Top Take Tuesday: Top Sneaker Shots from My Followers Week 4

@funkmasterkicks

Welcome back to the "Top Take Tuesday" series featuring pictures from those who follow me on Instagram. 

As always, I put a short remark about why I liked the picture and tag your page in the article.  Here we go with week #4!

Remember, I can't grab your pictures unless you're public. 

@fleetwood_dunk

Fleetwood aka Franco Got Sole aka Tango Nash and I have been showing the love for one another's collection for a while now, and this might be the first one where his girl's kicks are featured. I thought that was pretty dope--matching colorways too (not matching shoes y'all).

@coachteohn

As you know by now, the Jordan IV is my favorite silhouette, and white kicks are the freshest in my opinion. So, with that said, Pure Moneys make perfect sense.

@skinnydabarber_BMN

I talked some crap in my very first post on the blog about "Fusion" type shoes, and Skinny labeled the picture as best Fusions ever--I'll let you all decide!

@theboyboytroy

When Troy came over last week to interview me for the Sole of the City feature, presented by KCSole, I was rocking these. I felt it was only appropriate to toss this Fieg-inspired pic in here with the Volcano release being last week too.

@insta_sk

Chris helped hook me up with the Lime Pegasus 83/80s I was constantly missing out on by 15 seconds (smh). He always posts great photos, and this one is no exception.

@peejayix

Clean picture of a clean shoe. There is nothing wrong with this picture at all, and I love those blue-blocked midsoles representing the security strip on the new $100 bill.

@marq_q

I'm pretty sure this guy is a professional photographer. Pictures are always perfect, and he's got a really nice collection. The TL isn't just kicks either, so you get a nice little view into what his other interests are which is cool.

Kick Spotlight: Josh D.

With the 2nd installment of Kick Spotlight I bring you Josh D. form San Jose, CA. We ran across each other shortly after the Jordan XI Playoff (some of you know them as 'Breds') release last year, I believe, and have been admiring each other's IG collection from afar ever since. Josh has been collecting for a while now, and being on the west coast gives him a different perspective that we in the Midwest might have. Take a few minutes to read about his respect for the sneaker game, and don't forget to follow him on IG and Twitter!

Profile: 

Name: Josh D.
Age: 25
Size: 11
Instagram:  @Rezrection
Twitter:  @Sjflip4o8
Location: San Jose, Ca

What is the first shoe that you remember buying, or that started it all for you?

When I was just a kid, my parents never really wanted me to spend too much on sneakers, so they would buy me Nike Dunks, which was within their price range. The Nike SB’s always had a place in my heart as a kid. I remember the first shoe that made me fall in love was the Nike SB De La Soul.  I remember people would sell them for around $100 plus, which I thought at the time was ridiculous. When I got my first job, I was able to get me a DS pair, and I still have them in my collection to this day. Everyone that I know thinks Jordans were the sneaker that did it for me, but believe it or not, SBs still hold a big place in my heart.  

Josh's Circle of Heat

What's your favorite part of the sneaker culture?

The diversity and history that sneakers have impacted on people across the globe. Every time I see someone who is not a sneakerhead, they would always look at me (us) as someone who’s just wasting money on shoes, but there’s a lot of history behind the sneaker. That’s what makes the sneaker culture nostalgic, and of course special to me. Not everyone is a sneakerhead even though it may seem like it nowadays.  

Footage from a sneaker release gone wrong

What's your least favorite part of the sneaker culture?

Violence. If there’s one thing that I do not tolerate, its people killing each other (literally) for a pair of sneakers. I have seen some pretty bad things ever since I developed a passion for collecting sneakers, but over the years, it has jumped to a whole new level (not in a good way). Back in the day, I remember seeing Jordans stay on shelves weeks after their release date, but now, it seems like ever y sneaker sells out instantly and pops up on craigslist/eBay for double the retail price in less than 24 hours. People are driven by greed no matter what the hobby is nowadays. I understand everybody is trying to hustle out there, but it’s a shame to see how the game turns out sometimes.

Part of Josh's collection

How many shoes would you say you own?

There was a point in time where I was close to 200 plus, but my collection has changed over time. I try to include all my sneakers in a monthly rotation. I could rock a different sneaker for over 4 months straight, so sometimes it can be difficult to figure out which sneaker was taken out for a walk. Over the years, I learned that it’s not about how many sneakers you have, but what you have in your collection that makes it special.

What's your favorite sneaker brand and why?

Nike was always the brand for me, especially Nike SB, which was all about their concept/themed shoes back in the early 2000s. Those silver, Pink and purple boxes were always eye candy for me.  When I first saw the Nike SB De La Souls, I was blown away with the design on that shoe. Everything about it caught my eye i.e. Materials used, color scheme, design of the shoe etc. I still buy Nike SB’s to this day, but they need to bring those creative themed shoes back, because they don’t make them like they used to. 

