Retro Air Jordan Research Paper

Maroons and grays, obnoxious greens and purples, Dr. Suesse, florals, mints, creams, and blacks have littered my bedroom floor for the last six-plus years. From low-tops to knee-high high-tops, each pair has offered me the confidence to take the next step. To this day, the sight of a battered toe cap and a peeling racing stripe makes me feel like I am anyone and everyone that has ever worn these classic canvas shoes. I am the confident ‘50s high school basketball star racing down the court and my carefree 8-year-old-self sprinting across the backyard with my

NIKE Inc. has been the worldwide leader of athletic shoe sales for many years now. The company’s successful brand image combined competition and enablement for the competitive, athletic user. Nike has to modify their brand to a focus of excitement and freedom and not just competitiveness. By collecting and studying an assortment of material we could be able to understand where NIKE is currently placed in the athletic shoe industry compared to their competition, and how they will be able to adjust their brand focus so it can be more effective in the future. These adjustments can help NIKE reach the more casual group of urban runners and ultimately increase the sales forecasts, while still controlling a percentage of the market for athletic shoes.

SneakerHeads are more like Popstars and Athletes they are both known for what they have or what the person can do. Just like Kanye fashion and wise personality “ He is a cultural icon like no other and brings a completely new expression to designing shoes” This trend impact by having the money only for the new releases. It shows how well people put in the effort and time aside to get a pair of shoes when they can pick it up later on in the

Have you ever seen someone wearing a very rare pair of shoes that you have never seen before? Have you ever wondered how they got these shoes and how much they cost? Believe it or not Nike’s Air Jordan line of shoes has been at the forefront of a decade-long sneaker craze, which has grown so much it has become its own stock market. Jordan’s have been popular for many years and it is shown throughout pop culture, the increase in price and demand, the resale market that has skyrocketed in the last five years, and the history behind the shoe that made them so popular. Jordan’s are very well advertised through several popular outlets.

Being able to have anything you could imaging on your own pair of sneakers would interest many people. Your shoes will be an eye catcher and stand out in a crowd. If all of your friends have the same pair of shoes, and you want yours to be just a little bit different, with my help, that can be made possible. Because I enjoy customizing shoes, and I will need to have knowledge to own a profitable business, I am going to go to Germanna Community College starting next year. After Germanna, I will transfer into JMU’s exceptional business program, where I plan to get a business degree.

In this chapter of Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, he talks about rumors, sneakers and the power of translation. Throughout the chapter he kept with the theme of change and the way that things can change over time. The concept of change and shoes throughout this chapter is evident. Gladwell writes, “They expanded their focus to include not just skateboarding but also surfing, snowboarding, mountain biking, and bicycle racing, sponsoring riders in all of those sports and making Arwalk synonymous with active, alternative lifestyle”( Gladwell 194). Many people ask why do they have to produce so much more to compliment everyone in every sport or just for everyday wear? Gladwell explains how companies expanded their mind to appeal to everyone's

Michael Jordan’s, Nike, Adidas and Puma their shoe sales went up in the 1980’s. Amber J. Keyset started to design different shoes starting with Michael Jordans. When one pair was released more people grew into them either for the style or the history behind the pair. “Sneakerhead;a person who collects trade and/or admires sneakers as a form of a hobby, knowledgeability on sneakers”(Powell). Sneakerhead culture impacted the society with its new look and style by making them more desirable and increasing the shoe industry.

When you hear the word sneakers, what do you think of? For me sneakers was a word that inspired me to be great. When i think of sneakers i think of people of a high caliber. For example, i think of Raf Simmons, Lebron James, Michael Jordan, kanye, and so many more. Fortunately, there's not only one way to view sneakers. Some people may see shoes as just a shoe, but others may see it as a culture and/or a way of life. At a young age i fell in love with sneakers. At the age of 12 i probably owned over 20 pairs of sneakers. I did this because i saw sneakers in a way that others didn't. For example, Jordan sneakers aren't just Jordan sneakers to me. This is because the men in my life have made very terrible decisions. For example, there was a point

It all started with a Jumpman and a swoosh, it was more than just a shoe it was the start of a culture. What most people look at as just a shoe to protect their feet has a story behind it and a deeper meaning to me and many others than “just a pair of shoes”. Don’t put on a pair of shoes unless you know how to wear them right. For every pair I own I could explain the troubles I went through and the people I met to get each sneaker. The best feeling was opening that fresh shoe box and taking out that paper wrapping. Putting on each new pair of sneakers is like taking a breath of fresh air each pair crisp as bacon. I am one among many sneakerheads, people who love to buy, sell, trade, and collect rare shoes. There is a culture, lifestyle, and history behind sneaker collecting. Most people would think dropping hundreds if not thousands on a pair of shoes is crazy but I believe sneakers are essential.

The famous basketball shoe Air Jordan’s, are the number one shoe bought by consumers. The Air Jordan shoes originated from no one but the basketball star Michael Jordan. His shoes not only were a hit on the court, but also shortly became a fashion statement with years to come. Jordan took his skill on and off the court to further his business with his shoes.

Christian Louboutin once said “a shoe has so much more to offer than just to walk”. Similarly, author Diane Riva discusses this idea in her essay “Exposed Toes”. Riva takes a compelling approach to her argument believing that shoes are not just part of your wardrobe rather they are your identity. For Riva, her black sneakers represent her career life as they are the shoes she wears to work, her boat shoes resemble her connection with nature, her high-heel dress shoes speak for her elegance, her sandals represent her spontaneous self and lastly her “shoes of choice” are her natural feet as they represent everything about Riva’s world and go with her everywhere. Overall, Riva express that her shoes are her identity and each pair resemble apart of her character.

The students at Potomac Senior High School were very involved in the fashion world, specifically related to shoes. They used this and the importance of entertainment as a status figure. A nice pair of

Many people have owned a pair of sneakers at least once before. The concept of sneakers have changed over the years, and the usage has evolved greatly. Sneakers were originally for sports, but some famous people helped them gain popularity by endorsing them. When sneakers became popular, the fashion industry then took notice of sneakers.

The primary target market of TOMS is males and females between the age of 19-24 that want to combine the creativity of being a trend-setter with the satisfaction of being socially responsible. This age range is a part of what is known as Generation Y, or the Millennials. Generation Y has brought a trend of social awareness and activity. From 2002 to 2005 the number of people volunteering went up 25%. This generation is all about giving back to the people, so Toms allows this group to give back by purchasing their shoes. TOMS has also done its homework on this group as well. Utilizing social media, TOMS reaches out to over 488,000 twitter followers, 280,000 Facebook fans, and several thousands of YouTube users. TOMS understands that generation Y prefers hands on involvement. In order to make that happen, TOMS fans are allowed to take part in a yearly One Day Without Shoes movement to understand what it is like to be shoe-less. In addition to the giving back and the social movements, TOMS shoes let young adults be expressive in their style. The plain shoe design makes way for creative minds to manipulate the shoe as anyone may please. TOMS is mainly focused in the U.S., but the shoes are available in over 30 countries globally

    Athletes gave up wearing Converse on the courts, and famous people began to show that they were cool to wear while not playing basketball.  ¨The All-Star, whose pivoting abilities, ankle support and non skid sole had been championed for a half century, was repositioned as a shoe for non athletes.  It was no longer the choice of the NBA and college power forwards, but of the Rolling Stones on their 1989 ¨Steel Wheels¨ concert tour and of high school hipsters turned off by the slick marketing of Nike and Reebok” (Leibowitz).  When extremely popular bands went on tour and wore these shoes, they would be giving Converse a free advertisement in a way.  The teenagers and young adults of the time