Where'd You Get Those? New York City's Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987

280 pages
Text(s) by Bobbito Garcia 
26 x 21 cm
Language: English
Hardcover 
Publisher: Testify Books
10th Anniversary Edition
2013
20th Anniversary Edition
2023

"The definitive book on the rise of sneaker fanaticism." -Paper magazine

Twenty years after its first release, and a decade since the most recent edition, this timeless, definitive volume on sneaker culture is finally back in print. Lavishly illustrated and remarkably comprehensive, Where'd You Get Those? is an insider's account that traces New York City's sneaker culture back to its earliest days. Describing how a small and dedicated group of sneaker consumers in the 1970s and early '80s proved instrumental in establishing current corporate giants such as Nike and Adidas, sneaker aficionado Bobbito Garcia writes with exactitude and affection.

Chronicling the rise of sneakers through the lean years of the '60s, the bulk of the book examines nearly 400 sneakers released in the golden years of 1970-87, via information-packed entries for each model, including all color combinations available, nicknames of particular shoe models, relevant athlete endorsements, and running commentary and stories from a rogues' gallery of fanatics who weigh in on the pros and cons of each sneaker. Through lifestyle chapters such as "Arts and Crafts" (which details the process of customizing sneakers) and "Thou Shalt Not" ("The No-Nos of New York Sneakers"), Where'd You Get Those?interrogates this enduring subculture from every angle. This 20th anniversary classic edition features the cover artwork from the first edition, as well as essays collected from the 10th anniversary edition.