-
Determining when humans began wearing shoes relies on the fossil record. One theory based on anatomical changes in feet date the first shoe-wearers to Paleolithic times.
-
A British inventor ushers in the era of modern shoelaces. Tying things with strings wasn’t new, but until then, shoes were largely fastened with buckles or buttons.
-
Charles Goodyear files a U.S. patent for vulcanization, which processes natural rubber into a durable product. The process paved the way for rubber-soled shoes.
-
Lyman Reed Blake patents a sewing machine that can affix shoe uppers to soles. Later improved and called the McKay stitcher, it sped the shoe production process dramatically.
-
The United States Rubber Company announces Keds, the first mass-produced shoe marketed as a “sneaker.”
-
Nike founder Bill Bowerman patents his waffle-soled running shoe concept. The design provided better traction.
-
New Balance and Nike announce the first mass-produced athletic shoes with 3-D printed soles, kicking off a new age in customized footwear.
