For some people shoes are just something to wear to walk. You pick a colour you like. Maybe they’re comfy. Perhaps you fasten them with laces or velcro. Or even easier; just slip them on. Or, as long as there’s something between your foot and the floor; they’re good. It’s an everyday item that doesn’t necessarily need to look cool or cost much; they’re only going to get worn out anyway.

But for some people, shoes (or sneakers* to be specific) are the most important part of an outfit and they have to be on point, for several reasons. They are an expression of one’s style. They can pertain to a specific culture or movement. They can show your affiliation to a specific brand or artist. They have the special abilities to improve athletic performance.

Sneakers cross the line between an everyday item and a rare collectable; with few other objects or clothing items being so diverse and innovative, the sneaker industry is one of the most fast-paced. Thousands of new models, designs, colourways and collaborations are released each year (maybe too many actually) to keep up with the crazy demand of consumers. Previously, advancements in sport drove sneaker design and innovation, with new models released at major sporting events. But over the last half-decade, youth culture has been the driving force for this and has influenced and increased the speed of the industry.

A new major exhibition at the Design Museum in London, Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street, explores numerous facets of the sneaker culture by looking at what makes an iconic sneaker design, the cultural relevance of specific sneakers, rare, limited edition and one-off designs as well as some of the latest technological advancements of shoes for sports and sustainability.

I checked out the exhibition not long after its opening to see what the hype was all about as I am not a sneaker-obsessive to the level of crazy but I do appreciate the culture. I look out for sneakers that I like whether hyped or not aka I buy what I like but I do favour function over form. I have my favourite styles and I have multiple sneakers in my collection with around five or six in my regular rotation (mostly Nike Air Force 1's).

*For continuity with the exhibition, I’m using the word ‘sneakers’ when talking about these kinds of shoes but in the UK we call these kinds of shoes ‘trainers’.