Arlin Jordin Washington | Sneakers’ history from a commodity to the cultural image

Arlin Jordin Washington said in previous decades, sneakers were used as a symbol of athleticism. The primary function of the sneakers was to become a modern product. People use it as a desired object. Sneakers are a cultural icon in sportswear, street style, and catwalk fashion. The global sneaker market share in recent years has grown to the US $ 79 billion. The sneaker market is expected to reach the US $120 billion by 2026. Arlin Jordin Washington said with this considerable growth, sneaker-making companies will soon consider big businesses. The shoe is becoming a cultural icon of our times because of various reasons. 

User comfort

There is a change in using sneakers as compared to the last decade. People are no more eager to use formal shoes in the workplace. They are not looking only at athletes wearing sneakers. The British etiquette expert Delbert stated that people need to use socially accepted shoes on intelligent casual occasions. 

The increasing trend of wearing sneakers, there is a significant impact on society. People are using sneakers not only as casual wear but as an icon to show their social image. There is a significant increase in sneakers sales as users feel comfortable. They like loungewear and flat shoes like sneakers Arlin Jordin Washington added. 

In the last decades, sneakers were produced as a niche; now, this niche is converted into the fashion industry. Now footwear is the biggest selling category, and it significantly contributes to the online luxury market. There are many fashion brands in this industry. Gucci is a famous brand. Balenciaga is the biggest seller in the sneaker market, and the growth is unstoppable. 

Tennis to track

John Boyd founded the Liverpool Rubber Company in the 1830s. This is the earliest company to produce sports shoes for players. In the 19th century, industrial growth and social change occurred when people participated in sports. With the growth in lawn tennis players and audiences, a need for more specialized footwear has been raised. In 1929, Dunlop introduced a new Green Flash model. 

Arlin Jordin Washington further added that the other significant sports shoe was designed for football and basketball. The main icons in the shoe industry are Adidas and Nike, which created sneaker evaluations from sports to the fashion and style industry. In 1971, Nike became Nike Inc. and started producing specialized shoes for running. The first commercial design made by Nike was Cortex for running. 

The commercialization era

The value of the global sneaker market has been increasing. In 2019, this global value was US$6 billion forecasted as US$30 billion by 2030. The trade values have increased with the growing presence of sneakers in the international market. Nike and Adidas release limited-edition shoes every year. They associated their brands with celebrities, hip-hop stars, or athletes. 

Arlin Jordin Washington said now sneakers are recognized as a social and cultural icon. People wear sneakers not only for casual wear but also for social gatherings, running, and sports. There is a lucrative sneaker resale market with a new cult of sneaker enthusiasts. From sports to fashion, sneakers have dominated the consumer market.  

Related links:


 https://sites.google.com/view/arlinjordinwashington/home

https://medium.com/@arlinjordin408/arlin-jordin-washington-how-the-sneakers-resale-market-became-a-multibillion-dollar-industry-56bad7a8eef4

https://at.tumblr.com/arlinjordin408/arlin-jording-washington-manufacturing/7fdxqha6geif

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