See the Incredible Evolution of Sneakers in the Brooklyn Museum's Latest Exhibit

By Andrea Cheng
Updated Jul 14, 2015 @ 4:15 pm
Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts

When the athleisure movement (in conjunction with the normcore trend) started to gain traction last year, there was a discernible shift in the shoe sphere, in which teetering sky-high stilettos stepped aside to make room for comfy kicks in throwback styles, graphic florals, and everything in between. Enter customization, designer collabs, and celebrity limited edition launches, and sneaker options are impossibly endless.

Following in the footsteps of its "Killer Heels: Art of the High Heel Shoe" exhibit, Brooklyn Museum has put on an exhibition "The Rise of Sneaker Culture" that explores, well, sneaker culture, tracing its origins from the 1800s to the present, touching on the Air Jordan phenomenon, innovative styles, and high-fashion designs throughout history.

"The Rise of Sneaker Culture is the first exhibition to explore the complex social history and cultural significance of the footwear now worn by billions of people throughout the world," states a Brooklyn Museum press release. The exhibit, which features 150 pairs of sneakers, will be on display from now until October 4 at the Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, N.Y.).

But in case you won't be in the area anytime soon, we brought the exhibit to you. Ahead, study up on the evolution of sneakers, courtesy of the museum.

PHOTOS: See the Evolution of Sneakers from the Brooklyn Museum's "Rise of Sneaker Culture" Exhibit

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Thomas Dutton and Thorowgood

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Running Shoe, 1860–65 

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Converse Rubber Shoe Company

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts

All Star/Non Skid, 1917 

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Dominion Rubber Company

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Fleet Foot, circa 1925 

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Gebrüdder Dassler Schuhfabrik

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Modell Waitzer, 1936 

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Converse

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Gripper, late 1940s-early 1950s 

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Nike

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Waffle Trainer, 1974 

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Adidas

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Stan Smith, circa 1980s 

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Adidas 

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Micropacer, 1984 

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Nike

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Air Jordan I, 1985 

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Nike

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Air Jordan III, 1988 

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Nike 

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Foamposite, 1997 

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Nike x Supreme 

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Dunk High Pro SB, 2003 

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Nike x Tom Sachs 

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts

NikeCraft Lunar Underboot Aeroply Experimentation Research Boot Prototype, 2008–12 

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Louis Vuitton x Kanye West 

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Don, 2009 

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Pierre Hardy 

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Poworama, 2011 

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adidas x Run—DMC

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

25th Anniversary Superstar, 2011 

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PUMA x Undefeated 

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Clyde Gametime Gold, 2012 

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Common Projects 

Credit: Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Achilles Low, 2015 

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By Andrea Cheng