As mentioned in our article on ‘a beginner’s guide to sneaker slang,’ a sneakerhead is essentially a person who collects and trades sneakers as either a hobby or profession. They are someone who admires the art of sneaker design, the business behind it, or the culture of streetwear itself. With a long history behind the culture of sneakers, what was once nothing more than footwear has blossomed into an entire cultural movement. The culture of reselling has lent to this boom, as the market for resold sneakers has shot up to the billions. It has become so big that according to Cowen & Co., the market is projected to become a $6 billion dollar business globally by 2025.
Being a sneakerhead has become so much more than just enjoying shoes. Sneakerheads are often passionate about everything the culture entails, from being a fan of hip-hop to having extensive knowledge of brands. While there are varying degrees of sneakerhead fandom on the spectrum, anyone interested to dive into this culture can get started right away. To help with this journey, we take a look at some of the steps in becoming a sneakerhead down below.
Know The Roots
Being a true sneakerhead is more than just being in love with the product. Learning about the history of streetwear and how it evolved into what it is today can give you a more connected sense of belonging to the community. It can help you feel as if you are a part of something bigger than yourself.
Even if you’re just getting into becoming a sneakerhead now, in truth the culture has been around since the 70’s. With skateboarding culture being the driving fuel, basketball legends like Michael Jordan helped ignite that fire further with game-changing deals made with Nike. Till today, the Air Jordan 1 is considered one of – if not the most – iconic sneaker in the game.
Starting from the ’90s, the Internet gave way to platforms like eBay, which provided sneakerheads with more opportunity to buy and sell. Finding products that were once believed to be difficult to cop had changed, as marketplaces and blogs alike steadily rose in fashion. As the years went by, the resell market grew and the deals that were once strictly seen with athletes and brands had expanded further out. Musicians, artists, and a whole flurry of collaborations made the sneaker culture become what it is today – unprecedented hype and a mountain of cash.
Starting a Sneaker Collection
While some truly collect for the sake of owning, collecting sneakers has grown into a worldwide hobby. It is a defining trait of a sneakerhead. Of course, not everyone has the luxury to do this, as buying sneakers – especially those worth reselling – is not an easy, affordable task.
Whether it’s for their own personal gains or to resell them for profit, a sneakerhead is always on the lookout for new brands, styles, and colourways. The deeper you fall into the culture, the more you learn the different platforms to browse through. Some sneakerheads develop a preference for a particular brand and stick to that, while others look to what’s hot.
Buying Authentic Sneakers Online
There is a lot of money to be made in this market. There are plenty of players in the game of resale. But even if your intention is not to make a profit, it is still important to learn how to properly buy authentic sneakers online.
It goes without saying that in the modern landscape of sneaker reselling, people sell fakes in hopes to make some money, whether intentional or not. Some fakes are hard to distinguish. With some veterans even struggling to identify what is fake and what is real, it’s only reasonable that someone starting out to be a sneakerhead can find this task incredibly difficult. Thus, buying authentic sneakers online can be a daunting task.
As a matter of fact, according to research, Millennials and Gen-Z make up the largest group of consumers in the resale market. Considering these are digital natives, you are jumping into a large ocean of uncertainty when trying to find the right sneakers. Therefore, it’s important to note some of the fundamental basics when trying to buy.
- Be on the lookout for damaged boxes
- Pay attention to sneakers that come in all sizes, as some popular collaborations only come in limited stock and sizes.
- Since all pairs of authentic sneakers will come with a specific SKU (stock keeping unit) number, be wary of any mismatched numbers.
- Lookout for any wear and tear in design and build.
Beyond these simple tips, relying on trustworthy marketplaces are another way to ensure you are getting what you pay for. Oftentimes, platforms like Novelship perform thorough authentication processes that make sure every sneaker processed through is authentic.
Take Care of Your Sneakers
Sneakers are not just footwear anymore. They have become incredibly valuable commodities. With streetwear having taken over the fashion industry, the scarce supply, yet insanely high demand for some silhouettes are unimaginable. In fact, items like the Jeff Staple x Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Pigeon’ are noted to have a resale value of $13,000 USD. Recent releases of the Air Dior Collection are examples of how the value and perception of sneakers have changed, being seen as a luxury.
It is exactly for these reasons, that for sneakerheads – the dedicated and true – sneakers should be treated with care. It’s important to get in the habit of cleaning them and doing your due diligence to maintain their form and shape.
From spot cleaning to knowing how to store them properly, taking care of sneakers is a skill and one that we try to teach with the help of companies like Hype Guardian – Malaysia’s leading sneaker care service provider.
Beyond just aesthetics, taking care of your sneakers properly can help keep them durable and intact for many years since purchase, making that buy so much more worth it. It also helps to prevent your shoes from giving off foul odours.
Selling Your Sneakers
With the global athletic footwear market size expected to reach $95.14 billion by 2025, it would be an understatement to say that everyone is trying to cash-in. You can make quite a lot of money if you buy and sell correctly.
Although there is no set formula for making a living off of selling sneakers (as it is a business after all), the tips below are just some things to consider when trying to sell your sneakers for profit.
- Know what to buy by doing your research
- Consider various factors that increase values (economy, trends, etc.)
- Check trust-worthy platforms to buy and sell authentic items
- Learn to use internet bots
- Stay up to date with sneaker blogs and websites
A lot of work goes into trying to make a business out of selling sneakers. You need to be quite invested in the market and be on top of every latest release.
However, being a sneakerhead doesn’t necessarily mean going this route. There are plenty of people in the culture that are casual consumers, in it for the joy and collective sense of belonging. Whether it’s to collect, trade, or simply admire, what is so alluring about becoming a sneakerhead is ultimately the community.
