A Beginner's guide to
the world
of sneaker investment
The sneaker is a modern-day canvas on which our generation’s most influential artists paint. Designers like Jeff Staple and Salehe Bembury, along with customizers like the Shoe Surgeon and Katty Customs) expand our ideas of what a great sneaker should look like through their next level designs. And like all great art, there is profit to be made in collecting the good stuff. Investing your money into the world of sneakers isn’t like dropping your money in the stock market, or delving deep into crypto and NFTs -- it's more like buying a sculpture or painting. You can touch your sneakers, feel them, hold them, and (if all else fails and you end up making a bad investment) you can wear them!
Your best bet to make a real impact is to buy a fresh pair of kicks on release day (this sometimes involves winning a "buying raffle") and flipping them on reseller sites like to GOAT, eBay, or Flight Club. But that doesn't mean there aren't opportunities to buy in via that same secondry market.
Here are a few recent releases you should keep an eye on. We can’t promise you’ll see a return on your investment (no risk, no reward), but your portfolio will never look more fly.
Women's Air Jordan 11
Low Pure Violet
Women’s sized sneakers are booming right now. In the last year, big brands like Nike and Adidas have been putting more emphasis on women’s sneakers after ignoring 50% of the sneaker-wearing market for too long. As a result, most of the best Jordan colorways as of late have been Women’s exclusives.
The demand is high and while the big brands are making considerable efforts, the supply simply isn’t high enough. These Pure Violet AJ-11s sold out on the Nike SNKRS app on the day of release and with its combination of luxury and comfort-focused aesthetics, it feels particularly resonant with where modern sneaker tastes are right now. On aftermarket sites, the sneaker is already selling for above list price, the question is, will its value continue to grow?
The Women’s Air Jordan 11 Low Pure violet is out now. Be sure to check out aftermarket sites like GOAT, Flight Club, and eBay for the best price.
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Women's Air Jordan 3 Dark Mocha
If you’re saying to yourself, "another Air Jordan?" Yup, the Air Jordan line is made up of some of the most popular sneaker silhouettes of our modern era, and the Jordan 3 is even more sought after than our earlier pick, the Jordan 11. Once again, this is a size-exclusive sneaker so the demand will already be high, but the Dark Mocha also has the added benefit of being simply one of Nike’s best Jordan 3 colorways of all time.
Yes, they are that dope.
The Women’s Air Jordan 3 Dark Mocha will hit stores on May 14th. Hit up the Nike SNKRS app for the best price.
Adidas Forum Low Bad Bunny Pink Easter Egg
While we wouldn’t normally suggest you pick up a sneaker on the aftermarket if you want to score a quick flip, Bad Bunny’s Forum Adidas sneaker, Pink Easter Egg, is in an interesting position. Benito’s Adidas partnership has proved fruitful, the designs bearing the reggaeton artists’ name and iconography are popular and have all sold out fast, but the Pink Easter Egg has been steadily growing in value since it first dropped.
On today’s aftermarket, this sneaker has tripled in value and stands as one of Bad Bunny’s best designs. The question is, will that value continue to climb as Bad Bunny continues to drop shoes? Be careful here, chasing prices can be dangerous, consider this play high risk. Be sure to check aftermarket sites like GOAT, Flight Club, and eBay for the best price.
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Crocs x Salehe Bembury Cucumber
If you’re not entrenched in the world of sneakers, you probably hate Crocs. But right now the rubber clog is having a moment and no single designer makes Crocs as hyped and popular as Salehe Bembury. Everything this young designer touches right now turns to gold.
Currently, Bembury’s Menemsha colorway of the Pollex Clog is fetching prices above $500 on aftermarket sites. We are talking about a "sneaker" that retails for $85.
Bembury and Crocs are currently readying three brand new colorways (out May 24th!) and if we were looking to invest in sneakers, we’d keep a close eye. For now, an earlier release, the Cucumber colorway, is fetching prices lower than the Menemsha. Will continued colorways increase or decrease the value of the Cucumber? When will the Croc craze end?
Be sure to check aftermarket sites like Flight Club, GOAT, and eBay for the best Crocs x Salehe Bembury Cucumber Pollex Clog price.
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Nike Air Jordan 9 Chile Red
It isn’t everyday that Nike drops a colorway of the Jordan 9 this iconic. The Air Jordan 9, designed by legendary designer Tinker Hatfield, serves as the perfect transitional sneaker between the single digit Jordans and the sleeker more luxurious double digit designs and this Chile Red colorway stands as one of the model’s all-time best colorways.
It recalls the vibe of Nike’s designer that got away (*ahem* Ye) by reminding us of the Yeezy Red Octobers and we’re sure this is going to go down as one of the best Air Jordan 9 colorways we’ve seen in years. Sneakerheads certainly thought so, the Child Red promptly sold out on release date and is now fetching prices above retail on the aftermarket.
The Air Jordan 9 Chile Red is out now. Be sure to check aftermarket sites like GOAT, Flight Club, and eBay for the best price.
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