Why The #SneakerCulture Exhibit Should Resonate With Everyone

Photo: Courtesy American Federation of Arts
Converse Rubber Shoe circa 1917 

Words by: Kevin L. Clark

Whether you’re a Millennial or an old-head, there’s been one point in your life where you’ve worn sneakers as everyday footwear.

It doesn’t matter if you call them “kicks”, “sneaks”, or “clompers” — the nature of the sneaker culture was put on full display at New York City’s Brooklyn Museum. Thankfully, yours truly was able to be on hand to check out the first exhibition to “explore the complex social history and cultural significance” of the footwear such as Nike and Adidas. As a kid of the Michael Jordan-influenced ’80s, it was a dream to see so many shoes that I grew up loving, live and in living color.

Organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum, the Elizabeth Semmelhack-curated exhibit brought together people of all ages for a nostalgic trip through the history of sneaker culture that still dominates the headlines. At first, I heard whispers about what Kanye West left behind for viewing, how Hip-Hop legends Run-DMC paid tribute to their fallen member, and just why His Airness had the world in the palm of his hands. Yet, I earnestly couldn’t stop staring at the range of different sneakers from the past century.

With about 150 pairs from the mid-19th century to present day, the exhibition broke down a myriad of topical conversations. From just how sneakers went from being a sports shoe to a staple of street fashion (with additions like Staple Design and Rick Owens) to witnessing the formation of how the rubber was used to create primitive designs that led to revolutionary stuff like the 1917 Converse All-Star. One of the more intriguing presentations was a side-piece detailing the history of sneakers being thrown up on telephone wires in impoverished neighborhoods.

While it was hard to make out what was being said, due to the amount of people present inside the room, it was really cool to see that such care being made in providing nuanced social information. To be fair, I wasn’t a massive shoe collector growing up. In part, it was because I didn’t make enough money as a teen to purchase the $150-plus sneakers and I wanted to buy a car more than some J’s. Interestingly enough, there was one pair of shoes that I really yearned for during my youth — the Shaqnosis — a Reebok shoe that was really popular in the mid-1990s.

For sneakerheads, everything from Keds to Pumas were available to anyone wondering about the evolution of the sneaker. As I traversed the exhibit, which was put together in general chronological order, I saw just how the culture went from rubber and canvas to aerodynamic works of art. Truly fascinating stuff, since today’s world is full of disposable items and this Rise Of The Sneaker Culture documents the growth of a billion dollar industry.

Read more about the exhibit on the next page!

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