When someone says they collect something, you can tell how passionate they are about their collection. An enthusiast who says they collect sneakers might not have the largest or most expensive collection, but all that matters is that it’s their collection. Nobody can take that away.
Some mistake accumulating for collecting. However, a massive collection isn’t always meaningful. How many pairs of sneakers hold personal significance within the collector?
Collecting sneakers isn’t about buying, selling, and trading shoes. Sneaker enthusiasts all around the world love their collections because they are personal and hold more significance beyond materialistic values.
Building a Sneaker Collection From Nothing
If I was staring my sneaker collection from scratch, I would do things a little differently than I did when I started to seriously invest in a collection and collect sneakers.
First, I would start off by doing research about different types of sneakers. Many people fall in line with the masses and buy what’s hot when first starting out a sneaker collection. Anyone can collect sneakers, but few create a solid collection with personal and meaningful sneakers.
An important step to building any sneaker collection is doing your due diligence and researching sneakers and potential places to purchase from. Anyone who first starts off a collection will inevitably overspend and ultimately learn from their mistakes. Personally, I took a big L when I bought a pair of Jordan 3 Crimsons from Flight Club (one of the most overpriced sneaker stores in the world). However, I learned to pretty much never buy sneakers from places like these and have saved myself countless times since I started collecting sneakers seriously.
Lastly, a collection needs time and room to adapt, evolve, and grow. Sneaker taste changes over time for various reasons. The same goes for sneaker collections as a whole. You can’t expect the same sneakers to make up a collection forever. Style and personal preferences change over time. Give that collection life by switching things up and embracing change.
Maintaining A Personalized Collection
The key to maintaining any collection requires conscious awareness. Being aware that a collection can change and evolve over time allows collectors to have a maintain a unique and personalized collection.
Anyone who wants to collect sneakers must consider the time, effort, and money required to maintain the collection. Simply buying sneakers and amassing sneakers doesn’t lead to a personalized collection. The upkeep of a sneaker collection requires constant attention and resources.
There are too many horror stories of collectors pulling out stockpiled sneakers only to find them crumbling and literally falling apart.
Proper care and routine upkeep are essential to maintaining a sneaker collection. Sneakers must be kept right around room temperature while avoiding direct sunlight. High humidity often kills the lifespan of sneakers. General wear is suggested by countless enthusiasts to avoid crumbling midsoles. Even a few wears per year can extend the lifespan of a sneaker by a few years.
So You Want to Collect Sneakers
Nobody can or should start a collection for you. Collections are only unique because they are personalized and don’t try to imitate other collections.
Collecting sneakers isn’t a joke. It requires countless hours of researching and buying/selling trading, as well as high costs for sneakers as well as accessories (storage, cleaning supplies, etc.).
Starting a sneaker collection is far from cheap. Anyone interested in sneakers knows how time consuming and expensive the art of sneaker collecting has become.
Sneakers come in all different colors, shapes, and sizes. A diverse collection needs unique sneakers to keep the collecting exciting and fresh. Sneaker collecting isn’t a joke. Simply buying new sneakers isn’t collecting.
The act of consciously buying sneakers and maintaining their appearance while appreciating sneaker history leads to a solid sneaker collection.
