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What’s wrong with the sneaker industry?

This question can be answered a million different ways. Many people may say resellers, limited releases, over-saturation of product, automized purchasing software (aka BOTS), and constant reintroduction of classic models. While all of these issues may have some impact as to why the sneaker industry has changed so much, are these issues really the root cause as to why the aka “sneaker game” has did a complete 180? I believe these issues do have some effect but they are not major causes for concern. We all remember the days of when we could walk into our local mall or boutique and purchase the latest releases without having to endure long wait times.

Even limited releases were not as hard to acquire for retail as they are now. The sneaker game has definitely changed as has everything else in the world but not dramatically as everyone says it has. As the cliché says, “The only thing constant is change”. When BOTS were introduced into the game the entire landscape changed, this I certainly agree with. We were no longer competing tic for tac against another sneaker head in upstate New York.

We were going up against a software that automatized the purchase without the user even needing to lift a finger. These programs are able to complete a purchase faster than any human. I’m quite sure we have all had our experiences of not being able to cop a release we was looking forward to because of bots beating us out. These days trying manually to cop limited releases (i.e. OFF-WHITE x Nike, Pharrell x adidas Hu NMD’s) is a waste of time as these shoes sell out before you can even get on the product page. This is more in part to these releases being so limited instead of actual bots beating us out.

Things have gotten a little better over the past couple years but it’s still very difficult at times. But are BOTS what’s wrong with the sneaker game? Yes and No. While BOTS are preventing the average sneaker lover from purchasing the shoes they want, they are hurting the company themselves the most. Let’s use Nike SNKRS as an example. It’s becoming increasingly hard to purchase shoes on Nike these days due to bots. Nike has done a pretty decent job counteracting bots but they have not and most likely will not be 100% successful.

When a release goes live on Nike SNKRS, bots immediately start pinging the website (each ping registers as a potential customer). Since some bots are able to ping thousands of times on the website and Nike is registering these pings as an individual customer even though they are coming from one user/location. Nike uses this data to adjust production numbers. This is how we sometimes get sneakers that saturate the market (i.e. Air Jordan 3 Black Cement). These pings are false projections of actual customer data.

As some releases may still sell out like Air Jordan 11’s, Nike is using the data collected from each release to either increase or decrease the production runs of future sneakers. Looks as though bots sometime help us get the sneakers we want as more pairs are being produce giving us an even better chance at securing them. While the sneaker game has changed in many ways, I believe it is still the same game we used to know.

The spotlight has just grown immensely which has introduced new players. The market has steadily been plateauing recently as it is not a bad as it was 4-5 years ago. We all learn to adapt to change as with anything else in life. Some have left the sneaker game all together and some have joined forces with the bot developers to be on an even playing surface. Whatever your position is in the sneaker game, we can all agree on something, we love sneakers and our love for them will never die or waver.

@realzachball

soulbyayolean

I started off with Aquas. This is when Laptop Kanye was doing his thing, he would ball in them mainly or be out in the town with them. At the time I was trippin over Rising Sun 12s cause i needed all white shoes and I enjoyed the 12s silhouette a little more than I do now. After I got the 12’s, I saw the 8’s on Kanye and knew I had to grab them. I got them off Soles and Hoes on FB and felt like I was on top of the world I was so happy! They were beat though, but I felt like it gave them character. That sprung me into wanting to learn about shoes and not just 23s, everything that caught my eye. I’ve had my love and hate with shoes but I always come back after trying to walk away.

My current obsession would be 1’s. I love 1’s. They have become my absolute favorite shoe. Comfort, style, they definitely complete every outfit and it’s come to a point where I feel incomplete without them. My most recent drop would be UNC 1s, my best friend got me for my birthday. So crisp, I’m afraid of wearing them anywhere in miami. I’m a simple chick so my favorite colorways would have to be BRED, Shadows, royals, or fragments. I own two of the 4.

