Subculture: Sneakerheads

We all have our favorite pairs of shoes. However, if you’re a sneakerhead, this is more than just a favorite pair of shoes. 

Addidas, Nike’s, Van’s, Pumas, Converse. Each type of shoe has a following. 

According to Dictorary.com, a sneakerhead is a person who collects and trades sneakers as a hobby, and who typically is knowledgeable about the history of sneakers. 

Sneakerheads can get their fix at conventions and can end up waiting in long lines for limited releases of their favorite brand of shoe.

An article from The Collector states that “one of the reasons sneakers became popular among consumers was their introduction in sports, particularly Converse Chuck Taylor's' in basketball”. 

Nike had released the Air Force 1 in 1982 but the majority of players wore Converse. 

According to Communicate, in 1984 Nike was looking to break into the basketball footwear market. 

Nike partnered with Michael Jordan and designed a shoe just for him and the Air Jordan 1 was introduced in 1984. 

Popularity for releasing the Air Jordan 1 in 1985 was created when Jordan took the court during an exhibition game against the Knicks and was banned from wearing the predominately red and black percussor model shoes that broke the NBA dress code of the time. 

In 1986 Run DMC released their song My Adidas and went on to partner with Adidas for a Run DMC line. 

Musicians becoming trendsetters continued with “Pumas being worn by b-boys/girls during the 1980s, Nike’s being worn by rappers, and Converse being worn by artists like Kurt Cobain, Joe Strummer, and Billie Armstrong” according to The Collector. 

Women and people of color are also claiming their space in the world of sneakerheads. 

Rihanna has partnered with Puma, Cardi B with Reebok, and Doja Cat has been named the first artist-in-residence at Skechers. 

In a Huffpost.com article, content creators Melissa Chanel and Essie Golden talk about making sneaker culture more accessible with their content and their companies Kicks & Fros and Thick Laces.  

Chanel told HuffPost that she wanted to cultivate a community of women around sneakers and “encourage them to ditch tired stereotypes of femininity to embrace their own style”. 

I remember the first shoes I really wanted being a pair of Doc Martens as I was solidly in my Grunge phase. I saved up a lot of lawn mowing money from my job at an apartment complex and bought my first pair of Doc Martens from Fashion Place Mall.

I’ve also worn and loved shoes from Vans, DC, Adidas, Pumas, and Converse. 

I hope you’ve enjoyed this look into sneakerheads.