#Where to Buy: SNKRS

[freshthoughts2020]

[guatemami]

Where do u buy your sneakers at?

Depends sometimes I get lucky on SNKRS/Nike or find them at foot locker/shoe palace/ champs/jd sports

I avoid buying non-retail pricing most of the time unless it’s only a bit of a difference (eBay has the best authentication for the pricing, don’t ever buy from stock x plsssssssss)

I’ve been a sneaker head before the hype and believe the market is fucked up so I’m very picky

[adriansharp]

Nike Sb X Air Jordan 4 "navy"

Name: Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 “Navy” Colorway: Summit White/White/Navy/Neutral Grey/Gum Yellow/Varsity Red SKU: DR5415-100 MSRP: $225 USD Release Date: March 2025 Where to Buy: Nike

Sneakerheads! The Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 collab is making a comeback, and the hype is REAL. We first got a sneak peek at that fresh “Navy” colorway late last year, and now there’s another exclusive look—this time showing off that slick Nike SB heel branding. Originally set to drop in the summer, the release date’s been bumped up to next month, with a price tag of $225 USD. Keep it locked here for more updates and a full photo drop. And if you missed our earlier breakdowns, check them out below!

Looking back at 2023, the Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 “Pine Green” was hands down one of the hottest sneaker drops of the year. The way it blended skate-ready tweaks with that classic AJ4 silhouette—plus the clean Nike SB heel branding—made it a perfect mashup of both brands’ vibes. When it sold out, fans were hyped to hear rumors of a follow-up colorway in “Navy.” Fast forward over 20 months with no official pics, and people were starting to wonder if it was ever dropping. But finally, we’ve got a first look, thanks to the Instagram post below. They kept the winning formula the same, just swapped out “Pine Green” for “Navy,” and honestly, why fix what isn’t broken? These are expected to drop in summer 2025 on Nike SNKRS and at select retailers for $225 USD. Keep it locked here for more updates and official pics from Nike!

[cleverhottubmiracle]

The hunt is often better than the kill. The journey is better than the destination. Trying to get a pair of sneakers, and jumping through hoops to obtain them, is a more satisfying feeling than owning the physical shoes—for some, at least. The world as we know it is undergoing a reset at the moment, and the sneaker world is experiencing one, too. Gone are the days of complaining that a shoe is limited. In are the days of going on a quest to get a sneaker. It’s almost as if people want to follow the yellow brick road to obtain the slippers—I mean shoes—of their dreams.There was a time not too long ago when everyone (and by everyone, I mean people that got into sneakers during the pandemic) was up in arms about hyped sneakers being released in limited quantities. They felt it was unfair that Nike could make a shoe like the Chunky Dunky, the Dior x Air Jordan 1, or any Travis Scott collab in quantities that were less than the demand for the product. They projected that if you had the money to purchase a sneaker at retail, then a brand should allow you to do such.Long gone were the days of the Pigeon Dunk only being released at Reed Space in 2005, where a so-called “riot” broke out. Or the days of the Galaxy Foamposite in 2012, when a release was shut down by police helicopters in Florida and madness ensued over them in New York City. Or even the Entourage or PlayStation Air Force 1s, where, honestly, I don’t even know how you would get the dang things.But a lot has changed in the sneaker world since those glory days. Everyone and their mother got into buying and selling limited-edition shoes. The advent of the SNKRS app made it easy to try your hand at nearly every release. You didn’t have to know the guy at the local sneaker boutique, or even live in a major city to be able to purchase the shoes that everyone wanted. You didn’t have to be cool to have the cool sneakers. People wanted equality in a game that was always about exclusivity. Even if Jordans were made by the millions in the 1980s and ‘90s, it was the price that was the gatekeeper.Starting some time around the early 2020s, people didn’t want to hear that they couldn’t get a sneaker. They felt like they deserved it. Here’s a hard truth: you don’t deserve anything in life.Something that made a lot of people feel jaded towards striking out on shoes was the perceived unfairness of it all. Bots ran rampant in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Especially during the onset of the pandemic, when a bunch of crypto dorks-turned-resellers tried their hands at flipping Yeezys and whatever else they could get their hands on. They bought into a dream, and it all came crashing down on them, just like their NFTs.People were upset that they had to spend $800 on a sneaker that retailed for $150. And I totally understand that sentiment. There was a moment in 2020, when all of the stimulus money was floating around, that if a sneaker didn’t resell for $1,000, then it wasn’t a hit. And that’s absurd.So what did brands do? Well, they started to make more sneakers. They collapsed the resale market as we know it. Most cool shoes go for a little over retail these days, except Travis’s sneakers. Nike went cold. Smaller brands became hot. The sneakers on Sneaker of the Year lists weren’t the mega-expensive grails like they were in the past.People bought what they liked. And they could buy the sneakers when they wanted. “Black Cement” 3s sat on shelves. So did the “Legend Blue” 11s. The answer to solving the stagnation with the sneaker consumer wasn’t just going back to making less and less shoes so people fight over them. It was to gamify the sneaker-buying experience. To send people on sneaker quests. It made the pursuit of the sneaker the cool thing to do. If brands couldn’t drop sneakers in super-limited quantities in the traditional sense and not draw ire from the public, then they needed to do it in new, fun ways.London streetwear brand Corteiz is a master of this process. In 2023, Corteiz took to New York City to drop its Air Max 95 at a bodega. Everyone had to meet at the Nike billboard on 34th St to get a set of coordinates, which led to a corner store near the East Village. There was a similar release in Paris. People were roof surfing on the tops of buses for the shoes.There was a similar release in New York City for Corteiz’s Air Trainer Huarache collaboration in December. The brand put out a newspaper that had coordinates in it, which ended up leading to Tom, Dick, and Harry’s, a seminal footwear retailer in Brooklyn.The release was applauded. It brought back the “outside” feeling that people were missing in recent years. It was a way to do something special in small numbers, and not make the people from flyover states (shoutout to everyone in flyover states—I wish I could live there) angry on the internet.The sneaker of the year to me (so far) is the “Ruby Red Slipper” Nike SB Dunk that was hidden amongst the restock of the Wizard of Oz Dunks that hit skate shops last week. No one saw this one coming. The original pair had an upper covered in a poppy field print, which could be cut away and reveal a flat red material. Maybe it was foreshadowing of the Ruby Red Slippers to come. The cool thing about these shoes was that all the pairs were bagged inside of the box, which gave it a blind-box effect. Whether people want to wear a sequined red shoe, that’s up to them. But it was the perfect Easter egg hidden in plain sight. Those who wanted the shoe, which wasn’t extremely hyped, got a chance to get them. And no one knew that a second, ultra rare batch ofthe “Ruby Red Slipper” version was sprinkled in. That part of the drop was first revealed by Bluetile Skateboards in Columbia, South Carolina, last week. And then others started to roll in. According to a sneaker industry source, there are less than 100 pairs of the “Ruby Red Slipper” SB Dunks in existence. There’s no way Nike could launch something so limited on its own. But hiding it in a wider release, Willy Wonka style, is genius. It doesn’t cause riots. Rather, it blesses those who wanted the shoes anyway. It’s a feel-good story, rather than one of envy, greed, and resellers. It takes sneakers back to a more pure place, one that we can all champion.Another recent sneaker quest was an unofficial release of sorts. It was a New Balance 860v2, which was hand-dyed by UK designer Lorenz.OG. The “Dusk” sneakers came in mismatching left and right shoes and were launched, once again, Willy Wonka-style, by having shoppers purchase custom Tony’s Chocolonely chocolate bar that secured access to the sneakers. Two of these tickets were given away by sneaker shop Footpatrol in London. There were scenes in Soho for those trying to get the shoes. Not many people have a chance at owning Lorenz’s custom work, so getting a pair, and a good looking pair of New Balance 860s, was a dream come true for them. People are listing their pairs for a lot of money on StockX, and some are selling for $900. Maybe it’s a sign that New Balance should do an official project with him in the future.The re-release of the “Bred” Air Jordan 1 might be the biggest release of the year. But it’s not that in numbers. Retail sources in the US tell Complex that Jordan Brand informed them there were only 10,000 pairs dropping, with more pairs rumored to be releasing internationally. Jordan Brand is scaling back on its most important shoe. Bumping the price to $250 and cutting back the distribution is a bold move. But maybe it’s what was needed to bring energy—and the idea that you need to hunt for its shoes—back to the brand. Its recent re-releases the Air Jordan 3 “Black Cement” and Air Jordan 11 “Legend Blue” weren’t met with the warmest of reactions compared to past releases. If the “Bred” Jordan 1 sat on shelves, it would be a tough pill to swallow for the brand that holds its ego at the center of sneaker culture. So they’ve made the shoe a premium release, like it’s a luxury good. Retailers have been instructed to create for customers a “white glove” experience to make them feel special. First-come first-served launches are not a priority for the shoe, retailers stocking the black and red Jordan 1 tell Complex. It’s the opposite of first-come, first-serve. Will people be happy? It’s hard to tell. But the shoes were made to look as similar to the original 1985 pair as possible, with premium leather to boot.So is this the new trend? To turn sneakerheads into Bilbo Baggins, on a journey to get the grails of their dream; Indiana Jones in hunt of their own holy grail, just with no Sean Connery? I think so. But it’s a fine line. These are cool right now. But expect this trend to jump the shark. People are only willing to do so much before something gets corny, and that can happen quickly with marketing gimmicks. If the treasure isn’t worth the miles trekked, then sneakerheads won’t be a fool for the gold. Source link

