Chapter Page
What is a The Sneaker? 6
Anatomy of a Sneaker 8
Sneaker Terminology 10
The Sneaker's Epic History 12
In the Beginning There Was Sport 14
Beyond the Sports Field 18
Hip-Hop: And Then There Was Style 20
The 1980s: The Golden Era that Changed Everything 24
The 1990s: The Lifestyle Decade 28
Interview Maximillen N'Tary-Calaffard, sneaker historian 30
Brands and Models 34
Nike: The Undisputable Number One 36
Jordan: The Other Nike Empire 40
Adidas: Timeless 46
Yeezy: Avant-Garde 50
Puma: The Challenger 56
Reebok: The Outsider 60
Converse: Classic 64
New Balance: Distance Runner 68
Asics: Technology First 74
Vans: Skate Star 78
Other Brands 82
Luxury Contenders 84
Interview Elle Costa, collector 88
Believe the Hype: Sneakers Go Big 92
The Hunt for the Limited Edition 94
Collab! Collab! Collab! 96
Unforgettable Collaborations 98
Jeff Staple x Nike SB Dunk Pigeon: The Original Disrupter 102
K...anye West: The Revolutionary 106
Virgil Abloh: The Hypebeast 114
Travis Scott: The New King 116
The Digital World: A Strategic Ideal 120
A Guide to Raffles 124
Interview Yeezy Mafia, sneaker leakers par excellence 126
Remarkable Resale 130
Resale: Threat or Promise? 132
The Ins and Outs of the Resale Market 136
Sneakers and the Resale Market: The Right Price 140
Counterfeits: The Flip Side of Fame 144
How to Authenticate a Sneaker 146
The Most Expensive Sneakers of All Time 148
Interview Kilian Dris, founder of Kikikickz 152
The Future of Sneakers 154
Sneakers: Unlimited Growth 156
Innovation and Revolution Afoot 158
Customization: Timeless Tradition, Tomorrow's Trend 160
Ecology: A Whole New Game 162
Toward a More Inclusive Market (At Last!) 166
The Limits of Commitment 168
Interview Sarah Andelman, cofounder of Colette 170
Conclusion This Obsession with Sneakers! 172
Photographic Credits 174
Acknowledgments 175