Download or read book Kicks written by Nicholas Smith and published by Crown. This book was released on 2019-04-30 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “A vivid picture of how what we wear on our feet can tell us what it really means to be an American.”—Vanity Fair “Expansive, thorough, and entertaining . . . a comprehensive look at how much the sneaker became a signature indicator of cool.”—The Wall Street Journal A cultural history of sneakers, tracing the footprint of one of our most iconic fashions across sports, business, pop culture, and American identity “It’s gotta be the shoes.” When Spike Lee said it to Michael Jordan in a 1989 commercial, it was with a wink and a nod—what makes MJ so good? His Nike Air Jordan IIIs, of course. But as Nicholas Smith reveals in this captivating history, Lee’s line also speaks to the sneaker’s place at the heart of American culture. Once the athletic shoe graduated from the beaches and croquet courts of the wealthy elite to streetwear ubiquity, its journey through the heart of American life was just getting started. In this rollicking narrative, Nicholas K. Smith carries us through the long twentieth century as sneakers became the totem of subcultures. We follow the humble athletic and watch as sneakers become the calling card of California skaters and New York MCs, the spark of riots and gang violence, the heart of a global economic controversy, the muse of haute couture, and a lynchpin in the transformation of big sports into big business. Along the way, we meet larger-than-life mavericks and surprising visionaries: genius rubber inventor Charles Goodyear, risking everything to get his formula right; the warring brothers who started dueling shoe empires; road-warrior Chuck Taylor, hawking shoes out of his trunk; and many more mavericks, hustlers, and dreamers. With a sure stride and a broad footprint, Kicks introduces us to an influential and evolving legacy.
Download or read book The Story of Sneakers written by Mae Respicio and published by Capstone. This book was released on 2024-08 with total page 33 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Trainers. Runners. Kicks. No matter what you call them, sneakers are a great way to show off your style. But who invented this famous footwear? How are sneakers made? And how do they end up in stores and closets around the world? Find out in this informational book all about sneakers.
Download or read book Sneaker Century written by Amber J. Keyser and published by Twenty-First Century Books ™. This book was released on 2017-01-01 with total page 86 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Whether you call them kicks or sneakers, runners or gutties, you probably have a pair of athletic shoes in your closet. The earliest sneakers debuted in the 1800s and weren't much more than a canvas upper and a flexible sole made of a crazy new material—rubber. The stuff might have been new to Americans then, but for thousands of years, the indigenous peoples of the Amazon Basin of South America had been using latex made from the milky sap of hevea trees to protect their feet from rocks, sticks, and biting insects. Once Charles Goodyear figured out how to make the stuff more durable, sneakers were here to stay. Early sneakers were initially designed for elite athletes, but kids and teens quickly adopted them. Some of the first brands included Converse, Brooks, and Saucony. German companies Adidas and Puma started up during World War II. The Nike shoe debuted in the 1970s (with a bit of inspiration from a waffle iron). As fitness crazes took off in the 1980s, people all over the world started buying the shoes for workouts and everyday wear. At about the same time, companies began hiring high-profile athletes and pop stars for big-dollar endorsements, and shoe sales soared into the stratosphere to the tune of billions of dollars each year. In Sneaker Century, follow sneaker fashions and the larger-than-life personalities behind the best known athletic shoe brands in history. Learn how teen sneakerheads became important style makers and drove the success of NIKE, Inc., and other shoe companies. Look behind the scenes at the labor-intensive process of manufacturing sneakers. Explore the sneaker frontier of the future—recycled shoes, earth-friendly initiatives, and high-fashion statements. Get ready to speed through the Sneaker Century!
Download or read book Sneakers written by Blake Hoena and published by Graphic Universe TM. This book was released on 2022-08-01 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and sentence highlighting for an engaging read aloud experience! Sneakers grew out of efforts to make more durable, more comfortable shoes—and became a major link between sports and fashion. Their sales rose with the popularity of tennis and exploded along with basketball, leading to celebrity endorsements, big-name brands, and continued technological breakthroughs. In the twenty-first century, sneakers are still evolving, along with "sneaker influencer" social media, smart tech, and other hot new trends.
