THE TOP 10 MOST EXPENSIVE SNEAKERS

Have you ever wondered about the most expensive sneakers of all-time? The popularity of sneakers has risen sky high over the past decade. Many releases are incredibly scarce, which has helped to create the reseller sneaker market. The increased demand for unique sneakers, paired with their limited supply has led to some jaw-dropping prices on the most sought-after sneakers. Sneaker collectors have splurged on kicks that could be defined as the complete opposite of frugal.

Take a look at the Top 10 Most Expensive Sneakers below:

NIKE MOON SHOE

Nike Moon Shoe – $437,500

Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman originally created the waffle sole using his wife’s waffle iron. The waffle sole was one of the first major innovations from Nike. These sneakers sport an out-of-this-world moniker to go with the price tag. The Nike Moon Shoe was originally created for the 1972 Olympic Trials. Less than 12 pairs of the shoes exist today. The only known unworn pair of Nike Moon Shoes recently sold at auction by Sotheby’s for $437,700 to Canadian collector Miles Nadal, making them the most expensive Nike shoes of all time. In fact, the Nike Moon Shoe is mentioned for the record-breaking price tag by the Guinness World Records. The Nike Moon Shoe can be confidently classified as the most expensive sneakers in the world.

MICHAEL JORDAN’S GAME-WORN CONVERSE FASTBREAKS

Converse Fastbreak – $190,373

Before Michael Jordan teamed up with Nike to create the Air Jordan brand, he wore Converse sneakers throughout his pre-NBA years. This particular pair of Converse Fastbreak Mid sneakers were worn by MJ at the 1984 Olympics gold medal game versus Spain. The game-used and autographed shoes fetched an impressive final bid of $190,373 at SCP Auctions. These kicks are widely considered as the most expensive basketball shoes of all-time.

BUSCEMI 100MM DIAMOND

Buscemi 100mm Diamond – $132,000

Bling is king. These limited edition Buscemi sneakers are adorned with 11.50 carats worth of diamonds, along with 18-karats of gold hardware. The 100mm Diamond was launched to celebrate the opening of Buscemi’s Soho flagship store in NYC. No word as to who (if anyone) ended up buying these sneakers. Buscemi put together the most expensive mens sneakers at a retail price.

MICHEAL JORDAN’S GAME-WORN AIR JORDAN 12 “FLU GAME”

Air Jordan 12 “Flu Game” – $104,765

This particular pair of Air Jordan 12 sneakers were worn during the “Flu Game”. After his iconic performance in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, MJ gifted the game-worn shoes to a Utah Jazz ballboy, who put them up for auction in 2013. The Jordan factor definitely creates a bidding war at auctions. Grabbing this piece of NBA history ended up costing over $100k at an auction hosted by Grey Flannel Auctions. The “Flu Game” Air Jordan 11s are the most expensive Jordan shoes.

2016 NIKE MAG SELF-LACING “BACK TO THE FUTURE”

2016 Nike Mag Self-Lacing “Back To The Future” – $104,000

Almost 30 years after the Nike Mag was featured on screen, Nike made the sneakers available to the public. Nostalgic Back To The Future fans clamored to purchase these very expensive Nike shoes. The Nike Mag was originally released in 2011, then re-released in 2016 with the added self-lacing functionality. Nike raffled the sneakers online with proceeds benefiting the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The release was limited to 89 pairs, which led to a huge resale price on these Nike trainers. A pair sold for over $100,000 in 2016 at a Hong Kong charity auction.

1989 NIKE MAG “BACK TO THE FUTURE II”

1989 Nike MAG “Back To The Future II” – $92,100

A piece of movie history. One of the most valuable sneakers. The iconic Nike Mag sneakers remain popular today, over 30 years since the release of Back To The Future II. The auction for the Nike Mag shoes used on screen, was in fact only for a single shoe. The shoe was badly damaged due to age. Shoezeum owner Jordy Geller listed the shoe on eBay, which fetched an impressive 220 bids and a $92,100 final price.