[norajworld]

The hunt is often better than the kill. The journey is better than the destination. Trying to get a pair of sneakers, and jumping through hoops to obtain them, is a more satisfying feeling than owning the physical shoes—for some, at least. The world as we know it is undergoing a reset at the moment, and the sneaker world is experiencing one, too. Gone are the days of complaining that a shoe is limited. In are the days of going on a quest to get a sneaker. It’s almost as if people want to follow the yellow brick road to obtain the slippers—I mean shoes—of their dreams.There was a time not too long ago when everyone (and by everyone, I mean people that got into sneakers during the pandemic) was up in arms about hyped sneakers being released in limited quantities. They felt it was unfair that Nike could make a shoe like the Chunky Dunky, the Dior x Air Jordan 1, or any Travis Scott collab in quantities that were less than the demand for the product. They projected that if you had the money to purchase a sneaker at retail, then a brand should allow you to do such.Long gone were the days of the Pigeon Dunk only being released at Reed Space in 2005, where a so-called “riot” broke out. Or the days of the Galaxy Foamposite in 2012, when a release was shut down by police helicopters in Florida and madness ensued over them in New York City. Or even the Entourage or PlayStation Air Force 1s, where, honestly, I don’t even know how you would get the dang things.But a lot has changed in the sneaker world since those glory days. Everyone and their mother got into buying and selling limited-edition shoes. The advent of the SNKRS app made it easy to try your hand at nearly every release. You didn’t have to know the guy at the local sneaker boutique, or even live in a major city to be able to purchase the shoes that everyone wanted. You didn’t have to be cool to have the cool sneakers. People wanted equality in a game that was always about exclusivity. Even if Jordans were made by the millions in the 1980s and ‘90s, it was the price that was the gatekeeper.Starting some time around the early 2020s, people didn’t want to hear that they couldn’t get a sneaker. They felt like they deserved it. Here’s a hard truth: you don’t deserve anything in life.Something that made a lot of people feel jaded towards striking out on shoes was the perceived unfairness of it all. Bots ran rampant in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Especially during the onset of the pandemic, when a bunch of crypto dorks-turned-resellers tried their hands at flipping Yeezys and whatever else they could get their hands on. They bought into a dream, and it all came crashing down on them, just like their NFTs.People were upset that they had to spend $800 on a sneaker that retailed for $150. And I totally understand that sentiment. There was a moment in 2020, when all of the stimulus money was floating around, that if a sneaker didn’t resell for $1,000, then it wasn’t a hit. And that’s absurd.So what did brands do? Well, they started to make more sneakers. They collapsed the resale market as we know it. Most cool shoes go for a little over retail these days, except Travis’s sneakers. Nike went cold. Smaller brands became hot. The sneakers on Sneaker of the Year lists weren’t the mega-expensive grails like they were in the past.People bought what they liked. And they could buy the sneakers when they wanted. “Black Cement” 3s sat on shelves. So did the “Legend Blue” 11s. The answer to solving the stagnation with the sneaker consumer wasn’t just going back to making less and less shoes so people fight over them. It was to gamify the sneaker-buying experience. To send people on sneaker quests. It made the pursuit of the sneaker the cool thing to do. If brands couldn’t drop sneakers in super-limited quantities in the traditional sense and not draw ire from the public, then they needed to do it in new, fun ways.London streetwear brand Corteiz is a master of this process. In 2023, Corteiz took to New York City to drop its Air Max 95 at a bodega. Everyone had to meet at the Nike billboard on 34th St to get a set of coordinates, which led to a corner store near the East Village. There was a similar release in Paris. People were roof surfing on the tops of buses for the shoes.There was a similar release in New York City for Corteiz’s Air Trainer Huarache collaboration in December. The brand put out a newspaper that had coordinates in it, which ended up leading to Tom, Dick, and Harry’s, a seminal footwear retailer in Brooklyn.The release was applauded. It brought back the “outside” feeling that people were missing in recent years. It was a way to do something special in small numbers, and not make the people from flyover states (shoutout to everyone in flyover states—I wish I could live there) angry on the internet.The sneaker of the year to me (so far) is the “Ruby Red Slipper” Nike SB Dunk that was hidden amongst the restock of the Wizard of Oz Dunks that hit skate shops last week. No one saw this one coming. The original pair had an upper covered in a poppy field print, which could be cut away and reveal a flat red material. Maybe it was foreshadowing of the Ruby Red Slippers to come. The cool thing about these shoes was that all the pairs were bagged inside of the box, which gave it a blind-box effect. Whether people want to wear a sequined red shoe, that’s up to them. But it was the perfect Easter egg hidden in plain sight. Those who wanted the shoe, which wasn’t extremely hyped, got a chance to get them. And no one knew that a second, ultra rare batch ofthe “Ruby Red Slipper” version was sprinkled in. That part of the drop was first revealed by Bluetile Skateboards in Columbia, South Carolina, last week. And then others started to roll in. According to a sneaker industry source, there are less than 100 pairs of the “Ruby Red Slipper” SB Dunks in existence. There’s no way Nike could launch something so limited on its own. But hiding it in a wider release, Willy Wonka style, is genius. It doesn’t cause riots. Rather, it blesses those who wanted the shoes anyway. It’s a feel-good story, rather than one of envy, greed, and resellers. It takes sneakers back to a more pure place, one that we can all champion.Another recent sneaker quest was an unofficial release of sorts. It was a New Balance 860v2, which was hand-dyed by UK designer Lorenz.OG. The “Dusk” sneakers came in mismatching left and right shoes and were launched, once again, Willy Wonka-style, by having shoppers purchase custom Tony’s Chocolonely chocolate bar that secured access to the sneakers. Two of these tickets were given away by sneaker shop Footpatrol in London. There were scenes in Soho for those trying to get the shoes. Not many people have a chance at owning Lorenz’s custom work, so getting a pair, and a good looking pair of New Balance 860s, was a dream come true for them. People are listing their pairs for a lot of money on StockX, and some are selling for $900. Maybe it’s a sign that New Balance should do an official project with him in the future.The re-release of the “Bred” Air Jordan 1 might be the biggest release of the year. But it’s not that in numbers. Retail sources in the US tell Complex that Jordan Brand informed them there were only 10,000 pairs dropping, with more pairs rumored to be releasing internationally. Jordan Brand is scaling back on its most important shoe. Bumping the price to $250 and cutting back the distribution is a bold move. But maybe it’s what was needed to bring energy—and the idea that you need to hunt for its shoes—back to the brand. Its recent re-releases the Air Jordan 3 “Black Cement” and Air Jordan 11 “Legend Blue” weren’t met with the warmest of reactions compared to past releases. If the “Bred” Jordan 1 sat on shelves, it would be a tough pill to swallow for the brand that holds its ego at the center of sneaker culture. So they’ve made the shoe a premium release, like it’s a luxury good. Retailers have been instructed to create for customers a “white glove” experience to make them feel special. First-come first-served launches are not a priority for the shoe, retailers stocking the black and red Jordan 1 tell Complex. It’s the opposite of first-come, first-serve. Will people be happy? It’s hard to tell. But the shoes were made to look as similar to the original 1985 pair as possible, with premium leather to boot.So is this the new trend? To turn sneakerheads into Bilbo Baggins, on a journey to get the grails of their dream; Indiana Jones in hunt of their own holy grail, just with no Sean Connery? I think so. But it’s a fine line. These are cool right now. But expect this trend to jump the shark. People are only willing to do so much before something gets corny, and that can happen quickly with marketing gimmicks. If the treasure isn’t worth the miles trekked, then sneakerheads won’t be a fool for the gold. Source link

