Sneakerhead Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
Top Definitions Quiz This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity. [ snee-ker-hed]/ ˈsni kərˌhɛd /This shows grade level based on the word’s Slang. a person who collects and trades sneakers as a hobby, and who typically is knowledgeable about the history of sneakers: The sneakerheads are doing a booming business on eBay. QUIZDECODE THIS QUIZ ON UNTRANSLATABLE WORDSGive these words new meaning by adding them to your lexical repertoire and proving that untranslatable words translate pretty well to your ion 1 of 10Fill in the blank: If you forget someone’s name, the Scots call this a.. of sneakerheadFirst recorded in 1995–2000; sneaker + head (in the sense “fan, devotee”)Words nearby sneakerheadSNCC, SNCF, Snead, sneak, sneaker, sneakerhead, sneakernet, sneakers, sneaking, sneak preview, sneak Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
More Than Just Shoes: What You Need To Know About …
For Sneakerheads, sneakers are about more than foot transportation and comfort. But what does it mean to be a Sneakerhead? Does any sneaker count? And how much do they cost?
We sat down with Delisia Matthews, assistant professor of textiles, apparel and technology at North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles, to learn the basics about the sub-culture, such as which shoes are popular, what they cost and how a true Sneakerhead might use them.
The Abstract: How do Sneakerheads use their sneakers?
Matthews: Some are solely collecting them, and not wearing them. There was one guy who had four closets of shoes, plus a storage bin of shoes. Whenever he buys, he buys one, and puts one away in storage. He doesn’t do that for every single shoe – just ones he likes. But most of the people I talked to are wearing them.
TA: Where do they wear them?
Matthews: They wear them wherever. They might pull out certain sneakers for more special occasions. There was a guy who worked in a corporate office in fashion, and he wore his sneakers to work every day, and just had a different rotation. He’d go a good three months without ever repeating a sneaker.
From our research with African-American men, they sometimes wear sneakers if they want to show their status or a little extra swag. So, it makes sense that Meena Harris’ partner, Nikolas Ajagu, wore those to the inauguration – those were Dior Jordan 1 sneakers. That was his way to show his identity, his style, his swag, even in that sort of environment.
TA: What if the sneakers get dirty?
Matthews: They’re not going to get dirty. They have actual cleaning systems for their sneakers. If they get a speck of dirt, they call it the “toothbrush method. ” They’re using toothbrushes to clean it, but the market has capitalized on this. There is a guy out of California named Jason Markk who opened up this shop where you bring your sneakers to be cleaned, and now he sells that cleaning system worldwide. They’re not going to let their sneaker get dirty. For every use, they’re going to clean them.
TA: Are people willing to pay any price?
Sneakerheads: It depends on how exclusive they are. There is a Nike sneaker that one of the area stores carried – they made 33 of that sneaker in the world. He had one in his store. The shoes were customized by this famous artist. The shoe was around $2, 000. But it’s because it’s very exclusive. That’s why that price point is very high. Overall, on average they range around $250. Unless it’s a very exclusive color way, which is the particular color scheme a shoe might come in, or drop, which is the release date.
TA: Can you get these sneakers at any shoe store?
Matthews: Certain stores will have stock. Raleigh has a thriving market. One in the area is Capital Buy-Sell-Trade. The other one in the area is called Social Status. They’ll get a small amount in a particular size. Because consumers are part of the culture, connected to their social media and store, they’ll be aware of when those drops are. There’s another one that opened up in Crabtree Mall called Courtside, that’s another big one. They do the buying and selling and trading. Another one is called Sircastletees. His store is interesting – he not only sells sneakers, but he does custom sneakers.
TA: What’s the importance of Sneakerhead culture in terms of group identity?
Matthews: It helps to build a community. Having that community around a particular brand or a particular product; it just helps them feel a lot more connected. But also, there’s this concept called brand community. Research has shown that when brands form a community around a particular product and brand, that brand can make mistakes, and the community is still going to be very loyal to them.
TA: Does Sneakerhead culture embrace different types of athletic shoes?
Matthews: I still would say basketball shoes are the foundation and the pivotal shoe that they go after. One running shoe they go after is the Adidas Ultraboost. I’ve heard quite a few participants in our research talk about that. The younger Sneakerheads are more interested in the celebrity collaborations, like Kanye’s sneakers that are done by Adidas. And Travis Scott did a certain type of Jordan. Pharrell Williams has sneakers he did with Adidas. These celebrity collaborations are becoming bigger. It’s evolving, the same brands, are key – Nike and Adidas– but the celebrity collaborations are becoming popular.
