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Early History of Modern Trainers
It was around 5 million years ago, in the chilly ice age, that humans first began to protect their feet with basic forms of footwear. Not really surprising considering how uncomfortable it must have been to walk on the frozen tundra, especially without any woolly socks.
It is evidence from the Paleolithic period that shows how humans were learning more about the process of tanning leather and commonly making and wearing shoes. People protected their feet by wrapping them in leather or dried plant material like grasses enabling them to run around, chasing animals on terrain that previously would have torn their feet to shreds.
Egyptian murals, found in burial chambers, clearly show the processing of leather. Footwear became a status symbol with long, turned up toes indicating wealth and importance.
The association between footwear and social class, rank and status then persisted in many societies. The shoemaking art had become very well developed in Rome. The Roman legions would not have been able to march all over Europe if it had not been for their sophisticated footwear. The colours of the shoes indicated class and rank with senators wearing brown and consuls wearing white.
Footwear had become more than mere foot protection. It had become an accessory, an adornment that indicated wealth, status and power. Much like a Mercedes or BMW does today.
Although Roman footwear had become very sophisticated common forms of European and British shoes in the early Middle ages was still very basic. By the middle of the 12th century shoes had become much more refined. There was a period in the Middle ages when there was a fashion for long, pointed toes which became particularly exaggerated during the reign of William II. This pointy toed style drifted out of fashion in western Europe but gradually moved east, gaining popularity in North Africa and the middle east.
Moving forward to today and we find the culimination of many years of footwear development in the modern sports trainer. Every pair of well made modern training shoes combines lots of research and development, modern material and ergonomic design. Some, such as those from Vans Shoes, are synonymous with certain sports like skateboarding. Others, like DC shoes, have a great reputation for versatility and robustness.
But when you are buying your next pair of trainers, spare a thought for your long departed ancestors, traipsing over the frozen tundra with their feet wrapped in grass and leather, hunting for their next meal.
Rock Band w/ Robert Scoble, Jay Adelson, Dave McClure