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Taking a sneaker bite of the Big Apple
By SneakerFreak | September 27, 2008
AS the birthplace of hip hop, New York was always down with the latest kicks, with the B Boys of the Bronx rockin’ the latest Puma suedes, shelltoes and Adidas campus back in the day.
So, obviously, with a city so engrained in the world of sneaker culture, when Sneakerfreak recently paid a visit to the Big Apple, it was a match made in heaven.
Trainer shops can be found on virtually every corner of Manhattan, but for those exclusive numbers, collectors need to head off downtown to Soho and Greenwich Village.
In these bohemian districts, once the home of such musical luminaries as Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix, you’ll find shops including Adidas Originals, Burton, DC Shoes, Stussy and A Bathing Ape, with many of the stores selling trainers a lot cheaper than back home in Blighty, especially at present with the pound so much stronger than the dollar.
As well as selling some tasty one offs, including a service in Adidas Originals which will actually make you your own custom made kicks, the shops are all on a mission to outdo each other in the decor stakes with many coming on like art galleries than retail stores.
In the Bathing Ape shop, which is as exclusive as it gets, the place is bedecked from floor to ceiling in owner Nigo’s ape influenced camo print and the bright patent leather Bapesta sneakers presented to customers on a revolving metal plate, a bit like you’d see in a Japanese sushi bar, although unlike the raw fish the trainers here will set you back considerably more.
Topics: Culture, SneakerFreak | 1 Comment »
October 4th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Great photo and back in the day