What're your top 3 sneakers in your collection?

It’s very difficult for me to pick just 3, since I love all my kicks, but I would have to go with my 2001 Air Jordan Bred 1s, Nike SB De La Souls, and Galaxy Foamposites. All three shoes have a special meaning to me.  

What're the top 2 sneakers you wish you had most?

The Air Yeezy 2 Solar Reds, and Nike Air Mags. I don’t think I need to further discuss this question hah.

What's the 1 sneaker you'd like to see re-released?

I don’t really like seeing things “re-release” because there’s no fun in having everybody rock the same thing on a daily. That’s just my opinion though. However, if I could pick just one, I would have to choose the Air Yeezy 2 Solar Reds, because if you have no connections in the shoe game, you’re going to have to sacrifice an arm and a leg just to get a pair. That shoe itself created some long lasting effects in the game. You see all these other sneakers inspired by the Yeezy’s. That’s when you know the shoe made a big impact.

What's the first thing you look at when you open up a new box of shoes?

The quality of a sneaker is something that I value, as I’m sure other sneakerheads would agree with me. It’s obvious that Jordan brand has declined in terms of the quality of the shoe over the years, and sometimes I see some crazy quality control issues i.e. Jumpman upside down on the Retro XIs, or missing Jumpmans. I don’t understand how those types of mistakes pass quality inspection and are put out in stores. 

What's your favorite material on a shoe?

Suede has always been a big plus in my book. The texture, and way it makes the shoe look is just a work of art to me. I know some people might laugh reading this because they might say “they’re just shoes”, but I also respect the craftsmanship and art that is put onto a shoe. 

What's your most memorable campout or buying experience?

I’ve done a lot of campouts but the most memorable campout that I have experienced that I can remember would probably be for the 2011 Air Jordan XI Retro Concords. That was one of the longest campouts that I had to go through, but was also one of the most successful campouts that I witnessed. The best thing about that campout was not just being able to cop the shoe, but the people that I met there. Almost everyone that I camped out with had good vibes, and I still keep in touch with them to this day (you guys know who you are). There were no complications/violence that happened that night, and I definitely enjoyed the experience, especially since the manager of the store gave us hot chocolate/food. 

What's the next shoe that you have your eye on?

I was really looking forward to the Lightning Ivs dropping in November, but I haven’t heard any updates on it recently. I also got my eye on the Laney Vs dropping next week, but anything could happen. Other than that, I got a lot of high expectations for the LeBron XI and the anticipated Kobe 9 design. 

Any parting words?

WEAR your kicks, and buy what YOU like! Don’t feel pressured into believing that you have to get what everyone else is wearing, because by the end of the day, it’s YOUR collection. Whether its Jordans, Dunks, Blazers, or even Chuck Taylors. Wear what makes you happy. Also, one of the most important things that I learned being in the game is that, don’t feel pressured into feeling like you have to catch up with every other sneakerhead out there by buying every release that drops every week. Shoes will always be around no matter what. As long as you got your priorities straight, you got nothing to worry about.

Sole of the City: My Feature by KCSole

I was priviledged enough this past week to be interviewed by Earl and Troy of the KCSole squad. KCSole is a local group of sneaker collectors that run the KCSneakfest event. The video highlights some of my history with sneakers, a small portion of my collection, what "Top Take Tuesday" is all about, and a few experiences I've had along the way. Take a few minutes to check it out.

I wasn't able to shout everyone out by name, but I appreciate all of your support and help throughout the past year and a half of my journey. The only way I will ever be able to see this movement grow is with help from each of you, so take some time and read through the posts. If you like my work, be sure to forward the link to a friend and share with your followers!

The video was recorded by cascadesports.tv

Nike's N7 Movement: Affecting Generations to Come

With the official pictures of the Nike Holiday N7 Collection released, I thought it would be a good time to go over some what Nike's N7 foundation is all about. Many people buy the N7 collection items because they like the models, colorways, or exclusivity of the collection, but the benefits and meaning goes beyond what you might expect. By the end of this post I hope you have a better understanding on N7's history, contributions, and goals.

History

In 2000, Sam McCracken (currently Nike's Native American Business Manager and Chairman) had a vision to sell Nike products directly to Native American tribes  in order to help promote healthy lifestyles. After its Native American division had been up and running for 7 years, Nike began to collaborate with different experts and tribal leaders in order to design products specifically to meet Native American needs. This group of product was eventually named the Nike Air Native N7. In 2009 Nike expended the product line to offer the Native American inspired products to be purchased by the General public.

Mission

"The N7 Fund is committed to inspiring and enabling participation in sport for Native American and Aboriginal populations in North America. We believe that sport has the power to unleash  human potential. A physically active lifestyle promotes more than exercise. Involvement in sports and physical activity leads to greater self-confidence, enabling youth to be a force for positive change in their communities." 

