Sneakers: Comfortable, Functional, and Part of Life

Recently, I was interviewed by 『SNEAKER FREAKER』 (http://www.sneakerfreaker.com/).
It's an incredible compilation of sneakers from all over the world, offering a truly captivating read.

CAUSE is featured in "ISSUE 13."
If you're interested, you can purchase it at Tower Records and other retailers, so please give it a read.

From the CAUSE 2008-09 Autumn/Winter Collection

For me personally, sneakers have already become an integral part of my life.
They are one of the essential shoes I cannot do without. CAUSE has also become synonymous with sneakers, a decade having passed since its inception.

Sneakers are made using a method called vulcanization.
Rubber is bonded under high heat and allowed to set slowly. Raw rubber and sulfur are mixed to soften the rubber, which is then used to mold the soles and other parts. I understand this method originated in Germany.

The rubber is stretched like fine lacework through a roller machine. As it stretches, it makes a popping sound, much like chewing gum.
I find the sound quite pleasant, but the artisans reportedly wear earplugs during their daily work.

The history of sneakers is long, invented in 1893 for athletic use, but they have only been widely practical for about the last 100 years.
The word is said to derive from the English word "sneak."

Unlike hard-soled leather shoes, sneakers, made with soft materials, allow one to move quietly and "sneak up" on someone, hence the name.
In 1916, Keds, when marketing their shoes, used "quiet shoes" as a selling point, and the name is said to have emerged from part of that slogan.

When I find a pair of sneakers I love, I buy several of the same ones.
Comfortable, functional sneakers – what kind of sneakers hold special meaning for you?
『SNEAKER FREAKER』 is the kind of specialist magazine that inspires such feelings.