Sneakerheads

Chances are you own a pair of sneakers. Maybe you own two or even three pairs. But can you recall what brand they are? And do you know what they really, truly stand for? You might not realize it, but many people put a great deal of stock in their sneakers and have a collection of 15, 30, and even 75 pairs. These “sneakerheads” are part of a growing trend, made up of mostly teenage and young adult males that take great pride in, and sometimes even define themselves, through their footwear.

In four years, Lamar High School sophomore Ross Steinberg has put together quite the collection at 75 pairs. Ross became interested in shoes mainly through his older brother Alex’s influence. “My brother would always come home with different types of sneakers, and I thought they looked so interesting,” he says. “It’s a way to show my individuality.”

Lamar requires its students to wear uniforms, so Ross relies on his footwear to express himself. “I like to be different than everybody else,” he says. “My shoes make me stand out from the other 3,500 kids at school.” But a cardinal rule is to “never wear the same shoe in one week.”

Ross’ shoes are so numerous that he keeps them in two closets, one in his bedroom and another in the guest bedroom. His favorite brands include Nike Air Force Ones, Nike SBs, and Bathing Apes (more commonly known as Bapes). And though he primarily shops at specialty shoe stores here in Houston, including Premium Goods and Kickz, he often also picks up a pair or two on his frequent travels. He’s so enthusiastic about shoes that he’ll soon be starting his first part-time job at Kickz in the Galleria.

For sneakerheads, shoes not only separate you from your peers, they also bring you together with other like-minded collectors. Bellaire High School’s Steven Gray and Lamar’s Chaz Jackson have even started a club called Fresh Solez for fellow collectors. “Our shoes are what really attracted everybody to each other,” Steven says. “And one day, we decided we needed to start up a group.”

The application process for Fresh Solez is rigorous, but the rewards are huge. Prospective members must have spent at least $1,000 on shoes in the last six months to a year and have to bring a sense of style or individuality to the group. Once you’re in, however, you’re part of prestigious company. The group hosts parties to showcase their best kicks. “We had a party in August called the Fresh Out the Box party, and then we’re planning another one this December,” Chaz says.

Michael Kaitson, 17, started collecting sneakers when he was in fourth grade. His current collection totals 20 pairs, most of which are Nike Air Maxes. (Photo: www.andrewsphoto.com)

Both boys definitely meet the club criteria. Chaz owns 15 pairs of shoes, including Nike Dunks, Air Maxes, Jordons, and Air Force Ones. “I started collecting and it just became a fetish,” he says.

Steven, on the other hand, owns 23 pairs, mostly Jordons. To keep all his pairs straight, Steven organizes them in his closet according to their style number. “I’ve worn all of them, but I don’t like wearing shoes that are more than a year old, so after a year, I retire them,” he says. Another guideline—“After I wear a pair, I give it a two-week rest,” Steven says.

Bellaire teen Michael Kaitson’s sneaker collection totals 20 pairs, mostly Nike Air Maxes. And for Michael, it’s all about the right look. “I like to match my shoes to whatever outfit I’m wearing,” he says. “I’ll get a bunch of Polos or Burberry shirts, and then I’ll be sure I have some shoes to match to them.”

Michael’s collection started when he was in the fourth grade. “I got some really cool Nike basketball shoes,” he remembers. “And that’s when I realized how cool shoes really are. You can tell a lot about a person by the type of shoe they wear.”

The shoes typically range from $70 to $750 depending on their quality and how rare they are. And the answer to the question you must be asking—for the most part, the teens pay for their sneakers themselves through jobs, allowances, and Christmas and birthday money.

For Chaz, it’s easy to explain why most of his spending money ends up on his feet. “Its just a good feeling to have a nice pair of shoes,” he says. “It’s just like any other hobby—playing basketball or whatever. It’s nice when everybody oohs and ahhs at your shoes.”