[ellajme0]

The hunt is often better than the kill. The journey is better than the destination. Trying to get a pair of sneakers, and jumping through hoops to obtain them, is a more satisfying feeling than owning the physical shoes—for some, at least. The world as we know it is undergoing a reset at the moment, and the sneaker world is experiencing one, too. Gone are the days of complaining that a shoe is limited. In are the days of going on a quest to get a sneaker. It’s almost as if people want to follow the yellow brick road to obtain the slippers—I mean shoes—of their dreams.There was a time not too long ago when everyone (and by everyone, I mean people that got into sneakers during the pandemic) was up in arms about hyped sneakers being released in limited quantities. They felt it was unfair that Nike could make a shoe like the Chunky Dunky, the Dior x Air Jordan 1, or any Travis Scott collab in quantities that were less than the demand for the product. They projected that if you had the money to purchase a sneaker at retail, then a brand should allow you to do such.Long gone were the days of the Pigeon Dunk only being released at Reed Space in 2005, where a so-called “riot” broke out. Or the days of the Galaxy Foamposite in 2012, when a release was shut down by police helicopters in Florida and madness ensued over them in New York City. Or even the Entourage or PlayStation Air Force 1s, where, honestly, I don’t even know how you would get the dang things.But a lot has changed in the sneaker world since those glory days. Everyone and their mother got into buying and selling limited-edition shoes. The advent of the SNKRS app made it easy to try your hand at nearly every release. You didn’t have to know the guy at the local sneaker boutique, or even live in a major city to be able to purchase the shoes that everyone wanted. You didn’t have to be cool to have the cool sneakers. People wanted equality in a game that was always about exclusivity. Even if Jordans were made by the millions in the 1980s and ‘90s, it was the price that was the gatekeeper.Starting some time around the early 2020s, people didn’t want to hear that they couldn’t get a sneaker. They felt like they deserved it. Here’s a hard truth: you don’t deserve anything in life.Something that made a lot of people feel jaded towards striking out on shoes was the perceived unfairness of it all. Bots ran rampant in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Especially during the onset of the pandemic, when a bunch of crypto dorks-turned-resellers tried their hands at flipping Yeezys and whatever else they could get their hands on. They bought into a dream, and it all came crashing down on them, just like their NFTs.People were upset that they had to spend $800 on a sneaker that retailed for $150. And I totally understand that sentiment. There was a moment in 2020, when all of the stimulus money was floating around, that if a sneaker didn’t resell for $1,000, then it wasn’t a hit. And that’s absurd.So what did brands do? Well, they started to make more sneakers. They collapsed the resale market as we know it. Most cool shoes go for a little over retail these days, except Travis’s sneakers. Nike went cold. Smaller brands became hot. The sneakers on Sneaker of the Year lists weren’t the mega-expensive grails like they were in the past.People bought what they liked. And they could buy the sneakers when they wanted. “Black Cement” 3s sat on shelves. So did the “Legend Blue” 11s. The answer to solving the stagnation with the sneaker consumer wasn’t just going back to making less and less shoes so people fight over them. It was to gamify the sneaker-buying experience. To send people on sneaker quests. It made the pursuit of the sneaker the cool thing to do. If brands couldn’t drop sneakers in super-limited quantities in the traditional sense and not draw ire from the public, then they needed to do it in new, fun ways.London streetwear brand Corteiz is a master of this process. In 2023, Corteiz took to New York City to drop its Air Max 95 at a bodega. Everyone had to meet at the Nike billboard on 34th St to get a set of coordinates, which led to a corner store near the East Village. There was a similar release in Paris. People were roof surfing on the tops of buses for the shoes.There was a similar release in New York City for Corteiz’s Air Trainer Huarache collaboration in December. The brand put out a newspaper that had coordinates in it, which ended up leading to Tom, Dick, and Harry’s, a seminal footwear retailer in Brooklyn.The release was applauded. It brought back the “outside” feeling that people were missing in recent years. It was a way to do something special in small numbers, and not make the people from flyover states (shoutout to everyone in flyover states—I wish I could live there) angry on the internet.The sneaker of the year to me (so far) is the “Ruby Red Slipper” Nike SB Dunk that was hidden amongst the restock of the Wizard of Oz Dunks that hit skate shops last week. No one saw this one coming. The original pair had an upper covered in a poppy field print, which could be cut away and reveal a flat red material. Maybe it was foreshadowing of the Ruby Red Slippers to come. The cool thing about these shoes was that all the pairs were bagged inside of the box, which gave it a blind-box effect. Whether people want to wear a sequined red shoe, that’s up to them. But it was the perfect Easter egg hidden in plain sight. Those who wanted the shoe, which wasn’t extremely hyped, got a chance to get them. And no one knew that a second, ultra rare batch ofthe “Ruby Red Slipper” version was sprinkled in. That part of the drop was first revealed by Bluetile Skateboards in Columbia, South Carolina, last week. And then others started to roll in. According to a sneaker industry source, there are less than 100 pairs of the “Ruby Red Slipper” SB Dunks in existence. There’s no way Nike could launch something so limited on its own. But hiding it in a wider release, Willy Wonka style, is genius. It doesn’t cause riots. Rather, it blesses those who wanted the shoes anyway. It’s a feel-good story, rather than one of envy, greed, and resellers. It takes sneakers back to a more pure place, one that we can all champion.Another recent sneaker quest was an unofficial release of sorts. It was a New Balance 860v2, which was hand-dyed by UK designer Lorenz.OG. The “Dusk” sneakers came in mismatching left and right shoes and were launched, once again, Willy Wonka-style, by having shoppers purchase custom Tony’s Chocolonely chocolate bar that secured access to the sneakers. Two of these tickets were given away by sneaker shop Footpatrol in London. There were scenes in Soho for those trying to get the shoes. Not many people have a chance at owning Lorenz’s custom work, so getting a pair, and a good looking pair of New Balance 860s, was a dream come true for them. People are listing their pairs for a lot of money on StockX, and some are selling for $900. Maybe it’s a sign that New Balance should do an official project with him in the future.The re-release of the “Bred” Air Jordan 1 might be the biggest release of the year. But it’s not that in numbers. Retail sources in the US tell Complex that Jordan Brand informed them there were only 10,000 pairs dropping, with more pairs rumored to be releasing internationally. Jordan Brand is scaling back on its most important shoe. Bumping the price to $250 and cutting back the distribution is a bold move. But maybe it’s what was needed to bring energy—and the idea that you need to hunt for its shoes—back to the brand. Its recent re-releases the Air Jordan 3 “Black Cement” and Air Jordan 11 “Legend Blue” weren’t met with the warmest of reactions compared to past releases. If the “Bred” Jordan 1 sat on shelves, it would be a tough pill to swallow for the brand that holds its ego at the center of sneaker culture. So they’ve made the shoe a premium release, like it’s a luxury good. Retailers have been instructed to create for customers a “white glove” experience to make them feel special. First-come first-served launches are not a priority for the shoe, retailers stocking the black and red Jordan 1 tell Complex. It’s the opposite of first-come, first-serve. Will people be happy? It’s hard to tell. But the shoes were made to look as similar to the original 1985 pair as possible, with premium leather to boot.So is this the new trend? To turn sneakerheads into Bilbo Baggins, on a journey to get the grails of their dream; Indiana Jones in hunt of their own holy grail, just with no Sean Connery? I think so. But it’s a fine line. These are cool right now. But expect this trend to jump the shark. People are only willing to do so much before something gets corny, and that can happen quickly with marketing gimmicks. If the treasure isn’t worth the miles trekked, then sneakerheads won’t be a fool for the gold. Source link

