Frank Carlson Library

In 1924, Adi and Rudolf Dassler started a shoe company in their mother's laundry room. They would one day divide that company into Adidas and Puma. Today, Adidas sells millions of sneakers a year. The company's three-stripe logo is world famous. People of all ages wear Adidas sneakers for sports and style.

People call them "All Stars," "Chuck Taylors," "Chucks," and "Cons." Converse sneakers go by many names. For more than 100 years, they have been some of the most popular sneakers in the world. Everyone from kids to actors wear Converse sneakers to show their personality and style.

Long ago, sneakers were only worn by athletes. Today, everyone wears them-from Olympic athletes lacing up high-tech, feather-light shoes to kids learning to tie their shoelaces for the first time. Sneakers help people play sports, feel comfortable, and show their style. Nike sells 25 pairs of sneakers every second-more than any other company in world!

Thousands of years ago, shoes were made to protect people's feet. Today, people wear high-tech sneakers for sports and for style. Companies, such as Reebok, sell millions of sneakers every year. People around the world love wearing these sneakers.