Who run the world? Sneaker-Heads!

Being an avid shoe collector doesn’t make you a sneaker-head.  It’s all about the quality that you provoke when showing off your proud collection.  It’s definitely quality over quantity when pursing the latest and most stylish shoes that are sweeping the shoe market.

Allow me to be the first to debunk some of the industry’s “Rules to Follow” when it comes to building up a valuable and reputable shoe collection.

Every shoe released ISN’T a collectable!

Because a lot of shoes released are done so under very reputable brand names, it’s easy for you to be sold on the idea that you must purchase that shoe!

Truth is, not every Jordan or Nike shoe released is a closet must have.

We are guided to believe that just because these brand names are attached to certain products, we must purchase! Not true.  Due to mainstream and other popular beliefs, we waist our money to fulfill wants that are unnecessary.

• We don’t educate ourselves on what we will benefit from if we purchase the shoe.
• We don’t try to find the pros AND the cons, instead we just dive into our local shoe store and spend $$$.
• Are they rare enough to be deemed a collectable?
• What quality will the shoe bring me if I purchase them.

The next two bullet points should be the main eyebrow raisers.  They also bring me to my next two theories.

Are They Exclusive enough to collect?

People often wage wars on shoe collecting sites trying to determine if a certain shoe is “Exclusive” enough to actually go out and purchase.  Exclusivity is often overlooked when we make the final decision on whether purchasing a new pair of kicks.

The Exclusive factor isn’t highlighted by the top brands because they know they will loose out either way.

Meaning, If the shoe IS in fact released to the public in large numbers, then people will assume it’s not exclusive enough to collect.  Or, if the shoe is in high demand and the manufactuers only release a limited amount, then people will automatically assume that they can’t get their hands on them.

Either way you see it, it’s a loose-loose situation.  So, the top shoe makers don’t disclose the numbers released.  With that being said, some shoes created by celebrities such as the Kanye West “Yeezy’s” actually disclose the amount that will be available in each country, including the U.S. Media news reports that people were bidding upwards of $7,000 just for a pair!  LeBron James also had a limited edition release of his highly anticipated “South Beaches”.

With the release numbers so low, celebrities are achieving exactly what they want.  Exclusivity.

Do your research before making your final decision on whether to purchase or not.  The exclusiveness of a shoe is number one on my checklist when building a valuable collection.

What type of Quality should I expect?

It should be a no-brainier that quality trumps anything mentioned on this list.  Think about it… If you were a professional athlete, would you go for a stylish shoe or one that supports the extreme mobility that sports calls for?  Hopefully you would support the latter!

The following points should be taking into consideration when searching for quality in any shoe you decide to collect.

• Comfort
• Mobility
• Endurance and Longevity of the shoe

Comfort is definitely a obvious attribute you should shoot for.  It goes without saying that something uncomfortable will likely be among the list of things you don’t like.  In this case, you probably wouldn’t wear the uncomfortable shoe more than once.  This is an issue that could have been resolved before purchasing! Comfort guarantee’s enough room both in length and width.

Mobility would apply to those who plan on doing strenuous/physical activity in the shoes they want to purchase.  I wrote a post on the top shoes of the NBA Playoff’s highlighting the mobility of the shoes that superstar athletes were relying on to help push themselves to compete.

The mobility factor also guarantee’s a good strong grip.

Endurance and longevity is most often overlooked by consumers.  People don’t expect their shoes to be disposable lol.  However, it happens all too soon with shoes produced now a days.  It often comes from people wearing them on a consistent basis.

Increase the life of your shoes by preserving them and wearing them as seldom as possible.  It ensures the quality, and also the look of your shoe.

What can YOU do NOW?

So you have the facts on how to preserve the life of your collectables.  You also know what to look for when adding to your shoe closet.  So what can you do now to make sure you are purchasing the right shoe?

RESEARCH!

Before heading out to the stores, do some online snooping of your own.  Look at what industry insiders are saying about the shoe before you add it to your collection.  It may not be worth what you’re paying!