Sometimes parents get it right, and sometimes they get it way wrong when it comes to kids and their ever-changing, increasingly expensive trends. Pass or fail, shoes are a part of everyone’s lives and can either afford you the adoration of your peers or jeers from the cool kids’ table in the lunchroom. With that said, let’s take a look back at 6 pairs of the most memorable shoes from my childhood—the good, the bad, and the ultra-poop.
This article is part of our complete guide to How Hip-Hop Changed Everything.
Hush Puppitos — Versatility Isn’t Always Pretty
Face it, every kid had a pair of the original red-bottoms; rough suede uppers, pinkish-red bottoms, cardboard shoestrings… These things were put to work by parents everywhere. Fortunately and unfortunately I had cords and cardigans to pair these babies with every day to school for the first 2-3 years of elementary. #urkel
Voit (Knock-off Jordans) — Why Do My Parents Hate Me?
Speaking of “what are those”… I cringe every time I think about the Voit sneakers I had. Now, mine weren’t quite as fashionable as the ones pictured here, nor were they accepted as ‘cool kid’ attire by my peers at school. So, as you can imagine, I was clowned heavily when I walked into class for the first time rocking my Voit kicks that looked eerily similar to the Jordan IX that had been released that year.
Parents, rule number one: if you’re going to buy bargain clothes or shoes, don’t think you’re doing your kid a favor getting anything that looks like or resembles a more popular item, if that item isn’t the genuine article. You’re just putting a target on your kid’s back to be ridiculed, effectually and fervently. I know I was, but in the Adams’ house, you wore shoes until you couldn’t wear them suckers anymore. #coldword
Pro-Keds — Keds Are for Girls
I got these babies somewhere around the 4th or 5th grade and boy were they something! Aside from the known fact that Keds were only for girls only (not actually but as stated in the schoolyard style code of ethics rule 2B section 7-5). Being the tiny kid that I was, when I put them on they came all the way up to just past my knees (almost literally) and had straps on the top (not pictured). Did I mention they were something called Pro-Keds?
I can NOT tell you the ‘splaining’ I had to do when I shuffled (from their sheer weight and volume) through the double doors of Bessemer Elementary with these bad boys on — wearing, yes, a knit cardigan and turtleneck… #smh
British Knights — Foreign Imports
I ain’t gonna lie… BK’s were legit back in the day. When I got my first pair of British Knights I was feeling myself something serious. When I took my walks through the halls I made sure to keep my stroll a good distance away from the ‘kids with Jordan’s’ crew but not too far from the ‘I’m still wearing Payless’ crew and needless to say, I got mad love. I finally had a pair of shoes that I could own and not feel completely ostracized in. #thanksmom #shegetsit
Ewing’s – Unappreciated Classics
I’m pretty sure I was too young to appreciate what the Ewing’s were to the sneaker scene. When I got these I kinda thought they were “just okay” and didn’t really know how to feel wearing a brand that wasn’t what all the other kids were wearing at the time. If you ask any sneakerhead now, these boys are lauded as gems to the game. Either way, I remember my brother and I, in our turtle necks and cardigans, walking up to the yard with these classic shoes and feeling rather froggy. We were coming up in the game. #status
Barkley’s – I’ve Arrived!
The Barkley Air Force 180 was my very first Nike shoe. I got it in like 1st or 2nd grade and felt like a king when I wore them. I had the all black ones with red, orange, and purple accents and I wore the brakes off of them. You couldn’t tell me anything. These would go well with my cardi and cords combos. #balling
Honorable Mention: LA Gear – But They’re Not the Light Ups Though…
When LA Gear hit the scene in the early 90s, it “lit” up the sneaker world and created a whole new lane for athletic fashion. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a pair until well after the wave had peaked and fizzled into sea foam. I was the kid with the retro LA Gears—and they didn’t even light up… Sigh… #missedthewave
Related: What is Google One? A Cloud Storage Glow-Up or Just Another Bill?
Related: Ultimate Guide — Soulful Thanksgiving Dishes That’ll Have Your Family Showing Up On Time
The Schoolyard Shoe Hierarchy
Every kid who grew up in the late ’80s and ’90s understood the unspoken social hierarchy that lived on your feet. At the very top sat the Jordans—untouchable, aspirational, the Rolls-Royce of the playground. Below that were the “acceptable” brands: Nike (non-Jordan), Reebok Pumps, and if you were lucky, a pair of Barkleys or Penny Hardaways. The middle tier included your British Knights, your Ewings, your LA Gears—shoes that weren’t embarrassing but weren’t getting you any street cred either.
And then there was the bottom. Payless. Kmart specials. The dreaded “no-name” shoes that looked close enough to a real brand that your parents thought they were doing you a favor. They weren’t. If anything, a shoe that almost looked like Jordans was worse than one that was clearly something else entirely, because it announced to the world that your family tried and failed to get the real thing. The cruelty of the ’90s schoolyard knew no bounds.
Why We Were So Obsessed with Sneakers as Kids
Looking back, it’s kind of wild how much emotional weight we placed on footwear. But it makes sense when you think about it. Kids don’t have money, cars, jobs, or any real status markers. Your shoes were one of the few things that communicated something about you before you even opened your mouth. They told people whether your family had money, whether your parents “got it,” and whether you were plugged into what was cool.
The sneaker obsession wasn’t just about vanity—it was about belonging. Walking into school with the right shoes meant you were part of the tribe. Walking in with the wrong ones meant you were on the outside looking in, trying to explain to people why your mom thought Pro-Keds were “basically the same thing.” (They were not basically the same thing, Mom.) And for kids growing up in households where every dollar counted, the shoe game was a minefield of potential embarrassment that parents rarely understood the stakes of.
But here’s the silver lining: every kid who survived the shoe gauntlet came out with stories. Stories about the first time they finally got a pair of “real” shoes. Stories about the creative excuses they made for their off-brand kicks. And stories—like these—that become funnier with every year that passes. The shoes are long gone, but the memories? Those are forever. #thanksmom
Frequently Asked Questions About ’90s Sneaker Culture
The most popular kids’ shoes in the ’90s included Air Jordans (any model), Nike Air Max, Reebok Pumps, LA Gear Lights, British Knights, and Ewing Athletics. Brand loyalty was intense on the playground, and owning the right pair could make or break your social standing at school.
Yes, British Knights (BK) still produces sneakers, though the brand is a shadow of its early ’90s peak. They’ve attempted several comebacks with retro releases and collaborations. Original vintage BKs have become collectible among sneaker enthusiasts who remember them from their childhood.
Ewing Athletics was a sneaker brand founded by NBA Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing in 1989. The signature Ewing 33 Hi became iconic in basketball culture. The brand faded in the mid-’90s but was successfully relaunched in 2012, and the retro models are now considered classics by sneaker collectors.
In the ’90s, sneaker culture was at its peak but prices were high relative to family incomes. Brands like Voit and other off-brand manufacturers made shoes that closely resembled popular models like Air Jordans at a fraction of the price. Kids who wore these knock-offs were often teased because the subtle differences were immediately spotted by peers, making the shoes a social liability rather than a money-saving win.
Sign in to join the conversation
Share your thoughts, leave feedback, and engage with the community.
Sign in with Google