BIG BOI’S DIAMOND ENCRUSTED NIKE AIR FORCE 1

Nike Air Force 1 Diamond – $50,000

Diamonds are forever. Big Boi grabbed a pair of custom kicks created by Enel Dawkins of Laced Up Atlanta. These luxurious Nike Air Force 1 sneakers are embellished with 13k champagne diamonds. Adding precious gemstones to a pair of sneakers is a sure-fire way to create a jaw dropping price tag. Big Boi can happily call himself the proud owner of the most expensive Air Force 1 sneakers.

AIR JORDAN 11 “JETER”

Air Jordan 11 “Jeter” – $40,000

Air Jordan created these shoes to celebrate the retirement of Derek Jeter. The Air Jordan 11 “Jeter” was reportedly limited to only five pairs. The sneakers were available exclusively at Yankee Stadium via raffle. A pair recently sold for $40,000 online at Stadium Goods. The Air Jordan 11 “Jeter” sneakers are the most expensive Air Jordans (that were not worn by Michael Jordan).

EMINEM X CARHARTT X AIR JORDAN 4

Eminem x Carhartt x Air Jordan 4 – $30,100

This collaborative effort from Eminem, Carhartt, and Air Jordan was limited to only ten pairs. The shoes commemorate the 15th anniversary of Shady Records. The sneakers were auctioned on eBay back in 2015 with proceeds going to Literacy Through Songwriting Program by the MSU Community Music School-Detroit. It is good to know that many of the most expensive trainers are sold to benefit charity.

DJ KHALED X AIR JORDAN 3 “GRATEFUL”

DJ Khaled x Air Jordan 3 “Grateful” – $20,000

DJ Khaled dropped these sneakers exclusively via raffle to people who purchased his Grateful album. This very limited release led to a pair selling for $20,000 at online sneaker marketplace StockX. The Air Jordan 3 “Grateful” was once the most expensive thing on StockX.

SOURCE: Frugal Male Fashion

FASHIONADO

Most Successful U.S. Fashion Brands Include Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren & Vans

Culture and lifestyle news site 24/7 Tempo has released a list of the most successful U.S. fashion brands, which names Converse, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Vans and Levi’s among the top 20 companies included. The list is mainly based on statistics measuring brand longevity, name recognition, foot traffic, store count and revenue.

Of the three footwear companies that made the list, Converse ranks behind Vans and Nike at number 19. Founded in 1908, the iconic American footwear brand first gained fame thanks to its basketball-turned-lifestyle sneaker, the Chuck Taylor All Star. Today, Converse brings in around $1.9 billion in revenue for parent company Nike Inc. and has 172 stores worldwide.

California skate company Vans precedes Converse at number 14 thanks to its beloved, durable skate shoes like the iconic Vans Era. Vans was founded in 1966 and currently operates under its parent company, V.F. Corporation. The brand continues to be known for its collaborations with TV/movie franchises, artists, skaters and more, including a new silhouette with OG skater Anthony Van Engelen.

Polo Ralph Lauren is the only branch of Ralph Lauren’s clothing empire to make the list, coming in at number 11. Founded in 1967 and still owned by Ralph Lauren Corporation, Polo continues to see success in today’s market likely due to its nostalgic revivals of classic products. Most recently, Ralph Lauren has joined a global group of top fashion labels to fight the good fight against climate change.

Coming in at number 10 is denim mainstay Levi’s. Founded in 1853 and still owned by Levi Strauss & Co., Levi’s currently boasts 854 stores worldwide and $5.57 billion revenue. In addition to remaining popular through quality product and name recognition, Levi’s has also facilitated many sought-after collaborations over the years, including a recent pair of denim Air Force 1s with Nike and a capsule collection with Heron Preston.

