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The cult-like following of sneakers is well and truly alive, probably more than ever before. With today's generation's fascination and attraction to everything vintage and retro, it's virtually impossible for certain sneakers ever to lose their grip on sneaker society. In fact, those sneakers made a resurgence in modern times and are more popular now than when they originally came out over 20 years ago. From Lacoste trainers the classic Vans variety.
There will always exist those rare and impenetrable shoes that will never, ever go out of style. It’s a no-brainer that an Adidas Stan Smith will always win the hearts of sneaker-heads, and a Chuck Taylor All-Star will never go away. This is the reality of sneaker culture from the past to the present.
In saying that, let’s take a closer look at some of these shoes that will seemingly never leave the limelight.
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Stan Smith (Adidas)
Created in 1964 by Adidas and French tennis player Robert Haillet, these leather classics were only known by the now famous “Stan Smith” title after 1978 when Adidas became the official sponsor of tennis star Stanley Roger Smith. Yes, he is a real person!
The ever-popular green tongue has since been adorned with the signature and portrait of its namesake tennis phenom. Jumping from the tennis court to the streets, the shoe sold over 70 million pairs worldwide by 1990, resulting in it being included in the Guinness Book of Records.
The sneaker took a small hiatus before returning with a massive bang in 2014 and has been the go-to sneaker for the stylish and sporty alike ever since. Its popularity has only continued to rise and will continue to do so well into the future. '64 until forever!
Air Max (Nike)
The idea of foot cushioning in a shoe wasn't a reality until NASA aeronautical engineer Frank Rudy captured high-density gasses in a urethane airbag and first proposed the idea to Nike. The result was the first “Air” shoe produced by the brand, namely the Nike Tailwind, in 1979.
The rest was history. Soon after, Nike produced the first official Air Max sneaker with a visible window in the heel showcasing the cushioning. The shoes became all the rage, and the merge of sports shoes with street shoes was well and truly complete. In 2014, it was announced that March 26 would forever be known as Air Max Day in honor of the popular and classic cushioned sneaker.
The design keeps evolving as new technology becomes available, and it’s safe to say these shoes will hold fast to their place in popular culture.
Chuck Taylor All-Star (Converse)
In 1922, the Converse Rubber Brand hired Charles “Chuck” Taylor as their staff basketball coach. This was the first step in the rising popularity of the classic Chuck Taylor All-Star sneaker. Mr. Taylor made such an impact on basketball coaches and players around America that his name became synonymous with All-Star sneakers and basketball.
Pretty soon, his signature had been etched into the shoe's signature heel patch, and the Chuck Taylor All-Star dynasty was born. The popular die-hard sneaker is now worn to its ultimate end by people who love the classic shoe. It's gone from a basketball sneaker to a stylish, culturally significant part of society that still thrives today.
Old Skool (Vans)
Created in 1977 and the first of the brand skate shoes to make use of the signature side stripe, Old Skool Vans burst onto the skate and culture scene with a bang. The style was the first skate shoe to incorporate leather panels and quickly made its way onto the world's stage as the shoe of cool.
The fact that the shoe is named Old Skool was an ode to the growing interest in vintage-styled gear, a fascination that has continued to this day. If you want a shoe that's timeless and will never go out of style, the Vans Old Skools are for you.
Air Jordan (Nike)
In 1985, basketball icon Michael Jordan debuted the Nike Air Jordan 1; the rest is history. The cult-classic sneaker was the first Nike design to make use of the now-famous Swoosh logo as well as the wings on its side. To say that Air Jordans are timeless is an understatement. In 2021, a pair of game-worn Air Jordans smashed the auction record at Sotheby's, selling for a massive $1.5 million.
Michael Jordan has become the godfather of basketball culture, and even fans born after he retired are as passionate about the Air Jordan line as anyone. This just shows the power of the sneaker’s design and following.
Conclusion
While there are a few more sneakers to mention, the above list is quite comprehensive and more than likely to last well into the future. If you don't own any of the above, you'd do well to get yourself a pair soon!