Brooklyn Museum's Rise of Sneaker Culture Exhibition

Thomas Dutton and Thorowgood

Running Shoe, 1860–65

Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Converse Rubber Shoe Company

All Star/Non Skid, 1917

Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Dominion Rubber Company

Fleet Foot, circa 1925

Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Gebrüdder Dassler Schuhfabrik

Modell Waitzer, 1936

Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Converse

Gripper, late 1940s-early 1950s

Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Nike

Waffle Trainer, 1974

Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Adidas

Stan Smith, circa 1980s

Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Adidas

Micropacer, 1984

Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Nike

Air Jordan I, 1985

Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Nike

Air Jordan III, 1988

Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Nike

Foamposite, 1997

Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Nike x Supreme

Dunk High Pro SB, 2003

Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Nike x Tom Sachs

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

Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Louis Vuitton x Kanye West

Don, 2009

Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Pierre Hardy

Poworama, 2011

Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

adidas x Run—DMC

25th Anniversary Superstar, 2011

Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

PUMA x Undefeated

Clyde Gametime Gold, 2012

Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Common Projects

Achilles Low, 2015

Courtesy American Federation of Arts

1 of 19

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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

1 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Thomas Dutton and Thorowgood

Running Shoe, 1860–65

2 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Converse Rubber Shoe Company

All Star/Non Skid, 1917

3 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Dominion Rubber Company

Fleet Foot, circa 1925

4 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Gebrüdder Dassler Schuhfabrik

Modell Waitzer, 1936

5 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Converse

Gripper, late 1940s-early 1950s

6 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Nike

Waffle Trainer, 1974

7 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Adidas

Stan Smith, circa 1980s

8 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Adidas

Micropacer, 1984

9 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Nike

Air Jordan I, 1985

10 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Nike

Air Jordan III, 1988

11 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Nike

Foamposite, 1997

12 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Nike x Supreme

Dunk High Pro SB, 2003

13 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Nike x Tom Sachs

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

14 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Louis Vuitton x Kanye West

Don, 2009

15 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

Pierre Hardy

Poworama, 2011

16 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

adidas x Run—DMC

25th Anniversary Superstar, 2011

17 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum

PUMA x Undefeated

Clyde Gametime Gold, 2012

18 of 18 Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Common Projects

Achilles Low, 2015

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

Thomas Dutton and Thorowgood

Converse Rubber Shoe Company

Dominion Rubber Company

Gebrüdder Dassler Schuhfabrik

Converse

Nike

Adidas

Adidas

Nike

Nike

Nike

Nike x Supreme

Nike x Tom Sachs

Louis Vuitton x Kanye West

Pierre Hardy

adidas x Run—DMC

PUMA x Undefeated

Common Projects

You May Like

Read More

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

Thomas Dutton and Thorowgood

Converse Rubber Shoe Company

Dominion Rubber Company

Gebrüdder Dassler Schuhfabrik

Converse

Nike

Adidas

Adidas

Nike

Nike

Nike

Nike x Supreme

Nike x Tom Sachs

Louis Vuitton x Kanye West

Pierre Hardy

adidas x Run—DMC

PUMA x Undefeated

Common Projects

You May Like

Read More

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