People who enjoy collecting can be called by many names. Collectors of some specific areas have their own particular name. For instance, a coin collector is called a numismatist and a book collector is known as a bibiophile. Whether you collect a particular set of items as simply a hobbyist who enjoys it, or as a connoisseur, becoming an expert in the field, collecting is an interesting pastime.
Did you know that ‘Sneaker Collecting’ is now a THING?
Athletic shoes are called by a variety of names, depending on where you live. Growing up in New York State, our name for these running shoes, gym shoes, trainers, etc. was “sneakers”. Then I went to college in the Midwest and everyone there called them “tennis shoes”.
The name ‘sneakers’ was first used by the Boston Journal in 1887 to describe the rubber soled tennis shoes that allowed wearers to ‘sneak’ around quietly.
Wikipedia helps define Sneaker Collecting as the hobby of acquiring and trading sneakers, particularly those made for certain sports, such as basketball. The name for people who collect sneakers is Sneakerhead!
Sneaker Collecting Beginnings…
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| Image Source: Wikipedia |
We can find the collecting, trading and reselling of sneakers dating back to the 1970s. But Sneaker collecting really became a subculture ‘thing’ in the 1980s, particularly with the release in 1985 of the Air Jordan line of shoes by the popular basketball player Michael Jordan.
Believe it or not, the Hip Hop movement contributed to Sneaker Collecting popularity by giving sneakers their street credibility as a status symbol. So, in addition to shoes designed for particular sports and popularized by well-known sports stars, the sneakerhead culture now overlaps with streetwear trends and styles. Today, the sneaker resale market is worth over $10 billion dollars.
Patrick Mahomes is a Sneakerhead
I currently live in the Kansas City area, so naturally our favorite sports figure is Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback. Since much is often written about Mahomes, especially in our local area news, we learned about his interest in collecting sneakers.
Patrick Mahomes began his sneaker collection in 2017, the same year he was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs. Today, Patrick has over 180 pairs of sneakers and keeps them in a custom-designed sneaker closet in his home. His collection is also related to his sponsorship deal with Adidas, which allows him to collaborate on product design and marketing.
*Click here to see images of Mahomes' sneaker closet and collection.
In recent years, I have begun to notice that many MLB baseball players like to wear specially designed sneakers while playing. Some, I’m sure, relate to sponsorship deals with specific manufacturers of sneakers. Some players just like to relate them to certain dates, such as pink sneakers for Mother’s Day games with maybe flowers and/or ‘mom’s’ name on them.
The sneaker ‘trend’ when I was a teenage girl was to wear Keds canvas white sneakers to school and to meet up early before school began to use white shoe polish to make sure our ‘keds’ were completely white and new-looking for the school day! That was our “thing”. LOL.
Summary
Sneaker collectors buy online, but they also attend sneaker events such as swapmeets sneaker parties and exhibitions like Sneakercons. If you like sneakers, consider becoming a Sneakerhead! Happy Collecting!
You can find some online Sneakers to Collect on:
*Sneaker Collecting written by Wednesday Elf
Items related to Sneaker Collecting
How very interesting Pat, I have never heard of sneaker collecting until now. Thanks so much for the review, and now I know.
ReplyDeleteI never heard of it before either, Sam, until Patrick Mahomes became known as a sneakerhead! :)
DeleteWhat a fascinating review. This was all new to me.
ReplyDeleteIt was new to me too, Mary Beth. :)
DeleteWhat fun, Elf! I love the term Sneakerhead. I rarely wore sneakers when I was younger, but in my senior years they’re my best friends, lol.
ReplyDeleteI wear them all the time now too, Margaret.
DeleteSneakers are one of few things that I love, but do not collect, but now that you have told me it is a thing, I might just need to start collecting them. btw, I still wear Keds (black canvas).
ReplyDelete