Michael Jordan, J. Balven, and Pharrell Williams have had a huge effect on the fashion industry over the years. These three individuals have done more for sneaker culture than one single brand has in the past 50 years.
Sneaker culture has changed frequently over the past five years. Broadcast teacher at OHS, Jake Davis, participates in sneaker culture and collects many different shoes. Davis believes that the hype around sneakers has exploded in popularity because of prominent pop culture figures collaborating with the sneaker industry.
“I think there’s a lot more hype around the sneaker culture now,” Davis said. “It used to be more of a niche thing, and it’s kind of exploded where everybody’s wearing Forces, everybody’s wearing Jordans and it’s kind of shifted online. There are a lot of apps like the Nike SNRKS app that kind of dominate the market now. The days of going to your shoe store at midnight and waiting out for hours in line are gone. It’s interesting to see how the culture has kind of changed.”
Though Davis enjoys seeing more people partaking in sneaker culture, he prefers the old tradition of waiting outside of buildings for some of the most anticipated drops of the year for sneakers.
“I do miss the old culture a little bit because in the old days there used to be in the old days when you could tell a lot about a person by what kind of shoes they owned,” Davis said. “If three people were walking around with Jordan 3’s that you kind of know a little bit about what they like to do. I don’t want to sound like a hipster but I think there are some people that don’t know what they’re buying.”
Davis feels as though celebrities affect his decision in choosing the next sneaker he purchases.
“I’m a big fan of the classic silhouettes: Forces, dunks, threes, and fours,” Davis said. I’m not a big fan of the twos, but I like that kind of classic silhouette. the new iconic ones that kind of build a culture.”
Many also find that since new generations have gotten involved with sneaker culture, it has increased the demand for sneakers. Celebrities have played a role in increasing the popularity of certain brands and styles of sneakers.
“I think it depends on the celebrity,” Davis said. “A lot of rappers are doing collaborations and if I am into them, that might make me a little more inclined to buy their shoes. As of now I’m not into all the hype. I have a pair of Travis Scott fours, but it’s because they’re powder blue and red. They’re Ole Miss colors and I love that.”
