From courts to catwalks—the wild backstories of the world’s most iconic sneakers

Ever wondered how your favourite kicks went from athletic gear to your trendy shoe wardrobe? From Converse’s basketball crossover to the punk scene to Nike’s rule-breaking Jordans that gained all the street cred, sneakers have long been symbols of cool across decades, and that’s part of the reason why they’re so popular even to this day.

Before sneakers were front-row staples and everyone’s go-to style flex, they were simply shoes designed to make athletes run faster, jump higher, and do whatever it takes to succeed at sport. But somewhere between stadiums, tennis courts, and rule-breaking players, sneakers broke free onto punk concerts, fashion runways, and movie sets. Before we knew it, sneakers took on a whole new meaning. And everyone wanted a pair.

Now you may have the freshest pair of kicks that’s viral on the internet, but what’s cooler than the fact that they’re on your feet is actually the shoe’s backstory. Almost every iconic sneaker today has a crazy past that will blow your socks off. Read on to find out the tales of the most iconic sneakers and how they made their way from sports essentials to pop-culture hall-of-famers.

Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars: From basketball MVP to punk poster child

Long before Converse became the go-to shoe for rock stars and fashion kids, it was actually made for the basketball court. Back in 1917, the All Star was designed as one of the first athletic sneakers ever. Then came Chuck Taylor, a semi-pro basketball player who loved the shoe so much that he started promoting it, and that’s basically how it got its name. 

As for the fame? The simple, utilitarian sneaker started sneaking into Hollywood, with stars like James Dean rocking a pair in the ’50s. Gradually, by the ’70s and ’80s, Converse had completely ditched the court for the stage, worn by everyone from The Ramones to Kurt Cobain. Its minimalist design and time-proven durability made it the perfect shoe for countercultural associations, making it a must-have for rebels, rockers, and anyone allergic to conformity and capitalism. 

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Hearts, ₹5,499

Nike Air Jordan 1: The sneaker that broke the rules (literally)

When Michael Jordan first laced up his Air Jordan 1s in 1984, the NBA wasn’t exactly thrilled. The shoes’ bold red-and-black colourway violated the league’s strict uniform code, which required all court shoes to be at least 51 per cent white and align with team colours. So, what happened? Jordan was fined $5,000 (₹4,57,862 approx.) every time he wore the Air Jordans on the court. And Nike, being the marketing genius it is now recognised to be, actually offered to pay the fine for him every single time, and that’s exactly how the brand turned Michael Jordan’s rebellion into a shoe campaign that made sneaker history.

The Air Jordan 1 was no longer just a basketball shoe; it became an item every kid desired. People lined up to get the exact pair Jordan wore, and that spearheaded the popularity of Jordans. Decades later, it’s still the gold standard of sneaker hype, worn by everyone from Travis Scott to your local sneaker-head who refuses to step on grass.

Nike Jordan Air Jordan 1 Mid - Black/Black-Gym Red, ₹11,495

Adidas Superstars: When basketball met hip-hop

In the 1970s, the Adidas Superstar was a revolutionary basketball shoe thanks to its shell-toe design that protected players’ feet. But in the ’80s, the sneaker found new fame off the court when hip-hop legends Run-D.M.C. started wearing them—without laces, of course. Their love for the shoe ran so deep that they even dropped the anthem 'My Adidas,' cementing it as a street-style symbol.

Adidas eventually signed Run-D.M.C. to a $1 million endorsement deal, the first of its kind between a sportswear brand and a non-athlete. The Superstar became more than footwear; it became an identity that merged music and personal style in one clean silhouette.

Adidas Originals Superstar II Shoes, ₹9,999

Vans: The skate kid’s badge of honour

Born in 1977 as Vans’ Style 36, the Old Skool was designed with one thing in mind: surviving the punishment of skateboarding. Built for grip, durability, and self-expression, it featured reinforced suede panels and sticky waffle soles that quickly made it a favourite among California’s skate and surf communities. 

What truly set the Old Skool apart, though, was how personal it felt. You could draw on it, customise it, scuff it, destroy it, and it somehow looked better for it. As punk rock gained momentum in the 1980s, bands and fans adopted the shoe brand as part of their uniform of non-conformity, and its rebellious edge carried over into later alt, emo and scene fringes of youth culture. That crossover helped secure its place not just on skate ramps but in concert pits and street style alike. By the early 2000s, Vans found a second life in emo-adjacent and alternative music videos, becoming shorthand for skater kids, emos, and anyone proudly operating outside the mainstream.

Vans Old Skool Black White, ₹8,999

Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66: The Tarantino-approved icon

Originally designed in 1966 for the Japanese Olympic team, the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 became a cult classic decades later thanks to the movie Kill Bill. Uma Thurman’s yellow-and-black ensemble in the film, paired with the Mexico 66 sneakers in the same colour way, turned into a global fashion moment that would go on to be one of the most recognised pop culture scenes ever.

Sleek yet striking, the Mexico 66 is now accepted as the go-to retro sport sneaker that is as functional as it is cool. It’s that rare shoe that looks good in a dojo as it does at fashion week, and yes, they still make you feel like you could deliver a flying kick and make it look stylish. Bonus: the shoe needs no breaking in.

Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Kill Bill, ₹15,999

Adidas Samba: The retro football shoe that conquered fashion week

The iconic sneaker that kick-started the 2020s decade? It was none other than the Samba. Originally created in the 1950s for football players training on icy grounds, the sneaker’s sleek, low-profile design made it an off-duty favourite decades later. By the 1980s, Janet Jackson wore Sambas in her music video 'The Pleasure Principle', and it officially became a cool classic shoe to own. But it wasn’t until the recent wave of “retro-core” fashion—thank you, Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber—that the Samba made its ultimate comeback.

Today, it’s the uniform of the effortlessly stylish. From Gigi Hadid’s airport looks to Ayo Edebiri’s “cool girl” vibe, the Samba’s charm lies in its versatility. It works with everything from tailored trousers to micro miniskirts. Who would’ve thought football shoes could become the cool girl’s fashion flex?

Adidas Originals Samba OG Shoes, ₹10,999

New Balance 990s: The dad sneaker that became a cool-girl cult

Once mocked as the ultimate dad shoe—the kind your father wore on his morning walks—the New Balance 990s have had one of the most unexpected glow-ups in sneaker history. Originally launched in the 1980s as a high-performance running shoe, it gained street cred when normcore and “ugly chic” fashion became a thing.

Cut to today, and everyone from Kendall Jenner to Timothée Chalamet is rocking them. With their chunky soles and dad-core aesthetic, New Balances are proof that irony never goes out of style. Especially when being comfortably stylish is what’s so ironic. 

New Balance Unisex 9060 Sneakers, ₹17,999

From Converse’s punk rebellion to Adidas’s cool-girl renaissance, every iconic sneaker tells a story of reinvention. They’ve jumped courts, ruled catwalks, and defined generations of style. Whether you’re lacing up your Sam bas or strutting in your Air Jordans, remember: you’ve got some dope history in your step.

Lead image: Getty Images 

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