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An athletic shoe is a generic name for a shoe designed for sporting and physical activities, and is different in style and build than a dress shoe. Originally known as sporting apparel, today they are known as casual footwear. Athletic shoes, depending on the location and the actual type of footwear, can also go by the name trainers (British English), sandshoes (Australian English) running shoes or runners (Canadian English, Australian English, Hiberno-English), sneakers (North American English), sport shoes, gym shoes, tennis shoes, tennies, sneakers, sneaks, kicks (U.S. English), takkies (South African English).
The term athletic shoes is used for running, basketball and tennis (amongst others) but tends to exclude shoes for sports such as football (soccer) and rugby, which are generally known as "boots", or in the USA as "cleats".
The shoes themselves are made of flexible material, typically featuring a sole made of rubber. While the original design was basic, manufacturers have since tailored athletic shoes for the different purposes that they can be used for. A specific example of this is the spiked shoe developed for track running.
Athletic shoes have also been tailored for the casual market, and are popular especially with young people. The terms sneakers and trainers tend to be associated more with the casual use of athletic shoes.
Sneakers that are worn casually are made with a more simple "retro" design which are made to be more aesthetically pleasing than sneakers specifically designed for sports or exercise. Ironically enough, however, sneakers that were once designed for athletic purposes are now more commonly used for fashion. Examples include Converse's Chuck Taylor All Star which was designed for basketball, the Dunlop Volley for tennis and the Adidas Samba, a soccer boot created for indoor soccer.
Designs vary enormously depending on the origins of the manufacturer. German sneakers have a much more aggressive look, while Italian designs are somewhat more romantic, with finer lines and materials that are more expensive.
These casual shoes are often copies of shoes worn and endorsed by athletes, and increasingly by non-sporting celebrities often from the world of music or fashion. The market for casual athletic shoes is very profitable because of the substantial difference in the relatively cheap cost of production and the expensive final retail price. This has led to a lot of competition between companies, and their eagerness to sign up celebrities to endorse their products. Popular brands include Adidas, Nike, PUMA, Reebok, Converse, Fila and Asics.
Sneakers have become an important part of hip hop culture since the 70s. These days, numerous rappers sign million dollar deals with major brands such as Nike, Adidas or Puma to promote their shoes. Some rappers, such as Fat Joe, are even known to collect sneakers as a hobby. Artists use sneakers as a way to express themselves by creating custom kicks from regular shoes.
The first "sneaker" was invented in 1893. It was made of canvas and was invented so boaters would not have to wear dress shoes when they were on deck- compare boating shoes.
The British English term "trainer" derives from "training shoe".
Plimsolls (British English) are indoor athletic shoes, and are also called sneakers in American English.
Popular brands include Adidas, Nike, Reebok, Umbro, New Balance, Converse, K-Swiss, PUMA, Lacoste, Shaq, Asics, Etnies, Brooks, Keen Footwear, Vans and British Knights etc.
The first brand of fair trade sneakers, Veja, was launched in 2005.