The new year has brought us many new sneakers – from the Air Jordan 4” to the Adidas PureBoost Go Ren Zhe – with many more arriving in the months to come. With the roster of sneakers expanding year on year and price tags increasing, it can be hard to know which will actually worth the money and which give you the biggest return on your investment.
Since more brands and celebrities have been collaborating with major sneaker retailers, there have been some of the most innovative designs – gaining the attention of sneakerheads and the average buyer alike. Since sneakers have become more inserted into today’s the race to be an owner has never been harder, some only desire to lace up and rock their new kicks but others seek to resell the trainers to turn a profit.
But, which sneakers have seen the biggest increase in value compared to their original retail price?
Leading entertainment experts PlayUSA have conducted a study analysing some of the most popular sneakers of 2018-19, finding the top brands and most valuable sneakers on the market.
Sneakers That Peaked In Price In 2018
Due to the recent, and ever-growing, influence celebrities and other brands have been having in the sneaker community – like Jordan, Kanye or Playstation – the average price of sneakers has spiked in terms of both retail price, and especially in terms of resale value. Sneakers that once had a reasonable price tag soon saw a tremendous increase when resold due to desirability and limited stock. PlayUSA’s research found that these sneakers were the ones that hit new peaks in terms of price:
1. Nike Jordan 1 Retro High x Off-White University Blue – Jordan is a brand that needs no introduction, however, when Off-White a streetwear fashion brand got involved, they turned a classically styled sneaker and gave it new life. The retail price for these were only $190 however they’ve hit the peak price of $1,500 – increasing by 689%.
2. Nike Air Max 1/97 x Sean Wotherspoon (Extra Lace Set Only) – Ahead of Air Max Day, Nike set to release Sean Wotherspoon’s winning entry to 2017’s ‘Vote Forward’ competition become one of the most anticipated releases. The co-owner of Round Two Sean replaced the upper reflective waves of the traditional Air Max 97 with varying colours of corduroy, added the midsole unit from 1987’s original icon Air max 1’s to create a new classic. The 1/97 model was released in 2018 and had a retail price for $160 but then had an increase by 432% which raised the price to a new peak of $851.
3. Nike Air Presto Off-White x Nike Presto “Polar Opposites – Black” – Again another collaboration between Nike and Virgil Abloh, founder of menswear brand Off-White has made the top three kicks. The Presto kicks features an all-black upper and midsole with accents provided by a delicately-pinned white Swoosh with a small orange tab – very unique way. These were released in 2018 and could be bought at retail for $160 but in resale these had a 416% price increase and peaked at $825.
Buy, Buy, Buy – Resell, Resell, Resell
Nike is a dominant force in the sneaker market which isn’t surprising, however, it doesn’t stop other brands drawing close in terms of pricing. Since more sneaker manufacturers are collaborating with more brands it has changed the game for those looking to resell their sneakers. But who should you invest in if you’re looking for sneakers at the top of the resale market?
1. Nike: Jordan – The Nike Jordan sneaker has always had a big price tag that only increased at resale. But, the collaboration with Off-White was received very well among both sneakerheads and resellers alike. The Jordan 1 Retro High Off-White University Blue, at retail they were only $190, however, at resale, they increased 689% peaking at $1,500.
2. Adidas: Yeezy – When Kanye got involved with Adidas in 2014 it changed the game in terms of popularity – since that partnership, all of Kanye and Adidas collaborations have sold out in seconds. the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Static Reflective sneakers had a retail price of $220 and showed a 243% increase that peaked at $755.
3. Converse Chuck Taylor: Off-White – Even though Converse isn’t a competitor to Nike they have also shown a change in both the creative designs and resell value. These limited edition Off-White Converse sneakers saw a 146% increase when they peaked from $130 to $320. Off-White have been a brilliant collaborator for both Nike and Converse – seeing that both of their collaborations saw an increase in resale value.
Emma Trotter, Site Runner for PlayUSA.com, commented: “ Sneakers are deeply rooted in pop culture and fashion. The price will continue to rise so much so that even the cheapest pair on the most expensive list can be the same price as an old car.”
“Over recent years, we have seen the rise of individuals turning their eBay pages into revenue generating business models due to the high demand for exclusive sneakers – which is so exciting to see. I am sure that this trend is only going to continue to expand as more and more athletes and celebrities enter the sphere of footwear and reselling becomes more mainstream.”
Click here to see the Top 10 most valuable sneakers for collectors.