@godmuvah

turboandretti

Florida donk game back in the 90’s and early 2000’s this shit ain’t new this where it all started know yo history 🌴Ak’s N Chevrolet's🌴

soulbyayolean

To truly love something is to be ok with not being loved back, or in this case accept that they couldn’t possibly love you back lol. I’m talking about sneakers

It’s hard explaining the love of sneakers to someone who thinks they’re just shoes. So I don’t try to, instead I find the curious, the wandering eyes, the “what are these called?” and help them find their way around. The sneaker game is a unique one, all ages, all genders, all sexualities any and everyone is welcome to join. The only clear cut rejections are those who promote fakes. The terminology: deadstock, lace job, heel drag, scuffs, OG packaging. The events, the blogs, the review videos, the quality inspections, all part of the culture.

My love started with a pair of 07’ Alpha 1’s. UNC based colorway with Jordan himself etched into them, so much authenticity. My mom didn’t share my passion and quickly rushed me out of Footlocker but it was too late, almost like love at first sight. I rushed home connected my dial up (way back I know) and scrolled for hours and hours. Reading blogs, memorizing release dates, just submerging myself into the life. My first pair would come a year later, Candy Cane 14’s. Even then I didn’t fully understand the game but I was in it, now I was in the mix, now I had my own pair to obsess over.

Fast forward say 8 years and I’ve dabbled in just about everything. From the classic Adidas shell toes and Nike AF1’s to the lesser known Nike Zoom Air 96’s (limited edition A.I’s of course). From Nike SB’s to signature’s such as K.D’s, Lebron’s and Curry’s (never been worn probably never will be). I must say Jordan’s remain my primaries, the storylines (Banned from the NBA, Playoff editions, Flu games) are too amazing. Jordan’s helped shape an era and still turn heads 20+ years later, its like owning a piece of history.

I stopped keeping count because I felt like I was turning into a quantity type of person and that’s not what this is about. *coughs* 50+ tho *coughs* It’s about stopping mid walk because you thought you saw a scuff, it’s about counting down the weeks till a pair you’ve always wanted drops, it’s about the speech you give yourself about how you definitely have to start saving after the last purchase. It’s a love of looking down and smiling even though this is your 100th time wearing them. It’s a love I can’t see myself falling out of and it’s a love I’m glad I found.

- B.H

P.S; of course I went back and copped those 1’s. Even if it was 7 years later lol.

-@Son_ImSleep

no-name-heroes

The past is the past is the past

soulbyayolean

I feel like a true sneaker collector will have more than just Nikes and Jordans in their collection. People fail to realize that there’s so many brands out there that are killing the game (in a good way). I remember when I bought my first pair of sauconys, they were actually a collab with sole box a pair of pink and grey shadow 5000s. My second pair was the navy blue grid 9000 from the three rivers pack. The third pair was the strange fruit which was a collab with play cloths. The most recent pair I bought were the shadow 5000s the white chocolate color way. I took the biggest L of my career when I was trying to get the burger sauconys saddest day in history (May 2014) literally refreshed the page a little after 11:59 I think and they were gone. I couldn’t believe my eyes as crazy as it sounds that really broke my heart. If you’ve seen these shoes you’d understand. But it’s okay I bounced back and got some pretty cool pairs. I really am trying to get way more sauconys and I know I will.

@ayolean

soulbyayolean

I have to let you guys know about one of my favorite pairs of sneakers I own. Shattered backboards. Its just crazy how I even got them. I was working at a sneaker boutique back in 2015 and I told them from when I first got hired I wanted the Chicagos. Something happened with Nike and the men’s release so they just ended up releasing the kid sizes. On a random Sunday the owner decided to drop the sneakers I wasn’t informed so I was mad but I charged it to the game. When the shattered backboards dropped my manager came to me and was like “since you couldn’t get the Chicagos, here you go” I was soooo happy you have no idea. I almost cried, nah I think I did cry. My favorite part of the shoe is the insole it’s a picture of shattered glass it’s so clever. People really thought they were fake when I first wore them. They’re the colors of the uniform Jordan wore when playing in a game in Italy. He shattered the backboard when he dunked the ball. The sneaker was so beautifully executed. The fact that they’re 1’s just makes them even more amazing. I swear to this day I’m still surprised I have them in my closet. Beyond thankful.

@ayolean

soulbyayolean

@‪lilpikaboof‬

chinchillagawd

I️ miss my sprites ☹️

omgcreeper

moustacherides

soulbyayolean

Should we finally say RIP to the Sneaker Game?