[chilimili212]

The hunt is often better than the kill. The journey is better than the destination. Trying to get a pair of sneakers, and jumping through hoops to obtain them, is a more satisfying feeling than owning the physical shoes—for some, at least. The world as we know it is undergoing a reset at the moment, and the sneaker world is experiencing one, too. Gone are the days of complaining that a shoe is limited. In are the days of going on a quest to get a sneaker. It’s almost as if people want to follow the yellow brick road to obtain the slippers—I mean shoes—of their dreams.There was a time not too long ago when everyone (and by everyone, I mean people that got into sneakers during the pandemic) was up in arms about hyped sneakers being released in limited quantities. They felt it was unfair that Nike could make a shoe like the Chunky Dunky, the Dior x Air Jordan 1, or any Travis Scott collab in quantities that were less than the demand for the product. They projected that if you had the money to purchase a sneaker at retail, then a brand should allow you to do such.Long gone were the days of the Pigeon Dunk only being released at Reed Space in 2005, where a so-called “riot” broke out. Or the days of the Galaxy Foamposite in 2012, when a release was shut down by police helicopters in Florida and madness ensued over them in New York City. Or even the Entourage or PlayStation Air Force 1s, where, honestly, I don’t even know how you would get the dang things.But a lot has changed in the sneaker world since those glory days. Everyone and their mother got into buying and selling limited-edition shoes. The advent of the SNKRS app made it easy to try your hand at nearly every release. You didn’t have to know the guy at the local sneaker boutique, or even live in a major city to be able to purchase the shoes that everyone wanted. You didn’t have to be cool to have the cool sneakers. People wanted equality in a game that was always about exclusivity. Even if Jordans were made by the millions in the 1980s and ‘90s, it was the price that was the gatekeeper.Starting some time around the early 2020s, people didn’t want to hear that they couldn’t get a sneaker. They felt like they deserved it. Here’s a hard truth: you don’t deserve anything in life.Something that made a lot of people feel jaded towards striking out on shoes was the perceived unfairness of it all. Bots ran rampant in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Especially during the onset of the pandemic, when a bunch of crypto dorks-turned-resellers tried their hands at flipping Yeezys and whatever else they could get their hands on. They bought into a dream, and it all came crashing down on them, just like their NFTs.People were upset that they had to spend $800 on a sneaker that retailed for $150. And I totally understand that sentiment. There was a moment in 2020, when all of the stimulus money was floating around, that if a sneaker didn’t resell for $1,000, then it wasn’t a hit. And that’s absurd.So what did brands do? Well, they started to make more sneakers. They collapsed the resale market as we know it. Most cool shoes go for a little over retail these days, except Travis’s sneakers. Nike went cold. Smaller brands became hot. The sneakers on Sneaker of the Year lists weren’t the mega-expensive grails like they were in the past.People bought what they liked. And they could buy the sneakers when they wanted. “Black Cement” 3s sat on shelves. So did the “Legend Blue” 11s. The answer to solving the stagnation with the sneaker consumer wasn’t just going back to making less and less shoes so people fight over them. It was to gamify the sneaker-buying experience. To send people on sneaker quests. It made the pursuit of the sneaker the cool thing to do. If brands couldn’t drop sneakers in super-limited quantities in the traditional sense and not draw ire from the public, then they needed to do it in new, fun ways.London streetwear brand Corteiz is a master of this process. In 2023, Corteiz took to New York City to drop its Air Max 95 at a bodega. Everyone had to meet at the Nike billboard on 34th St to get a set of coordinates, which led to a corner store near the East Village. There was a similar release in Paris. People were roof surfing on the tops of buses for the shoes.There was a similar release in New York City for Corteiz’s Air Trainer Huarache collaboration in December. The brand put out a newspaper that had coordinates in it, which ended up leading to Tom, Dick, and Harry’s, a seminal footwear retailer in Brooklyn.The release was applauded. It brought back the “outside” feeling that people were missing in recent years. It was a way to do something special in small numbers, and not make the people from flyover states (shoutout to everyone in flyover states—I wish I could live there) angry on the internet.The sneaker of the year to me (so far) is the “Ruby Red Slipper” Nike SB Dunk that was hidden amongst the restock of the Wizard of Oz Dunks that hit skate shops last week. No one saw this one coming. The original pair had an upper covered in a poppy field print, which could be cut away and reveal a flat red material. Maybe it was foreshadowing of the Ruby Red Slippers to come. The cool thing about these shoes was that all the pairs were bagged inside of the box, which gave it a blind-box effect. Whether people want to wear a sequined red shoe, that’s up to them. But it was the perfect Easter egg hidden in plain sight. Those who wanted the shoe, which wasn’t extremely hyped, got a chance to get them. And no one knew that a second, ultra rare batch ofthe “Ruby Red Slipper” version was sprinkled in. That part of the drop was first revealed by Bluetile Skateboards in Columbia, South Carolina, last week. And then others started to roll in. According to a sneaker industry source, there are less than 100 pairs of the “Ruby Red Slipper” SB Dunks in existence. There’s no way Nike could launch something so limited on its own. But hiding it in a wider release, Willy Wonka style, is genius. It doesn’t cause riots. Rather, it blesses those who wanted the shoes anyway. It’s a feel-good story, rather than one of envy, greed, and resellers. It takes sneakers back to a more pure place, one that we can all champion.Another recent sneaker quest was an unofficial release of sorts. It was a New Balance 860v2, which was hand-dyed by UK designer Lorenz.OG. The “Dusk” sneakers came in mismatching left and right shoes and were launched, once again, Willy Wonka-style, by having shoppers purchase custom Tony’s Chocolonely chocolate bar that secured access to the sneakers. Two of these tickets were given away by sneaker shop Footpatrol in London. There were scenes in Soho for those trying to get the shoes. Not many people have a chance at owning Lorenz’s custom work, so getting a pair, and a good looking pair of New Balance 860s, was a dream come true for them. People are listing their pairs for a lot of money on StockX, and some are selling for $900. Maybe it’s a sign that New Balance should do an official project with him in the future.The re-release of the “Bred” Air Jordan 1 might be the biggest release of the year. But it’s not that in numbers. Retail sources in the US tell Complex that Jordan Brand informed them there were only 10,000 pairs dropping, with more pairs rumored to be releasing internationally. Jordan Brand is scaling back on its most important shoe. Bumping the price to $250 and cutting back the distribution is a bold move. But maybe it’s what was needed to bring energy—and the idea that you need to hunt for its shoes—back to the brand. Its recent re-releases the Air Jordan 3 “Black Cement” and Air Jordan 11 “Legend Blue” weren’t met with the warmest of reactions compared to past releases. If the “Bred” Jordan 1 sat on shelves, it would be a tough pill to swallow for the brand that holds its ego at the center of sneaker culture. So they’ve made the shoe a premium release, like it’s a luxury good. Retailers have been instructed to create for customers a “white glove” experience to make them feel special. First-come first-served launches are not a priority for the shoe, retailers stocking the black and red Jordan 1 tell Complex. It’s the opposite of first-come, first-serve. Will people be happy? It’s hard to tell. But the shoes were made to look as similar to the original 1985 pair as possible, with premium leather to boot.So is this the new trend? To turn sneakerheads into Bilbo Baggins, on a journey to get the grails of their dream; Indiana Jones in hunt of their own holy grail, just with no Sean Connery? I think so. But it’s a fine line. These are cool right now. But expect this trend to jump the shark. People are only willing to do so much before something gets corny, and that can happen quickly with marketing gimmicks. If the treasure isn’t worth the miles trekked, then sneakerheads won’t be a fool for the gold. Source link

[oliviajoyice21]

