2006 - BEST OF THE BEST SNEAKERS

Juse_www.ihavepop.com_Los Angeles
Professional Sneaker Critiquer

The true core of sports, the ones that originally gave us the sneakers, decides the best. But the best is not always the most popular sneaker. And the most popular is also subjective. Obviously the most popular would be the best selling, which through democratic deduction probability also makes it the ugliest shoe and this will by the laws of 5th grade, make it cease to be popular. It is indeed a very complex matter, so rather than naming the year’s best sneakers I want to take this opportunity to highlight some of the achievements of 2006 and perhaps take a look at what the future of sneakers holds for us.

Do it yourself
One of the first developments was the Do-It-Yourself trend. Puma decided to roast their sneakers over an open flame with Mongolian BBQ and in previous years Nike had reasonable success with their online studio, but this year quickly turned into DIY. Spawned by the success of sneaker customizers, adidas took it upon themselves to give everyone a fair chance at creating their own 15 minutes of fame. Backed by a set made by the likes of Twist, Keith Haring and Kermit the Frog, anyone could now drop a few hundred dollars and get their own box set of awesome white on white adicolor W1 sneakers and seven tubes of paint, provided they were one of the first in line outside one of very few shops. Once again, the proof that fame is not for everyone and that it doesn’t come cheap. But for those fortunate enough, a pair of unique sneakers was just one episode of Bob Ross’ masterclass podcast away.

Materials
Another emerging trend has been the use of all kinds of different materials. Slowly the color options are running out so designers are turning towards alternate sources to make their creations stand out. Starting early in the year with premium leather varieties like kangaroo and buffalo, the last few months have seen a furious frenzy of materials madness. A free-for-all including velvet, flannel, tennis balls, wood, umbrellas and even hamster hair. In fact some people even turned to the use of shoe boxes as the base for their footwear. This trend will undoubtedly continue to race towards a climax where collectors are willing to pay top dollar for their pair of King Kong sneakers, with their availability only limited to the amount of skin available on a silverback gorilla.