Is there a specific reason why people here are obsessed with sneakers?

Is there a specific reason why people here are obsessed with sneakers? from belgium

35 comments

  2. I live near a popular shopping street and constantly see these types of long queues for shops selling sneakers, even when it’s not the sales season. Is there a reason I don’t get? Am I too old to understand the infatuation with sneakers? Do they sell something else there that would justify standing outside for 30 min? I have other questions but if anyone can help shed some light on this mystery I would be grateful, thanks!

  6. Am I that old that I don’t understand people wearing sneakers with everything? Like I see people in suits or pretty dresses while wearing dirty sneakers.

    When I was younger I *had* to buy decent shoes which last a while and are somewhat decent with anything so I didn’t look like a clown.

    Don’t see people jogging in hiking boots either.

  7. They have to wait in line to take a ticket to maybe have a chance to purchase an overpriced pair of shoes

    I feel like I’m 80

  8. My little sister tells me :” c’est la mode, tu n’y comprend rien”

    From my pov people wear sneakers because some famous rappers do. There is anentire business around it with limitée edition sneakers, some people use sneakers as an investment/ spéculation object.

  9. boomer rage threads are the best. “back in my day I had to wear laced shoes else my mother wouldnt look me in the eye”. I like it that people are wearing whatever they want nowadays. If I had to see another pair of blue jeans and light brown veterschoenen with blue laces I will kill myself from the boredom

  10. It’s a decent way of making a couple bucks quick! If you’re lucky enough to get them from the store, you can sometimes sell them for double (or more) the retail value.

    Never done it but have thought about it! It’s very easy money, if you just go and chill there with friends.

  11. Easy. Money.
    Win the lottery buy the “limited edition sneakers” resell for higher value.
    Haven’t really looked into it deeper because fashion doesn’t interest me at all so I’m 90% sure that I would buy the unwanted pairs and get stuck with em.

  13. I actually own a pair of air jordans. Yes, they’re expensive. Yes, I think they look great. Yes they are comfortable as fuck. No I don’t regret paying 180€ for them. No I didn’t wait in line for them, just buy em online.

  14. People value their time differently. Even over their lives.

    In my teens I would wait one hour and a half in a line to ride some rollercoaster or even more for a ticket to a concert.

    In my 20s I would often wait 1 h for a table at some rib restaurant to eat with the gang.

    In my late 20s I would have no issue in standing in a 30 minute line at the supermarket to pay for non urgent groceries.

    Today I just don’t.
    Is that a line? Fuck it, let’s go home.

    My back hurts.

  15. I understand sneakers in all seasons but in winter? Don’t they feel cold when the temperature drops below zero? Or don’t they get wet feets because the majority of sneakers is made of non-waterproof materials?

  16. Saw the same scenario on the Meir last weekend. I think a lot of people are convinced they are in investment or something.

  17. I’m happy with my Vevo and Diadora sneakers. Imho these brands are quality compared to the dismal quality of some Adidas and Nike sneakers that you can find in Jd sports and Foot locker.

  18. There’s actually a large sneaker subculture out there, lots of people collect them and rarer ones can fetch you a nice sum if you put them online.

    Weird if you ask me but whatever floats your boat I guess.

  20. I love sneakers, own about 10 pairs. I’d never stand in line for them though. Plenty of cool sneakers you can just buy.

  21. especially during corona, i just take my measurments for the brand i like and buy them online it’s even cheaper there

  22. Better investment than letting your money rot with the bank, but less complicated than investing in crypto/stocks/…

    People make some solid mark-ups with sneakers

  23. Its for the JD in Antwerpen right? Probably 99% Dutch people standing in line. Stores over here are closed, and Antwerpen is the closest city in Belgium for most Dutch people.

    And sneakers that are sold at JD are nothing special. Just your regular Nike/Adidas/Puma shows.

  24. It’s an insanely big part of the zeitgeist of todays youth. (Which will always peak the interest of a small group of older gens as well) But it doesn’t matter what the thing is. Overpriced smartphones, wearable tech, sneakers, specific clothing brands.. Sneakers are more than just shoes now. It’s a status symbol, they’re collectible, insanely overpriced… traits that are very interesting to young people whose biggest concern is to be relevant, liked and part of their peers.. This is all the market observation by these brand and manufacturers. They saw sneakers getting a resurgence. What followed is an insane, hidden marketing campaign via social medias, influencers and music, hiphop. You can be sure the people pulling the strings behind the last 5-7 years of sneaker-craze are the ones making the money. And that’s just how it’s always been. Different times, different prosecutes. But the results are always the same: influence the masses, shill them out, enjoy immense profits.. No sneaker should cost more than €100, everything above that and you’re just giving in to their scheme

  26. Lemmings queuing for a chance to buy overpriced plastic shoes that won’t last a year when you’d actually wear them.

  27. I have been working like 2 month close to this shop (atlantis) , and I never understood.. Everytime crowded, all kind of people are going there. East European, Moroccan, Dutch etc.. There are so many places to by shoes in this street.. But no, it’s apparently the place to be.

  31. It’s consumerism culture. Media tells literally everyone they should buy something, then about 10% of those people wanna buy it, but they all have to go to the same store, so that’s when you get really long lines. It could be like that with any product if the stores are “rare” enough

  34. Sneakers are a (sub)culture, i’m 23 and own between 10-15 pairs as well, and i’m not even THAT enthousiastic about them. Never in my fucking life would i wait in a line like that

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