The history of the sneaker.
Let's call them sports shoes, sneakers, tennis Or sneakers, nowadays, we all have at least one pair of sports shoes in our wardrobes. However, they have not always been unanimous.
In this article, we take a little retrospective and zoom in on the history of the sneaker, from the first sports shoes to our times. eco-responsible sneakers And made in Europe modern.
From the invention of the sneaker to its first steps in urban culture.
Appearing at the beginning of the 20th century with the rubber industry, sneakers and their flexible soles offer the public a more flexible walking experience than that of classic city shoes such as Richelieu Or ankle bootsThe rubber of the soles allows them to move discreetly, which is why they are called sneakers, “to sneak on” meaning in English “to sneak by surprise”.
Primarily designed to improve athletic performance, sneakers were initially intended for athletes and the post-war male population, who were encouraged to engage in regular physical activity in order to be prepared in the event of conflict.
During the 1930s, the offer diversified, and the first brands of sneakers appeared, today famous worldwide. Leather sneakers became more democratic and conquered the hearts of athletes, who wore them proudly until the Olympic Games. But the real competition took place outside the stadiums, between the different brands involved in this new expanding universe, which, faced with growing public demand, engaged in a battle by each proposing their concept of sports shoe.
The evolution of sneakers: from sports tool to fashion icon.
After seducing adults, sneakers are now making their way to the feet of the youngest. They are all the rage in playgrounds for their comfort and ease of putting on, but are also gradually becoming coveted fashion items, and an essential part of the dress code for fashionable teenagers.
Although controversial, this new clothing trend did not immediately meet with unanimous approval, because its image was associated with a form of neglect and popular delinquency.
It was not until the 1970s and their promotion by street dancers and hip-hop culture that the phenomenon found a positive image.
The sneaker is becoming popular and is gradually gaining its place in the hearts of women, tired of the rigidity of pumps, and who want to free themselves from the codes of chic lounge fashion, in favor of these models comfortable and flexible shoes.
After many years and the explosion in the variety of the offer, the sports shoe is becoming more democratic and is becoming the star of shoes!
Some types of iconic sports shoes and sneakers.
THE running shoes Or retro running :
Generally light and breathable, they offer good foot support and cushioning, and are primarily intended for sports.
THE casual sneakers Or classic basketball :
Intended for everyday non-sporting use, they are more flexible than dress shoes of the Chelsea boot Or Richelieu, and are designed to combine style and comfort.
THE high top sneakers :
Today worn daily, the high top sneakers like our model Wallace, are originally adapted for playing basketball due to their thick sole and high upper which provides good ankle support.
Skate shoes:
Designed for skateboarding and other street sports, they are wide, sturdy and reinforced for great resistance to wear.
Hiking shoes:
Halfway between desert boots and sports sneakers, they are designed for long walks, offering good grip and good ankle support to brave rough terrain. They are generally waterproof to withstand difficult weather conditions.
Canvas or tennis sneakers:
These sneakers are designed to provide a barefoot feel and be space-saving. Generally offering only light cushioning, they have the advantage of being very light, breathable, and practical.
Safety shoes or sneakers:
Designed to work in hazardous environments, they are equipped with robust materials and reinforced with steel and puncture-resistant soles.
Famous sneaker collabs: when art and fashion meet in exclusive limited edition sneakers.
Today, the sneaker has conquered such a wide and eclectic audience that it reaches all social classes and ages on 5 continents. It has thus become the most marketed type of shoe worldwide with more than 47% of the market.
The comfort of sneakers, their ease of putting on, the fact that they can go with all types of outfits, and their potential for customization, has fueled an ever-increasing interest among consumers, which has led many luxury brands to offer their own high-end sneakers (luxury sneakers). This has also paved the way for partnerships between these brands and the leading sportswear brands, and between the latter and stars from all walks of life: singers, actors, models, etc., through unique pieces, produced in limited editions bearing their likenesses, making sneakers a real social phenomenon.