The hunt is often better than the kill. The journey is better than the destination. Trying to get a pair of sneakers, and jumping through hoops to obtain them, is a more satisfying feeling than owning the physical shoes—for some, at least. The world as we know it is undergoing a reset at the moment, and the sneaker world is experiencing one, too. Gone are the days of complaining that a shoe is limited. In are the days of going on a quest to get a sneaker. It’s almost as if people want to follow the yellow brick road to obtain the slippers—I mean shoes—of their dreams.There was a time not too long ago when everyone (and by everyone, I mean people that got into sneakers during the pandemic) was up in arms about hyped sneakers being released in limited quantities. They felt it was unfair that Nike could make a shoe like the Chunky Dunky, the Dior x Air Jordan 1, or any Travis Scott collab in quantities that were less than the demand for the product. They projected that if you had the money to purchase a sneaker at retail, then a brand should allow you to do such.Long gone were the days of the Pigeon Dunk only being released at Reed Space in 2005, where a so-called “riot” broke out. Or the days of the Galaxy Foamposite in 2012, when a release was shut down by police helicopters in Florida and madness ensued over them in New York City. Or even the Entourage or PlayStation Air Force 1s, where, honestly, I don’t even know how you would get the dang things.But a lot has changed in the sneaker world since those glory days. Everyone and their mother got into buying and selling limited-edition shoes. The advent of the SNKRS app made it easy to try your hand at nearly every release. You didn’t have to know the guy at the local sneaker boutique, or even live in a major city to be able to purchase the shoes that everyone wanted. You didn’t have to be cool to have the cool sneakers. People wanted equality in a game that was always about exclusivity. Even if Jordans were made by the millions in the 1980s and ‘90s, it was the price that was the gatekeeper.Starting some time around the early 2020s, people didn’t want to hear that they couldn’t get a sneaker. They felt like they deserved it. Here’s a hard truth: you don’t deserve anything in life.Something that made a lot of people feel jaded towards striking out on shoes was the perceived unfairness of it all. Bots ran rampant in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Especially during the onset of the pandemic, when a bunch of crypto dorks-turned-resellers tried their hands at flipping Yeezys and whatever else they could get their hands on. They bought into a dream, and it all came crashing down on them, just like their NFTs.People were upset that they had to spend $800 on a sneaker that retailed for $150. And I totally understand that sentiment. There was a moment in 2020, when all of the stimulus money was floating around, that if a sneaker didn’t resell for $1,000, then it wasn’t a hit. And that’s absurd.So what did brands do? Well, they started to make more sneakers. They collapsed the resale market as we know it. Most cool shoes go for a little over retail these days, except Travis’s sneakers. Nike went cold. Smaller brands became hot. The sneakers on Sneaker of the Year lists weren’t the mega-expensive grails like they were in the past.People bought what they liked. And they could buy the sneakers when they wanted. “Black Cement” 3s sat on shelves. So did the “Legend Blue” 11s. The answer to solving the stagnation with the sneaker consumer wasn’t just going back to making less and less shoes so people fight over them. It was to gamify the sneaker-buying experience. To send people on sneaker quests. It made the pursuit of the sneaker the cool thing to do. If brands couldn’t drop sneakers in super-limited quantities in the traditional sense and not draw ire from the public, then they needed to do it in new, fun ways.London streetwear brand Corteiz is a master of this process. In 2023, Corteiz took to New York City to drop its Air Max 95 at a bodega. Everyone had to meet at the Nike billboard on 34th St to get a set of coordinates, which led to a corner store near the East Village. There was a similar release in Paris. People were roof surfing on the tops of buses for the shoes.There was a similar release in New York City for Corteiz’s Air Trainer Huarache collaboration in December. The brand put out a newspaper that had coordinates in it, which ended up leading to Tom, Dick, and Harry’s, a seminal footwear retailer in Brooklyn.The release was applauded. It brought back the “outside” feeling that people were missing in recent years. It was a way to do something special in small numbers, and not make the people from flyover states (shoutout to everyone in flyover states—I wish I could live there) angry on the internet.The sneaker of the year to me (so far) is the “Ruby Red Slipper” Nike SB Dunk that was hidden amongst the restock of the Wizard of Oz Dunks that hit skate shops last week. No one saw this one coming. The original pair had an upper covered in a poppy field print, which could be cut away and reveal a flat red material. Maybe it was foreshadowing of the Ruby Red Slippers to come. The cool thing about these shoes was that all the pairs were bagged inside of the box, which gave it a blind-box effect. Whether people want to wear a sequined red shoe, that’s up to them. But it was the perfect Easter egg hidden in plain sight. Those who wanted the shoe, which wasn’t extremely hyped, got a chance to get them. And no one knew that a second, ultra rare batch ofthe “Ruby Red Slipper” version was sprinkled in. That part of the drop was first revealed by Bluetile Skateboards in Columbia, South Carolina, last week. And then others started to roll in. According to a sneaker industry source, there are less than 100 pairs of the “Ruby Red Slipper” SB Dunks in existence. There’s no way Nike could launch something so limited on its own. But hiding it in a wider release, Willy Wonka style, is genius. It doesn’t cause riots. Rather, it blesses those who wanted the shoes anyway. It’s a feel-good story, rather than one of envy, greed, and resellers. It takes sneakers back to a more pure place, one that we can all champion.Another recent sneaker quest was an unofficial release