The 18 most important sneakers of all time

Far from being a modern phenomenon, the first sneakers appeared in the mid-1800s as running shoes. Unlike the sneakers of today, they looked more like a dress shoe, but with spiked soles.

As sneakers have evolved, they've transitioned from a sportswear staple to a fashion statement. As such, The Brooklyn Museum is hosting a traveling exhibit, "The Rise of Sneaker Culture" (through Oct. 4), presented by the Bata Shoe Museum of Toronto.

Keep scrolling to see the exhibit's ranking of the 18 most influential sneakers.