Sneaker Nation

It was 1971. A running coach named Bill Bowerman was making waffles. As he cooked, he pondered a problem. 

Dirt running tracks across the country were being replaced with rubber ones. At the time, running shoes had metal spikes on the bottom so runners wouldn’t slip. But these spikes would ruin the new rubber tracks—and slow runners down. 

Bowerman stared down at his waffles. Then he got an idea! What if sneakers had a bumpy pattern on their soles, like waffles? The raised squares could grip the ground so runners wouldn’t slip. And the shoes wouldn’t harm the new tracks!

Bowerman grabbed the waffle maker and got to work. He was about to change the future of sneakers forever. 

It was 1971. Bill Bowerman was making waffles. Bowerman was a running coach who faced a problem. He pondered the problem while he cooked.

Older running tracks were made of dirt. But new tracks were being made with rubber. At the time, running shoes had metal spikes on the bottom. The spikes kept runners from slipping on dirt. But metal spikes would tear up the new rubber tracks. And they would slow runners down.

Bowerman stared at his waffles. Then he got an idea! What if sneakers had a bumpy pattern on the bottom, like waffles? The bumps would grip the ground. This would keep runners from slipping. And the shoes wouldn’t harm the new rubber tracks!

Bowerman grabbed his waffle maker. And he started working on his idea for a new type of sneaker. He was about to change the future of sneakers forever.

By the time Bowerman created his new shoe, sneakers had already been around for about 100 years. The first sneakers were expensive. They were meant for games like tennis, which few people had time to play.

That began to change in the early 1900s. More people started to exercise and play sports. Basketball had just been invented, and people loved it. In 1917, the first popular basketball sneaker came out: Converse All Stars. And in the 1920s, the price of sneakers dropped. Most people could now afford a pair. 

In 1971, sneakers had been around for about 100 years. The first sneakers were expensive. They were meant for games like tennis. But very few people had time to play these games.

That began to change in the early 1900s. More people started to exercise and play sports. Basketball had just been invented. People loved the game. In 1917, the first popular basketball sneaker came out: Converse All Stars. And the price of sneakers dropped in the 1920s. Most people could now afford a pair.

Sneakers as we know them today started with Bowerman’s invention. He helped create a company to make his shoes. You’ve probably heard of it: Nike!

Before long, Nike was selling all types of sneakers. In 1985, it made a special sneaker for basketball star Michael Jordan: Air Jordans. Everyone wanted a pair—not just athletes. Sneakers were no longer just for sports. They were a part of people’s everyday style.

Today, Americans buy millions of pairs of sneakers each year. Kids wear sneakers with lights and wheels. You can get sneakers in hot pink, bright orange, or any color of the rainbow. 

What kind of sneaker is your favorite?  

The sneakers we know today started with Bowerman’s invention. He helped start a company to make his shoes. You’ve probably heard of it: Nike!

Before long, Nike was selling all types of sneakers. In 1985, it made special sneakers called Air Jordans. They were named for basketball star Michael Jordan. Everyone wanted a pair. Sneakers were no longer just for sports. They were a part of people’s everyday style.

Today, Americans buy millions of sneakers each year. Kids wear sneakers with lights and wheels. You can get sneakers in pink, orange, or any color of the rainbow.

What kind of sneaker is your favorite?

It was 1870. Thousands of men were working in the dusty hills of western Nevada. They were all looking for the same thing—gold. Finding just one shiny piece could make you rich. 

But searching for gold was long, hard work. The men trudged through streams and dug into hills. As they worked, many men had a big problem: They kept ripping their pants!

One day, a worker’s wife asked a local tailor named Jacob Davis to make her husband a stronger pair of pants. Davis came up with a clever idea. He used a durable fabric called denim. And he attached metal pins—called rivets—onto the pants where they most often ripped. 

His idea worked! The pants were much harder to rip. Soon, all the workers wanted a pair. 

More than 150 years later, Davis’s pants are still popular. In fact, you may have a pair of these special pants. They’re called jeans!

It was 1870. Thousands of men worked in the dusty hills of Nevada. They were all looking for gold. Finding even one piece could make you rich. 

But searching for gold was hard work. The men trudged through streams. They dug into hills. And many of them had a big problem. They kept ripping their pants!

One day, a worker’s wife went to a tailor named Jacob Davis. She asked Davis to make a stronger pair of pants for her husband. Davis came up with an idea. He used a durable material called denim. And he put rivets (a type of metal pin) where the pants usually ripped. 

His idea worked! The pants were much harder to rip. Soon, all the workers wanted a pair. 

More than 150 years later, Davis’s pants are still popular. You might have a pair of these special pants. They’re called jeans!

The new jeans were selling well. So Davis talked to Levi Strauss, the person who sold him the denim. He asked Strauss to work with him to make more jeans. Their company was called Levi Strauss & Co.

For many years, jeans were just for workers. That changed in the 1930s.

At that time, Americans were wild for cowboy movies. As they rode horses across the Wild West, these cowboys wore jeans. Kids begged their parents for jeans to play cowboys, and adults wore them to look like movie stars. 

The new pants were selling well. So Davis talked to Levi Strauss, who sold denim. Davis asked Strauss to make jeans with him. Their company was called Levi Strauss & Co.

For many years, jeans were just for workers. That changed in the 1930s.

At that time, Americans loved cowboy movies. The cowboys in movies rode their horses while wearing jeans. Kids begged their parents for jeans so they could play cowboys. Adults wore jeans to look like movie stars.