The history of sneakers: from commodity to cultural icon

By Naomi Braithwaite, Senior Lecturer in Fashion Marketing and Branding, Nottingham Trent University

Sneakers (or trainers if you’re British), once the symbol of athleticism, have transcended their primary function to become commercial and fashionable objects of desire. From sportswear and street style to catwalk fashion, sneakers have made their mark as cultural commodities.

The global sneaker market valued at approximately US$79 billion (£56 billion) in 2020 and is predicted to reach US$120 billion (£85 billion) by 2026. With such huge growth, it is unsurprising that…

Read complete article

~	Understanding the ‘Slopocene’: how the failures of AI can reveal its inner workings

~	Sexy K-pop demons, a human lie detector and shearers on strike: what to watch in July

~	‘My greatest handicap was the attitude of normal people.’ Alan Marshall’s artful polio memoir, I Can Jump Puddles, turns 70

~	We have drugs to manage HIV. So why are we spending millions looking for cures?

~	Trump’s worldview is causing a global shift of alliances – what does this mean for nations in the middle?

~	The rising rate of type 2 diabetes in young New Zealanders is becoming a health crisis

~	Budapest Pride 2025: A Record Crowd Stands Up for Democracy

~	Report reveals significant rise in civilian casualties and rights violations in Ukraine

~	Who’s the most American? Psychological studies show that many people are biased and think it’s a white English speaker

~	‘Completely unexpected’: Antarctic sea ice may be in terminal decline due to rising Southern Ocean salinity