Top 10 Most Iconic Sneakers of All Time

Introduced 1917, endorsed by Chuck Taylor in 1921; over 800 million pairs sold making it the best-selling sneaker of all time; worn by 80% of NBA players in the 1960s

Launched 1969 as a low-top basketball shoe with iconic shell toe; Run-DMC wore them without laces on "My Adidas" (1986), creating the first major hip-hop footwear endorsement

Designed by Tinker Hatfield in 1987 inspired by the Centre Pompidou in Paris; first sneaker with a visible air unit, revolutionizing athletic shoe design and spawning a line worth $3B+ annually

Originally the Adidas Robert Haillet (1965), renamed for tennis champion Stan Smith in 1971; over 70 million pairs sold, the best-selling tennis shoe in history

Released 1977, first Vans shoe with the iconic side stripe (originally called the "Jazz Stripe"); became the definitive skate shoe after being worn in Thrasher magazine throughout the 1980s

Introduced 1968; Tommie Smith wore gold Puma Suedes on the 1968 Mexico City Olympics podium during his Black Power salute, making it the most politically iconic sneaker in history

Designed 1985 for college basketball in school colour-matching "Be True to Your School" colourways; became a skateboarding staple in the 1990s-2000s and a $1B+ resale market driver by 2021

Released 1982 at $100, making it the first athletic shoe to retail at $100; designed by Paul Brown, became the sneaker of choice for Steve Jobs who wore them every day

Introduced 1983 for aerobics, later became a streetwear staple; sold 30 million pairs by 2000, the Freestyle version was the first athletic shoe marketed exclusively to women

Introduced 1917, endorsed by Chuck Taylor in 1921; over 800 million pairs sold making it the best-selling sneaker of all time; worn by 80% of NBA players in the 1960s

Launched 1969 as a low-top basketball shoe with iconic shell toe; Run-DMC wore them without laces on "My Adidas" (1986), creating the first major hip-hop footwear endorsement

Designed by Tinker Hatfield in 1987 inspired by the Centre Pompidou in Paris; first sneaker with a visible air unit, revolutionizing athletic shoe design and spawning a line worth $3B+ annually

Originally the Adidas Robert Haillet (1965), renamed for tennis champion Stan Smith in 1971; over 70 million pairs sold, the best-selling tennis shoe in history

Released 1977, first Vans shoe with the iconic side stripe (originally called the "Jazz Stripe"); became the definitive skate shoe after being worn in Thrasher magazine throughout the 1980s

Introduced 1968; Tommie Smith wore gold Puma Suedes on the 1968 Mexico City Olympics podium during his Black Power salute, making it the most politically iconic sneaker in history

Designed 1985 for college basketball in school colour-matching "Be True to Your School" colourways; became a skateboarding staple in the 1990s-2000s and a $1B+ resale market driver by 2021

Released 1982 at $100, making it the first athletic shoe to retail at $100; designed by Paul Brown, became the sneaker of choice for Steve Jobs who wore them every day

Introduced 1983 for aerobics, later became a streetwear staple; sold 30 million pairs by 2000, the Freestyle version was the first athletic shoe marketed exclusively to women