Sneakers: The Gateway

Regarding my last post I think it’s important to also pay homage to the sneaker community by drawing attention to its natural transition into fashion.  The retro sneaker scene has opened the door wide open beckoning new members of the fashion world.  Retro sneakers are the gateway drug that introduces a generation to the fashion world.

Now that a generation once unable to buy these sneakers has the means to we do.  A part of our generation our professional athletes who are buying up these retro sneakers or being provided them based on whatever sneaker deal they have.  Having that much money and mentality of buying what they once could not sneakers isn’t the only thing they buy or get interested in.  Many pro basketball players are now even involved in the fashion industry and own their own niche boutiques.  Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Kanye West, A$ap Rocky are just a couple names of young men with the means now who are wearing these retro sneakers all the while buying up and exploring newer fashions.  With the world changing because of social media and these athletes and celebrities being able to show off their goodies fashion and sneakers are a culture of their own. 

If you’ve listened to the A$ap Rocky record, Fashion Killa, he almost overwhelms you with designer names.  Lebron James & other NBA players are frequently seen in older Jordans, but mix in designer shoes as well.  The frequency at which followers see these individuals’ rock retro sneakers and designer clothing and shoes makes them more aware of the world of fashion.  Instead of baggy jeans with a t-shirt accompanying the retro Jordan 12 Taxi this coming weekend we will see more fitted pants and designer brands rounding out the outfit. 

We can now get out retro sneakers and designer tees.  We’ve made it, look at us.  The large influence of the generation that couldn’t get those sneakers and can now has opened doors to fashion, which is see easily if you search Instagram hashtags for #OOTD (outfit of the day) or #todayskicks or #sneakerhead.  Retro sneakers in a very big way have opened the flood gates of the fashion industry.  Once you get into higher end quality products, typically these will be designer brands, the transition into Allen Edmonds, ColeHaan, Prada, Jimmy Choo, Fendi, Tod’s, Ferragamo, and John Varvatos to name a few is easy.  Once you get into designer sneakers the transition into those clothes comes next.