New exhibit shows how sneakers became part of popular culture

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A new exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum looks at the evolution of sneakers and their cultural significance over the years.

Fashion is considered an art form, and people love their shoes, including sneakers.

"It's pop culture, it's new day culture, and it actually has become an art form," said a visitor to the exhibit.

And the rise of sneaker culture at the Brooklyn Museum of Art makes a case for that.

The exhibit kicks back to the late 19th century when rubber was first used for the bottom of shoes.

There are sneaker trends and also sneakers with historical significance, according to curator Lisa Small, like the Adidas Jesse Owens practiced in for the 1936 Olympics.

"Jesse Owens of course won so many gold medals in Berlin, flying in the face of what Hitler at those Olympics would have wanted to see," she said.

After World War Two, just about everyone sported a pair, and soon lots of brands were getting in on the game.

And one of the biggest moments for sneakers came when Michael Jordan teamed with Nike to create the Air Jordan franchise.

"We have here in the exhibition, original examples of Air Jordan 1 through 23, really is one of the key factors in creating what we think of as the sneaker culture, the mania for collecting shoes, the mania for new releases," said Small.

But it wasn't just sports stars that promoted sneakers.

"The Shell Toe superstar which was first introduced in 1969, the rap group Run DMC loved these shoes, wore them all the time and ultimately wrote their famous song, "My Adidas", said Small.

And from hip hop to houte couture, sneakers are a canvas for some designers.

"I like these ones by Rick Owens, they have a cool bottom to it. So I think sneakers are art," said one visitor.

"They got some new ones, they got some old ones, and I see some that I haven't seen in years, so this is wonderful," said another visitor.

And she doesn't even wear sneakers, one of the few attending this exhibit.

The exhibition runs through October 4th. The Brooklyn Museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.