12. How can you show your personality (个性) without saying a word?You can let your sneakers (球鞋) do it!
The sneaker culture we live in today started in the 1980s. At that time, basketball became more popular in the United States and abroad. So clothing brands (品牌) began to tie their sneakers to basketball stars. Even today, we see LeBron James sporting the latest shoes in TV ads.
Today, basketball sneakers are not only for athletes (运动员). They're also a hit with young people. Sneakers encourage kid's creativity. Students can take part in Design Your Own Sneakers Competitions. They are given blank, white shoes, like an artist's canvas (画布). Then it is up to students to create their own sneaker artwork using pens and paint.
In Britain, most students have to wear uniforms, including black shoes. So once they get on the sports field, they can wear running shoes, or soccer boots.
They can also design their own sports shoes online before buying them, including colors and patterns (样式).
Sneakers in the US mean more than simply wearing them for school or sports. People collect them, too.
Big collections include Nike Air Jordans, named after famous basketball star Michael Jordan. People who collect sneakers even have a name for themselves. They're called a "sneaker-head," Do you know any sneaker-heads?