Download or read book The Story of Sneakers written by Mae Respicio and published by Capstone. This book was released on 2024-08 with total page 33 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Trainers. Runners. Kicks. No matter what you call them, sneakers are a great way to show off your style. But who invented this famous footwear? How are sneakers made? And how do they end up in stores and closets around the world? Find out in this informational book all about sneakers.
Download or read book A History of Basketball in Fifteen Sneakers written by Russ Bengtson and published by Workman Publishing Company. This book was released on 2023-10-10 with total page 412 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A celebration of the iconic shoes and superstars who have defined the sport for decades, A History of Basketball in Fifteen Sneakers tells the story of hoops as only shoes can. The ultimate book for both hoops fans and sneaker obsessives, A History of Basketball in Fifteen Sneakers is an exciting and fascinating look at the sport written with authority and experience by former Complex and SLAM magazine editor Russ Bengtson. From primeval Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars to baroque Reebok Pumps and myth-making Air Jordans to super-high-tech Nike Adapt BBs, each chapter breaks down how a specific sneaker defined an era of basketball, transformed the culture, or changed the game. With full-color sneaker photographs and detailed illustrations throughout, the book is a kaleidoscopic celebration of the players, styles, and iconic moments that have shaped hoops both on and off the court. Topics include: Walt Frazier's PUMA Clydes and the New York City street game; Michael Jordan's first signature Air Jordan and the birth of the modern global basketball superstar; Nike Air Swoopes and the evolution of the women’s game; sneaker tech and the rise of retro; and much more.
Download or read book How It Happened Sneakers written by Stephanie Warren Drimmer and published by Union Square & Co.. This book was released on 2023-04-18 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Find out how sneakers took over the world in this fact-filled nonfiction book, part of a series about the stories behind cool objects! From going to school to shopping at the mall, sneakers are one of the most comfortable ways to get around. But how did these rubbery soles become everyone’s favorite shoe to stomp in? Readers will love learning about the story behind sneakers, from the world’s oldest shoe to the latest designer sneaker drop . . . and everything in between!
Download or read book The Sports Shoe written by Thomas Turner and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2019-02-21 with total page 297 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Meticulously researched and beautifully produced." Times Literary Supplement "A big and beautiful book." Journal of British Studies "A definitive history of the sports shoe." Amber Butchart, fashion historian "A necessary book [and] a great read." Samuel Smallidge, Archivist, Converse "Both educational and entertaining." Scene Point Blank The story of the sneaker's rise from the first Victorian tennis shoes to the Nike Air Max and beyond. Moving from the athletic field to the shopping mall, Thomas Turner tells a fresh story of the evolution of the sports shoe against the changing landscape of society, sport, fashion, industry, and technology. The Sports Shoe takes us on a journey from the first Victorian tennis shoes to the sneaker of today, to the adidas Superstar and the innovative technologies of Nike Air Max. Featuring newly uncovered archival material and historic images showcasing key personalities, vintage marketing and common perceptions of this hugely desirable product, this book is a must-have for any sneaker collector, historian of popular culture, or anyone interested in the place of athletic footwear in our lives today.
Download or read book 23 Roots written by Frank J. Gonzalez and published by 11/13 Publishing Group. This book was released on 2014-06-14 with total page 73 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 23 Roots: The History Behind The First 23 Pairs of Air Jordan Sneakers takes you on a ride through the first 23 years of Air Jordan sneakers. This book digs deep into the roots of the Air Jordan brand and brings you the inspiration behind each design, as well as a list of the sneakers that were originally released with images, original release year and original retail price. 23 Roots is sure to take you down memory lane, and revisit the feeling and story behind how you finally acquired that specific pair of prized kicks. Whether you've just gained a passion for Air Jordan sneakers or are a veteran collector with closets full of sneaker boxes, 23 Roots is a must have book for ALL sneaker enthusiasts.
Download or read book Shoes written by Giorgio Riello and published by Bloomsbury Academic. This book was released on 2011-10-25 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From practical wardrobe accessories to objects of desire, this book is a stunning visual and fascinating historical reference exploring every aspect of shoes. From ancient times to the present, shoes have been so much more than things to walk in. We use them to signal how fashionable we are, but beyond style, shoes can communicate our sexual desires, aesthetic sense, social status, and personality. Within the pages of this lavishly illustrated book, you'll find the cultural mixed with the practical as the story of shoes unfolds from the foot-binding shoes of China to the infamous twenty-three-inch chopine platform shoe to the mens' shoes worn by dandies of the eighteenth century to the move toward conservatism that brought the Wellington boot to the irresistible sex appeal of the high heel to the cult rise of the sneaker. Shoes is a revealing, insightful, and beautifully presented fashion history collection.
Download or read book The Story of Nike written by Aaron Frisch and published by Jaico Publishing House. This book was released on 2013-11-19 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Did you know... The original name of Nike was Blue Ribbon Sports? The first 5 pairs of the company’s shoes were imported from Japan? Phil Knight was just 24 years old when he launched the athletic shoe company, Nike, a company that would shortly become a frontrunner on a fast track. Named after the Greek goddess of victory, today Nike is the world’s #1 shoe and apparel company. We bring you the story about the origins, leaders, growth and products of Nike, a paragon of technological innovation in the market for sportsinspired products and services. JAICO’S CREATIVE COMPANIES SERIES explores how today’s great companies operate and inspires young readers to become the entrepreneurs and businessmen of tomorrow.
Download or read book Sneakers x Culture Collab written by Elizabeth Semmelhack and published by Rizzoli Publications. This book was released on 2019-10-29 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A celebration of the great sneaker collaborations that have reimagined the shoe, elevating this most practical of footwear into the realm of wearable art. The ubiquitous sneaker is the canvas upon which so many defiers of convention--artists, musicians, athletes, and celebrities--have sought to make their mark and through the sneaker contribute to a unique identity and attitude among sneakerheads everywhere. Collected here are the best sneaker collaborations with the biggest makers--Adidas, Converse, Nike, Puma, Reebok--featuring nearly one hundred famous, infamous, and lesser-known partnerships. Museum-quality studio photographs of each sneaker are accompanied by visuals collected from the archives of sneaker makers, as well as ephemera such as design sketches and drawings illustrating the creative process. Author Elizabeth Semmelhack has conducted interviews with many collaborators, including an extensive Q&A with Chris Hill, design manager of Reebok, who has worked with Pyer Moss, Cam'ron, and many others. In her introduction, Semmelhack explores the history of collaborations, starting at the beginning with Jack Purcell, whose sneakers remain virtually unchanged today. More than eighty sneaker collaborations are featured, including Virgil Abloh (ten styles!), KAWS, Pharrell Williams, Bobbito Garcia, Damien Hirst, Jeremy Scott, Eminem, Supreme, Chanel, Missoni, Rihanna, Missy Elliott, Dr. Woo, and Fear of God.
Download or read book Sneakers written by Rodrigo Corral and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2017-10-24 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “Sneakers covers nearly everything there is to know about the vast universe of everyone’s favorite comfy athletic shoes.”—Parade “A beautifully assembled collage of image, experience, and inspiration.”—Vogue "One of this year's coolest books."—Men's Journal "The definitive story of the sneaker universe."—WSJ Magazine Featuring exclusive interviews with Virgil Abloh (Off-White), Daniel Bailey, Ronnie Fieg (Kith), DJ Clark Kent, Serena Williams, Alexander Wang, Kobe Bryant and many, many others. Through honesty, intimacy, intelligence, and swagger, Sneakers amounts to a singular rubber-soled taxonomy, a global group portrait of a culture that’s both personal and public, driven by commitment and curiosity, and sustained by our definitive cast of storytellers, historians, and artists. An absolute necessity for design devotees and sneakerheads of all ages! Sneakers is a definitive exploration of the cultural phenomenon of sneakers, now an 85-billion-dollar-a-year industry. This gift-worthy book features 320 pages of photos and interviews with industry gurus, sports legends, and celebrities in a stunning package created by celebrated designer Rodrigo Corral. The book’s carefully-curated list of participants takes readers to the center of the action. Edson Sabajo, owner of Amsterdam’s seminal sneaker boutique, Patta, leads a sneaker hunt that starts in the back-alleys of Philadelphia and ends in the Middle East. Jeff Staple, designer of a pair of sneakers that resells for $6000, recalls the sneaker riot his design kicked off on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 2005. Jim Riswold dishes on making commercials with Michael Jordan. Ronnie Fieg explains the collaborative magic of KITH. Adidas’s Rachel Muscat and Jon Wexler get philosophical about their star collaborator, Kanye West. Nike’s legendary Tinker Hatfield takes a glimpse into the future. Professional tennis player Serena Williams shares an exclusive reveal. And much, much more. From its arresting cover design and thought-provoking interiors to the unprecedented depth of its first-person accounts, Sneakers is an absolute must-have for sneaker lovers and anyone who is interested in design, creative process, street culture, branding, entrepreneurship, art and fashion.
