huge presence in rap and hip-hop culture in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Today, old New Balance designs are making a huge comeback. Released in 1988, the New Balance 574 is known for its classic look with suede material and earth-tone colorways. The traditional style is prevalent, but the newer additions also feature eccentric colorways like the Women’s 574v2 in Silver.
The New Balance 550 was released in 1989, originally as a basketball shoe, and was then filed away in the archives. After being reintroduced in a limited-edition release in late 2020 and returning to the lineup in 2021, it quickly became a modern favorite. The 550 low top is made of dependable leather, synthetic material, and mesh upper construction that is a clean take on the design of the late 1980s.
At one point, New Balance was not as big of a sneaker brand as Adidas or Nike, but a common factor between the three brands is the reappearance of their old shoe designs.
In the 1950s, Adidas delivered the Samba, originally designed for soccer players. Adidas blew up in pop culture in the 1980s thanks to groups like Run-D.M.C. being huge supporters of the brand. Today, the Samba is one of the most popular sneaker designs, and the Samba Originals have become icons in street style with soft leather, suede overlays, and a gum sole.
The Adidas Forum Lows were originally released in 1984 and like many other products, gained popularity within the music industry. The classic shoe has reemerged on the fashion scene with the low-top design becoming a staple in streetwear.
Nike has been the largest brand in the footwear industry since the release of the original Air Jordans, and old designs like the Air Max 90 and 97 are trending in the current marketplace. Just like New Balance and Adidas, Nike had a major influence on music and sports culture. In 1987, Nike dropped an ad for the new Air Max shoes set to The Beatles’ “Revolution,” making it the first ad to use the band’s music.
With its large Air window and Airbag, the Air Max 90 goes down in history as one of the most popular shoes of the entire Air Max collection. The Air Max 97 was released with a full-length Air cushion, and the Christian Tessler design immediately caught the eye with its resemblance to ripples created by water droplets on a pond’s surface.
These three footwear brands are prime examples of how fashion trends are ever-changing and the endless craving for nostalgia that exists in the fashion industry today.
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Images by Akilah Frye and Kaitlyn Steinroeder.