Tag: Yeezy

A Sneakerhead in a Pandemic: A Diary

Image via SoleCollector.com

Among the top most desired items in a household in America circa April 2020, a new pair of tennis shoes is not even close to the top of the list. Toilet paper (!!), hand sanitizer and other discretionary cleaning supplies reign supreme as the world changes and shifts due to the demands of COVID-19. While oil prices have dropped drastically, the sneaker stock market has not seen much a shift in the way of Air Jordan’s reverting back to their 1980’s price point. Of course this hopefully means the sneaker economy will be able to rebound in 2020, but with changing release dates and times, should I really be prioritizing the latest sneaker release over the bare essentials? Well I guess it depends on who you ask.

With the upcoming release of the “Fire Red” Air Jordan 5‘s, my mind immediately gravitates toward the idea of owning this OG pair of shoes and adding it to my collection. However, with the economy changing almost every day and the future uncertain, is buying a new pair of sneakers the best move? Well, in my eyes yes because it is one of my favorite hobbies and the price is right. Indeed this is a time for anybody around the world to fulfill their hobby needs if it brings them joy and happiness. Also if it is within reason, of course.

Jordan 5 Retro Oregon Ducks
A brand new pair of Jordan 5 Retro “Oregon Ducks” will cost you at least $7,000 on StockX brand new. This is almost six times as much as the base federal stimulus check ($1,200) sent out earlier this month. Image via StockX.com

While my wallet has certainly had its fair share of battles with sneakers, it seems only a global pandemic can slow down the likes of Jordan and Yeezy. Over the past couple of decades, tennis shoe prices have only gone up, with a new pair of Air Jordan or Yeezy V2 sneakers easily costing you over $220 retail for just one pair. This doesn’t even get into the fact that the values skyrocket up even more on the resale market (anybody looking to drop over a grand original 350 Turtle Doves?). Nonetheless, sneaker sales have been down this year and release dates have been pushed back as supply chains have shifted and companies batten down the hatches on their warehouses.

However, sneaker websites like StockX and GOAT have made it clear for their customers that they are there to support them during these restricted times due to COVID-19. Their brand is one of style and fashion so having to shelter in place is not ideal for their target market consumer showing off their latest kicks. Indeed though it does present an opportunity to make sure their customers are taken care of and know that they are still doing business during these uncertain times. Which somehow makes me want to buy shoes more. Maybe it is the cabin fever or that the timing is just right.

So let me know what you think on Twitter if you think buying shoes or spending on your hobby is a good idea right now.

Kicks ‘R For Us: The Sneaker Culture

Caption: Kanye West wearing the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 “Zebra” during a performance at Guaranteed Rate Field in July 2017. This Adidas Yeezy Boost V2 is one of the most popular sneakers all-time and immediately sold-out upon release in 2017. Image via of http://www.UrbFash.com

In the years since I graduated from college in 2015, I have undergone a massive change in my life. No I have not found that ever elusive secret underground tunnel to London or discovered a new diet to grant me eternal abs, but rather my love for tennis shoes has blossomed. Wait, tennis shoes you ask? Yes, tennis shoes, or sneakers, kicks, trainers, whatever you want to call them. In my esteemed opinion, tennis shoes are the most glorious accessory you can own and this is my ode to them. 

My passion for shoes has long been an ongoing theme in my life, but for this blog I want to explore how this burgeoning hobby became more of a financial asset that I continue to add to as often as I can. You see, shoes nowadays are big business thanks to the likes of tastemakers Kanye West (the Adidas and Nike Yeezy versions), Virgil Abloh and his Off-White collaboration with Nike, and of course the classic Air Jordan silhouettes that never go out of style, at least the OG (original versions) of editions one through 14. These shoes can vary in price but some go as high as $79,000 which is the asking price for a pair of Nike Low SB Paris Dunks on StockX which bills itself as the sneaker stock market of sorts. While I myself do not own such a pair, it is truly fascinating to see how you can collect tennis shoes in the same vein as classic art, wine or vinyl records. Sneakers have a massive following on the internet and everyone from YouTube stars to social media bloggers have an opinion, it just goes to show that if you follow your passion, sometimes the money will follow. 

While I want to go more in-depth in an article to follow about the cultural and business significance (the Air Jordan 11’s, anyone?) of some of my favorite sneakers, there is no shortage of content nowadays about sneaker reselling. There are dozens of accredited YouTube vloggers who review the hottest releases coming out on a weekly basis and companies like Complex have made multiple shows showcasing just how wide sneakers are connected to pop culture. In fact, Complex’s “Sneaker Shopping” series might be the best example of just how insanely high these shoes can be valued at and how buying them in clusters can be more than a brand new car! Indeed when a rapper like Future spends $38,971.85 on sneakers and clothing or NBA player P.J. Tucker drops $33,283.10 at Flight Club you know that this can certainly become a substantial business. 

Now before we go forward, I would be remiss in saying I am not comparing you and I to multi-millionaire entertainers and athletes, but rather shedding a light on a topic you might not have had much interest in before. One of the best parts about wearing a pair of shoes is the connection you can have to another person that you might not have had before. Wearing a new pair of Air Jordan White Cement 4’s might mean you are a fan of Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing” or that you just love the story behind Michael Jordan wearing them in 1989. Whatever the case, each shoe can have a story to tell. In fact, dress shoes like Clarks have even been name-dropped by Staten Island’s Wu-Tang Clan in songs which goes to show how these brands have had such crossover appeal and economic resonance. Wu-Tang later collaborated with Clarks to drop their own pair of Wallabees in the 2010’s to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their iconic album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). 

While I absolutely want to shed more light on the sneaker reselling world and its economic connections to pop culture, I am afraid this is where we must bid adieu. So please at the end of this post I want you to write down your favorite shoes and wear them today. Also feel free to give me a shout out on Twitter with your favorite kicks on and I will send you mine. Everyone has a favorite pair of sneakers they have owned over time and each one has their own awesome story to share. 

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