Photo Series; What Sneakers Mean To Me
Sneakers. To me, they are much more than something you just put on your feet. They all have a story. Different brands represent different things, Jordan, Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Saucony, Converse, etc. They all are based off sneakers. My favorite are Jordans. They have different styles, Retro’s, Casual, Basketball Shoes, Golf Shoes, Football Cleats, and more! I own different kinds of shoes, and they all have a purpose as to why I own them. Most of my sneakers have a story about them. I buy, trade and sell shoes.
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If I buy a limited edition pair of Jordan Toro Bravo 4’s, and someone is interested in them, I make sure I sell for more than what I bought them for, or trade for shoes that are worth more so I know I am hitting a come up and getting more for my dollar. My favorite pair of sneakers I own are the Fire Red 4s, I have had them for almost a year now and have turned them into straight beaters. Beaters are shoes you wear a lot, that turn into a junky pair of shoes because you get your uses out of them. I also clean and restore Jordan’s. I can repaint, clean and ice the soles so I can keep my shoes looking new.
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Retro’s are shoes that have been remade from there original release. For example, the Playoff 13’s, they released in 1998 where Michael Jordan wore them in his last season as a Chicago Bull, Jordan debuted this air Jordan 13 in the 1998 NBA all star game and wore them to his last NBA championship. But since most OG pairs from ‘98 are hard to find, in 2011 the Playoff 13’s were “recreated” which is now considered the Playoff 13 Retro, and I own these pair of Jordan’s today.
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A lot of Jordan retros come with a high price, most sell for over $200 when they release these days. I first started collecting shoes 2 years ago, I collected $160 over a period of time, and the new Crimson 3’s came out, I loved them. Right when they released, I got them. After that, I was addicted. New shoes started coming out, I was buying limited edition pairs of shoes and trading them for other shoes that I could eventually flip and sell for more. This grew my love for shoes because I was making money off it and getting new shoes.
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Eventually, I had shoes that have never even been put on anyone’s feet, this is what they call “Deadstock” when they have never been worn. I have a pair of Lebron 12’s, Jordan 5’s, and more of deadstock shoes. Most people keep shoes deadstock because that helps the value increase over time when they are perfect condition. This is why I have a growing passion for sneakers, because they have a much bigger meaning than just putting them on your feet.
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