Sneakermin

Hello there Sneaker-people! Welcome and thank you for joining us! Just thought I’d share a few thoughts on retro sneakers – from the sole. The what, the where and the why. Let’s hit the trail…

What are Retro Sneakers and Why Do We Like Them

Retro generally refers to anything from the past, when life was good! Mainly retro refers back to the 60’s I think, but can probably also mean anything from 20 or more years ago, anything from when you were kids, the first version of anything maybe, or something your grandparents had which now is cool?! Retro sneakers for me are really anything from the 80’s and backwards. If you’re a bit younger, the 90’s will even seem like long long ago. If you’re more of an old-sole….. you will remember back to the 70’s, 60’s or earlier. Retro points back to times when more things were made by hand and so the results of such things as hand made furniture, clothing, cars and sneakers can really make you appreciate the skill and patience of the women and men who mastered difficult techniques to produce some amazing creations. Jay Leno commented about his classic car collection that they were from a time when labour was cheap and technology was expensive and the opposite is true today. Some people collect cars, I’m getting started with sneakers 🙂

I like retro sneakers and other retro collectibles because they do represent a wonderful time from my past, or a great memory from my childhood. How about you?

Where Can We Buy Retro Sneakers?

Looking to buy a pair of your own? Google Amazon and Ebay as starters or try Nike.com. Adidas.com, puma.com, asics.com or Google “retro sneakers” – to find great resources on where to get great sneakers. As we take each step on this sneaker journey together, I hope to share some really great places to buy retro sneakers. I also look forward to checking out some of your favorite retro sneaker websites and favorite shops. Please feel free to share so our community will grow into a large supportive group of soles.

Iconic Retro Sneakers

For a seasoned sneaker person, the classics have a big part to play in the Sneakerverse. Air Jordan for example immediately brings a picture of the iconic red, white and black sneaker to my mind. Converse Weapons – Magic Johnson – purple, yellow and white. For me, the classic retro sneaker defines the brand in many ways.

Why I Love Retro Sneakers

Why do I loooove retro sneakers?

Retro Sneakers are plainer and more basic in style compared to other sneakers. They are more likely to stay trendy and stay in your memory. Adidas Oslo an 80’s classic back in the day – simple black with yellow stripes. I loved them in the 70’s and still do many years later. l am hunting high and low to find a pair. If you see some anywhere, please send me a note!

Retro sneakers are possibly more practical, easy to care for and clean. They tend top have a cool classy look and can be worn with most attires, shorts or jeans or pants, still good. Understated, trendy and relaxed.

As a classic fashion accessory, retro sneakers just stand-out for being simple and distinctive. For me they always point to a time when life was simpler and better, possibly happier? When you were at school and playing with your friends was the only goal in life! Is this ringing bells for anyone out there? Do you think back to a pair of sneakers, or another item of clothing and are instantly taken back to younger more care-free days?

Recent Retro Sneaker Purchases

This really isn’t meant to be an article about Converse retro sneakers, but the pictures below may make you think otherwise! (No sponsorship or payment was offered or taken – sadly) My family went to a Converse sneaker sale recently at a pop up store and I bought my first ever pair of Chuck Taylors. Of course, they were
a black leather pair of retro sneakers! It didn’t stop at just one pair though, everyone in the family bought a pair (or two). At least 4 of the pairs were definitely retro classics.

So here they are. What do you think of these?!

The classic red canvas sneaker.

The classic blue polyester upper sneaker, white logo.

The true classic black canvas Chuck Taylor.

And, my personal favorite…. my own pair of black leather uppers. Smart, comfortable, understated, retro sneaker cool.

As stated above, this article is not in any way an add for Converse, but on the day we bought these, we got great value and styles for everyone in the family. So these definitely won’t be our last Converse sneakers!

Retro Sneakers – Respecting the Classics

What’s your take sneeps?! Are you into retro sneakers as a passion? If so, what about them appeals to you? If not, why not? 🙂 We don’t judge here in the sneakermin community. Do you have a pair of retro sneakers or a few in your wardrobe? What? Where? Why?! And what do you think of mine? Please share. The small (but growing) Sneakermin community is a high quality bunch and we would love to hear from you!

We’ll be looking for more interesting angles retro sneakers for our community and hoping to share yours too. If you have a pair retro sneakers bought recently and want to show them to us, please send me a picture like the ones in this article. Please send a side-on picture against a neutral background, of just the sneaker. If you are OK with share with the community, please give me permission to put the picture on the Sneakermin Wall. This is an upcoming work in progress.

For now, thank you again, wishing you, the wonderful Sneakermin community a wonderful day!

