Sports Collectibles

Sneakerheads: Athletic shoes steppin’ up in style, price

By J. CHRISTINA HUH
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 27, 2007

“Nike’s Tiffany Dunk is part of the growing collection of designer athletic shoes amassed by ’sneakerhead’ Ian Mussmacher, 24, of Port St. Lucie.

Ian Mussmacher, a Port St. Lucie graphic designer, isn’t responding to a couture Rorschach inkblot test. As a “sneakerhead,” an avid collector of designer athletic shoes, he’s describing a few of the shoes in his 40-pair collection.

To Mussmacher, picking up pairs of Air Dunks is ‘pretty much like a monthly bill.’ The more original, rare and pricey the sneaker, the greater the allure.

…Many sneakerheads disagree as to the origin of the movement. Some even point to the 1985 debut of the popular black-and-red Nike Air Jordans, named for former NBA superstar Michael Jordan.

Gilbert maintains that 1976 is the true starting point of sneakerhead culture. NBA veteran Julius “Dr. J” Erving was the “original high-flying-in-the-air type of player that everyone wanted to be.” His shoes of choice: Converse All-Stars.”

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