St.

Germain 1

Destefano St. Germain

Professor Deby Dagher
English 1102
14 June 2015
Sneaker Culture: From the Lab to the Streets
The day that I bought my first ever pair of Jordan will forever change my life. It was the
summer of 2003 on a nice crisp New York day. Like every weekend my mother will entertain my
brother and I with spectacular window shopping. On this day, we stopped at one sneaker store
and in the window display was the most phenomenal sneaker that my eyes have ever seen. It was
the Air Jordan 17 Baby Blue and was on sale for $100. Every weekend my brother and I will
plead and beg for our mom to stop and actually buy us something. I made every wish in the book
so my mom will buy me these amazing sneakers. I promised to clean my room, the bathroom,
kitchen, and even her room. With the grace of luck my mom finally gave in and bought the
sneakers for me. I do not know where or what happened to those shoes but, I do know that day
open my eyes to what sneakers mean and represent. With age came the greater respect and love
for sneakers that will consume my daily activities with the only goal to buy more shoes.
Sneakers mean that I have to ability to express the way I feel every day. I have over 20
pairs of sneakers and each shoe has a meaning of purchase for sentimental reasons or just for
coolness. I wanted this inquiry project to shoe that buying shoes is not a dull and simple process.
Buyers gather information about the sneakers they are going to purchase and obtaining a certain
sneaker can be a life-long achievement. Sneakers represent art and the meaning of this culture is
to explore ones self-expression and to have the ability to be creative.

St. Germain 2

A counter culture is the breakaway from the norm of the existing culture. The sneaker
industry evolved from being dull and a necessity to a fashion statement. Sneakers have played a
vital role in shaping the American youth and maintaining a cultural standard. The sneaker culture
is a young subculture that many do not understand but, recognize its presence in todays society.
Sneakers have become more like fashion items or personal technology products than shoes
(Vanderbilt 116). This culture roots can be traced back to the mid-80s and early 90s where the
idea for paying for sneakers that were over $100 was foreign.
The rap group Run-DMC can easily be credited as the pioneers of the sneaker culture.
They were the first to make sneakers cool and fashionable. Run-DMC spoke for a whole
generation of sneaker lovers who bought Adidas for the sole purpose to look cool (Cunningham
2). The hip-hop culture was formed and it latched itself to an already established business. I feel
the importance of this culture demonstrates the mindset of the youth. Many young kids are the
ones who buy sneakers and this culture allows people from various walk of life to connect to this
particular love.
To really understand the sneaker culture; you will have to look at the millions of people
across the globe who have sacrificed their time and money for a pair of shoes. People make look
at it as crazy or unintelligent but, these sneakerheads like me view it as a passion. In the
movie, Just for Kicks, the interviewees explain how the culture emerged but, truly expressed
what a sneaker meant to them. Grandmaster Caz stated I love some sneakers more than I love
some people (Just for Kicks, 2005). Throughout my research, I discovered multiple accounts of
people who shared the same passion as I do about sneakers. A culture supplies a foundation and
background that allow for the growth of individuals.

St. Germain 3

One main thing that I love about sneakers is the ability to create something new. New
development in CAD, digital manufacturing and materials could create a huge breadth of design
opportunities (Smock 2). The aspect of creating allows for the growth of inspiration and make
anyone a sneaker designer. Companies like Nike, Converse, and Adidas all supply the ability for
someone to design their own unique personal shoe. The ability to take a simple idea and create
something new is a goal that we all want to achieve. My main fundamental reason to do research
on the sneaker world was to provide an inside look of the mindset of millions of people. Some
buy sneakers for sentimental reason and others buy them to look cool. No matter what the reason
is; sneakers gives someone individuality. You can un-laced the laces, draw on your shoes, or
create something new. The culture exists for people to be individuals. The reason why I stand in
line for hours or spend over $200 on a pair of sneaker is for the ability to turn that sneaker into
my own passion.
I see myself as a student/collector of sneakers. I do not always have the financial means
to buy certain shoes but, I love to learn the history behind them. Each of my shoes are a personal
reminder of story of why I bought that particular shoe. I would keep on buying sneakers because
there will always be a sneaker that will either peak my interest or have an emotional impact. Its
not about the number of pairs of shoes I have its the story behind each shoe that makes them
priceless.
While conducting this research I was able to reconfirm what sneakers truly meant to me. I
have entered a culture that is purely based on being different. Many people do not understand
this culture because it is totally out of the norm of todays society. Footwear should exclusively
be looked at as an object while this culture gives sneakers their own personality. Sneakers are
about defining yourself, becoming yourself through slogan, logo, and look (Vanderbilt 122).

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Every aspect of this culture examines the idea to be different. Even though some sneaker prices
can be ridiculously high, but the opportunity to have something that is totally yours and able to
be creative with it is worth more than any money in the world.

Additions:
Sneakers mean that I have to ability to express the way I feel every day. I have over 20 pairs of
sneakers and each shoe has a meaning of purchase for sentimental reasons or just for coolness. I
wanted this inquiry project to shoe that buying shoes is not a dull and simple process. Buyers
gather information about the sneakers they are going to purchase and obtaining a certain sneaker
can be a life-long achievement. Sneakers represent art and the meaning of this culture is to
explore ones self-expression and to have the ability to be creative.
I see myself as a student/collector of sneakers. I do not always have the financial means to buy
certain shoes but, I love to learn the history behind them. Each of my shoes are a personal
reminder of story of why I bought that particular shoe. I would keep on buying sneakers because
there will always be a sneaker that will either peak my interest or have an emotional impact. Its
not about the number of pairs of shoes I have its the story behind each shoe that makes them
priceless.

St. Germain 5

Works Citied
Cunningham, Caroline. "You Are Whats On Your Feet: Men and the Sneaker Subculture." You
Are Whats On Your Feet: Men and the Sneaker Subculture (2008): n. pag. Drexel
Library. 2008. Web. 1 June 2015.
Just for Kicks. Dir. Thibaut De Longeville. Perf. Bill Adler and Grandmaster Caz and Damon
Dash. YouTube. YouTube, 29 Oct. 2014. Web. 28 May 2015.
Vanderbilt, Tom. "The Cheerleaders: Advertising and Marketing." The Sneaker Book: Anatomy
of an Industry and an Icon. New York: New, 1998. 115-38. Print.
Smock, D. "Make Your Own Shoes: Advanced Product Engineering at Companies, Such As New
Balance Athletic Shoe Co. in Boston, Show How Computer-Aided Design, Digital
Manufacturing and Materials Technology May Soon Lead to Personalized Sneakers."
Design News Highlands Ranch Co. 64.5 (2009): 42-48. Print.
Neasman, Brandon. "Can I Kick It?: Hip-hop's Intimate Relationship with the Sneaker Industry."
TheGrio. Thegrio.com, 05 Dec. 2013. Web. 04 June 2015.