The Sneaker Culture
Taking Over The World By; Diego A. Caballero
Taking Over The World
The sneaker culture has gone a long way from when Converse introduced the All Star in
1917 to Kanye’s Adidas Yeezy 350 Boost. People who were
around when it all started would say that the “sneaker game” has taken over the
world, but also that it’s no longer the same as it was back in there days. My
goal in this paper is to inform the reader about how the sneaker culture has
taken over three big industries; sports, music and fashion.
First
Its Introduced To The Music Industry
The Culture In Sports
attempt to capture the basketball shoe market. Chuck Taylor, a basketball
player and shoe salesman for Converse, improved the shoe's design and became
the product's spokesperson in the 1920s. Then came the mid 80's and that's when Jordan came in with his line of sneaker. At one point the NBA had banned his shoe for the reason of it being against the NBA regulations.The line of endorsement is not just in the NBA but also the NFL with deion sanders and BO Jackson and a few other professional athletes.
Influenced in fashion
Way for kids to make money
His parents thought he was out of his mind for attempting to resell sneakers at first. They didn’t think that anyone would pay lofty sums for a pair of sneakers that weren’t made by a high-fashion designer. “I bought the ‘Miro’ Air Jordan VIIs, and I paid $700 for them, and my dad said, ‘You’re crazy, you’re the only person who pays that much for a shoe,’” Benjamin says. “I sold them a few months after for $1,000, and he thought that was impressive.” Benjamin’s gained quite the reputation online as a reseller, showing off bundles of sneakers, such as the adidas Yeezy Boost, and for rubbing shoulders with A-list celebrities, who are typically years older and often literal shoulders above himIt would be a few years before he got into reselling sneakers, which he’s now become recognized for, and it all started with just one pair. “I did my first campout in seventh grade. I think it was for the Cheech & Chong Nike SB Dunks,” Benjamin says. “I grew a collection of shoes and people would try and buy them off me. I didn’t want to sell them, because I wasn’t into sneakers for business. Then I camped out and got two pairs and sold one, because I got money for my birthday and for Hanukkah, but it started to run out. I thought to myself, ‘If I want to keep buying sneakers, I’m going to figure out a way to get the money.
"Meet the Plug: Benjamin Kickz, The Teenage Sneaker Mogul." Complex. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.
the culture its become
Sneaker conventions are almost as vital to the sneaker culture as the sneakers themselves. Every year, thousands of “sneakerheads” make their way into crowded stadiums and auditoriums to buy, sell and/or trade what we’ve come to know as “heat.” This year, Sneaker Con is expected to be one of the premier sneaker conventions in the entire country as always. Expect some of the rarest sneakers and sneakerheads, from around the nation, to make their way to the Big Apple for this annual event. The March 2011 Sneaker Con will once again be held at 151 Sullivan St. in NYC on Saturday, March 19th. View additional information regarding this event below.
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Its Gone To The Point Where People Lose Their Lives
There’s a dark cloud that hangs over the sneaker game. While the hobby is meant to unite enthusiasts and serve as a source of enjoyment for the hunters and gatherers of all things leather and laces, sometimes the burning desire takes a turn for the worse and the price of a pair of Jordans becomes a price too high to pay. It’s an unfortunate headline that we’ve seen all too often and one we’ve seen as early as two decades ago – a youngster having his life stripped from him for a pair of shiny shoes – and as mass campouts have already gathered for tomorrow’s big-ticket ‘Golden Moments’ Pack, we’re only reminded of the potential danger that may or may not go down. Sneaker Freaker goes in-depth with an editorial regarding this touchy subject, so check out their full editorial after you fill us with some of your own thoughts on this controversial issue.
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