This document provides a history of sneakers/trainers from their origins in the 1800s as rubber-soled canvas shoes for beach activities, to their modern use as high-fashion and sports performance footwear. It traces key developments like the introduction of rubber soles, celebrity endorsements boosting popularity, and the rise of sneaker collecting. The summary highlights how sneakers evolved from casual sandals to multi-billion dollar cultural icons through technological advances, popularity in sports, and clever marketing exploiting youth culture.