A Quick History of the Trainer

• American scientist Charles Goodyear accidentally invents vulcanised rubber in 1839 by adding sulphur in the heating process.

• Rubber is incorporated into early versions of trainers called plimsolls, which emerge as a shoe for leisurewear and sport in the UK in the late 1800s.

• Sneaker brands begin to appear in America in the early 1900s – including Keds, Spalding and, in 1922, Converse.

• US runner Jesse Owens wins four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics wearing shoes designed by the Dassler brothers, Rudi and Adi.

• Adi Dassler goes on to launch Adidas; Rudi starts

his own company, Puma.

• By the 1950s, trainers are becoming commonplace, especially in the US, worn by everyone from Hollywood stars to sportspeople and schoolchildren.

• Jogging as a form of exercise grows in popularity from the 1970s, and the rapid growth of trainers continues – helped by their emergence as a key fashion item in the music industry, particularly hip hop.