of sorts. It was a New Balance 860v2, which was hand-dyed by UK designer Lorenz.OG. The “Dusk” sneakers came in mismatching left and right shoes and were launched, once again, Willy Wonka-style, by having shoppers purchase custom Tony’s Chocolonely chocolate bar that secured access to the sneakers. Two of these tickets were given away by sneaker shop Footpatrol in London. There were scenes in Soho for those trying to get the shoes. Not many people have a chance at owning Lorenz’s custom work, so getting a pair, and a good looking pair of New Balance 860s, was a dream come true for them. People are listing their pairs for a lot of money on StockX, and some are selling for $900. Maybe it’s a sign that New Balance should do an official project with him in the future.The re-release of the “Bred” Air Jordan 1 might be the biggest release of the year. But it’s not that in numbers. Retail sources in the US tell Complex that Jordan Brand informed them there were only 10,000 pairs dropping, with more pairs rumored to be releasing internationally. Jordan Brand is scaling back on its most important shoe. Bumping the price to $250 and cutting back the distribution is a bold move. But maybe it’s what was needed to bring energy—and the idea that you need to hunt for its shoes—back to the brand. Its recent re-releases the Air Jordan 3 “Black Cement” and Air Jordan 11 “Legend Blue” weren’t met with the warmest of reactions compared to past releases. If the “Bred” Jordan 1 sat on shelves, it would be a tough pill to swallow for the brand that holds its ego at the center of sneaker culture. So they’ve made the shoe a premium release, like it’s a luxury good. Retailers have been instructed to create for customers a “white glove” experience to make them feel special. First-come first-served launches are not a priority for the shoe, retailers stocking the black and red Jordan 1 tell Complex. It’s the opposite of first-come, first-serve. Will people be happy? It’s hard to tell. But the shoes were made to look as similar to the original 1985 pair as possible, with premium leather to boot.So is this the new trend? To turn sneakerheads into Bilbo Baggins, on a journey to get the grails of their dream; Indiana Jones in hunt of their own holy grail, just with no Sean Connery? I think so. But it’s a fine line. These are cool right now. But expect this trend to jump the shark. People are only willing to do so much before something gets corny, and that can happen quickly with marketing gimmicks. If the treasure isn’t worth the miles trekked, then sneakerheads won’t be a fool for the gold. Source link

[freshthoughts2020]

[kicksaddictny]

Air Jordan 17 Low “Lightning” Not Releasing on SNKRS

In a surprising move, Jordan Brand is bringing back the iconic Air Jordan 17 Low “Lightning”, famously worn by Michael Jordan during the 2003 NBA All-Star Game. This unexpected return stands out, especially since no other Air Jordan 17 Lows are confirmed in the 2024 Jordan Release Dates calendar. Typically, Jordan Brand releases new models in batches for cost efficiency, but this time, the Lightning edition stands alone and will be dropping exclusively at Jordan NBHD accounts. Apologies to SNKRS users; you'll need to try your luck elsewhere.

The Air Jordan 17 Low “Lightning” is already turning heads with its striking design and historical significance. Priced at $300, this release raises eyebrows due to its premium tag. However, it's worth noting that Jordan Brand often balances cost with volume. Adding to the allure is the inclusion of a hardshell briefcase, a nod to the original 2002 release of the Air Jordan 17 (not included in the 2003 Lightning release).

For those eager to snag a pair, be prepared for a challenge. Jordan Brand has confirmed that the Lightning edition won't be available on SNKRS. Instead, consult our Where To Buy guide to locate the select retailers carrying this coveted release. Given its exclusivity, expect these to likely be a raffle release, making copping a pair no easy feat. Nevertheless, check out the official images below to get a closer look.

[bhushanoo7]

A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 5: A Regal Fusion

What is the best htv or other vinly to use on athletic shoes?

Air Jordan 5 Introduction

Certainly! Let’s dive into the details of the A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 5 collaboration. 🚀 The A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 5 is a limited-edition sneaker and apparel collection that seamlessly blends French luxury fashion with iconic sneaker culture. Designed in collaboration with Jordan Brand, this release combines premium materials, unique branding, and a touch of regal inspiration. The Colorways - Dusk: The “Dusk” colorway features a fine suede upper in a washed grey and blue combination. Aged yellowed details add character, and the shoe proudly displays the iconic “23” heel counter branding. The monogram pattern on the netting and lining bears A Ma Maniére’s signature "A"1. - Dawn: The “Dawn” colorway boasts a metallic silver tongue and a slimmed-down collar. Its palette draws inspiration from Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan 5 PE, with a washed grey base and blue accents. The monogram pattern appears on the netting and lining, creating a unique visual identity2. Distinctive Features - Suede Upper: Both colorways feature a luxurious suede upper, elevating the overall aesthetic. - Monogram Pattern: Instead of the traditional AJV cage, A Ma Maniére’s monogram pattern graces the side panels, adding an exclusive touch. - Custom Liner: The jacquard monogram pattern extends to the shoe’s liner, available in cream, white, black, and grey options. - Apparel Collection: Alongside the sneakers, A Ma Maniére and Jordan Brand collaborated on a capsule apparel collection. It includes cream, black, and navy pieces, such as a co-branded satin bomber, fine cotton anorak, pants, hoodies, and premium cotton T-shirts3. Availability - Release Date: The collection dropped on November 24, 2023. - Pricing: - Men’s sizing (Dusk): $225 - Women’s sizing (Dawn): $225 - Preschool sizing: $100 - Toddler sizing: $85 - Where to Buy: You can find these exclusive kicks on A Ma Maniére’s website, Nike’s SNKRS app, and select Jordan Brand retailers worldwide4.

