Sneakers
Sneaker Store Employee Shot & Killed During Sneaker Raffle Dispute
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Gary Coronado / Getty Sneakerbots, resellers, and even sneaker apps have ruined the sneaker game something seriously. But now its gotten to the point where trying to win a pair of coveted sneakers (that would’ve probably been a general in-store release pre-pandemic) is leading to violence out in these streets. The latest incident actually cost someone their life as KTLA5 is reporting that an employee at famous sneaker boutique Shoe Palace was shot and killed over a sneaker raffle in the store this past Wednesday (August 11). According to the report a group of men and a woman began arguing in front of the store on Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax district over a sneaker raffle. When store employee Jayren Bradford went out to intervene, he was shot and killed....
adidas Sells Reebok for $2.5B, Still Drops A New Human Rights Collection
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Reebok / Reebok For a while there was talk that adidas was looking to unload their Reebok brand to the highest bidder with rumors that Master P and Baron Davis were interested in purchasing the OG sneaker brand. Well, it’s a done deal and Reebok will officially have new owners (not Master P or Baron Davis, though) as Reuters is reporting that adidas offloaded Reebok for a cool $2.5 billion to Authentic Brands Group. Not quite the profit they might’ve been hoping to get. Heck, they didn’t even break even as adidas purchased Reebok in 2006 for $3.8 billion only to struggle with sales and profits over the years which pushed them to just give up on the brand. They’ve tried everything from retro’ing classic silhouettes from OG’s NBA players like Shaquille O’Ne...
KLEKT: The Sneaker Resale App That’s Not Just For Sneakerheads
Fashion resale is at an all time high, and one part of the industry that’s seen a huge rise in resale is sneakers. Thanks to apps like StockX, events like Crepe City, and an increased awareness around sustainability and pre-owned fashion, resale platforms are the most popular form of buying and selling sneakers. One platform that aims to bring more women into the resale industry is KLEKT, an online marketplace that promotes safety and inclusivity. We caught up with KLEKT’s CEO, Sally Scott, to talk about the app and the future of sneaker resale. POPSUGAR: What can you tell us about KLEKT, for those who haven’t heard of it? Sally Scott: KLEKT is an original sneaker marketplace. We bring buyers and sellers of sneakers and streetwear together to help create a community of li...
Stadium Goods & Christie’s To Auction Off A Gang of Rare Air Jordans, Again
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Stadium Goods / Christie’s If you missed out on Stadium Goods and auction house Christie’s last “Original Air” Air Jordan sneaker collection auction, fret not because they’re about to give rich sneakerheads another chance to drop a lifetime’s worth of paper on exclusive footwear. Source: Stadium Goods / Christie’s The sneaker consignment destination, ahem, marketplace and auction house are once again collaborating to set up another sneaker auction dubbed “Original Air Part II” which will be boasting 90 pairs of kicks composed of scarce early samples, the complete Air Jordan 1-14 collection (basically all the kicks Jordan actually played in), game-worn kicks, and Jordan-related pieces from celebrities such as Eminem, Kobe Bryant, Drake and LeBron James. So...
What Makes a Sneaker Sustainable? We Asked the Experts
Sustainable sneakers and trainers have become increasingly popular as more and more people are considering their impact on the environment — especially when it comes to the products they buy. Sustainability has become a bit of a buzzword in the last year or two, and it can be hard to know if what you’re buying truly passes the test and has a positive impact on the environment. We spoke to a few experts at the forefront of the sustainable sneaker industry, and this is what they had to say. Colin Vernon is the founder of Slow Factory Foundation, an educational institute and research lab specialising in climate and culture. A large part of the foundation’s research in this space centres around raw materials. “Most raw materials used in most footwear are extremely toxic and d...
HHW Gaming: Basketball & Video Games Collide With ANTA x HyperX’s Gordon Hayward Limited-Edition Bundle
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Bernard Smalls / ANTA x HyperX Athletic wear and gaming have gone hand in hand as of late, so this latest collaboration between ANTA and HyperX makes all the sense in the world. The two companies have one thing in common, they both work with Boston Celtic forward Gordon Hayward, so the decision to work together on this limited-edition box was a no-brainer. It brings together the two things that Hayward love’s to do, and that is playing basketball and gaming. Source: Bernard Smalls / ANTA x HyperX Inside the box is a limited-edition pair of Hayward’s signature basketball sneakers from ANTA, the GH2 “HyperX” and HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset. The sneakers feature some unique gaming-inspired details that help them easily stand out from other shoe silhoue...
