@GyanShieldsdad @AllEyezOnMe0_0 @OG Couldn't agree with you guys more. It seems there is a consensus among us rational people haha. Like I said before, if knowing the history of your favorites adds some enjoyment to your sneaker collecting experience, I think that's great, but the thought that you are detracting from the scene if you cant recite facts about some corporation is ridiculous. Like AllEyezOnMe said, NO ONE CARES lol. To the guy who brought up Reebok & apartheid, you have to be kidding me, the race problems in South Africa are probably the most complex in the world, it's actually something of great interest to me & I'm well read on the topic, but if you don't think human rights violations of similar magnitude were going on in the Nike & Adidas factories/corporations during that same time period (the 90's, pre-internet exposure) then you need to take a look at the real history of those companies. I know for a fact some of what used to go on behind the scenes at Nike (my cousin in law was high up in their law dept.) was downright abhorrent, he actually bolted as soon as his contract ended but that's a different story for a different day. Back on topic, collecting clothing/sneakers isn't collecting civil war memorabilia, this isn't a lesson in history.
@GyanShieldsdad @OG Son God @AllEyezOnMe0_0 @OG Gonna have to agree with GyanShieldsdad here. I don't think not knowing the history of a sneaker makes you a hype buyer. People like things for different reasons & there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In my opinion, and I think the opinion of most, a "hypie" is a bad thing bc this is someone who just buys the next big thing bc it's "cool" & to advance their status in the sneaker community and/or show off to their friends. This gives us a bad name bc it becomes about keeping up with the Joneses & status instead of appreciation of a product/culture we love. Of course no one is immune to hype, but a product's hype shouldn't be a priority. No one would EVER accuse me of being about hype, as my collection doesn't make sense in that light, however, I know literally close to nothing about my Creative Recreation & Puma ltd ed sneakers, I just bought them for look. However, my KZK & other limited edition Adidas as well as Italian Asics - I know more about those than most people that work for them. Sorry if this is a little incoherent bc I keep having to start/stop at work, but basically my point is knowing a sneaker's history has nothing to do with hype, if anything it just enhances an already fulfilling hobby/sub-culture, but not knowing doesn't make a gorgeous pair less special.
I love this article. I always felt like I wasn't a "sneakerhead" bc my collection now is mostly KZK/ObyO ltd ed. Adidas, Creative Recreation, & rare Italian Asics (diff brand from here). All rare & beautiful stuff, but far from the urban stereotype of a sneakerhead.
I just turned 29 though, and I can pinpoint when it all started, my good friend in 1st Grade (1990) who was the best baller in the school got the brand new Jordan VI's, the sneakers Jordan'd win his 1st title w. I just thought they (Infared) were like nothing I'd ever seen, actually they got me into clothing in general at a young age. I guess being from the NJ Shore a few miles from where they filmed Spring Break/Summer MTV & eventually Jersey Shore, this was just part of the culture fashion & brand names, you'd be more likely to be called gay if you didn't take care of your appearance in order to get girls.
Do any of you remember how you got into it all?? What's that defining shoe for all of you??