Natural leather comes from cattle skins, or hides. These hides are mixed with salt and chemicals. They are dyed and dried, then squished into thin strips for sneakers. Man can make his own leather too. It is called synthetic leather and is used in many shoes.
Sneakers are athletic shoes.
They are specially made for each sport. A basketball player jumps a lot. He needs just the right heel cushioning. A runner runs in a straight line. He needs a strong shoe that won't let his feet roll over too far.