What is the environmental impact of the sneaker industry?
A fashion icon, a sports performance tool par excellence, a collector's item prized by sneaker lovers around the world, and a marker of identity, the sneaker is now everywhere.
But this omnipresence and accumulation of brands, styles, shapes, and color variations are not without negative effects.
Stakeholder in the phenomenon ofultra fast fashion, the manufacture of the 34 million pairs of sneakers produced and recorded every day across the world (in 2018), represents a threat doubled by a environmental scourge. Equivalent to CO² of 451,000 round-trip flights between Paris and New York by plane, this pharaonic production is also constantly increasing.
The reason for these environmental nuisances: manufacturing mainly relocated to Asia, the use of toxic products and materials harmful to nature, sneakers made of cowhide leather or other materials of animal origin involving highly polluting breeding, etc. Finally, the production of so many variants and gigantic stocks sold at knockdown prices, encourages the consumer to buy, and the fact of pushing consumption induces to always produce more. It is the snowball effect.
Added to these ecological consequences are the social misery and ethical problems linked to this form of industry. Low wages, unsanitary working conditions for factory workers and the resulting health problems. The exploitation and suffering of animal species...
Faced with these harmful consequences for the planet and living species, if they wish to get back on track and meet the ecological challenges they face, the sports shoe industry, like the entire fashion sector and the textile world, must reinvent themselves and review the production and consumption models on which they are based and which they nourish.
From fashionable and trendy sneakers to eco-responsible sports shoes, the challenge of sustainable sneakers.
The history of the eco-responsible sneaker.
To address socio-environmental issues, since the early 2000s, young sneaker brands attentive to current issues have been innovating by focusing on sustainable development. Their goal: to successfully combine the aesthetic codes of current fashion and the public's expectations in terms of design, while respecting the rules of production of an ethical sneaker, like your project vegan sneaker brand favorite.
What is a ethical basketball ?
In the world of eco-friendly sneaker or ethical footwear, each sneaker brand has its own definition of sustainable sports footwear.
Some choose to produce their sports sneakers in Asia or Latin America, while carrying out solidarity and social actions on site: helping factory employees and populations on the ground, reforestation by planting trees around the operating areas, etc.
Conversely, other ethical brands, like us, favor the production of Made in Europe sneakers (sneakers handmade in Europe), to limit their carbon impact and favor local and human production, normally guaranteed by European health and salary standards.
While some brands continue to manufacture their sneakers in classic animal leather, favoring vegetable tanning to avoid the nuisances of mineral tanning, vegan brands as COG, opt for manufacturing without materials of animal origin (vegan sneakers) in addition to recycled materials : recycled plastics recovered from the sea, material based on plant waste such as vegan leather (grape leather, imitation leather made from cereals, apple leather, etc.), recycled cotton, recycled bamboo, etc. Innovative materials, designed with respect for the planet and living things.
The trendy and eco-friendly sneaker, the perfect sneaker of tomorrow?
What is the perfect sneaker? A super comfortable sneaker? A flexible, colorful, stylish and technical running sneaker? A white basketball low carbon vegan, strong and durable, portable for any occasion and suitable for the city? Second-hand sneakers ? Maybe a mixture of all of these?
Here, in this case, everyone has their own vision, and it's up to us to imagine the perfect shoe of tomorrow.
At COG, our definition of luxury sneaker will always remain that of a sports shoe produced with respect for the planet and living beings.
And you, what is yours?
Diploma of sneaker expert and all-terrain sneaker specialist!
With all this knowledge about the world of basketball, you are at least ready to open a museum on the subject.
Thank you for reading this article to the end and for supporting us in our construction of a more responsible fashion by talking about COG around you and through the purchase of our eco-friendly sneakers and our various other models of vegan shoes.
An idea, a question, a wish to share with us regarding our models of vegan sneakers or our eco-friendly city shoes ? Do not hesitate to let us know via our contact form, or by email by writing to us at contact@cog-store.fr
