Thomas Turner
Historian | Writer | Researcher
Recent shoe-related media work includes:
Contributor to documentary exploring the state and impact of the global sneaker industry.
How to Make: The Trainer, BBC Four
Contributor to documentary in which Zoe Laughlin investigates the form, function and materials of sneakers.
Expert panellist discussing history and meaning of shoes with talking about shoes and sneakers with Shahida Bari, Tansy Hoskins, Rebecca Shawcross, and Owen Humphreys.
Sporty, ABC Radio National, Australia
Three-part feature interview on the history and cultural significance of sneakers.
Soleful: Sneaker Stories podcast, Goalhanger Films
Discussion with sneaker experts, Jason Coles and Kish Kash, about the early development of sports shoes and the cultural significance of the adidas Superstar basketball shoe.
adidas Superstar
'Tim's Talks', The Grenson Podcast
Discussion with Tim Little, owner of Grenson and Tim Little shoes, about the history of Grenson, the British footwear industry, and the development of sports shoes.
The Heel and the Sneaker, The Forum, BBC World Service
Expert panellist discussing the significance and history of footwear with Elizabeth Semmelhack, Giorgio Riello, and Rajan Datar on the BBC World Service radio discussion programme.
Paul Ross, talkRADIO, 30 July 2019
Interview with Paul Ross about the history of sneaker culture, fashion, and my book, The Sports Shoe: A History from Field to Fashion. At 01.30.
Hawksbee and Jacobs, talkSPORT, 25 July 2019
Discussion with Paul Hawksbee and Andy Jacobs about the 1972 Nike Moon Shoe that sold at Sotheby's for $437,000. From 15:20.
Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4, 29 May 2019
Discussion with Jenni Murray and Hannah Rochell (En Brogue) about the history and cultural significance of white plimsolls. From 31:30.
'The sports shoe: From field to fashion', Birkbeck research blog, May 2019
Blogpost for Birkbeck, University of London, about my research on the history of sports shoes.
'Tracing the truth about trainers', Proper magazine #30, spring 2019
Piece in fashion and lifestyle magazine about the Victorian origins of sports shoes and the parallels between then and now.
Hawksbee and Jacobs, talkSPORT, February 2019
Interview with Paul Hawksbee and Luke Moore about the history of sneaker culture, sport, and my book, The Sports Shoe: A History from Field to Fashion. From 20:36.
Robert Elms, BBC Radio London, February 2019
Interview with Robert Elms about sports shoes, style, and my book, The Sports Shoe: A History from Field to Fashion. From 1:38:00.
Sole Seekers, Socialize Media, 2018
Contributor to the UK's first feature length documentary on UK trainer culture.
Shoes: Culture and Innovation, V&A Museum, 2015
Speaker on Victorian tennis shoes at a public conference organised as part of the Shoes: Pleasure and Pain exhibition.
Guest speaker on sports shoes, desire, and sex.
Is It The Shoes?, We Are Parable, London, 2013
Expert panel speaker and guest blogger at Is It The Shoes?, a four day sneaker festival held in London.
