The crowd that assembled Tuesday night to hear from the founding fathers of sneakerology came prepared, sporting an array of Nikes, Vans LP slips and classic Chuck Taylors.

About 40 students attended the lecture in Hoff Theater as Bobbito Garcia and Elliott Curtis, both experts and leaders in the study of sneaker culture, divulged their love and knowledge of the shoes’ history. Garcia, author of Where’d You Get Those? and former host of It’s The Shoes on ESPN, also held the first public screening of his new film on street basketball, Doin’ it in the Park.

The event was sponsored by the Maryland Sneaker Cartel, a student group comprised of sneaker enthusiasts and aspiring entrepreneurs. Although the group has experimented with retail and community activism, this was their first event featuring guest speakers.

“Considering this was our first major event, I thought we had a pretty good turnout,” said Hafie Yillah, a junior communication major and president of Sneaker Cartel.

Curtis, who started the first college course on sneaker culture at Carnegie Mellon, began the lecture by introducing his audience to the history of sneakers in the U.S. He also explained his own footwear, a pair of New Balance sneakers.

“The 993 [New Balance] is like a flag for the DMV,” he said

Garcia also shared his personal sneaker icons, such as former professional basketball player Joe Hammond.

“He was basically Michael Jordan to Harlem, that’s how big he was,” Garcia said.

Elliott and Garcia said their fascination with sneakers related to the shoes’ humble beginnings and rise in popularity. Originally manufactured by rubber companies for sporting goods stores, they said, sneakers eventually reached new heights when Jordan and Nike collaborated to create Air Jordans in 1984 and a new Jordan-sponsored shoe nearly every year since.

“Pretty much for the last nine years it has been a Nike dominated world. They have about 40 percent of the market,” Garcia said. “Things weren’t always like this.”

Stephanie Santos, a sophomore criminology and psychology major, said she was impressed with Garcia’s expertise.

“I didn’t realize how much of a big deal he actually was,” Santos said.

Nicholas Saribner, a junior studio art major, said he appreciated the opportunity to interact with Garcia and Elliott.

“I didn’t even think I was going to be able to come up and meet these guys,” Saribner said.

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