We all come from different walks of life hence the people we meet tend to do and see things differently at times. Even in the sneaker scene, there are a variety of sneakerheads we meet, some we loathe and some we love. So we have listed a number of people we have encountered and categorized them in these groups. Whether it’s the local or global sneaker scene, you are bound to have crossed paths with one of these people in the list below.
Have a good read and let us know which one you are in the comments section.
1. The Purist OG
Collector of all sneakers in its original form, this guy sure knows his stuff and usually is more than willing to share his knowledge to the willing learner. A rare breed in today’s time since most of them have either retired or just don’t bother with local sneaker events. From the materials, colors or construction of a sneaker, this guy knows it all right down to the year it was originally made! If you ever meet this guy, he will tell you what’s wrong with the current shape of the toe boxes of most Nike’s Air Maxes and New Balance’s 1500 that are currently in production. A professor of sorts, be sure to learn as much as you can from this guy as sneaker knowledge is sneaker power.
2. The Good Samaritan
The good hearted one, always willing to share where to find a good deal just to help his fellow sneakerhead whether it be at shoe outlets or on social media platforms. Tagging you in Facebook posts or Instagram pictures, you should always appreciate the time and effort he took to tag you if you haven’t already. Remembering his mates’ choice of sneakers is also part of his repertoire and he’s always happy to let you know, occasionally buying it for you first before you fork out the dough. Heck, sometimes he even delivers it your doorstep! Nice to a fault, this one’s a keeper because he’s a good guy to have as a friend regardless of whether he’s a sneakerhead or not.
3. The Hypebeast
This one actually wears shoes and apparel just to stunt and impress. Also affectionately known as a “fuccboi”. Whether it’s the latest sneaker Kanye West was last seen wearing or the latest HBA apparel (“you can keep that”), this guy has it all. You will also most likely see him in Supreme gear as well. Occasionally, this guy will buy stuff just to wear and take pictures in it only to eventually sell them… at ridiculously high prices. Also, he is the type of guy that goes with the “hype” flow. Meaning he only sees hyped-out collabs or super rare sneakers as worth it, and the rest as rubbish. Typically, he looks down on people who wear GRs (General Releases) just because it’s a GR or people dressed in “normcore” clothing. You see these people everywhere because they are like walking signboards; malls, colleges and even your workplace. Some say the hypebeast has ruined sneaker culture. You will be the judge of that.
4. The Hoarder
Taking collecting to the next level, he has perfected the art of hoarding. Typically buying shoes just to have them, he probably has a truckload of shoes in his house… that aren’t worn. Some of you may see it as a cardinal sin in sneaker culture that makes you inclined to say, “Dude, WEAR YOUR SHOES!” while some of you might say there’s nothing wrong with it. This guy doesn’t brag, he just buys and stashes it away like some treasure that needs to be dug up to see the light of day. In any case, you won’t be able to deny the awesomeness of his collection since he probably has a lot of heat hidden somewhere in some dark corner of his house. One can only hope he sells them some day and that his sneakers are still wearable.
5. The Weirdo
You don’t want to know or meet this one. For the most part, they usually start out as decent people till you peel off the layers. We have no idea what his role is in the sneaker community since he either flakes, doesn’t share the good stuff or is just full of bulls**t. His sole purpose is to piss you off in more ways than one. He also doesn’t like it if you wear or have the same sneaker as him. Basically seeing you as competition, this selfish prick may wear a size US7 while you wear a US11 and he still wouldn’t let you know if your size was available which is just a downright strange mentality to have. This one is also a rare breed (we hope) and I’m pretty sure we all want it to stay that way.
6. The Big Head “OG”
We have mad respect for the old collectors. Some have started their own retail outlets, sneaker boutiques or simply quit the game. But among the ones we respect, there are some who have a “godlike” complex. Looking down on nearly all sneakerheads new to the game, they think they have attained a status that’s unreachable by other collectors hence the holier-than-thou-in-sneakers presence they try to exude. The worst part? They preach that young and new sneaker collectors should be educated but when it comes down to it, they are usually the first ones to fire a barrage of insults aimed at their lack of knowledge. You can spot them at sneaker events, usually looking mopey and sulky with their noses up to everything and everyone.
7. The Flipper
Posting up about their new pick ups and wearing them on feet are their kinda thing. Whether it’s on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, they are usually seen stunting the latest releases. Usually young and still depending on their parents for the moolah, what you don’t know is that usually after a wear or 2, they usually flip their kicks for a profit. Sort of a minor Hypebeast, they are actually only a few evolutionary years from becoming a full blown one. They are quite harmless but you will be annoyed by their showboating or the prices they put up. You can try talking about sneakers with them but usually they only know the ones that Kanye was last seen wearing or that Jordan released last week. Boooorrrriiiiinnnnggg.
Artwork by Carmen See ( @carmensee )
