Following the Trends

It’s in most children’s nature to follow trends. Before we figure out what we want to be, we imitate the actions of others. This doesn’t entirely explain the popularity of extreme sports – they do provide an exhilarating thrill, after all – but it comes close. There will always be a huge mass of followers, but only a select few kids actually set the trends and lead the pack.

Skate shoes are a cutting-edge alternative to a skateboard and traditional roller blades. When not in use, they take up much less room in a kid’s backpack and they light up for nighttime demonstrations. It’s no surprise that skate shoes have begun to catch on at middle schools across the country. After all, the cool kids have given these extreme skates their stamp of approval.

Rebellion in a Box

Skateboard culture outgrew its niche and entered the mainstream years ago – just look at the popularity of the annual X-Games for one example. But true physical proof of this growing phenomenon is near at hand. Well, more like near at foot. Skate shoes have been at the forefront of low-top sneaker fashion for decades.

Vans, one popular brand of skate shoes that crossed over into other markets, became closely associated with punk rock in the late 1970s. Suddenly, youth were wearing skate shoes for their stylish appearance and not just for practical purposes. Kids who had never rolled an inch on a skateboard adopted the shoes as their own sign of rebellion. To this day, skate shoes make a statement – whether they’re worn while shredding down the asphalt or walking through a shopping mall.