Sneaker culture is no longer the preserve of the hardcore sneaker freak: it is a full-blown mainstream phenomenon. Walk into any shoe shop today and you'll be faced with a dizzying array of new designs, 'old skool' favourites, limited edition models and 'rare' shoes, all in a myriad of colourways. The sneaker has moved out from the sports arena and exploded into popular culture, a fashion staple that transcends race and class yet defines who you are in today's urban tribes. This encyclopaedic, profusely illustrated guide displays over 180 sneakers chosen for the impact they have made on sneaker culture worldwide. Eleven leading brands - from adidas to Vans - are discussed in detail with full histories, while a further selection - from well-loved or long-lost classics to new designs - will excite both the novice collector and the committed sneaker freak. Packed with over 550 specially commissioned photographs, and featuring an indispensable directory of collectors' shops, resources and websites, as well as practical tips on how to build and care for your collection, this is the definitive guide to the very best and most collectable sneaker designs. Sneakers is written, photographed and designed by Unorthodox Styles, the team behind the leading sneaker website.
My boyfriend is a breakdancer and owns about 150 pairs of sneakers. I got this book as a Christmas gift for him and he just absolutely loved it. Great illustrations and images. The book is well put together and pretty detailed. However one thing that they didn't really mention was that the cover is a slightly padded material. Just makes the book a more interesting item.
Great Buy
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
Bought this for my boyfriend (who is a sneakerhead) and he loves it. High quality print, bright pages, covers many of the classic brands and at an excellent price - best price I've seen for this book and I've looked for it elsewhere. Definetly recommended.
A Fairly Comprehensive Look at Sneakers
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
A great look at most of the shoes in each of the major companies respective ranges. While the descriptions and info on the shoes are pretty scant, the pictures more than make up for that. The best part of running through this book is getting hit with the nostalgia that comes with seeing so many products from the not-so-distant past. A nice modern coffee table (or ottoman, I suppose) book. Air Max 1s are the best shoes ever.
asset to hiphip culture
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
this book is awesome is very informative, and if you know anything about the hip hop era then this book should be added to a persons collections.
Clean, refreshing visual piece... it is obvious the authors did their sneaker research
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
I own several sneaker books including SOLE PROVIDER and Bobbito Garcia's WHERE'D YOU GET THOSE (both of which I recommend) and I found this book to be a refreshing alternative. Written by the guys behind CROOKED TONGUES (which is a fantastic site by the way), this book is meant for the sneaker collector who appreciates the aesthetic qualities of a shoe, rather than for someone who only buys into the hype and player endorsement. For practically every sneaker that is showcased, at least one clear photo, brief history, and random fact dedicated to each shoe. I also appreciated the effort by the authors to distinguish original editions from reissues. In addition, the sneaker "dictionary" and collecting/cleaning tips sections are great as well. One word of caution is that I would not recommend the book for those who are only into Air Jordans, or Dunks, or swear by only one sneaker brand. The book contains information for a variety of different models and brands, some which are more obscure. For example, I found myself skipping over some Vans, Reebok, and Diadora models. The authors also have more of preference for vintage running shoes as well. But if you have an open mind and an eclectic taste in sneakers, I recommend owning this book.
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