Sneakermin

Hello again and thank you for visiting us at Sneakermin, we love sneakers, the more retro the more we love! In Part 2 of the history of sneakers, we’re looking at 2 more iconic brands – Nike and Asics. Let’s hit the road… or shall we “just do it”…

History of Sneakers – Nike

Not quite as pioneering as Converse or Keds, but another interesting piece of the history of sneakers jigsaw puzzle nonetheless.Here’s a brief timeline of Nike sneakers.

1963 – Blue Ribbon Sports is formed by University of Portland running coach Bill Bowerman and middle-distance runner Phil Knight. Their goal is to supply high-tech low cost running shoes as an alternative to the Adidas and Puma brands dominating the US market.

Blue Ribbon Sports imports and sells sneakers from Japan, made by Onitsuka Tiger Co.

1964 – After 1 year in business, Blue Ribbon Sports has sold 1300 pairs of sneakers.

1965 – Phil Knights’ running rival, Jeff Johnson, is Blue Ribbon Sports’ first full time sales-person, selling shoes out of the back of his van at track meets and athletics events in the region.

1966 – Blue Ribbon Sports opens it’s first store on Pico Boulevard, in Santa Monica California.

1970 – Blue Ribbon Sports move from reselling imported shoes, to designing and making their own. Bill Bowerman takes inspiration from a waffle-iron, pouring rubber into the family breakfast appliance, inventing the soon-to-be-famous waffle sole.

1971 – Blue Ribbon Sports moves on from selling imported Onitsuka Tiger sneakers and, with the new waffle sole design, begin making their own sneakers. A new company is born, called Nike, after the Greek Goddess of victory, whom Jeff Johnson had dreamed about.

1972 – The world recognized Swoosh, designed by Carolyn Davidson to represent the wing of the Goddess Nike is first seen on Nike sneakers.

1976 – The Nike slogan “There is no finish line” and add campaign are released.

1984 – Michael Jordan signs an endorsement contract with Nike and releases the Air Jordan, his first signature shoe. The NBA bans this new sneaker for breaching NBA uniform code, fining MJ $5,000 each time he plays in Air Jordan sneakers. The fines generate incredible publicity for the sneaker and for Nike. The Air Jordan sneaker marks a key event for Nike, leading to successful future growth.

1988 – “Just Do It” is released as Nike’s new slogan, this one really sticks!

1989 – Nike introduces new cross training footwear designed for use in training for multiple sports. American football and baseball athlete Bo Jackson stars in the successful “Bo Knows.” add series.

1990 – Nike opens the first Niketown store in downtown Portland, Ore., and the store quickly earns numerous retail design and business awards. Over the next 10 years, Nike opens 14 more Niketown stores across the USA and in England and Germany.

2002 – Nike buys Hurley, the surfer clothing company.

2003 – Nike buys Converse for $305 million.

2004 – Nike buys Starter and Umbro. Umbro supply kit for the England football (soccer) team.

2005 – Air Jordan XX, the 20th edition of the sneaker is released. The Nike Considered range of sneakers is released.

2012 – By 2012 Nike consolidates its acquisitions and sells Starter (in 2007) and Umbro (in 2012), retaining Hurley and Converse.

Onto the history of Asics Sneakers

History of ASICS Sneakers Onitsuka Co

1948 Working man Kihachiro Onitsuka starts his own company, to make sneakers for school children. Onitsuka Co opens with 4 employees in Kobe city, Japan.

1950 Onitsuka Co releases its first competition sneakers. Prototypes were developed with the help of local shoe manufacturer Yoshikawa Rubber Industry and tested and refined with the help of local Kobe High School basketball team. The tiger logo placed on the shoes arch marked the start of the Onitsuka Tiger.

1950 Inspired by the octopus on his dinner table, Onitsuka develops suction-cup soled basket ball shoes, for increased starting and stopping performance. The stopping performance is too strong and results in player injuries! The suction cup sole design is modified into a more suitable sole.

1952 OK (Onitsuka Kihachiro) basketball sneakers are released. These are higher-end quality sports sneakers. Tiger mark volleyball shoes are also released.

1953 Onitsuka opens the Tiger Rubber Factory, their own in-house rubber factory, again in Kobe city. Sneaker production moves into full swing for basketball as well as running, volleyball, tennis, softball and mountain climbing.

1954 Tiger Rubber Factory burns down due to nearby fire, operations are suspended from June to August of that year.

1955 Tiger nylon golf shoes are first released, followed by shoes for gymnasts and wrestlers.

1957 Tiger Rubber Factory is reorganized into Onitsuka Co Ltd.

1959 Gold Tiger tennis sneakers, with herringbone soles are released. The soles are designed to improve start, stop and reaction time.

