Saved by Sneakers: Origins and Aspirations
My interest in sneakers began in 1990, many years before the era of social media. My parents didn’t have the resources to even think about buying cool sneakers for me, so I decided to prepare myself for the day when I could purchase my own. When my parents bought a newspaper every Sunday, I would religiously swoop in and gather the sales papers to locate and research affordable sneakers sold by local brands. I eavesdropped on conversations at school and learned about an online sneaker retailer called Eastbay. I asked a friend for a mail-in card to fill out requesting their monthly catalogs. I received my first Eastbay catalog as an eager 2nd grader, and I still get them in the mail today. Eastbay changed my life, because their catalog colorfully showcased every sneaker that my friends were wearing. Even though I knew I couldn’t own the latest Air Jordan’s, anticipating Eastbay’s monthly catalog was the next best thing.
In 2014, while dealing with major health complications, collecting sneakers is what kept me alive. It was the one thing that I could do independently, so I found myself buying sneakers every week; sometimes two or three pairs at once. After realizing I had a massive collection, I started following sneaker influencers on social media. I started to learn more about sneaker culture and how it influences fashion, sports, and lifestyle. Without social media, I would’ve never learned how important sneakers are to so many people. Sneaker culture can connect and unify people, helping to establish organic and lasting relationships.
Sneaker culture has experienced rapid growth and commercialization within the last five years, making it an interesting subject to explore. I want to add value to the world by simply sharing what I love. I miss the days when influencers featured sneakers that they are passionate about and have personal connections with. Today, influencers are only obsessed with whatever is hyped and trendy in order to attract viewers, followers, and YouTube subscribers. Everyone basically makes identical content reviewing the exact same sneakers. I’m trying to regenerate the content that I want to see in order grow a community and engage an audience.
Once a week on my website, I will post a weekly sneaker rotation highlighting the sneakers that I wear Monday through Saturday. It will provide a window into my own personal collection while encouraging others to showcase their own collections. Posting a sneaker rotation will inspire people to share ideas and opinions. After all, sneaker collectors just want an opportunity to show off what sneakers they own and share stories about how they acquired them.