Following its ranking as 8th healthiest company in the world, Nike has just made the list at number 7 on the most successful American fashion brands list. Originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports, the retailer got its start distributing sneakers for Japanese brand Onitsuka Tiger in 1964. Still owned by Nike Inc., the company rings in around $37.2 billion in revenue and maintains 951 stores worldwide.

Source:HypeBeast

FASHIONADO

Top Athleisure Trends of 2019

In the fashion world, trends come and go in a New York minute. However, one craze that continues to stand the test of time is athleisure. It has certainly come a long way since it was first introduced in 1998, when Canadian brand Lululemon launched their first pair of Boogie Pants. Fast-forward to 2019, and many retailers have claimed their slice of the athleisure pie. Now, brands both old and new have turned it into the billion-dollar industry it is today.
It's no surprise that athleisure is only predicted to get bigger from here on out. With that in mind, here are some trends driving the industry's growth in 2019.

Sustainability

Fashion is one of the leading contributors of pollution, coming only second to the oil industry. As such, the industry is starting to take notice — from the high streets of Paris Fashion Week, to the racks of your local H&M. Activewear, in particular, is guilty of producing stretchy fabrics made from synthetic materials. Fortunately, there are new players on the market who are setting the standard for ethical production. One such brand is Girlfriend Collective, which uses recycled plastic fabrics to make their apparel. Moreover, they encourage transparency by disclosing details about their manufacturing processes and factories. In turn, this poses a challenge to other existing activewear brands to re-think their own methods.

Body Positivity

For the longest time, the face of activewear has been a bunch of slender athletes with six-pack abs. As a result, plus-sized customers are often left out of the conversation and left with the stereotype that only fit people can exercise. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. Thankfully, Outdoor Voices' range of leggings and sports bras boast extended sizing. On top of this, they are also changing the narrative by highlighting curvier models in their campaigns. Unsurprisingly, more brands are starting to follow suit — even the likes of Nike and Adidas.

Couture-casual Mix-up
The fresh wave of athleisure isn't limited to sneakers and leggings. Now, people are mixing both couture and gym clothes. For instance, Carbon38 Takara's biker shorts are commonly paired with coats, jewelry, or even heels. This unique combination can really create a well-balanced look that is chic and still comfortable. And while you wouldn’t wear it during a weights session at the gym, this twill jacket by Woman Within is perfect for covering up after a yoga class or a barre session. Lightweight and easy to throw on, it’s another testament to athleisure’s laidback and versatile nature.

Performance Wear

Lycra, spandex, and MicroModal are familiar fabrics when it comes to activewear. But today, there is a new generation of sweat-wicking and compressing fibers designed to support peak performance. For instance, Under Armour's Athlete Recovery Track Suit is made with mineral-lined fabric that reflects infrared light back to the body, thus helping muscles recover faster. And true to athleisure's nature, the clothes are designed to look super sleek.

Athleisure Makeup

In line with looking good while working out, even beauty companies have started to create their own lines of workout-friendly makeup. While it’s always best to exercise wearing as little makeup a possible, new products like waterproof cosmetics can withstand sweat and keep you looking fresh. CliniqueFIT's waterproof foundation, for example, creates a natural-looking matte finish with added sun protection to make those workout selfies look better than ever.
Like we said, the athleisure movement shows no signs of slowing down. Until fashion can create something equally comfortable and effortlessly stylish, people are sure to keep riding this bandwagon for years to come.


FASHIONADO

Nike Reveals the ‘Pro Hijab’ for Muslim Athletes

Nike understands the difference athletic apparel can make to an athlete. Nike has turned to the Middle East for its latest market expansion. The company has announced its soon to be released Pro Hijab for Muslim female athletes in the spring of 2018. It is expected to cost $35 USD and is composed of a lightweight, stretchy mesh polyester material. The hijab will come in a variety of colors such as black, gray and obsidian.

For the full article check out www.nytimes.com.

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