The German Trainer shoe, commonly known as the GAT, traces its origins back to the early 20th century in Germany.
Initially, this shoe was a German running shoe produced by the brothers who later founded Adidas and Puma. With its superior cushioning and unparalleled comfort, it became the indoor training shoe for the West German Federal Defense Forces in the 1970s and 1980s, earning it the name "German Trainer."
However, the real popularity of the German Trainer shoe emerged after the year 2000. The fashion industry began to reissue and replicate this shoe, making it gradually gain popularity among the general public. Germans have always believed that shoes are an essential part of a person's image, and they place great emphasis on shoe design and manufacturing. Renowned for their rigorous German craftsmanship and high-quality manufacturing, the German Trainer shoe has become one of the most popular shoes in the world.
Furthermore, in 1998, Belgian designer Martin Margiela discovered this shoe in a second-hand store and introduced it into his Maison Martin Margiela 1999 Spring/Summer Haute Couture show, renaming it "Line 22 Replica." This brought the nearly forgotten German Trainer shoe back into the public eye and officially into the realm of high fashion.