Main content

Why Does Everyone Wear Trainers?

A simple pair of shoes; trainers, sneakers whatever you call them. How did this footwear become ubiquitous across the globe? Join Mike Williams to find out why.

Sneaker, trainer call them what you will. How did this product of the industrial revolution and a rising middle class become a global fashion item worth tens of billions of dollars a year? Especially when 85% of the purchases are never intended for its original purpose, health and fitness. Join Mike Williams for the Why Factor on Sneakers.

Produced by Julie Ball

(Photo: A man looks at a collection of sneakers in the window of a shopping mall, in the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Credit: Getty Images)

Available now

18 minutes

Last on

Mon 26 Oct 2015 14:32GMT
±«Óãtv World Service except Online, Americas and the Caribbean, Australasia & UK DAB/Freeview

More episodes

Previous

Why Do we Support Sports Clubs?

Next

Why Do We Love the Bicycle?

See all episodes from The Why Factor

Clip

Broadcasts

  • Fri 23 Oct 2015 18:32GMT
    ±«Óãtv World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
  • Fri 23 Oct 2015 19:32GMT
    ±«Óãtv World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
  • Fri 23 Oct 2015 23:32GMT
    ±«Óãtv World Service
  • Sun 25 Oct 2015 20:32GMT
    ±«Óãtv World Service West and Central Africa
  • Sun 25 Oct 2015 22:32GMT
    ±«Óãtv World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
  • Mon 26 Oct 2015 02:32GMT
    ±«Óãtv World Service Americas and the Caribbean
  • Mon 26 Oct 2015 03:32GMT
    ±«Óãtv World Service UK DAB/Freeview, Online, Europe and the Middle East & East Asia only
  • Mon 26 Oct 2015 04:32GMT
    ±«Óãtv World Service South Asia
  • Mon 26 Oct 2015 05:32GMT
    ±«Óãtv World Service Australasia
  • Mon 26 Oct 2015 07:32GMT
    ±«Óãtv World Service Europe and the Middle East & East and Southern Africa only
  • Mon 26 Oct 2015 13:32GMT
    ±«Óãtv World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only
  • Mon 26 Oct 2015 14:32GMT
    ±«Óãtv World Service except Online, Americas and the Caribbean, Australasia & UK DAB/Freeview

Featured in...

Get the podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes for free

Why do we look the way we do?

Tattoos, trainers, jeans, hair, ties ... why?

Podcast

  • The Why Factor

    The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions