Monday, April 19, 2010
The exhibit spread across about 10 tables, piled with pieces of art that were arranged carefully to show off the best angles. But this isn’t a traditional showcase where artists display their creations to the public — it is an exhibit of sneakers.
The Fresh Live Youth Society held its second annual sneaker convention, called Sneakology Volume 2, at the Kansas Union Ballroom Sunday, where about 10 avid collectors and sponsors came to display their array of sneakers.
Max Ayalla, a junior from Kansas City, Kan., and vice president of the FLY Society, said people came to trade, buy, sell and view unique sneakers.
“We welcomed whoever really wanted to come,” Ayalla said. “We reached out as far as we could to make people aware and reach out to this kind of demographic.”
The exhibit showed that sneakers are not exclusively functional anymore. From the collections to the collectors, it’s easy to see that this sub-culture of sneaker-holics takes collecting seriously.
Matt Bailey, a resident of Olathe, has been collecting sneakers for about 10 years. Bailey, who brought over 30 pairs from his collection, said he largely collects Nike Jordans from various eras but his favorites are the original Nike Pumps he wore when he was a kid.
“I’ll go wait in line at 2 o’clock in the morning until 8 o’clock in the morning so I can get my size,” Bailey said. “I usually buy two or three of the same pair so I’ll wear one and keep the others in their boxes.”
Jose Villa also wakes up early to wait in line just so he can get the sneakers he wants. Villa, a freshman from Arizona, didn’t come to Sneakology to show off his collection, but to see other people’s assortment.
“I have about 30 pairs right now,” Villa said. “I’ve worn them all at least once but after that it’s usually back in the box.”
Jess Bowman, a senior from Overland Park, attended Sneakology with Villa, wearing a pair of Nikes Villa bought for her. She said Villa was sneaker-obsessed.
“I have to ask permission to wear the ones he got me sometimes,” Bowman said. “He doesn’t get up for class but he’ll get up at 6 a.m. and go get some shoes.”
Derek Welter, a resident of Kansas City, Kan., owns 172 pairs of shoes and had one of the biggest displays in the room. He said a few of the shoes he brought with him he could sell for between $400 and $600. He has worn almost all of them but is saving about three pairs for special occasions.
Welter pointed at an old pair of Nike Jordans with a smile, “I’m definitely getting married in those,” he said.
Welter said that his girlfriend doesn’t understand his addiction to sneakers and that he knows he has to reduce his collection a bit. But he said he will never stop loving all the different styles of sneakers.
— -Edited by Allyson Shaw
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Comments
A sucker for sneakers
I'd like to know where Matt Bailey got a pair of Nike Pumps. Wherever he got them, they must be the most rare sneaker of all-time, ALL TIME. Somebody has to know what I'm talking about here, please....?
A sucker for sneakers
"Max Ayalla, a junior from Kansas City, Kan., and vice president of the FLY Society, said people came to trade, buy, sell and view unique sneakers."
Therein lie two problems with having this kind of exhibition on campus: buy and sell. Since when were student organizations allowed to host events during which personal business transactions are part of the purpose of them? (If the proceeds go to the FLY Society as an organization, it's ok. However, personal profit is not.)
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