Trainers, gym shoes, runners, tennis shoes. No matter what you call them, sneakers seem to be everywhere. But what’s the story behind these ubiquitous shoes? Read our timeline to discover how these simple shoes launched a multibillion-dollar industry and became a central part of daily life. • 1839: Charles Goodyear invents vulcanized rubber, which makes the material available for commercial use. Rubber will become a key feature of most sneakers. • 1830s: The Liverpool Rubber Company in England creates sand shoes, which are considered by many to be the first sneakers. The shoes are canvas with rubber soles and are ...(100 of 1059 words) Access the full article Help support true facts by becoming a member. Subscribe today!