Sneakers Sub Culture

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.

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.

The topic of my essay was shoes, shoe culture and its relevance in my life which in my opinion was a solid topic to present on because it is a material object that has really shaped me & my life. It was very appropriate topic as it all related in one way or another. The effectiveness of the speech in my opinion was minimal but I also don’t believe that my topic was one that could be made very compelling because that was not the mood I was going for. I didn’t want to instill any one specific emotion in the audience, I even tried to employ comic relief when I discussed my object.

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 American culture has been on an on. But once Michael Jordan came out with his apparel this change the a lot of people’s closet. Till this day many of people everywhere in America and around the world are wearing some type of clothing from the Jordan brand. Today in schools every many students have Jordan shoes and jackets. The Jordan brand has changed many people and the younger generation’s way to

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 examination of the athletic shoe industry between U.S companies, consumers, and East Asian labors in the short article “Daughters and Generals in the Politics of Globalized Sneakers” bring out many good points. These points are made on International politics, offshore athletic shoe production, How sneakers been militarized, conception of a daughter, how the globalization of athletic shoe production gendered, how both modernization theory and dependency theory are used in this article.

Upon entering high school, sandals and average sneakers were no longer good enough. Instead I became more comfortable with myself when I was introduced to the Retro Air Jordans. It was then that I realized my sneakers had become a reflection of my identity and individuality. One of

Many of us are clueless on what goes on in the world. Rolling Stone magazine is a way for the younger generation to experience different styles. Whether it be from shoes, to music, to learning about young pop stars on the rise, the younger generation has a way of finding all the latest trends and ideas. The Britton Hill collection company is attempting to capitalize on the young audience of rolling stone to sell their product, particularly because most people in the world suffer from either uncomfortable stylish shoes or comfortable unstylish shoes. They grasp the idea of how a shoe can be more than just one thing. They can be comfortable, stylish, and able to withstand harsh conditions. The Britton Hill Collection did a wonderful job creating

Growing up it was the cool thing you bring to school and show off to your friends and the cool kids had cool shoes. Not only that, what made you popular was not only the fact that you can afford expensive shoes and wear them with no fear of ruining them or getting them stolen, it was the reputation and the value of the brand. The cool kids usually were the most athletic and popular and that’s what the shoe represented. It was a shared hobby with my older brother and my dad. They’d buy me the shoe and we’d all get it if not the same colorway then another shoe that’s similar. Like I said it’s was a part of the culture I grew up in. You even see celebrities rocking Jordans here and there and that’s what makes it a global icon of a shoe because of how many people appreciate and wear the shoe. But behind that there’s this social aspect that no one talks about. Mill’s article “The Sociological Imagination” observes specific problems of the classic social analysts… asking “Where does this society stand in human history?” (Mills 3). This specific society of people that were the first consumers of jordan shoes were fans and today its more of the lower class colored society. People on food stamps, who can barely afford the things they need, go out and buy this shoe just for chance to show it off. There are stats that Jordan’s marketing this shoe to the

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

Sneaker culture became a thing, and a vital part of the fashion community. Whereas Nike did lead the way, Adidas were a close second, constantly nipping at Nike’s heels and filling every niche that they did not. Without a doubt, the biggest aspect of 1980’s fashion came from

As a movement encompassing various elements of surf, skate, and hip-hop culture, the true origins of what is considered the modern-day “streetwear craze” are questionable. Streetwear is as much a distinct fashion movement, as it is a lifestyle, a culture promoting a sense of individuality, freedom of expression, and an anti-authority outlook. However, a general consensus