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"Collectible Shoes - Air Jordan to King James"

Beyond Shoes Article by Richard Reese

Would you ever guess that shoes were a hot collectible item?! Want to kick (pun intended) yourself for not holding on to some Air Jordans?

Seriously though, the sub culture surrounding shoe collecting has boomed in the recent years. From Ebay to garage sales, collectors are on the hunt for shoes. Shoes that were worn by Clark Gable in Gone With the Wind or the high tops Shaquille O’neal wore in his last game with the Lakers are just examples of the types of shoes that are fetching sky high prices from amateur and professional collectors alike.

Athletic shoes are one of the most popular collectibles. Recently on EBAY a pair of vintage Arnold Palmer leather golf shoes was spotted and up to over $30 after being listed for only several hours. Even a magazine or brochure of the original Air Jordan line from 1999 was selling on EBAY! Auction houses have auctioned off shoes worn by various celebrities throughout the years – usually for charity, which makes this an even more worthwhile craze. The desire to own something a professional athlete used, is not new – from that famous Coke commercial where Mean Joe Green gives his jersey to the kid with the ice cold Coke – to your neighborhood sports-bar displaying the cleats Joe Montana wore in the superbowl – make no mistake, this is big business.

Now in an effort to cash in on this explosion, brand new shoes are being advertised as collectible before they are even out of the box. The King James (named after Cleveland superstar Lebron James and the Zoom Vick (named after Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick) to name a few. The advertising for them asks the simple question, “What do you think a pair of original Air Jordans would be worth?”

Even sneakers have become a phenomenon; no longer just for sportswear, from Adidas to Vans they have become a fashion trend and collectors item. From the classic first Nike swoosh to the unlaced “hip hop” sneakers of today’s urban culture these shoes represent a serious portion of the overall outfit budget! Check out a book called Sneakers: The Complete Collector’s Guide for more information on this craze.

Feel like Cinderella? You can even collect glass shoes! Even miniature shoes are a craze. A company called Just the Right Shoe by Raine has become a major player in the miniature shoe collection business. There are even miniature collectible shoes to hold your cell phone!

Vintage shoes are also big business. Women are buying vintage shoes from the 40’s and 50’s in record numbers as style accessories to match with current trends. Historical societies – like my Uncles Steve’s Civil War reenactment group – hold events all over the country in which they not only act out history but dress the part as well. Right down to the shoes. Societies look for used shoes that are still in wearable shape and of course they have to fit in the right genre! Interestingly enough, these shoes along with the entire outfits can usually be had for less money that a comparable ‘modern’ outfit would cost. This may not last though as savvy owners will start to jack up prices as demand intensifies. So next time you are cleaning out the closet at Aunt Edna’s house think twice before throwing away all those patent leather shoes – they could be worth more than you think.

There are many resources to sell shoes – the obvious choice is EBAY, but also try contacting local societies or stage groups that might be in need of your collectible shoes.

Want an inside tip? While athletic shoes are probably the best bet in collectible shoes, check out one of the newest crazes for kids. Moon shoes, yup, these are shoes designed for jumping! Like mini trampolines for your feet these could be collectibles one day.

Come to think of it I did have a pair of Air Jordans once….I should have kept them as new because they sure didn’t make me play ‘like Mike!”

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