Sneaker News SELECT Collections
As we seen here in our SELECT Collections features, there are all sorts of collectors out there with all sorts of different tastes and approaches to the kind of stuff that they hunt down. While Air Jordans and LeBrons will always be a popular starting point, some individuals are more dedicated than others when it comes to the funds and legwork that they willing to pour in to cross off the rare and elusive items on their sneaker wishlists. While most of us just drool over photos of these high-priced and hard to find items from afar, there are those who go all in and pull out all the stops to get their hands on the kind of stuff that others can only daydream about owning.
Ken W. from Chicago dabbled in Jordans over the years, but the obsession bug didn bite him until a little later in life. Since then, he more than made up for lost time by putting together a stunning arsenal of the most coveted Air Jordan and Nike Basketball gems from the last few years. Being on the elder side of the sneakerhead demographic doesn make the infatuation any less fervent and it also means being set up in life and having the resources to go treasure hunting for rare sneaker gems. While he make take some ribbing from friends about keeping most of these conquests in deadstock condition, Ken looks at it like collecting art and doesn seem to bat an eye at prods from the to be worn advocates.
In theory, it would be great to get a pair of Oregon Vs and wear them as beaters, but most people who track down a pair just aren going to do that and Ken isn afraid to admit it. Wearing all your shoes versus collecting deadstock pairs will always be a heated discussion, but you have to realize that for some people, it more about collecting than wearing. You don wear a piece of fine art or have a catch with a baseball signed by Mickey Mantle, so we need to just accept that there are all types of sneaker enthusiasts out there, and what really important is the love for the culture and not what people do with the shoes once they get them home.
Regardless of what he doing or not doing with his sneakers, there no question that Ken has amassed one of the more impressive collections around and we got the highlights for you just ahead. In addition to just sharing his collection, he and some friends really went the extra mile by taking photos of the shoes in different spots all over Chicago, using well-known city landmarks, themed settings, and sneaker shops as the backdrops. There a jaw-dropping array of sneaker heat in the following pages, so get comfy and dig in for an all killer, no filler look at Ken W. amazing assortment, and stay tuned http://nikairsoes.niloblog.com/ for more inside looks at the world top collections here on SN SELECT in 2014.
I look at some of these comments and all I think about is, who cares? Even though he clearly spent a shitload of money for those shoes, it is obvious that he is in it for the love of the hobby, not just out to make the quick dollar. It's the same conversation that they have about classic cars, about how guys there go on and on about how cars should always be driven, instead of letting them sit in the garage, the museum, etc. Well, if you leave certain things like the fluids in too long without being used, you might have some trouble, but at the same time you're not going to drive a Duesenberg as often as you drive a Honda Civic. Because for some people, the cars are more than just mere machines or a mode of transportation, they are legitimate works of art, and art that is quite rare, mind you; therefore you want to indeed keep it in the best condition as possible. Doesn't necessarily have anything to do with an investment. I just take it as one of those "to each his own" kind of things. So I don't begrudge other sneaker enthusiasts if they wish to keep their shoes pristine.
…. I would love to say this is an amazing collection, but its not a collection, its an investment. Anyone with some disposable income could put this together in no time. Hit up eBay and start clicking buy it now… and when the owner doesn't wear any of them, he is simply investing, not collecting. The guy won't wear them because he can't bare the thought of losing the thousands he drops on each pair. Yes, people do not wear fine art, because fine art is meant to be hung on a wall and visually enjoyed. Sneakers are meant to be enjoyed by putting them on your feet and wearing them. Wear your shoes.
So you don't approve of a collection of cars compared to a collection of rare sneakers? Is there any comparison you would agree with? The sports enthusiast who collects the autographed baseball, baseball bat, etc.? the stamp collector who collectsstamps? the spoon collector who collects spoons (ohh wait, that's not a good example)? Anyways, baseballs and baseball batswere meant to be used in the game of baseball and stamps were meant to be used to http://freerushoss.blog.fc2.com/ mail a letter. Bottomline, if someone finds a collection that they enjoy, what is it of your concern? Your comments concerning the investment potential seems to contradict your statementthat the sneakers will be dust in 5-7 years. I think the person who has an autographed baseball would love it if the baseball was also worth money. Many collections have economic benefits. But the shoes in my collection are there for a reason, because I love them and, insome cases, I have searched for over a year to find the shoe that I love in my size. I have been offered many rare shoes and turned them down even though the offerswere forgreat prices. My turning down a rare shoe for a great price doesn't seem to support your conclusion that I am in this for investment purposes, and not for collecting. It's all good though, many people like yourself jump to conclusions; I try not to.
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