SNEAKERS THE CLASSICS
MUSTHAVE KICKS
BY THE AUTHOR INTRODUCTION
When we approached this project, we faced the cultural factors that determined it. Sneakers are much more than induments—they are a set of emotions linked to being, appearing, recognizing, and identifying oneself through every step. Not to mention the technical and aesthetic revolutions that each model has brought.
To write the content of this book, I looked for information everywhere: first, among people and through perception; then in books, by cross-referencing the information; and finally, on the internet, where I found everything, often even errors. Friends, designers, writers, strategists, and photographers were contacted—as were sneakerheads, by the end—to confirm that I was on the right path and recognize this project with the awareness that only those who put their daily energy and interest in this subject can have.
The surprising dynamic of this journey was the connections—encountering individuals with diverse backgrounds and strong dedications to passions that unexpectedly link to the realm of sneakers. It’s intriguing because everything revolves around what allows us to accomplish our steps.
This experience united and captivated us, generating a desire to search, experiment, play, and learn. We were all budding enthusiasts, discovering and rediscovering a contagious and unlimited passion.
We do not assume that this volume is exhaustive, but we believe that it offers an interesting perspective. We wanted to create a collection of historical, cultural and stylistic elucidations that reveal the background of the chosen models, expressing style and mood with different art forms.
This is dedicated to all those who, “in their own shoes,” have followed individual paths, forged their own trajectory, experimented with new roads, and protected and enforced their own identity.
Because shoes have the power to motivate our steps and inspire connections, they are instrumental to our own individual journeys. We sense this strength with each step we take, in every direction we go.
MARIA LUISA MIRALDI | MILAN 2024
OUR glossary TONGUE
AGLET
THROAT
SHOELACE MUDGUARD
COLLAR
Virgil Abloh, the late founder of Off-White and a highly acclaimed designer, made a significant impact on sneaker culture by collaborating with Nike on several Air Force 1 designs, beginning in 2017.
His reinterpretations of this iconic sneaker introduced a deconstructed aesthetic and his own distinctive embellishments: zip-ties, labeled shoelaces, sans-serif branding in quotation marks, and exposed foam. These collaborations serve as a testament to Abloh’s influential design language, in which he seamlessly merged streetwear and high fashion. Abloh’s Air Force 1 designs have become a hallmark of his boundarybreaking creative approach.
Virgil Abloh
Virgil Abloh (September 30, 1980–November 28, 2021) was a visionary American fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded Off-White and served as the artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton.
AF1
OFF-WHITE
1. Virgil Abloh on the runway, Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter – Paris, 2020–21.
2. Serena Williams, Met Gala – New York City, 2019.
Basketball player – Sydney, 1992.
Inspired by human anatomy, the Air Max 95’s layered upper body mimics muscle fibers.
Ayrton Senna with the rest of the McLaren team – Mexican Grand Prix, Mexico City, 1990.
Dee Brown of the Boston Celtics at the NBA Slam Dunk Contest – 1991.
DUNK – NIKE
Nike’s Dunk, originally designed as a high-top basketball sneaker in the mid-1980s, has evolved into a cultural phenomenon thanks to its simplistic and color-blocked design.
The original Dunk was marketed with the slogan “Be True To Your School” as an invitation to college basketball teams and their respective fans to wear and honor their team’s colors. The unique and specific color treatments immediately resulted in a clever and catchy marketing tactic. Dunking literally means submerging something briefly in a liquid or substance. In the context of basketball, it’s when an offensive player jumps high enough to slam the ball through the hoop.
Unlike other shoes, the Dunk’s evolution isn’t traceable to a single linear story due to the division between the Nike Dunk and the successive Nike SB Dunk lines—two distinctive yet often confused sneakers. To the untrained eye, the small tweaks that distinguish them are almost imperceptible. In fact, the original Nike Dunk regained popularity in the early 2000s thanks to the separate SB Dunk line, a silhouette designed specifically for skateboarders. The two models, although diverse in their sports-specific details, present a cohesive shared story that weaves the two iconic sneakers together.
As the perfect canvas for personalization and the expression of self and personal taste, Nike’s Dunk has a unique and iconic appeal. The countless collaborations with artists, designers, and brands, as well as its pop culture–inspired colorways, makes the Nike Dunk one of the most collectible and popular sneaker silhouettes to ever exist.
LEATHER UPPER | LACE-UP CLOSURE
FOAM MIDSOLE
RUBBER OUTSOLE
“Winning is great, but it’s the Long road to get there that makes it worthwhile.”—Stan Smith
With Stan Smith shoes, you can confidently step into any situation. Whether you’re on or off the court, you can always put your best foot forward.
Y-3 Runway at Paris Fashion Week, Menswear Spring/Summer 2018 – Paris, 2017.
THE CULTURE, THE STYLE AND THE WORLD’S MOST ICONIC MODELS
SNEAKERS: THE CLASSICS IS A VITAL ANTHOLOGY FOR SNEAKERS FANS, COLLECTORS, DESIGNERS AND DREAMERS.
IN BASKETBALL AND SKATEBOARDING, FROM THE OLYMPIC GAMES TO URBAN ARENAS, SNEAKERS HAVE HELPED MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE A REALITY AND CONTINUE TO REPRESENT YOUTHFUL INDEPENDENCE, INDIVIDUALITY AND FREEDOM.
THESE PAGES SHOWCASE MANY OF THE GREATEST MODELS – THE TRUE LEGENDS OF SPORT AND STYLE.
ISBN: 978-1-78884-271-6
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