Sneaker culture as we know it today was launched in the 1980s when Michael Jordan wore his first pair of Air Jordan 1s, forever changing the sneaker game.
Banned by the NBA but embraced by sneakerheads, the Air Jordan 1 broke the mold and set the tone for sneaker culture as we know it, according to Foot Locker. What started as a pivotal moment in sports history has become equally significant to teen fashion.
In 2025, sneakers are more than just an item of clothing; they’ve become a whole lifestyle with a constantly growing and evolving culture. From a notable increase in limited-edition sneaker drops (with four Jordan colorways scheduled to release in July) to paying over $1,000 for a single pair of shoes, the way we view sneakers has undergone a significant shift. For teens, especially, sneaker culture has become one of the most important ways to express identity, stay on trend, and connect with others. Whether it’s waiting all day for a sneaker drop, planning an outfit around your shoes, or even just knowing how to navigate the SNKRS app to ensure you get shoes when they drop, being into sneakers is like speaking a whole different language.
Over the years, sneaker culture has evolved from a niche interest to a trendy and mainstream phenomenon. What began with basketball shoes like Air Jordans in the 1980s has now evolved into a multi-billion-dollar market.
According to a recent industry forecast by EIN Presswire, the global sneaker market is projected to reach approximately $120 billion by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of around 2.7%, indicating that the sneaker industry is expected to increase at this rate annually. On the other hand, Statista projects that the entire sneaker market will reach $120 billion by 2026, which is a much sooner projection. Either way, the sneaker market is seeing constant and rapid growth.
Teens are willing to spend thousands of dollars on fashion. Piper Sandler’s Spring 2025 “Taking Stock With Teens” survey reports that the average annual spending of teens reached $2,388, with apparel and footwear among their top purchase categories. Nike was the number one choice for footwear, which highlights just how prevalent sneaker culture is. Sneakers are also becoming the go-to for nearly every type of outfit, not just casual clothes. More teens are styling sneakers with everything from school uniforms to streetwear and formal outfits, such as suits and dresses. This trend reflects how deeply sneakers are embedded in teen fashion today.
Teens don’t usually have big paychecks either. According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly wage for many teen jobs in Georgia is approximately $14 per hour. That means a teen would need to work 36 hours just to save up $500. To reach the average annual spending of $2,388, they’d have to put in roughly 170 hours of work, about 4 hours per week for a whole year, just to stay on top of sneaker drops and keep up with trends.
But sneaker culture is about more than just style; it’s also about community. Sneakers are a way for teens to find their people and build friendships over shared interests. According to Hypebeast, “trend‑driven Gen Z consumers … increase sell‑out rates of readily available models that align with general dressing standards,” showing just how much teens are curating their outfits around sneakers. This mindset is helping to define teen outfits and shape their wardrobes.
“Sneakers are a universal language… we help to bring like-minded individuals together and it’s more than just sneakers now,” says KO, the creator of ATATF, one of the largest sneaker communities in the country. “The barriers that sneakers have broken down have allowed people to come into spaces they normally weren’t allowed to be in. You couldn’t wear sneakers to certain things, now you see people casually wearing sneakers to clubs or even getting married in them.”
In Atlanta, sneaker culture is extreme. With events like Sneakercon and “Sneakerballs” (formal dance events where sneakers are not just allowed but encouraged), and sneaker stores like A Ma Maniére Atlanta and Wish ATL, teens in the city are constantly surrounded by sneakers and immersed in the sneaker culture.
Daniel Ratner, a Georgia Tech student who began reselling sneakers in high school, remembers spending hours waiting outside of Wish. “During COVID, I would camp out every day for hours for shoes,” he says. “For some releases, 4–5 hours. For some, I camped out overnight.” When asked about his most memorable moments, he said, “There were these Valentine’s Day Air Force 1s at Wish, and people waited all night long. It was raining the entire time and it sucked … but I got the shoes, so it was worth it.”
KO, the creator of ATATF, adds, “There are stories of people who camp for like weeks at a time for sneakers, and I think that’s kind of crazy in and of itself — but it’s coveted.”
As sneaker culture continues to grow, its influence on teen fashion only becomes stronger. It’s not just about shoes; it’s about identity, self-expression, and being a part of something bigger than yourself. And in places like Atlanta, that connection is just as strong in school hallways as it is on sneaker drop websites, local shoe stores, and resale apps. StockX and GOAT, two resale platforms, are gaining traction among teens, with StockX alone moving approximately $1.8 billion in merchandise in 2020. Projections indicate a $30 billion resale market by 2030.
Even still, it’s not a universal experience for all teens in Atlanta. Not everyone has access to expensive shoes or even wants to be part of the sneaker community. For some, sneaker culture can feel exclusive and unattainable. Even just visiting popular stores like Wish ATL can be chaotic because parking is terrible, and people end up squeezing into random spots or walking from far away just to line up for 6 a.m. drops. Still, the culture remains magnetic, pulling in those who can participate and helping shape the sneaker scene in Atlanta.
Daniel Ratner, a Georgia Tech student who began reselling sneakers in high school, agrees. “I would definitely say sneakers have become more acceptable in a formal or professional setting. A lot of people can wear different types of sneakers to work now, and companies are okay with it. There are definitely sneakers that can look more formal and can be dressed up.”
He also recalls the community aspect, saying, “I would say the community in general, especially in Atlanta, means putting people who would never really interact in the same room and bonding over their love for a shoe.”
Sneaker culture is more than just a fashion trend; it’s a powerful expression of how teens today identify themselves. Sneakers have become a symbol of identity, creativity, and connection that has a significant impact on the way teens dress. In cities like Atlanta and across the world, teens aren’t just following sneaker culture, they’re leading it.
As trends and styles continue to change and evolve, one thing remains constant: sneakers aren’t just leaving their mark on pavement; they are leaving their mark on the future of fashion itself.
