With roots across basketball, hip-hop culture, and music, the sneakerhead subculture is a global phenomenon that emerged in the U.S. in the late 1980s. Sneakerheads, the individuals who have built this unique subculture, are best described as people who collect, trade, or stock sneakers as a hobby. How Sneakers Became Popular It all started when brands started associating themselves with athletes and celebrities. Back in 1985, the infamous line of Air Jordan, worn by Michael Jordan himself, entered the mainstream fashion scene. Hip-hop subculture and music became synonymous with a young demographic, while hip-hop artists gave sneakers much-needed "street credibility" as status symbols during this period.