Download or read book My Kicks Read Along written by Susan Verde and published by Abrams. This book was released on 2017-12-01 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Boys love sneakers. But when a child finds that his toes have outgrown his favorite shoes, and they’ve gotten too dirty and smelly, his mom says it’s time for a new pair. Resistant to let go, the boy reminisces about all the good times he’s had with his favorite kicks on the city streets. There’s the paint splatter from his masterpiece and the drip from a Popsicle. There’s the scuff from when he fell off his skateboard. And there are those frayed laces that he learned to tie in bows and doubles. A new pair just won’t be the same. But, with bigger shoes to fill, the boy realizes new adventures await him. Maybe he could paint a little better? Or skate a little faster? This new picture book from the bestselling author of I Am Yoga explores the love and pride that kids have for their sneakers and the joy that can be found in growing up, growing out, and moving on. Read along!
Download or read book Chucks written by Hal Peterson and published by Skyhorse. This book was released on 2016-08-16 with total page 359 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this book, shoe enthusiast Hal Peterson takes an in-depth look at the history, significance, and magic of “Chucks.” Originally a rubber shoe company, Converse rolled out the canvas All Star in 1917, nicknamed “Chucks” for the basketball hall-of-famer, Charles “Chuck” Taylor, who was a lifelong promoter. The shoe quickly became a phenomenon that has lasted for nearly a century with a fanbase that has varied greatly. Though they have a simple, classic style, the many shoes photographed here make clear that true believers always find ways to individualize their favorite footwear, even though black was the only color available for almost fifty years. Peterson explores trends in everything from lace styles to color schemes and highlights Converse’s feature that allows you to “design your own.” He also takes a look at the social importance of Chucks: appearing in sports, rock and roll, movies, and art, they are known as one of the most iconic examples of twentieth-century footwear design. What is it about this sneaker that makes it so culturally pervasive? With help from Converse-wearers, we’ll find the answers.
Download or read book Sneakers written by Neal Heard and published by Welbeck. This book was released on 2022-11-08 with total page 480 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Now in its fifth edition, this comprehensive and highly illustrated edition of Sneakers spans over 300 shoes, while also giving advice on shoe care and maintenance.
Download or read book Shoemaker written by Joe Foster and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2020-10-01 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The remarkable story of how Joe Foster developed Reebok into one of the world's most famous sports brands, having started from a small factory in Bolton. Since the late 19th century, the Foster family had been hand-making running shoes, supplying the likes of Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams - later immortalised in the film Chariots of Fire - as well as providing boots to most Football League clubs. But a family feud between Foster's father and uncle about the direction of their business led to Joe and his brother Jeff setting up a new company, inspired by the success of Adidas and Puma, and so Reebok was born. At first, money was so short that Joe and his wife had to live in their rundown factory, while the machinery that made the shoes was placed around the edge of the floor, because it was so weak it could have collapsed if they'd been positioned in the middle. But, from this inauspicious start, a major new player in the sports equipment field began to emerge, inspired by Joe's marketing vision. By the 1980s, Reebok had become a global phenomenon, when they were the first to latch onto the potential of the aerobics craze inspired by Jane Fonda. Soon, Reeboks were being seen on Hollywood red carpets and even in the film Aliens, where Sigourney Weaver wore a pair of Reebok Alien Stompers. Like the international bestseller Shoe Dog, by Nike's Phil Knight, Shoemaker is a powerful tale of triumph against all the odds, revealing the challenges and sacrifices that go into creating a world-beating brand; it is also the story of how a small local business can transform itself, with the right products and the right vision, into something much, much bigger.