Behind the Logo

The "N" in N7 stands for either Nike, or Native. and the 7 comes from the Ethos Native belief which reads: " In every deliberation we much consider the impact of our decisions on 7 generations." Many people understand that the 7 stands for generations because it's printed on many N7 products, but what most don't understand is that it isn't about the next 7 generations. Rather, it is about looking to the past 3 generations for guidance and direction, towards 3 future generations to determine change and impact, and applying the reflection from both current and future generations to the present.

The four colors on the N7 logo (Red, Yellow, Black, & White) each have significant meaning of their own. Red represents the spiritual ,yellow the emotional, black the physical, and white the mental aspects of life. The circle itself represents the circle of life, and the breaks between the different colors stand for the different direction of the earth, as all things come full circle.

Turquoise

Turquoise has become a staple within the N7 collection, and it isn't just because it looks good on KDs. Turquoise within Native culture is believed to be the color of friendship, and every time you purchase an N7 product Nike would like to think of you as a friend of the N7 movement.

Impact

Since 2009, Nike has donated over $2 million towards the N7 fund supporting Native American and Aboriginal youth sport programs, helping children experience teamwork, build leadership skills, and inspiring health lifestyles. A portion of all N7 collection products goes toward these funds. Money from the program have already impacted the lives of over 125,000 Native American youth, with grants going to a variety of places; from Boys and Girls Clubs located on Native lands, to research hospitals and wellness departments, the impact is diverse. And, as you can see, the impact of N7 hasn't reach it's heights yet, but Nike sees big potential in the movement.

To apply for grants using N7 funding to support local Native American youth athletics and healthy living visit N7fund.com/apply.

Top Take Tuesday: Top Sneaker Shots from My Followers Week 3

@funkmasterkicks

Welcome back to the "Top Take Tuesday" series featuring pictures from those who follow me on Instagram. Remember, you must be a follower (and it's definitely easier if you're not private). I always add a short remark about why I liked the picture, and tag your page in the article.  Here we go with week #3!

@dresrkc

Dre is a local sneaker collector and customizer. His work features sneakers such as a Galaxy KD V and "W.T. MJ2." I chose this picture as it's a 2nd colorway of the Fila 96's shown in one of my posts from last week about non-Nike retros.

@kolorfreak

The first thing that caught my eye about this picture was the laces. The detail is incredible, and the bird's eye view that the picture is taken from really puts them on display. Sometimes Reebok Classics are overlooked, but this picture is one that definitely does them justice.

@anonymousandfocused

An underrated colorway in my opinion, this picture highlights the Jordan 13 Low Ceramics. I dig the way the outsole pops in the picture, and the bulldog in the background is pretty badass.

@skots55

Skots55 has a really deep collection, so it was only a matter of time before he made the Top Takes list. Anytime you see a LeBron 5 in this condition on foot you know that the collector cares about his kicks. Salute!

@dfraz50

These T-Mac 1 Mt. Zions are highlighted well in this picture by the yellow and orange hues in the background. The even better part is I know D got a steal on these beauties!

@p32

Jordan IV are my favorite Jordan of all-time, and I love to see when someone has worn their kicks. Obviously it's a sad day when you see the midsoles cracking like on these Mars', but I can only imagine the enjoyment he got out of rocking them.

@816soledier23

I was able to help Jason cop this pair, which happened to be his first pair of runner collabs. I know how much he looked forward to getting them after they got shipped to my place, so it's only right they make the list.

Kick Spotlight: Brian D.

The newest staple on the blog is going to be a weekly interview highlighting someone of my choosing, entitled Kick Spotlight. The very first Kick Spotlight shines on Brian D. Brian was the initial influence into my obsession with sneakers. We had a lot of college courses together, and he always had a fresh pair of kicks on his feet. One day I saw him post a pair on Facebook, and I asked him if he could get a pair for me. He did, and the rest is history...

Profile:

Name: Brian D.
Age: 31
Size: 9.5
Instagram: @sneekerfreek
Twitter: @briandao
Location: Kansas City

What is the first shoe that you remember buying, or that started it all for you?

This sounds very cliché, but I have been into sneakers since a child. I have a picture of my brother and I at ages 8 and 5, him in the Jordan V’s and myself in the Reebok Instapumps. Both of us didn’t know how to dress, but our shoes were clean and our tongues were out. It was always a struggle trying to get my mom to buy a nice pair of shoes, but I can’t remember the first pair I bought myself.  

I know the Adidas 35th Anniversary collection is what made me start to seek out shoes just to have and not wear. I was in Chicago searching for the Heinekens when I came across the collection at the Adidas store. Ever since, I have had a real hard time wearing my shoes unless I procured a second pair. Now it’s “one-to-rock-one-to-stock”.

