| 10 Sneakers We’re Looking Forward to in 2010 Posted: 01 Jan 2010 11:28 AM PST  Hopefully, the majority of you picked up the must-haves on your list during 2009. If you didn’t, there is no time to dwell on the past! There is a plethora of great sneakers that are set to make appearances in 2010; some of them are closer than you think.Therefore, our staff compiled a list of 10 sneakers we’re looking forward to in 2010. We’re sure most of you will agree as evident by the comment section of some of our post. With that said, click here to check out some of the highly anticipated releases for 2010. Which sneakers are definite purchases for you this year? Note: History (only two years) has shown us that a special Air Jordan model seems to find its way into retailers around the holiday season. Check out the last page to see what we’re thinking may return in December 2010! | Read the rest of 10 Sneakers We’re Looking Forward to in 2010 Read the rest of 10 Sneakers We’re Looking Forward to in 2010
© George Kiel III for NiceKicks.com, 2010. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Features
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| Shoe of the Decade - Nike Air Force 1 Posted: 31 Dec 2009 03:28 PM PST  Over the course of this decade one shoe has become more than just a top seller year in and year out, it has become a staple. First released in 1982, the Nike Air Force 1 was a revolutionary basketball shoe. However, in the 2000’s, the shoe grew to new heights. Limited runs, special releases, and overseas exclusives made the hunger for this shoe unlike any other. Coming in just three different cuts (low, mid, and high), it was evident that this rather simply constructed shoe had limitless possibilities with endless opportunities for unique color-blocking, upper materials, stitched logos, and even custom labels. Besides making a main stay on the shoe walls at Foot Lockers in virtually every mall and sneaker boutique in America, the shoe became the canvas of choice for memorable collaborations and hyperstrikes, creating even more energy for the shoe. Nike teamed up with street artists, musicians, DJ’s, athletes, and shop owners to create limited exclusive makeups of the timeless classic. The best years of the Nike Air Force 1 may be up for debate, but the shoe gained considerable mainstream attention after the release of Nelly’s 2002 single “Air Force Ones” and the shoe’s 25th anniversary in 2007. The shoe has seen a slight decline in popularity and buzz following the “Year of Air Force Ones”, but it cannot be debated that this shoe was the biggest model of the decade. | Read the rest of Shoe of the Decade - Nike Air Force 1
© Matt Halfhill for NiceKicks.com, 2009. | Permalink | 30 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Nike, Nike Air Force 1
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| Brand of the Decade - Jordan Brand Posted: 31 Dec 2009 03:13 PM PST  For the last half of the 80s and for a whole decade after, one athlete dominated his sport like no other. Beyond becoming the most recognized player in the US, Michael Jordan became the most recognized person worldwide - and with him came the spread of basketball across the globe. The 2000’s started without Mike on the court, but his legacy lived on through memories and his trademark, Jordan Brand. Though Mike’s return to the NBA for a brief run with the Washington Wizards reminded us of his incredible talent, the impact and power of Jordan Brand carried on beyond the highlights each evening. Jordan Brand continued to create a new model of Air Jordan shoes every single year during the decade despite Mike only playing in three of them. Re-releases of his shoes were routine, opening day sell outs and the phenomenon of early morning lineups and campouts became normal for many of his shoes. Growing beyond the man himself, Jordan Brand was well represented with a team of athletes in the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Jordan Brand continued to carry out it’s message and representation through signature athlete lines that were formed under the Jordan umbrella. Athletes such as Derek Jeter, Randy Moss, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Paul were chosen by MJ himself to be an extension of the brand. Of course, we cannot forget that in November of this year Michael Jordan officially handed the torch off to new member Dwyane Wade to lead the brand into the next decade. There were many great brands of this past decade in sneakers, but given the sheer domination in the market by Jordan Brand, its continued growth and its continued relevance, there is no brand more deserving of this title. | Read the rest of Brand of the Decade - Jordan Brand
© Matt Halfhill for NiceKicks.com, 2009. | Permalink | 25 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Air Jordans, Jordan
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| Designer of the Decade - Eric Avar Posted: 31 Dec 2009 02:58 PM PST  A shoe is much more than just leather and rubber. To many consumers, the shoe represents an attitude or their favorite athlete, or something that defines who they are as a person. For some, the final product is the fruition of their art and science. As technology advanced and manufacturing capabilities became virtually limitless, the designs of footwear reached new heights. For the last part of the 90’s, this individual started changing the way we looked at performance basketball with the designs of the Nike Air Penny I, Nike Air Foamposite, and the Nike Air Flightposite. During the 2000s, he continued to redefine what were the new the standards in performance basketball with shoes such as the Huarache 2k4, the Hyperdunk, and the Kobe series. The best footwear designer of this decade is none other than Eric Avar. As Innovation Kitchen Creative Director of Special Projects, Avar has taken the lead of bringing Nike’s latest technological innovations and applying them to creating a better performing product. Never fully satisfied, his aim and approach to create something better with each new model gives consumers the greatest footwear money can buy. | Read the rest of Designer of the Decade - Eric Avar
© Matt Halfhill for NiceKicks.com, 2009. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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| Top 9 Sneaker Stories of ‘09 Posted: 31 Dec 2009 02:28 PM PST  2009 was definitely a great year to be a sneaker lover! Not only were the majority of the sneaker releases exceptional (”Space Jam”, Air Yeezy, etc.) but sneaker-related stories undoubtedly dominated 2009 (Marcus Jordan, DJ AM). With that said, our staff compiled a list of sneaker stories that remained at the forefront of sneaker enthusiasts’ minds throughout the year. There were many more than nine stories; however, staying with the theme of the year, we narrowed it down to this specific number. Hit the jump to view the Top 9 Sneaker Stories of ‘09. | Read the rest of Top 9 Sneaker Stories of ‘09 Read the rest of Top 9 Sneaker Stories of ‘09
© George Kiel III for NiceKicks.com, 2009. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Features
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| How The Recession Has Affected Sneakers Posted: 31 Dec 2009 01:28 PM PST  2009 was a tough year for a much of America. The national recession put stress and strain on pocketbooks everywhere, meaning that hobby expenses had to be cut back. For many of you, that meant your love for sneakers had to take a backseat to more dire necessities. While lower incomes and tougher times have proved to be at least an inconvenience or worse for many people, many of us overlook the troubles that the stores we buy our shoes from have faced. Looking back on 2009 in terms of sneakers, many things come to mind. High-tops were big, Jordan Brand made sure we knew MJ was being inducted into the Hall, and many other trends came and went. One trend many of us never considered though, was an economic one. So to look into the year in a fiscal sense, we look now at spending trends and receive insight from a boutique owner in a struggling local economy. | Read the rest of How The Recession Has Affected Sneakers
© Alex Kroviak for NiceKicks.com, 2009. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Features, Sneaker Synopsis
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