1965 Onitsuka and Tiger brands are unified into Ontsuka Tiger

1969 Blue Ribbon Sports, who will soon become Nike, start selling Onitsuka Tiger sneakers.

1972 Onitsuka Co opens a US office in Chicago, Illinois. Onitsuka moves the office to Los Angeles California within a year.

1973 Layup NL Basketball sneakers are released. These sneakers, with the different colorways available, could be matched to team uniforms and were fashionable for wearing after games as well.

What does ASICS mean?

Before we continue, what does ASICS mean or where did the name come from? In establishing his company, Onitsuka was inspired by the words of Roman Poet Juvenal, offered to him by a colleague – “Pray for a sound mind in a sound body” (Latin translation “Anima Sana in Corpore Sano”- ASICS).

OK on with the history of ASICS sneakers…

1975 Onitsuka Tiger GmbH opens in Dusseldorf, West Germany as the European base of Onitsuka.

1977 Overseas production begins in West Germany with the opening of ASICS Mobus GmbH.

1977 ASICS Corp is formed by the merger of Onitsuka Co., Ltd., GTO Co., Ltd., and Jelenk Co.

1978 ASICS releases California jogging shoes, such as the Corsair.

1981 ASICS Tiger Corp headquarters is established in California.

From here ASICS Tiger opens offices in Brazil, Australia and other countries across the world and makes sneakers and sports gear for base-ballers, golfers, fishers, cheerleaders and more. Personally, I like the easily recognized logo, which is on every shoe I’ve seen.

In Conclusion

I think Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight were pretty astute in the early days, with a vision of high-tech and affordable sneakers and kept control of their direction by making their own once they were established. With all that have gone before and after, it’s hard not to think of Michael Jordan, when you think of Nike, even though King James is the Nike player of our times.

The inspiration of both companies from Greek mythology, Goddess Nike and Roman culture, the poet Juvenal seems to maintain a fitting connection between the companies. May Nike and ASICS both keep making their sneakers forever, with their unique style and personality.

So that’s a brief history of sneakers for Blue Ribbon Sports aka Nike and Onitsuka Tiger, aka ASICS. What’s your take? Your feedback is welcomed.

Where to now? Dunlop and Bata are 2 historical brands of interest, as are Reebok and New Balance. We look forward to adding those stories to the history of sneakers, Sneakermin style.

Thank you again for visiting us. We hope there was something interesting for you in the article.

Wishing you a sole-ful day.

Sneakermin, out.

You probably know people who have grown up in families where a brand of car is much-liked or worshipped and another brand of car is highly disliked, hated even! And we all have a favorite sports team who we follow with passion and sometimes we have other teams we (here comes the “h” word again) …hate.

What is your best brand of Sneaker? Is that even a thing?!

My Best Brands as a Kid

If you asked me growing up, what is your best brand of sneakers or what is your favorite brand of sneakers – I would have said:

• At 6 years old – Bata! Probably the first pair I can really remember. I am told I went to bed in them.
  
• At 9 years old – Adidas! My first ever pair of black and yellow Olso’s.
  
• At 12 years old Puma Fastriders (My brother’s Easyriders were cooler but I couldn’t get the same could I now?!)
  Then back to Adidas.
  

Growing Up, Branching Out…

• At 19 years old – I got my first Nikes, bought from the Main Place mall in Anaheim. And more Adidas in Singapore.
  
• Since then, I have tried anything and everything, in the shoe world.
  
• After the first Alien movie, there were Reebok – but I didn’t get any until in my 20s, well into the 1990’s
  
• ASICS – nice pair of very light running shoes.
  
• Reebok – great walking shoes, great soles, lasted years.
  

Going Budget (not Cheap … Budget!!)

Then I went “budget” – not buying cheap shoes, but buying the best specials – cool shoes at good prices.

My first ones were Hi-tec Haraka – with orange soles. These were cheap (a $50 special) and because they were cheap, they were even better. They seemed to last forever before the soles finally wore through. I still have them, the uppers are still great – so I plan to resole them – cos they deserve it, they deserve to live on.

How About Now?

More recently, I have also bought and enjoyed Wild Rhino, Oboz, Kathmandu and Keen (sandals). My Keen sandals… well that’s really another whole amazing journey, love story even. I fell out with Adidas in the 2000’s (they never knew) and that’s another story for another day too.

I nearly forgot my Skechers – forgotten because I have a new pair of black Skechers with memory foam innersoles – just waiting to be walked in.

How About You?

So – is there such a thing as your best brand or your favorite brand? Are you loyal to a brand or loyal to a principle instead – such as buying great value? In my mind these days I look for best looking, best comfort at the best price. Any and all the above brands I will buy again in the future.

Thank you for joining me on my trip down memory lane. I’d love to hear about your best brands or your sneaker stories, please share 🙂

Sneakermin, call me Sneakermin for short…..