Activity: Are Sneakers the Windsor Chairs of the Shoe World?

Like the Windsor chair, the sneaker was originally used by the wealthy outside on their lawns during leisure activities. The sneaker, or tennis shoe as it was called, was a comfortable shoe perfect for playing lawn games. American companies found a way to mass produce sneakers. Soon they evolved from a novelty item for the wealthy, to a piece of sports equipment for athletes, to the shoes that nearly every American now owns. And just like with the chairs, sneakers became affordable to everyone—and then higher status versions became unaffordable. The cycle continues.

For Discussion: 

• How much money do you think is too much to pay for a pair of sneakers? How much is too little? Which sneakers are the equivalent of the classic affordable Windsor chair? Which sneakers are more equivalent to the more expensive and elitist Windsor chair with writing desk?
• Fun facts: The most expensive sneakers ever purchased are a pair of Nike waffle shoes, which sold at auction in 2019 for $475,500. The shoes were one of a set of 12 pairs created for runners at the 1972 Olympic trials. The man who purchased them, Canadian entrepreneur Miles Nadal, said he rarely wears sneakers and that he started buying them because they are an “iconic collectible.”

Why do you think sneakers have become such a symbol of American fashion? Are sneakers the Windsor chair of the shoe world?