We call ourselves ATF Sneaker Summit and devote a large part of this blog to sneakers, so I thought I’d take the time to write about the sneaker culture. It’s a bit of a long post but bear with me.
Although I myself cannot be considered a sneaker head I have lived my whole life in a household with a true sneaker head, aficionado or connoisseur. I think he calls himself all these things. In time I have developed a deeper understanding of the “culture” and history of sneakers.
It might be a hard concept for some people to grasp. Spending shitloads of money on a shoe. When you hear about people lining up for days outside a store with just their hoodies on, camping chairs or maybe a parka if you live in Calgary (we have crappy weather) and then you come to find out its all for a shoe, people’s inherent reaction is “all this for a shoe?” Yes its all for a shoe, I’m sure sneaker heads must get tired of hearing of how they’re crazy for paying crazy money waiting overnight for shoes.
Or could it be though that the rest of us are just lost in translation?
I believe that to truly appreciate anything or to judge anything we must evaluate its histories; it’s roots (no quest love). A deeper understanding of the history evokes in us to understand a deeper appreciation of the sneaker culture. The birth of the sneaker culture was influenced by two main sources: basketball and hip hop music. In the 80’s the shoe market was sky rocketing and huge shoe companies)*cough cough* NIKE) saw this as an opportunity to make profit. A capitalistic venture so to speak. They figured that the best way to infiltrate the market was to have someone iconic representing their brand, because what is a brand without an image thus they teamed up with none other than the GOAT Jordan, remember him? LOL. From there on the game revolutionized and Jordan sneakers were coveted by all sneaker aficionados and still are and the price that some of these sneakers go for now are eye popping to say the least.
As well no undeniably the hip-hop movement had a direct impact on creating the sneaker sub – culture. We all know adidas Shell toes sneaks worn by Run DMC .The hip hop movement proved that having a dope pair of sneakers became a status symbol and thus a new subculture was created. As time has gone on the sneaker culture has developed furthermore being influenced by graffiti artists, musicians and of course the skate culture has had a profound impact on the sneaker culture.
New York is revered to have some of the dopest sneak boutiques and sneaker heads. Undoubtedly the sneaker culture there is deeply planted. That’s not to say that there aren’t sneaker heads all over who are just as dope, they’re just not as exposed. Where we live in Calgary the sneaker culture might not hold too many members but the ones that are sneaker fiends are deeply devoted. Throughout the years we have seen the up rise of this movement and will continue to see further. All one has to do is take a stroll down on 17th ave.
Nowadays we are inundated with countless of collaboration sneakers between skaters, artists, basketball players and so forth. Finding something special (the crème de la crème ) is essential for the sneaker head and the markets know how to respond. They do this by introducing exclusive sneakers. Limited release so to speak. This has created people to lineup for days, mobs have even ensued. (Hey I didn’t say all sneaker heads are peaceful). Yeah sometimes it can get out of hand and the frenzy can be explosive but to a sneaker head it is all worth it.
I’ve seen the way my brother looks at his sneakers, for him it’s not just a shoe it’s like having his own little Picasso painting. The different colourways, the different types of leathers. I swear if I blindfolded him he could tell me what kind of leather the sneaker is just by smelling it, perforated leather, suede so forth.
The sneaker culture throughout the years has evolved into its’ own aesthetic, because for a sneaker fiend shoes are not just vulcanized rubber, no in a way they’re a form of functional art!!!
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