Tennis is a stylish sport with big names like Perry, Federer, and Agassi. From sportswear to activewear, the fashion industry has been influenced by tennis. The tennis sneaker has evolved into essential streetwear, and this evolution has produced some of the most popular sneakers in history. Here’s a short timeline of how the tennis shoe evolved into what it is today.
The 1917 Converse All-Star
The converse was the most dominant tennis shoe from 1917 until the 1960s. Even when Adidas released their first tennis sneaker in the 1930s, the Converse All-Star continued to reign supreme.
The 1939 Dunlop Volley
The Dunlop Volley was released in the 1940s together with the Green Flash, the sister model. Even though it was mostly produced in Australia, the show became one of the most popular tennis shoes. Its popularity was largely attributed to the perfection of the low-profile canvas and leather formula.
The 1965 Adidas Stan Smith
Today, what we know as a tennis shoe is widely influenced by Stan Smith. The shoe’s shape influenced the creation of tennis shoes by brands such as Dior, Saint Laurent, and Common Projects. To make the shoe a marvel of creation, Adidas added a stronger material that was light enough for playing tennis.
The shoe started a major tech war among sportswear manufacturers, which exists to date. At first, it was named Adidas Robert Haillet before Stan Smith took over as the brand ambassador in 1978.
The 1989 Swoosh Nike Air
By the time the Swoosh came to market in 1989, brands such as Adidas and Fred Perry had already made a name for themselves in the Tennis court. But Nike had a radical approach to shoe design that changed how people thought about shoes and clothes. They used a hi-top design and bold colors to make the pair desirable. Andre Agassi wore them on the court, helping make them one of the most iconic sneakers of the 1980s.
The 1990 Reebok Court Pump Fury
When he was 17 years old, Michael Chang put on the Reebok Court Pump and won the French Opens. This made Pump technology one of the most well-known sneaker trends in the 1990s. The shoe has an internal inflation mechanism for regulating a special fitting cushion in the upper and lower tongue, offering locking around the ankle. To create the shoe, Reebok partnered with Design Continuum.
The 2014 Nike Air Zoom Vapor Air Jordan
The last two decades have seen more boring elite sports gear as it got more technical. Tennis shoes have been used for the court only as they’ve been made to appear clunky and puffy. But things changed when the relationship between Nike and Roger Feder grew. He became the most fashionable tennis man as a result of the signature Nike collections and personalized shoe designs. The Air Zoom Vapor was designed for him at the height of the partnership.
The 2021 Adidas Solecourt Primeblue
As Adidas and Nike dominated the Tennis fashion scene, demand for products that performed well without environmental cost increased. Thus, Adidas has constantly collaborated with Parley, an environmental enterprise that recycles ocean plastics into wearable fabrics. The Solecourt tennis shoe is a product of this partnership and graced the tennis courts in the 2021 Australian Open. The shoe is made from Prime Blue, a high-performance recycled material made from Parley Ocean Plastic.
The shoe’s shock absorption feature prevents back, knees, and foot discomfort. Its molded heel makeup comfortably supports the Achilles, which is ideal for individuals with bad ankles and knee or foot problems. What’s more, it has a reliable outrigger and chassis, preventing the athlete’s foot from twisting.
