Strap In: Mary Jane Sneakers

Originally known as the ‘bar' shoe thanks to its strap functionality, the Mary Jane silhouette name was coined in 1904 by the Brown Shoe Company, located in Missouri. The name was an homage to a cartoon character known as Buster Brown and his love interest Mary Jane who wore the ‘bar shoe’. And really, the rest is history. The Mary Jane has long been a part of footwear and the sneaker world, but in recent years, has really picked up momentum in the latter, and dare it be said: hype. The Mary Jane has manifested itself in many different ways in sneakers, from the Nike Air Rift to the Comme Des Garçons x Salomon RX 3.0 and more. It’s time to strap in and go through some of the best Mary Jane style sneakers.

Want more? Take a deep dive into the origins of the Nike Air Rift here.