What is the inspiration behind this collaboration?

The A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 5 collaboration draws inspiration from a fusion of French luxury fashion and iconic sneaker culture. Let’s delve into the details: - A Ma Maniére: - A Ma Maniére is a high-end boutique founded by James Whitner. Known for its curated selection of luxury streetwear, the brand emphasizes quality, exclusivity, and attention to detail. - The name “A Ma Maniére” translates to “in my own way” in French, reflecting the brand’s unique approach to fashion. - Air Jordan 5: - The Air Jordan 5, designed by Tinker Hatfield, originally released in 1990. It’s part of Michael Jordan’s iconic signature line with Nike. - The AJ5 features distinct design elements, including the mesh side panels, visible Air cushioning, and the iconic shark-tooth midsole. - Regal Influence: - The collaboration infuses regal aesthetics into streetwear. The choice of premium materials, monogram patterns, and colorways reflects sophistication. - The “Dusk” and “Dawn” colorways evoke a sense of elegance, reminiscent of twilight and dawn skies. - Monogram Pattern: - Instead of the traditional AJ5 cage, A Ma Maniére introduces its monogram pattern. This unique branding adds an exclusive touch. - The monogram appears on the netting, lining, and custom liner, reinforcing the collaboration’s identity. - Limited Edition: - Limited availability enhances the allure. Sneakerheads and fashion enthusiasts appreciate the exclusivity. - The capsule apparel collection further complements the sneakers, creating a cohesive aesthetic. In summary, the A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 5 collaboration celebrates individuality, luxury, and style, blending two worlds in a way that resonates with fashion-forward consumers. Whether you’re a sneaker aficionado or simply appreciate fine craftsmanship, this collaboration offers a regal twist on a classic silhouette! 👟✨ Feel free to explore more about this exciting fusion of fashion and sneaker culture! 😊🔥 Conclusion The A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 5 collaboration celebrates timeless luxury and streetwear culture. Whether you’re a sneakerhead or a fashion enthusiast, these kicks are a must-have for your collection. Remember, exclusivity and style go hand in hand with this release! 👟✨

What is the inspiration behind this collaboration?

The A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 5 collaboration draws inspiration from a fusion of French luxury fashion and iconic sneaker culture. Let’s delve into the details: - A Ma Maniére: - A Ma Maniére is a high-end boutique founded by James Whitner. Known for its curated selection of luxury streetwear, the brand emphasizes quality, exclusivity, and attention to detail. - The name “A Ma Maniére” translates to “in my own way” in French, reflecting the brand’s unique approach to fashion. - Air Jordan 5: - The Air Jordan 5, designed by Tinker Hatfield, originally released in 1990. It’s part of Michael Jordan’s iconic signature line with Nike. - The AJ5 features distinct design elements, including the mesh side panels, visible Air cushioning, and the iconic shark-tooth midsole. - Regal Influence: - The collaboration infuses regal aesthetics into streetwear. The choice of premium materials, monogram patterns, and colorways reflects sophistication. - The “Dusk” and “Dawn” colorways evoke a sense of elegance, reminiscent of twilight and dawn skies. - Monogram Pattern: - Instead of the traditional AJ5 cage, A Ma Maniére introduces its monogram pattern. This unique branding adds an exclusive touch. - The monogram appears on the netting, lining, and custom liner, reinforcing the collaboration’s identity. - Limited Edition: - Limited availability enhances the allure. Sneakerheads and fashion enthusiasts appreciate the exclusivity. - The capsule apparel collection further complements the sneakers, creating a cohesive aesthetic. In summary, the A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 5 collaboration celebrates individuality, luxury, and style, blending two worlds in a way that resonates with fashion-forward consumers. Whether you’re a sneaker aficionado or simply appreciate fine craftsmanship, this collaboration offers a regal twist on a classic silhouette! 👟✨ Feel free to explore more about this exciting fusion of fashion and sneaker culture! 😊🔥 2of30 You What other collaborations has A Ma Maniére been involved in? Copilot Certainly! A Ma Maniére has been actively involved in several exciting collaborations with Jordan Brand. Let’s explore some of their notable partnerships: - A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 12 (Black/Burgundy and White/Burgundy): - A Ma Maniére teamed up with Jordan Brand to create two special Air Jordan 12 colorways. These sneakers celebrate Black female resilience, amplifying their voices and recognizing their impact on style and social consciousness. - The “Black/Burgundy” pair features premium suede uppers, while the “White/Burgundy” version boasts premium leather uppers. Both colorways include striking suede burgundy accents, cushy quilted liners, and A Ma Maniére branding on the tongue and aglets. - The collection also includes inclusive adult-sized apparel in cream, black, and burgundy hues, featuring pieces like premium nylon shirts, sueded knit tracksuits, monogram jacquard hoodies, and premium cotton T-shirts1. - A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 4 (Phantom): - A Ma Maniére is revisiting the iconic Air Jordan 4 silhouette for a 2024 collaboration. While specific details are yet to be revealed, fans can anticipate another gem from this refined luxury partnership2. - Other Collaborations: - A Ma Maniére has previously collaborated on Air Jordan 3, Air Jordan 1 High, and Air Jordan 2 releases. These projects showcase the boutique’s commitment to quality, exclusivity, and attention to detail34. - Additionally, the brand has its own in-house collection, which includes apparel and footwear. Keep an eye out for their upcoming Air Jordan 1 sneaker collaboration, expected to arrive during the holiday season5. Stay tuned for more exciting releases from A Ma Maniére and Jordan Brand! 👟🔥 Please note that availability may vary based on your location and shipping policies.3 Feel free to explore more about this exciting collaboration and share your thoughts! 😊🔥 Read the full article

[bobsliquorstore]

New Age of Sneaker Heads

In a land before the time of the hypebeast era, you were able to stop by your local sneaker shop to purchase the new release of Michael Jordan’s signature shoe the “Air Jordan” without hardly having issues. Sneaker collecting was an affordable thing to do, waking up the day of a shoe release knowing you will definitely get a pair. The internet age changed the sneaker culture forever.

Today's sneaker collecting has changed for the worst, for the consumer at least. You are lucky if you are able to buy sneakers at retail before the resellers get their hands on it. With a “lottery system��� you have to win in order to buy the sneakers, what kind of lottery is that?! Resellers usually buy up the shoes in store and online for retail and resell it above the retail price. Forget about going online to purchase the sneakers, resellers create computer bots that buy up the shoes moments after the release!

(DJ Khaled with his ridiculous sneaker collection.)

