Keeping up with the times: what do the most expensive sneakers look like and why are they so expensive?

Sneakers are no longer just shoes. It’s a status symbol, a sign of good taste, and (surprisingly) a worthwhile investment. Due to the general interest in sneakers, a separate subculture was born, whose followers were called sneakerheads. And his adventures are literally legendary.

They can easily queue up for a brand new couple for a few days (sleep in tents next to the store), spend all the remaining money on a limited fall in excitement, and then arrange a photo shoot for their fortune. And in the previous sentence we did not write the word “wealth” without quotes. The cost of a rare pair of sneakers reaches several thousand dollars. And they run out in seconds.

Today we invite you to dive into the wonderful world of sneaker enthusiasts and learn a little more about the most expensive sneakers in the world (well, why are they so expensive). For help, we turned to a person who is absolutely “incompetent” at this. We give the floor to Sasha Bespalov, founder of Kickstown sneaker store.

Sasha Bespalov, sneaker blogger and founder of Kickstown

The cost of sneakers is not determined solely by supply and demand. Their history is shaped by their exclusivity and cultural influence. It’s safe to say that sneakers are now distinctive and often a wise investment. Brands are constantly creating something new by collaborating using innovative materials and incredible technologies. Here are the four most expensive pairs!

Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1

Price: From 100 thousand dollars (about 7 million rubles)

Virgil Abloh introduced the Louis Vuitton x Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 Low sneaker at the Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring 2022 fashion show in the summer of 2021. The collection consisted of 47 models in different colors and was the last model in the designer’s life. The pairs are adorned with French fashion house Damier’s signature Louis Vuitton monograms, Air and Lacet slogans citing the designer’s past collaborations with Nike, as well as dual logo labels and colorful swoosh labels. Each pair was packed in an orange suitcase with a classic Louis Vuitton lock and white metal trim. Also attached were two stickers: orange with the name of the house and white with a swoosh.

Sotheby’s charity auction for the sale of sneakers generated a record $25.3 million, which was later diverted to the Virgil Abloh Foundation. The co-branded model in a special brown color was auctioned on January 26 for $2,000, and at the end of the auction on February 9, bids for the one-of-a-kind 5 US size had reached $352,000. . Other pairs were also valued in six-figure amounts ranging from $100,000 to $176,000.

Dior x Nike Air Jordan 1

Price: 40 thousand dollars (about 3 million rubles)

The Dior x Air Jordan 1 series was born from the collaboration between two iconic brands, sports giant Nike and French fashion house Christian Dior. Brands created two versions of the model – high and low. A total of 8,500 pairs were produced, costing between $2,000 and $2,200 each. The sales system itself was shut down: To gain access it was necessary to register on a special website beforehand, and only 5 million people managed to do so. However, not everyone was enough, as 5,000 out of 8,500 couples went to Dior’s VIP clients. On resale, the price sometimes rose – the cost of sneakers increased to 40 thousand dollars.

The Dior x Air Jordan 1 is handmade from premium leather and features elegant perforations at the toe. The main colors are milky white and a noble shade of gray – Dior’s signature. The main feature of the product is the swoosh decorated with the openwork Dior Oblique monogram. The pair is also adorned with a combined Dior and Wings logo. Each model has its own individual number, which allows you to protect the copy from copying. A graffiti pattern has been applied to the sole of the shoe.

Nike Mag Back to the Future

Price: 40 thousand dollars (about 3 million rubles)

The Nike Mag is a limited edition sneaker that is a replica of Marty McFly’s futuristic shoes from the cult movie Back to the Future 2. The first limited edition Nike Mag went on sale in 2011 with 1,510 pairs. They were all sold at auction and the proceeds were donated to the Parkinson’s disease fund.

In 2016, the second Nike Mag Back to the Future limited edition self-lacing limited edition produced just 89 pairs and was even more exclusive than its predecessor. Thanks to its rarity design, the model cost just over $40,000, which is almost three times more than the 2011 model. This is exactly the case when sneakers are not just shoes, but primarily an investment and an art object. Meanwhile, Nike has stated that the Mag sneakers are not designed for casual wear or sports because the series is made for collectors.

Nike Dunk SB Low Freddy Krueger

Price: 70 thousand dollars (about 5 million rubles)

Red and green stripes, splattered blood and a silvery logo – from such a small description you can guess that the publication was created in honor of the character of Freddy Krueger from the cult movie A Nightmare on Elm Street. Nike released the sneaker but failed to resolve a copyright dispute with New Line Cinema. The copyright infringement claim came so late that the finished sneakers were already in retail stores.

To avoid litigation, the brand has decided to withdraw and dispose of all pairs from stores. That’s what happened to most of the shoes. But 30 pairs of illegal cooperation found buyers. Then they went up for sale again for a regular sum. By the way, several pairs are still available! So if you have an extra $70,000 you can invest in this rare model.