Nike SB Dunk High "Humidity"
To celebrate New Orleans’ tricentennial, Humidity Skateshop worked with Nike to create a festive shoe that speaks to the musical roots of the city. With a red bow tie inspired by famed artist Louis Armstrong, musical notes on the soles and a purple interior to imitate the lining of an instrument case, the shoe pays homage to all things jazz. This is the shoe the I-team used for its investigation. It cost $219 and was resold for $230.
New Balance 990 — a DMV Classic
The New Balance 990 burst onto the sneaker scene in 1982 with what was then a groundbreaking price tag. As the first sneaker to cost over $100, the 990’s quickly became a cult favorite in DMV street culture. Equally as popular with jogging dads as with fashionistas, it’s considered a staple even today.
Air Jordans — the Industry's Gamechanger
In 1984, Nike unveiled its partnership with basketball legend Michael Jordan: a red and black shoe called the “Air Jordan.” Compared to the standard all white basketball shoes of the time, Air Jordans made an instant impact. The shoes were banned by the NBA due to their color, but Nike paid the $5,000 fine each game so that Jordan would continue to wear them. This only boosted the profile of the Air Jordans, making them all the more desirable to sneakerheads and sports enthusiasts alike.
The Washington Capitals, Reebok & MAJOR DC Collab
In 2017, MAJOR — a beloved local sneaker boutique — teamed up with Reebok to honor D.C.’s hockey team, The Capitals, during their historic comeback against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The shoe uses Reebok’s Ventilator structure, the team’s color scheme, and dual National Hockey League and Reebok branding. This shoe resonated with the community so much that, according to Major founder Duk-ki Yu, roughly 250 people lined up outside of MAJOR the day the shoes dropped.
Nike "Equality" — Sneakers Making a Statement
In 2018, former Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James made news when he wore a pair of Nike Lebron 15 “Equality” sneakers in a game against the Washington Wizards. James said he wore the shoes, one white and one black, to “promote equal rights” while criticizing President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on race. Now, the shoes are on display at the sports gallery in D.C.’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture.
Adidas NMD — the Most Instagrammed Shoe
According to shipping service company forward2me the Adidas NMD is the most Instagrammed shoe, with over 5.7 million posts. Designed by Nic Galway, an industry heavyweight, the NMD was introduced in 2016 and comes with a variety of color and texture options. NMD stands for “nomad” and was designed as a modern, lightweight shoe for everyday life.
From a Hobby to a Career
According to Statista,over 1 billion pairs of athletic shoes were sold in 2019. And with resales being a major cash cow within the industry, it’s important for vendors and buyers to know they’re getting the genuine product. So-called ‘Sneaker authenticators’ make a comfortable living distinguishing the real from the fake through techniques including a smell test, misprint checks, color discrepancies and more. As of Oct. 10th, 2019, there were 10 listings for ‘sneaker authenticator’ openings in Google job search.