Sneakers or snickers. Why sneakers are often confused with candy bars

Sneakers, snickers, snickerheads… Why can’t we just say sneakers? It’s all about the origin of this shoe and its purpose. This type of footwear is now so popular that, for example, in America people spend about $ 7 billion a year to buy new snickers. The latest models from famous designers and brands are as prestigious as owning a greenhouse with orchids in the Middle Ages. No matter who or what you say, but these days sneakers = status, on par with expensive watches and collector cars.

Let’s turn to the history

Historically, athletic shoes were sewn from genuine leather and with unbendable soles, which gave the wearer only discomfort. In the 1840s Charles Goodyear invented an innovative method of vulcanization, which opened new horizons and allowed to begin production of rubber soles.

In general, shoes with rubber soles were at the end of the XVIII century, however, it was impossible to determine where the left and where the right sneaker. Over time, interest in this type of footwear only increased. Years went by, to create shoes began to apply different technologies and try different materials.

As historians say, the “new” type of sports shoes was tried at the I Olympic Games in 1896, which were held in Athens. After that, a more dynamic development of sports shoes began.

In 1917, thanks to Marcus Converse, mass production of shoes with rubber soles and cloth uppers began. Now we know these sneakers under the brand name Converse. At that time, the shoes were liked by all athletes because they prevented sprains and other foot injuries.

The emergence of the term “snickers”, oops, “snickers”. Also “sneakers.”

The word “snickers” (sneakers) comes from the English verb to sneak, which means “sneak, sneak”. The term appeared in the XIX century. It is said that this is the name of the shoes received because of the possibility of “silent movement” in them. And some claim that they were much loved by robbers.

It is believed that the American term for the designation of rubber-soled sports shoes is exactly sneakers. So called all models of shoes related to sports, including sneakers and slipons. But the domestic name “sneakers” – an invention of the 1970s of the USSR, and is a kind of transposition of the term “cross shoes”, which began to call not the highest quality calacas from the Western snickers.

By the way, some people confuse the name of the shoes with chocolate bars. In Russian, indeed, the sound is the same. However, in English, sneakers are sneakers, and the name of the chocolate bar is snickers.

Snickerhead responds

snickerhead, co-owner of federation.market

Why are people willing to spend a lot of money on sneakers? This is one of the most frequent questions. We like to answer it with associations. We can give the example of paintings, sculptures, cars. Some are engaged in collecting, others see it as something beautiful, if the thing is related to art, and someone makes money on it. The spectrum of purchasing sneakers is very wide. Everyone acquires them exclusively according to their taste. There are collectors, there are those who buy for resale, and there are those who just wear them with pleasure and are not going to put them on the shelf. Sneakers are a part of their lives.

– What is the correct way to say snickers or snickers?

– The correct way to say it is “snickers.” Again it all came from the English language. “One sneaker” they (foreigners – ed.) do not say. A pair of sneakers is a snickers.

– “Snickers” is considered a universally recognized term or in each country sneakers are called differently?

– Among sneaker people, snickers is a recognized term. In every country in the world, you will be understood by people who work with sneakers, whether you are a retailer, reseller or collector.

– Why are people who are into sneaker culture called snickerheads?

– There’s a play on the word here. Sneakers means sneakers, head means head. All together, it’s “sneaker head.” The implication is that a person has a head full of sneakers, that is, he lives it. It is difficult to find an analogy in Russian to correctly translate the word sneakerhead. And again, it’s not just about collecting, but also about buying and selling and many other things related to this culture.