Why the Sneaker Industry Isn’t More Inclusive For Women, and How We Can Change That
Image Source: Titi Finlay I’ve always felt intimidated by the sneaker industry, despite having worked for two major sneaker brands in my life. As a humble shoe size four, there are immediately limits to what sneakers I can and can’t wear, and I’m not alone in that exclusion. The industry has predominantly favoured the needs of men over women, and it’s a problem that has existed for a long time. “The reasons for the sneaker industry not being inclusive stems right back to women’s sporting history,” Angelee Kholia, the founder of Sheaker Magazine, told POPSUGAR. “Sneakers were primarily made for sport, and of course, it was frowned upon for women to participate in sports, unlike for men. So the sneaker industry has always favoured men’s n...
PUMA & J. Cole To Unveil RS-DREAMER PROTO In April
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: PUMA / PUMA J. Cole and PUMA already have established prominence in the sneaker space by way of the North Carolina rapper’s RS-DREAMER line. Now, the inspiration for the Dreamville honcho’s footwear, the RS-DREAMER, will soon be available to the masses early next month. The RS-DREAMER is currently available in a variety of colorways and the OG version of the basketball sneakers come in big to small sizes. The RS-DREAMER also comes in a red and white Blood, Sweat, and Tears line as well. For the new drop, the RS-DREAMER PROTO was the genesis for the shoe ahead of the preceding colorways and will get a limited run after some consideration to release the prototype. The shoe employs the same collaborative spirit of Cole’s ideas for the DREAMER along with PUMA...
These Are the Best Nike Air Max Trainers That You Can Buy Right Now
Once again, Nike Air Max Day (aka 26 March) is almost upon us and frankly, there’s only one way to celebrate it in style. Buying a new pair of Air Max is an annual tradition at this point, so why should 2021 be any different? It shouldn’t, and we’re here to help. For those who don’t know, the Nike Air Max was designed by the American designer Tinker Hatfield in 1987, after he embarked on a trip to Paris and visited the Centre Pompidou for the first time. As explained by Sneaker Freaker, “Hatfield, who was trained as an architect, was taken by the building’s inside-out approach — with its structure wrapped around the building’s exterior. From this, came the idea to expose the inner workings of the shoe, and the visible Air window was born.” In...
Adidas Is Releasing Three New Stan Smith Trainers With a Focus on Sustainability
Sportswear legend Adidas has announced an all-new era for its iconic Stan Smith silhouette, with the release of three new editions. Back in 2020, Adidas announced its commitment to end plastic waste by 2050 through innovation and partnerships. “Stan Smith, Forever” is the brand’s new sustainable range, which aims to provide a new generation for the shoe and acts as a new touchstone for the brand in its sustainability journey. It was first released as a tennis shoe, named the “adidas Robert Haillet”, and then later renamed to Stan Smith, after the American tennis player. Since its release, the Stan Smith has exceeded all expectations and quickly became one of the brand’s most popular models. For 2021, Adidas is revamping the iconic shoe in order to furthe...
GOAT Is Restocking 10 Rare Air Max Sneakers For Nike Air Max Day
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: GOAT / GOAT Air Max Day GOAT already kicked off Air Max Day early on its app by blessing users with SKUs (Stock Keeping Unit) for rare Air Max sneakers simply by trying on sneakers using the AR Try-On feature. Now, the online marketplace has announced more plans to celebrate the release of the iconic Nike silhouette. On Air Max Day, Friday (Mar.26), GOAT revealed that users could score a pair of highly-coveted Air Max sneakers for FREE or at/under retail price. Sneaker aficionados will have to keep their eyes peeled on GOAT’s Instagram page to learn the drop schedule for the 10 Air Max styles GOAT will be restocking, so turn on those notifications. GOAT will also be dropping a pair of DQM x AM 90’ Bacon’s or Undefeated x AM 97 OG’s from 10:00 AM ET/7:00 A...
REAL Sneakerheads Share Their Thoughts On The Rigged SNKRS Game & Bot Use, Offers Some Solutions
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz83 We all know the sneaker game is absolutely rigged, but a new story from the Los Angeles Times put a big spotlight on just how much of a jig it is. Every weekend on Twitter, you can expect to see people complaining about a sneaker drop, whether it be a pair of Jordans or Dunks on the SNKRS app or YEEZY’s via YEEZY Supply or adidas CONFIRMED app. Many sneaker aficionados have been screaming for years that there is something fishy is going on when purchasing a pair of sneakers on these apps. Recent fallout following a former Nike executive and her reseller son, Joe Herbert, has seemingly confirmed what sneakerheads have been saying all along after being exposed following a Bloomberg piece that spoke about the booming sneaker...