So for years now I’ve been contemplating why doesn’t anybody acknowledge the truth that the sneaker culture is dead. Well not all the way dead, more like life support, vegetable status.

Anywho, year after year I watch the same dudes come through Saturday mornings to pick up Jordan Brand’s (JB) lackluster drops that is a mix of uninspired colors, and cheap material, that will crease in the drop of a hat. Throughout the years JB has been able to justify their pricy footwear with quality materials, soft leathers that retain their crisp look much longer than it’s predecessor, synthetic leather.

When I was just a sophomore in high school I began my journey of becoming a sneakerhead. Now before I start, I always like to preface this story with; no, I didn’t have a job in high school. So I didn’t have money to be able to pick up drops. Finessing birthday money and trading was my hustle. Also it wasn’t a bad way for me to understand the game, how people value things according to the market vs. how they personally feel about the product itself. For example I may value the grape 5’s from ’06 way higher than the next person, because those to me are the greatest Jordans ever. When I first seen them on Will’s feet on the fresh prince I was blown away. Working towards getting a pair was a goal of mine, but it was going to be tough since my parents weren’t supporting shit lmao.

I still remember my first pair of J’s. It was a pair of NDS Stealth 8’s in a 10.5. For some reason I thought that would fit me seeing as how I’m more of a 9-9.5, I was coming up in the game from scratch, even the idea of how an athletic shoe should fit. Before I was wearing more causal sneakers, shell-toes, Reebok classics, you know the Haitian go-to’s lmao. Recently I was talking to one of my co-workers and he’s a young kid and it has been refreshing to know that he is well versed in the sneaker culture. I’m talking WELL VERSED, as in he’s know about Hawaii SB lows, The iconic NYC Pigeon Nike SBs, and OG or early 2000s retro Jordans. He even put me on to a few cultural sneakerhead companies such as Sole Supremacy, with their efforts such as The Beater Box campaign; I can tell that the culture isn’t totally dying, due to people who have love for the culture.

BUT as of right now the culture is and has been in trouble for some time now. With the rise of sneakers and the demand for them due to the explosion that was urban street fashion; sneakers became the hot ticket item to sell to make a quick buck.

The culture garnished attention to outside artists led companies, and allowed them leverage to collaborate with major sneaker brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Reebok, just to name a few. Good for business bad for consumers. TO acquire these limited quantity sneakers, takes an ungodly amount of patience, and wherewithal to know how to navigate these streets (or sites) well enough to get your hands on a pair. Also it doesn’t help that the game is littered with greedy GMs of these large retail brands who basically only “assist” those who may have extra capitol required to obtain the prized possession.

What makes matters worse is that some of these GMs would fulfill bulk order to one person who then, bumps up the price to accommodate the extra cash spent securing the footwear and extra money for time and energy spent. These factors weighed heavy against the game. What played a major role in the slowing down of the sneaker game is the over saturation of the releases themselves. Capitalism really showed its ass. When Nike first realized how big this can mean for their brand, and how much revenue they can accumulate they not only took the game by storm they strangled it to death. Things such as, subpar materials used, “updated” looks and styles (blue tint on sneakers that have transparent soles), and lack luster colors that were paired with a less than known stat line form Jordan’s history, i.e. 72-10 Retro 11s.

I GET IT JORDAN DID IT FIRST, WE DON’T NEED TO BE REMINDED.

But with all of this, I still think of my co-worker, putting an old head like me on to something mad cool and dope. It reminds me of the hustle to grab your next pair, especially when you don’t have it like that finessing was a wave, sheeeeeeeit it was MY wave. It tells me that the game still has a pulse. There are people who still are true to the game of collecting and properly respecting the culture by not hitting people over the head with re-sell numbers. There are people out there who are deep in the game who still want to share the happiness that you get when you crack open that box for the first time. The same feeling I got when I nabbed my first pair of numbered Jordan’s. Those stealth 8s will always have a special place in my heart and its always about that feeling….We need THAT back…

@OSMOomso

chinchillagawd

I wrote a thing...

Twitter: OSMOomso