Sneakers have become a modern day marvel of sorts. The days when Chuck Taylors reigned supreme are long gone, and we currently live in a world where flywire technology, air bubbles and the like are basic features on any quality tennis shoe.
This doesn’t mean connoisseurs should forget about the culture’s humble beginnings, though. To jog your memories, London-based illustrator, Stephen Cheetham, created a piece that highlights iconic Nike kicks over four decades: the 1970s through the 2000s.
The artist — he’s produced work for British Airways, Nike, Google, Oxford University, and more — said “I like trainers, specifically Nikes,” when asked what inspired the project. As a result he drew up noteworthy footwear like the Air Jordan 1, Nike Air Max 90, and a host of others.
See the artistic pieces in full on Flickr, and feel free to purchase them via Cheetham’s web store.
Hit the jump to see a break down of each year and a few solo pieces of our favorite illustrations from the collection.
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Photo: Stephen Cheetham
