The idea for sneakers came to Native Americans in the 16th century. It all started with their use of latex to cover the soles of their feet to protect them from harsh and treacherous terrains.
It was thanks to the vulcanization process that the actual sports shoe took shape. Through this process, latex became more durable. From then on, it was an automatic process; a few years later in England, the athletic shoe was invented, particularly favored by aristocrats.
Sneakers became a worldwide phenomenon in the early 1900s, thanks to the Athens Olympics where many athletes used them to play sports. Also at the 1936 Olympics, African-American athlete Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals wearing a pair of Adidas.
The transition to the mainstream world was thanks to Michael Jordan and the iconic Nike Jordans.
Today, sneakers are considered a super versatile product, usable in any context, from sports to elegant, passing through casual.
Let's conclude this brief treatise by explaining why they are called Sneakers:
The name comes from their rubber sole, which makes them very quiet compared to classic shoes, allowing the wearer to sneak up on people.