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Youngsters fork out for snazzy sneakers
How much would you splash out on a pair of sneakers?
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The rise of luxury sneakers is part of the growing influence of casual and streetwear in high-end fashion, Reuters reported. (Shutterstock/File)
How much would you splash out on a pair of sneakers?
For Rafi, who currently owns 20 pairs of sneakers, a pair of Nike Hyperadapt 1.0 Black White shoes at Rp 10 million (US$673.5) was worth his money.
The 13-year-old told The Jakarta Post he had planned to buy the shoes before visiting the Sneakerpeak Kemang Quatro bazaar, which is currently being held at Lippo Mall Kemang in South Jakarta.
“They have adaptive lacing technology,” he said, showing off a hidden button inside the shoes that automatically tightens the laces based on a sensor.
Sneaker bazaars help enthusiasts like Rafi to buy a wide range of shoes that are not available in regular stores.
Rafi, who loves to play basketball and dreams of being a professional basketball player, said he had been collecting sneakers for three years after he became interested in sneaker fashion.
He considers comfort to be the main factor to consider when choosing sneakers, followed by the model.
“I often go to sneaker events to seek out shoes that I plan to buy or just for window shopping,”
he said.
The eighth-grade student said the sneakers in his collection were priced from Rp 1 million to the most expensive of Rp 12.5 million. He said he only wore the more expensive ones for special occasions.
As the only child of a businessman, Rafi said he could buy the relatively expensive sneakers thanks to his parents. However, he hoped that one day he would be able to buy sneakers with his own money.
Just like Rafi, 14-year-old Algifari also has a dozen sneakers at home. He has been collecting sneakers since he was a child.
He said he bought sneakers mainly based on their comfort. He also preferred a simple style.
“[I will buy] as long as I feel the shoes are comfortable,” he said.
Algifari likes to spend some time window shopping at sneaker events. If he found a pair of sneakers attractive, he would buy them. The eldest of three siblings said his sneakers were mostly priced under Rp 5 million, but he owned one pair that cost just over Rp 10 million.
Almer, Algifari’s younger brother, also has a penchant for fancy footwear. “I seldom wear the expensive ones, but my Air Jordans got damaged because I wore them to play soccer at a sneaker event. I was asked to play and I hadn’t brought a spare pair so I just used them,” said Almer. “But I’m still keeping them at home.”
Almer, who is just 9 years old, also has a dozen pairs of sneakers at home.
Their mother, coffee shop owner Dea Amin, who was accompanying her sons to the bazaar, told the Post she had taught her children to save some of their pocket money so they could buy stuff they wanted, including sneakers.
“For me, Rp 15 million is the maximum price [for her children’s sneakers],” she said.
The sneaker bazaar, which is being held for the fourth time at the mall, hosts 42 tenants and offers various brands and models of sneakers with prices ranging from Rp 500,000 to Rp 45 million.
Henricus Helmy, marketing communications manager of Lippo Mall Kemang, said the number of visitors — mostly in their 20s and 30s — had increased since it was first held last year.
“Last year, we held the event for five days and had 187,000 visitors. As of yesterday [Thursday], we’ve had around 140,000 visitors. [There are still] three more days. This weekend would be the peak time, surely,” he said on Friday.
The organizers are expected to at least achieve Rp 10 billion in transactions from the six-day bazaar, an increase from Rp 9 billion at the previous event held in April this year.
The rise of luxury sneakers is part of the growing influence of casual and streetwear in high-end fashion, Reuters reported.
Both luxury groups and sports companies are looking to cash in on a booming market — mostly consisting of millennials. Sports companies are collaborating with big names to design sneakers, such as collaborations between Adidas and Kanye West or Nike with Virgil Abloh, who is now artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection. (sau)
