Whether you call them trainers, kicks or sneakers, they are now a global phenomenon of unimaginable proportions. Sporty footwear is relevant the world over, and has been for a while: we all need something comfortable to run around in, or at least feel comfortable. But mere functionality and, yes, even looking good, has been completely blown out of the water by a constantly-snowballing sneaker culture that has scooped up the imagination of billions across most corners of the planet.
Trainers – as they’re best known in the UK – really matter to people; they’re an important choice and something of a status symbol, or a signifier at the very least. At the top of this vast, hungry pyramid – fuelled by a potent mix of fashion, celebrity and community, and propelled by the zeitgeist power of social media – trainers have become highly coveted and collectible investments. Sometimes worth more than a house
Their stock is only rising, too. Brands like Nike, Adidas, and Yeezy are now expert in cultivating and catering to the demand for limited-edition and limited-run releases, and are steadily unveiling cutting-edge creative collaborations with the ‘hottest’ designers, artists and celebrities in order to boost the desirability of a particular type of trainer. Whether you’re a big ‘sneakerhead’ or not, the collectibles market for trainers is something to behold. Here’s our pick of some highly notable investments, and some that are available to invest in.
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GAME-WORN NIKE AIR JORDAN 13 ($2.2 MILLION)
The historical origins of ‘sneaker culture’ can be traced back to the 1980s, perfectly aligning with the rise of basketball stars like Michael Jordan and the mind-blowingly fresh hip-hop music emerging from predominantly black, urban areas of the United States of America. Vibrant cultures merged and intermingled: a glorious, Technicolor melting pot that gave rise to a cultural explosion that resonates to this day. When Chicago Bulls legend Jordan – the biggest sports star of all time, arguably, and certainly the most marketable – was first signed up by US sportswear giant Nike early, nobody could have predicted the impact it would have. When Nike used his name and created an iconic logo in his image for the release of the Nike Air Jordan 1 trainers in 1985, it was a pivotal moment – combining sports performance and street fashion with genuine intention, perhaps for the first time. But again, nobody could have imagined or foreseen the totemic influence it would have on fashion and culture for decades to come, with tens of millions of pairs of the evolving Nike Air Jordans range sold across the world. From those early days, fast forward nearly 40 years to 2023 – a breathtaking manifestation. At a Sotheby’s auction, the record for the most expensive sneakers ever sold was broken – actually completely smashed. The Nike Air Jordan 13 sneakers worn by Jordan during Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals fetched an astonishing $2.2 million. How so? Well, the occasion itself was truly iconic – Jordan scored 37 points as he inspired the Bulls to their sixth title of the decade in his final season. Also take into account the roaring success of the ‘The Last Dance’ documentary, which supercharged interest in the sneakers Jordan wore that day.
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KANYE WEST’S NIKE AIR YEEZY 1 ‘PROTOTYPE’ ($1.8 million)
The previous bank-busting record for the most expensive trainers was for another pair from the Nike Air range – Kanye West’s Yeezy 1 ‘Prototype’ sold for $1.8million when the hammer fell at Sotheby’s in April 2021, purchased with glee by the investing platform RARES and causing big waves, especially across the stunned Modern Collectables market. A master of attention-grabbing stunts and tightrope-walking PR, controversial rapper and producer West wore these iconic size 12s during his performances of ‘Hey Mama’ and ‘Stronger’ at the 2008 Grammy Awards, which recognise musical excellence and impact. But the sneaker statement proved to be a moment in history: these were the exact shoes and this was the exact moment that announced Nike’s prospective Air Yeezy project to the wider world – a huge moment for ‘sneakerheads’, and the birth of a devastatingly desirable sub industry in itself. Envisioned by Kanye himself, in tandem with leading designer Mark Smith, the pioneering prototypes feature the now-familiar forefoot strap seen on all Air Yeezy models, a soft black leather upper with nicely-perforated detailing, and a tonal Swoosh logo overlaid.
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APPLE INC. OMEGA SPORTS APPLE COMPUTER SNEAKERS (Available for $50,0000 )
Perfectly obscure personifications of pop culture, in many ways, these Apple sneakers are achieving the highest cult status among certain collectors and fetching increasingly high prices at auction. Never available to the general public, these incredibly rare trainers were custom-made exclusively for lucky Apple employees in the mid-1990s and used as a special giveaway during a National Sales Conference. As such, they are a genuinely unique artifact from Apple's stellar history and symbolise so much – in particular the innovative spirit and unique corporate culture of the trail-blazing US tech company during the 1990s. For many collectors and enthusiasts – perhaps those of an age who can remember what life was like before the digital age – they also represent a potent nostalgic connection to the early days of personal computing, when a smartphone would have seemed like the work of science fiction. To that end, these highly-valued trainers radiate that innocence – a simple 90s design, almost like a tennis shoe, adorned with the iconic rainbow Apple logo on the tongue and lateral quarter. Apple is now a firmly established cultural icon and more than half the world uses its technology products. Only a few can say they have a pair of Apple trainers though.
Available to buy now at Sotheby's online. $50,000 (size 10.5)
NIKE SB DUNK LOW PARIS BERNARD BUFFET ( Available for $90,000 )
If basketball has had a colossal influence on sneakers, how do you measure the impact of skateboarding culture? Safe to say it is similarly mountainous, and Nike’s SB Dunk Low has proven this to be the case. Hugely iconic and massively popular, this range has long fired the imaginations of the passionate skateboarding community, and then transcended it. Highly coveted among collectors – and perhaps with even more allure given the French capital is hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics – these SB Dunk Low Paris Bernard Buffet’s were originally released in 2003 as part of the White Dunk Exhibition, and only around 200 pairs were created, with far fewer in circulation today. The aesthetics pop: a sophisticated Paris colourway and standout canvas overlays are adorned with the artwork of renowned French painter Bernard Buffet (showing off the artistic heritage of Paris). Myriad qualities for the collector and resale market shine through: rarity, cultural significance, and stunning design.
Available to buy now at Sotheby's online. $90,000 (size 9.5)
The trainers people choose to wear often command attention as we walk past each other down the road: they exist as an everyday status symbol. In the world of modern collectibles, they now command attention with equal magnitude: they exist as both a powerful status symbol and a supremely canny investment for those that choose to dip their toe – forgive the pun. This is a captivating market, where fashion, culture, creativity and big business collide.
