Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Sneakers are footwear of flexible material, typically featuring a sole made of rubber. The upper part is made of leather or canvas. Sneakers were originally sporting apparel, but are today worn much more widely as casual footwear. They are now widely popular. Sneakers or canvas shoes are casual athletic shoes. The British English equivalent of "sneaker" is "trainer" in its modern meaning; however, the traditional "sneaker" pictured is closer to the British "plimsoll". In some urban areas in the United States, the slang for sneakers are kicks. In Hiberno-English the term is runners. In South African English the term used is takkies.