TA: What should a novice know about Sneakerhead culture?
Matthews: I would just pay attention to how this trend is now being adopted even in the luxury market. It lets you know that what we call in fashion, “trickling up, ” is really happening. It started with the everyday street culture really adopting it. But now we’ve got all these different, very high-luxury brands tapping in on the sneaker market.
TA: What are some of your future lines of research?
Matthews: There is a huge market out there for female Sneakerheads. Brands need to be paying attention to them, and what is the best way to market to them and understand their needs. I think they might have different motivations. That’s going to be my next research focus. There is a huge amount of female consumers that they haven’t fully capitalized on.
To read the news release a recent study Matthews led about Sneakerhead sub-culture, click here.
Is Sneakerheads a True Story? – The Cinemaholic
Created by showrunner Jay Longino, Netflix’s latest series, ‘Sneakerheads’, takes a guilty pleasure for shoes to the next level. Lead character Devin is a recovering ‘sneakerhead’ bogged down with familial responsibilities and expectations. Devin finds himself $5000 in the hole after falling hook, line, and sinker for friend Bobby’s get-rich-quick idea. To salvage his dignity and stave off his wife’s wrath, Devin, along with a group of fellow ‘sneakerheads’, embarks on a quest to find the mother of all sneakers – a pair of Zero’s. ‘Sneakerheads’ stars Allen Maldonado, Andrew Bachelor (King Bach), Jearnest Corchado, Matthew Josten, Justin Lee, and Aja Evans.
The sub-culture of sneak lovers depicted in the show does not seem far removed from reality and could almost pass for a true story. Does ‘Sneakerheads’ portray real-life events? We find out for you below.
Is Sneakerheads Based on a True Story?
No, Sneakerheads is not based on a true story. However, in many ways, the series emulates the life and times of its showrunner, Jay Longino. Longino had long since been a basketball fanatic, at one point even playing in professional leagues in Mexico and America, before crossing over to the big leagues in writing, producing, and editing. Still, Longino would regularly play in basketball pick-up games with a group of lifelong friends. Longino and his teammates often found themselves ‘checking out’ sneakers sported by the rest of the players. At one such fateful game, fellow actor and producer, Inny Clemons – who also serves as executive producer of ‘Sneakerheads’ – suggested to Longino that he write a show that showcased the sub-culture of sneaker collectors.
The idea caught and held Longino’s attention and he found himself revisiting it while shooting for a Jackie Chan movie, ‘Skiptrace’, in Hong Kong. To quell his jetlag in Hong Kong, Longino embarked on some sightseeing and discovered an area called ‘Sneakers Street’. Hong Kong’s Sneakers Street was packed to the brim with sneakers of different makes and models. Longino came to the realization that a fascination and fixation with sneakers spanned countries across the globe. On his return from Hong Kong, he made up his mind to write the show and immediately penned down its introductory sequence.
The events that transpire in the show are also taken from Longino’s own life. Longino’s affinity for sneakers was spurred on by the legendary Michael Jordan. The showrunner was gifted – and came to treasure – an enviable pair of sneakers by Jordan at a basketball game. One can only imagine, then, Longino’s affliction when his mother mistakenly sold the pair off. Longino described the experience, “Her sneaker game was not on point and so she put the wrong pair in the wrong box. Yeah, it was a devastating moment as a kid. ” The lead characters in the series take up a wild goose chase to hunt down the very same rare pair of shoes – Zero’s. Longino explained, “The whole show is about our lead character, played by Allen Maldonado, trying to track down that exact shoe, a pair of white cement Jordan 4s. ”
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Frequently Asked Questions about whats a sneaker head
What is a sneaker head person?
noun Slang. a person who collects and trades sneakers as a hobby, and who typically is knowledgeable about the history of sneakers: The sneakerheads are doing a booming business on eBay.
What do sneakerheads do?
They do the buying and selling and trading. Another one is called Sircastletees. His store is interesting – he not only sells sneakers, but he does custom sneakers. TA: What’s the importance of Sneakerhead culture in terms of group identity?Feb 3, 2021
Are sneaker heads real?
Is Sneakerheads Based on a True Story? No, Sneakerheads is not based on a true story. However, in many ways, the series emulates the life and times of its showrunner, Jay Longino. … To quell his jetlag in Hong Kong, Longino embarked on some sightseeing and discovered an area called ‘Sneakers Street’.Sep 25, 2020
