Sneakers

Charting the astonishing rise of the trainer shoes over the last thirty years, the exhibition “Sneakers. Design for Fast Feet” at the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg looks at this seminal piece of footwear, which serves as a fashion statement, providing a splash of colour in our daily lives. 

The exhibition curated by Jürgen Döring is the first major show on the subject in Germany, and it examines the phenomenon of the sneaker culture from a variety of angles, shedding light on its importance in youth culture, its design, the marketing strategies adopted by its manufacturers, and the collector scene.

Sneakers first attracted widespread attention in 1985 when they became associated with youth and hip-hop culture. It was also the year in which Joschka Fischer wore trainers when he was sworn in as environment minister for the State of Hesse. At the time this earned him the nickname the “tennis shoe minister”. Sneakers have surreptitiously evolved from special purpose sports shoes and quietly sneaked into the midst of our society. They have become a worldwide phenomenon and a vital accessory for the modern city dweller. Some dozen major brands – and hundreds of lesser ones – are in competition to find favour with consumers. This struggle is being conducted less and less through price wars and is instead being fought by other means: in the battle for hip design and a cool image.

The main focus is on the major lines that individual firms have developed since the 1980s: for example, Chucks, Superstars, Stan Smiths, Air Force Ones, and Air Jordans. Older models like a running shoe with sharp spikes from the 1930s and a football boot from 1954 bear witness to a time before the sneaker boom. 

until 28 August 2016
Sneakers. Design for Fast Feet
Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg
Steintorplatz, Hamburg