Introduction:

Shoes have always had cultural meanings, especially in conveying one's tastes and priorities regarding style and comfort, and perhaps in conveying one's social status. However, it is not until recently that sneakers, shoes designed for everyday wear or for more specific purposes, such as playing basketball or skateboarding, have spawned their own culture/subculture. Like any culture, or perhaps religion, different individuals, both male and female, adopt the phenomenon of sneaker culture into their lives to different extents and with different meanings and interpretations.

Hypothesis:

I contend that the most interesting sociological aspects of this movement have been:

• The fact that shoes, clothing items originally designed to be functional and to be worn, have become fashionable, trendsetting collector's items, to the point that many people don't even wear certain pairs of shoes that they have bought. Sneakers, even if never worn, or if used for a different purpose than the creator's intent (as with inventions such as the Internet and products such as Timberland boots in hip-hop culture), can be integral pillars of some peoples' lives.
• The culture continues to redefine itself, its internal divides, and its perceptions of and attitudes towards what is "corporate" and what is "mainstream." The culture is always creating new, malleable subcultures in the "chaotic, but organized" manner that Hebdige presents. Originally, most sneaker enthusiasts were inner city black men. Now males and females of all ethnicities all over the world immerse themselves in the culture, and create new subcultures depending on their individual interpretation of the culture's meaning and the extent to which they choose to adopt it into their lives. There are sneakerheads who found out about this hobby only recently on the Internet (something "original" sneakerheads have mixed feelings about) and might be new to the phenomenon, but some of these people end up creating and seriously influencing trends, to the point that elite designers will integrate their styles. The foundation of the culture is an intricate, symbiotic relationship between the drive for profit and artistic creativity.
• Ultimately, companies like Nike, in inspiring communities like NikeTalk.com and ISSForums.com, have taken sneaker culture to a point beyond anything that has to do with sneakers. Despite the chaotic intricacies characterizing sneaker culture, there is a bond between the people who are part of it, even if they live it differently. One of these bonds is a "lifestyle" defined by consumption in general, and interestingly, this materialistic lifestyle is expressed with pride and in a creative fashion.

Sociological Inquiry:

This exploration, through delving into the above issues, seeks to understand why modern day sneakers have developed emotional meanings to people, what they mean to individuals' identities, and the sociological implications of the sneaker subculture, especially in creating new subcultures and in redefining internal divides and perceptions regarding issues of accessibility and the role of sneaker subcultures in creating trends in mainstream American pop culture. I will cite the ideas of sociologists such as Melbin and Hebdige as I delve into the constantly redefined meaning constructions and diverse interpretations that characterize sneaker culture.

Please explore this site as it contains articles, videos, and links to online resources that illuminate the nature of modern day sneaker culture.

- Arjun Chawla