Graffiti Sneakers

Starting in America in the 1920’s, graffiti has become an underground pop art movement. Debates have raged as to whether graffiti is a crime or a work of art. In the 1970’s in New York City and Philadelphia was full of evidence of vivacity of the graffiti culture. Shortly after this, New York and other metropolises began a concerted effort to clean up their cities. At the same time, however, graffiti emerged from the underground and became an indelible part of American pop culture. Today you will find graffiti’s influence on clothing, album art, and especially graffiti sneakers.

Some of the most popular names in urban wear pay homage to the influence graffiti has on their lines. One classic example is the work of Mark Ecko in his Ecko Unlimited and Ecko Red sneakers. Many of the designs in the Ecko line are densely populated with overlapping icons and linear designs. One pair of his shoes features a dripping dagger overlaid on a heart and surrounded with tattoo-esque embellishments. Other graffiti sneakers in the Ecko line have their main graphic superimposed over what appears to be random spray paint pattern.

Adidas and DC Shoes are also urban sneaker brands that feature graffiti sneakers. DC Shoes has a Pure DC Skater shoe that is almost entirely covered with graffiti-like print. There are leather accent panels in pure black and white, but the majority of the shoe mimics the calligraphied signatures that graffiti artists developed. DC Shoes has actually gone so far as to sponsor exclusive shows cum sales of popular graffiti artists. For instance, there is an upcoming show where André, a Washington DC-based graffiti artist, will personally design 250 pairs of shows in his signature style, after which they will be displayed and sold.

Though graffiti can be thought of as an anarchistic form of self-expression, there is no denying the sway that it holds on American popular culture. The spirit of individualism that is embodied in graffiti is also available in unique, urban graffiti sneakers. If you are feeling inspired, pick up a pair of simple shoes and a spray paint can today.