It is hard to think of streetwear without trainers. They started as equipment and became culture. If you want to know how sneaker culture shaped streetwear, start with the shoe on your own feet.
From function to fashion
Trainers were built for sport. Over time people wore them with everyday outfits, and the lines blurred. Classics like the Converse Chuck Taylor, the Adidas Superstar and Nike's Air Force 1 moved from courts and gyms onto the street. Nobody planned it. People simply liked how they looked and how comfy they were.
The Air Jordan effect
Nike's Air Jordan 1 arrived in 1985 and changed what a trainer could be. It was a sports shoe that people wanted as a statement. Basketball, music and style were suddenly in the same conversation, and fans wanted to wear the story as well as watch it.
Hip hop got there early
Artists and fans were wearing certain trainers long before brands caught up. Run-DMC's track "My Adidas" is a well known example of music pulling a shoe into culture. The street decided what was cool first. The industry followed.
Collecting and queues
Limited releases created queues and resale markets. Owning a rare pair became a mark of knowledge. Some people collect for the love of design. Some just want one great pair they look after. Both are valid.
Collaborations
Partnerships between trainer brands, designers and artists turned shoes into stories. A colourway can nod to a city, a team or a friendship. That is why a pair can mean more than the sum of its parts.
Style follows the shoe
Many outfits are built outwards from the footwear: colours, trouser length, layers. A few easy ways to do it:
- Pick one colour from the trainers and repeat it in a cap or a bag.
- Let the hem of your trousers sit just on the shoe or just above it, so the trainer gets seen.
- If the trainers are loud, keep the hoodie and trousers calm.
- If the trainers are plain white or black, you have more room to play with the top half.
Common mistakes
Dirty trainers undo a good outfit fast. A quick wipe-down goes a long way. The other mistake is buying something purely because it is hyped. If you would not wear it twice a week, think again.
Does sneaker culture still matter?
Yes. It taught streetwear to value storytelling, scarcity and self expression. Those ideas now run through clothing as well as footwear, including the thinking behind elevated streetwear.
Read how to style statement trainers next, or see our streetwear guide for the bigger picture. Ready to build the outfit around your favourite pair? Have a look at the shop.
MORE LUV.