The global sneaker resale market is estimated to be worth around $6 billion by the end of 2025. It is a good time to be in the resell business. A lot of fortunes have been created on reselling sneakers. Some brands and stores limit the amount of the same shoe you can buy, to prevent resellers easily buying up a whole release. It's not as easy for the reseller to buy a whole release, but they still find ways to get the supply they need.

Bots have been an ongoing problem with online releases with high demand. Bots are coded to immediately buy merchandise online, down to seconds of a release. The government has been trying to regulate the bots problem by sending warning letters to people using the bots to purchase things for resale; with no drastic changes to the bot problem.

Sneaker companies build up hype by creating a scarcity of supply. The low supply of the shoes makes the shoes very valuable to the reseller market. The resellers build the hype around brands by the price tag they put on it. Today there are platforms like GOAT, StockX SNKRS, and the old faithful eBay, where you can find sneakers on the resell market. These platforms attract hundreds of millions of visitors a year to pay reseller prices. StockX single handedly facilitated 37 million transactions in a year.

(The godfathers of the sneaker culture, Run DMC.)

Early pioneers like Run DMC and Michael Jordan paved the way for the hype of the sneaker culture. Air Jordan sneakers and hip hop are biggest contributors to the rise of sneaker collecting.  Nike executed marketing genius by implying to consumers that the Air Jordan shoes will help you soar in the air like Michael Jordan. Young minority kids from the inner city would buy these shoes to emulate their favorite athletes and rappers. Over time, the sneaker culture crossed over into pop culture; edging out minorities who created the sneaker culture.

(The first Air Jordan commercial that appeared on televisions across America.)

As the sneaker industry attracted a broader audience, minorities have been pushed out due to the higher price tag that retailers and resellers put on it. What used to be an affordable hobby for black and brown kids became a hobby exclusively for consumers with deep pockets. The sneaker culture has been gentrified, abandoning the black kids that created the sneaker market. With the soaring price tags of shoes, the more dangerous it is to own a pair.

(An early article about the dangers of owning Air Jordans that Sports Illustrated released on May 14th, 1990.)

The hype around the popular sneakers have made it dangerous to own a pair. In the 90's, America had it's first glimpse of how dangerous it can be. Articles started to spread about robberies and murders over the highly coveted Air Jordan sneakers in Chicago. With the high ticket price on the hypebeast sneakers, they are valued like jewelry. Many innocent civilians lost their lives over a pair of sneakers as the years go by. In 2015, it was estimated that 1,200 people die in sneaker related incidents every year!

Even though the sneaker industry has its dark side, there’s also a bright side to it. With the crossover into pop culture, the sneaker culture has been a way that people from different cultural backgrounds to connect through shoes. People meet at conventions, camp outs, boutiques, forums, social media; all in the love of sneakers. Some collectors meet their best of friends at one of these meet ups to buy, sell, or trade sneakers. The sneaker culture has brought people together like collecting baseball cards.

(A glimpse of what a Sneaker Convention looks like in Toronto, Canada.)

Times have changed but the essentials to sneaker collecting are still there. Going to great extents to find places that sell the rare sneakers is what the sneaker culture is all about, even going to resellers is part of the game. Sneaker collecting has been embedded into popular culture, creating a bigger market for sneakers. A broader audience brings the good and bad with it. Though sneaker collecting changed a lot, sneaker collecting is not going anywhere any time soon.

[shoe-finderblog]

Where To Buy The Nike Dunk Low “Fossil Rose”

Revealed at the beginning of the year, the Nike Dunk Low “Fossil Rose” is but one of many attractive colorways dropping this Spring. This pair, however, gets a decent head start on the season, as it’s set to hit select retailers as well as Nike SNKRS tomorrow, May 4th.

The titular “Fossil Rose,” which was originally mistaken for “Medium Curry,” dresses key points like the Swoosh and accompanying tongue label. Adjacent, the laces and tread follow suit, while the nubuck overlays and base opt for “Aura” and “Phantom,” respectively. White, then, rounds out the colorway across the midsole.

For another look ahead of tomorrow’s release, check out the retailer images below. You’ll also find details on the shoe as well as links to participating retailers.

In other news, the Hello Kitty Nike Presto is releasing this May.

Nike Dunk Low "Fossil Rose" Release Date: May 4th, 2022 (Wednesday) Color: Phantom/Fossil Rose/Aura/Summit White Mens: $110 Style Code: DH7577-001

[larzagna-thoughts]

Environmental Portraits

Subject: Eric Fantroy

Eric Fantroy has been a Whole Foods Market supervisor for about a year and a half, working in their Customer Service sector. Amongst his other responsibilities, he watches over his team of employees and provides outstanding support to his fellow colleagues, alongside assisting customers with their daily needs during store hours. He describes his job as becoming relatively moderate position throughout his duration of supervision, not having super difficult tasks or a large workload, but a good amount of work to feel proud following each shift. “I’ve been at jobs where you don’t get recognized or acknowledged about the work you do,” he said when asked about it, “but I’m happy to have found a place where I can feel appreciated. Working my way up to a supervisor was cool too. I can run my section the way I like, and it creates for a chill environment.”

Working at Whole Foods is fine, but Eric’s aspirations and interests require more than a salary from only the grocery store. An avid member of the sneaker and streetwear community, he has taken full advantage of the resell market that shoes from Jordan, Nike, Adidas, and other brands have after being sold out in seconds after their retail release. This includes waiting in line in front of the store, hours before they open on release day, and sometimes camping out at stores the night before a “drop”. Other instances are using apps such as Nike SNKRS to purchase sneakers for retail, and playing the market on StockX, a sneaker reselling app that has essentially become the Robinhood for anything streetwear related. Eric has had several experiences buying multiple pairs of shoes for $100-190 and flipping them for anywhere in the several hundred range and sometimes thousands. This immense amount of side income, alongside some disciplined saving, has rewarded Eric in buying himself a Tesla Model 3, where he can now dress and ride in style, on his way to pick up his next investment.

[freshthoughts2020]

[dippedanddripped]

Release Date: May 10

Price: $125

Buy: Nike SNKRS and select retailers

What We’re Saying: Daniel Kim’s skate brand Stingwater is crossing over into the world of footwear, teaming up with Nike SB to release a collaborative take on the Dunk Low. Following teasers that had previously been circulating online, this week Nike gives us an official look at the co-branded effort, which is scheduled to arrive on May 10.

The Stingwater x Nike SB Dunk Low is a psychedelic affair inspired by mind-altering fungi, which is where the collaboration gets its name, "Magic Mushroom." Predominantly done up in University Red, the sneaker is then detailed with safari print overlays that reference the top of a mushroom, while the inner lining mimics the gill of the fungus.

Known for its playful graphics, Stingwater has applied unconventional branding to the side of the Dunks, just above a jeweled Swoosh. On the heels you will find "NIKE" branding embroidered in reverse. The phrase "empty your mind" is stitched behind the tongue as a reminder to search for new perspective, marking the hidden zip pocket that is also implemented on the tongue.

With the Stingwater x Nike SB Dunk Low Magic Mushroom releasing on May 10, you can bide your time by browsing the best Nike Dunks for under $200 here.