Introduction
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View of the hallway of the exhibition © madd-bordeaux
Tennis shoes, trainer shoes or sneakers, whatever their name, they define today our way of living and dressing. In a few decades, they have wiped out sartorial rules, while overcoming social barriers and blurring the boundaries between genders, until they have become the most democratic shoes ever, an emblematic object of our globalized culture.
When they appeared in the middle of the 19th century, thanks to the industrialization of rubber, sneakers, with their flexible soles, have been quickly associated with sports. They are transcended by physical performance and a feeling of fulfillment: they are linked to success, to fame, and have an aura that affects everyone. Their modest cost makes them ideal for strolling, playing basketball or breakdancing. As a symbol of the hip-hop culture, they spread in the streets and conquer the world of high-end fashion. The conflict between these opposite worlds gave birth to a new aesthetic, rapidly shared by the greatest number. The sneakers culture was born. Since then, many economic, technological and cultural factors have converged to turn this trend into a real social phenomenon. It is recognized that today the feet catch the eye: tell me what sneakers you wear, I’ll tell you who you are!affects everyone. Their modest cost makes them ideal for strolling, playing basketball or breakdancing. As a symbol of the hip-hop culture, they spread in the streets and conquer the world of high-end fashion. The conflict between these opposite worlds gave birth to a new aesthetic, rapidly shared by the greatest number. The sneakers culture was born. Since then, many economic, technological and cultural factors have converged to turn this trend into a real social phenomenon. It is recognized that today the feet catch the eye: tell me what sneakers you wear, I’ll tell you who you are!
Curation
Constance Rubini, assisted by Étienne Tornier
Scenography
Mathieu Lehanneur, assisted by Arthur Fosse
Graphic design of the exhibition catalogue and communication
Anna Toussaint
Art committee
In order to provide the expertise and knowledge of specialists and collectors in this field, an artistic committee has been constituted, under the coordination of Constance Rubini.
- Jacques Chassaing, footwear designer at Adidas since 1981. He is the designer of several iconic models such as the Forum basketball shoe and the Running ZX.
- Pierre Demoux, author of L'Odyssée de la Basket (Éditions La tengo, 2019) and journalist at LesÉchos since 2009.
- Thibaut de Longeville, sneakers specialist, author of the documentaries Sneakers, le culte des baskets and Air Force 1 : Le Documentaire presented in the exhibition. Founder of the 360creative, audiovisual production company and graphic design agency based in Paris.
- Samuel Mantelet, expert in sneaker culture, consultant in marketing and communication and co founder of the association Sneakers EMPIRE .
- Teddy Sanches, designer and artistic director. Winner of the Audi Talents 2019, director of a film produced for the exhibition on the connections between Hip Hop culture and sneakers.
- Alexander Taylor, industrial designer and consultant for Adidas since 2008. He has developed the Primeknit technology and has been involved in the brand's collaboration with the environmental organization Parley for the Oceans.
The museum wants to warmly thank
Château Haut-Bailly,
mécène d’honneur
The lenders of the exhibition
Adidas - Alexandre Blum - American Library in Paris - Archives Balenciaga, Paris - Archives Givenchy - Archives Mugler - Arnaud Dedieu - Arnaud Daroux - ASICS France - Aurélie Julien Collectible - Barbara Motylinska & Zuzanna Gronowicz - Bellamy, Peter - Bally Schuhmuseum, Schönewerd - BASF SE, Allemagne - Bibliothèque Mériadeck, Bordeaux - CAMPER- Centre de documentation Mode – Musée des Arts décoratifs, de la faïence et de la mode, Marseille - Centre national des arts plastiques - Chloé - Christophe Guberan - Citadium Bordeaux - CND Centre national de la danse - Collection LOUIS VUITTON - Collection Patrimoine CHANEL, Paris - Converse archives - Corail - ECOALF - Ector - Emmanuel Chamant - Faguo - Helmut Fischer - Jean-Louis Froment - Gauthier - Geordie Govaere - Helen Kirkum - HERMES - Igwe - Jen Keane - Jules Mas - Julien Chaintreau - Karim El Hmouzi - Le Coq Sportif - Le Musée Olympique, Lausanne - Léo Turcat - Martha Cooper - Martin Sallières - Morgan Remy - Musée national du Sport, Nice - Musée de la Fédération Française de Tennis - New Balance - Nicolas Malinowsky - Northampton Museum and Art Gallery - ON - Pierre Dartiguelongue - Pierre Hardy - Pierre-Henri Foulon - Prada - Puma - Reebok - Richie Roxas - Rick Owens - Samuel Mantelet - Samuel Pearce - Sébastien Abes - Shani Bru - Recouture - Sneakers Museum, Marseille - Studio Marc Newson Ltd, Londres - Tex Lacroix - Thaïs Hourbette - Thibaut de Longeville - Thomas Decktwo Dartigues - Tiago Escada Ramos - VEJA - Vibram
The partners of the exhibition
Crazylace
Bordeaux Métropole
Etablissement Public d’Aménagement Bordeaux-Euratlantique
Institut national de l'audiovisuel (INA)
InterContinental Bordeaux – Le Grand Hôtel
Hôtel Cardinal
Le réseau TBM
Marty Sports
SNCF Gares & Connexions
VEJA
StockX
The partner of the catalogue
Château Lafite Rothschild
The associative and cultural partners
Fédération Française de Basket-Ball
La FIMEB (Fédération inter-associative des musiques Electroniques)
Formation professionnelle Rêvolution
IBOAT
JSA Bordeaux
Lâche-moi les baskets
Ligue Nouvelle-Aquitaine de Basket-Ball
Sneakers Empire
The media partners
Junkpage magazine
Le Site de la Sneaker
For their fidelity, the museum would also like to thank
Château Nairac
Farrow & Ball
Les Crus Bourgeois du Médoc
La société de négoce DIVA
Station Ausone
The Friends and the Circle of the madd