Overheated Sneaker Resell Market

These days, people are even more interested in sneakers than ever before. Countless companies and designers are collaborating and making several limited-edition shoes. Recently, Air Dior was released, and its set price was about 3000$, but the price rose tremendously as people resold it at 10000~15000$. Not only the limited-edition shoes but also any sneakers that are having a lot of demand are resold at twice to triple the original price. In the past, people entered a draw to wear some limited-edition shoes. In comparison, these days, it became a means to earn extra money; in fact, some regard it as a kind of a job. Since reselling shoes is profitable, sellers get shoes from employees at Nike. Recently, a shoe called “Jordan 1 Retro High Trophy Room Chicago” was released. 12,000 pairs were produced, but only 3,000 pairs of shoes were given by entering a draw. The other 9,000 pairs of shoes were given to the sellers by the backdoor, which is a method that sellers can earn the shoes even before the official release. Not only the backdoor but also the bots, which is a computer system that buys shoes much faster than man can, monopolize most of the shoes.

In my opinion, the resell market is overheated. In comparison to when sneaker culture was considered a maniac, the current situation focuses primarily to earn extra money. For example, the “Nike Dunk ” series are resold insanely. Its basic colors with special designs are resold at three times their original price. Evident from this, sneakers culture became a culture for the resellers, not for fashion purposes.

In my opinion, the resell market is overheated. In comparison to when sneaker culture was considered a maniac, the current situation focuses primarily to earn extra money. For example, the “Nike Dunk ” series are resold insanely. Its basic colors with special designs are resold at three times their original price. Evident from this, sneakers culture became a culture for the resellers, not for fashion purposes.

By: Joonki Min