What's your favorite part of the sneaker culture?

I have developed an appreciation for those who are true sneaker heads and branch out to other brands such as Asics and New Balance. I think the demand is really taking off for these brands. They are releasing some really unique colorways and collaborations. On top of that, I enjoy seeing people wear their shoes. 

What's your least favorite part of the sneaker culture?

Two things: 1) the unwarranted price hikes in retro shoes, and 2) the 3rd or 4th release of the same shoe.  

How many shoes would you say you own?

About 300 deadstock, around 70+ that I have worn. 

Panaoramic of Brian's Sneaker "Closet"

What're your top 3 sneakers in your collection?

DMP, Levi x Jordan, Adidas Captain Tsubasa.

What're the top 2 sneakers you wish you had most?

The Heinekens and the Air Mag. 

What's the 1 sneaker you'd like to see re-released?

Honestly, I’ve become a bit jaded with the rapid release of shoes. You used to get the feeling that you’ve procured yourself something that only a few others in the city have. It was nice to have that feeling. Nowadays, if I miss a release, I can count on a restock or a cheap reseller.   

What's the first thing you look at when you open up a new box of shoes?

I generally know what the shoe is going to look like. I am more eager to get a whiff of the new shoe smell. 

What's your favorite material on a shoe?

The ballistic mesh from the Jordan XI. It gives the shoe a rigid look, but it is much more malleable and comfortable than it appears. Anyone who has ever worn an XI knows that cushiony feeling when they pull the tongue to slip on the shoe and the comfort from when you tie the laces. On top of that, it stays white and is less susceptible to stains.  

What's your most memorable campout?

There was a point in time where I was in line every week. I used get out of work at 4:00am and would head straight to the store. It would be the same people every week. Even though there wasn’t a sense of urgency (the first people in line were always size 11s) back then I got to know some good people in those lines. 

What's the next shoe that you have your eye on?

Laney Vs

Any parting words?

Don’t judge a person by their shoes. I love it when people look at me like I don’t know shoes. In my head I’m thinking, my shoe lineup to mow my lawn has more heat than you. 

Brian's Space Jam Collection

Are Retros Being Killed By Their Creators?

Retro Jordans (a Nike brand) have been around since 1994, with the release of multiples models including the original Jordan 1 and the fan-favorite Jordan 3. Since then, hundreds of different colorways of Retro Jordans have released, both in mass and limited quantities. And Retros are big business, representing an estimated 40% of the brand's revenues.

Recently we have seen a lot more brands releasing retro basketball shoes like the Reebok Shaqnosis, Fila 96, and Adidas T-Mac 1. These brands seem to be feeding off of the current spike in the retro basketball shoe market and putting together as many pairs as possible to keep up with the demand. As a result, the companies have seen temporary spikes in sales numbers and revenue. On the other hand, Nike has been able to sustain its Retros' allure for almost 2 decades.

So what's the difference between Nike's retro longevity and and these other brands?  Market understanding.

Nike has understood for years that you can't over-saturate the market with retro shoes; you must instead continue to create a buzz around the brand--thus, limited quantity releases. In the current market, Nike releases an average of a little more than 1 retro per week, which is a much higher rate than the rest of the brands. So, what makes the difference?

When Reebok introduced the recent retro of the Shaqnosis, Twitter came alive with buzz. Shaq's return to Reebok gave sneaker lovers another shot to purchase these (what were) highly collectible shoes. Originally thought to be a fairly limited release, people were looking for Shaqnosis, scouring obscure website to try to find a pair. But then Reebok seemed to get greedy. They continued to produce more and more of the OG colorway. And since then we've seen what seems like countless more colorways produced in mass quantities.

Another example is the SVSM (St. Vincent St. Mary's) T-Mac 1s. Those were originally thought to be a quickstrike-type release, but then we saw them in every store. Now, how many T-Mac 1s do you see sitting on shelves in Adidas outlet stores? (The answer is a lot.)

Nike continues to create buzz though. Yes, Nike saturates the market with a lot of Retros that release throughout the year. However, they also understand how the market works. Nike doesn't get blinded by the quick cash, but it looks to the future. It has the discipline to not release every colorway of retro in mass quantities, and by having that understanding, it continues to build hype and market value. The more people talk about Nike, either praising them because they got their shoe or slandering them because they missed out, the more Nike profits.

Reebok is trying to capitalize by grabbing all the quick cash it can, but that doesn't bode well for these non-Nike companies throwing out tons of retros. They're going to kill their own market. At some point these companies are going to put out more shoes than the customers can (or want) to buy. Once that happens, if they've built a foundation upon this current cash-grab, their financial stability won't crash very long after the market does.

Thanks for reading--please feel free to comment and share!

@funkmasterkicks