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If you’re a sneakerhead, you might want to listen up for this one. According to a press release, one of the oldest and most successful e-commerce websites known on the Internet has just launched a flagship store in Los Angeles that rewards avid sneaker wearers for sporting their kicks. As one of the places to go when on the hunt for both new and pre-owned sneakers, eBay now wants to reward people who not only purchase shoes from their new store but for leaving out with them on their feet. For the forthcoming holiday, the Wear ‘Em Out store will become home to some of the most exclusive, top-notch sneakers available to sneaker lovers outside of eBay’s normal online platform. “Most people can identify with that feeling of getting a new pair of shoes that you love so much, you just HAVE to wear them out of the store,” said Garry Thaniel, GM of Sneakers at eBay. “The Wear ‘Em Out Store celebrates a love of sneakers while acknowledging that sneakerheads are often balancing what they wear...
There’s a difference between being for the culture and doing it for the culture and the three visionaries at Tradeblock — a sneaker trading app where kicks are currency — are committed to the latter for the sneaker community. The Austin -based startup officially hit the ground running earlier this year in May, but the initial vision for Tradeblock was birthed in 2009 by co-founder Tony Malveaux. While inspired by ESPN’s Trade Machine, Malveaux connected with his longtime best friend and now fellow co-founder Darren Smith about his idea — but it was a dream deferred until bringing their fellow childhood friend Mbiyimoh Ghogomu — Tradeblock’s CEO — onboard and from that moment they’ve become trailblazers in the sneaker marketplace.
HBCUs, an acronym for Historically Black Colleges and Universities , are a transformative educational experience. Getting to be surrounded by peers who look like you within walls that foster black excellence is a priceless gift. HBCUs exist to give Black Americans access to the education and opportunities they were once excluded from. Historical figures from Kamala Harris and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Oprah Winfrey and Langston Hughes have each attended HBCUs. This lends to them making a major impact in culture and society. This is especially true for HBCUs in Texas. While states all over the country are home to over 100 HBCUs, Texas is home to nine of them . Whether you’re scouting for yourself or someone else, here’s what to know about each Texas HBCU and weigh your options. Top HBCUs In Texas: Prairie View A&M University Prairie View A&M University is the top-ranked HBCU in Texas for its academics, sporting impressive graduates like U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and...
Breakups are always tricky. From the heartbreak to the reminiscing of memories, experiencing a relational transition can be seen as one of life’s tragedies. Although the beginning and end of a relationship are a natural part of human development, it doesn’t take away the sting when something special ends. While many would encourage folks to turn the “L” into a lesson, what happens when it’s hard to say goodbye — so you just keep coming back? Or even worse, when the love you have isn’t even reciprocated? This narrative may sound like the next great rom-com or the plot for a Shonda Rhimes spinoff. However, it is not the case here. This emotional rollercoaster actually refers to the reality of many sneakerheads and their experience with the Nike SNKRS app. Week after week, the latest shoes drop on the app, and while many are successful in their purchases, other potential buyers are left with the all too common “YOUR ENTRY WASN’T SELECTED” notification — talk about a loss. Despite this...
Sneakerheads worldwide are likely standing in awe to find out that an unreleased version of Air Jordan 13s has made it off Michael Jordan’s feet and onto the auction stage. Worn during Jordan’s final playoff run in the 1998 NBA Finals, the version of the shoe was never released to the public — but some lucky patron could be the owner of the one-of-one shoe.
The inception of Rares, a fintech startup, came with the purpose of turning sneakerheads from once just collectors to investors. Having a love for kicks himself, former athlete Gerome Sapp took his insight of them being alternative assets and created a platform that gives back to the Black community by providing accessibility to the collectible sneaker space — leading them to build wealth off of being the pioneers of the culture — as previously reported by AfroTech. Now, the social investing platform is creating even more room for sneaker enthusiasts to lock down wins in the market. On April 5, Rares announced the addition of secondary market trading, according to a press release shared with AfroTech. “Secondary trading has always been part of the product roadmap for Rares,” Sapp told AfroTech. “We want to provide use rs an opportunity to trade shares after sneakers IPOs are sold out, increasing the liquidity of the asset. Every day, sneakers continue to appreciate in value year...
If you’re a sneakerhead, EBkicks isn’t just a luxury — it’s a requirement. Made of all-natural and biodegradable materials, EBkicks — helmed by the husband-and-wife team of Kenny and Elin Berbick — is safe for all shoe materials. The Las Vegas-based duo has achieved exponential success as a family-centered lifestyle brand. As life and business partners, Elin and Kenny Berbick, pride themselves on being the original sneakerheads. The duo’s passion for sneakers inspired them to put their hard-earned money to develop low-cost top-tier biodegradable sneaker cleaning products. EB and Kenny have even become influencers in their own right with over 180,000 followers on Instagram and over 365,000 followers on TikTok, amassing nearly 5 million likes on the latter platform. What’s more, the solution can keep your expensive shoes lasting a lot longer — and looking a lot better in the process. The product was also recently featured in GQ, when popular sneaker influencers Miguel and Grace...
Over the past two weeks, sneakerheads and Virgil Abloh fans have placed their bids to get their hands on the Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 sneakers — the exclusive collaboration created prior to the Off-White designer’s passing in November 2021. AfroTech has shared reports on the custom shoes from when they were initially in the process to be put up on Sotheby’s website, which was Jan 26. On Feb. 8, the auction closed and sale prices are now being revealed, Hypebeast reports.
Apple is remaining committed to bringing Black-led platforms to the main stage for the world to see. The tech giant recently pledged $30 million in new commitments to our communities including the masterminds behind Kickstroid, the app deemed “the smartest sneaker app ever.” Founders David Alston and Nicco Adams created the platform to serve as the ultimate tool for sneakerheads using machine learning to bring sneaker culture straight to users’ fingertips through its mobile iOS app. It is designed to be used by everyone. Whether you’re the ultimate sneakerhead or someone who is taking their first dip into sneaker culture. The easy-to-use tool helps anyone using the Kickstroid app to stay up to date with the latest sneaker news and of course the latest sneaker drops. As Apple continues to build on its original investment as a part of its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI), which supports students, innovators, and advocacy organizations that are leading the charge in creating...
The bots won’t let Travis Scott — or his fans — be great. Revolt TV is reporting that the rapper-mogul’s Fragment Design Air Jordan 1 release was tainted by what they’re calling “sneaker bots.” Here’s what happened: some of Scott’s most devoted fans used a bot program called Linear AIO to secure tens of thousands of raffle tickets for their chance to land the coveted sneakers. One entrant nailed more than 25,000 entries, and another landed more than 30,000 entries, thanks to the bot. But while that helped fans who had the program to secure nearly 100 pairs of sneakers at a time, it left other disappointed fans out in the cold. One fan tweeted at Travis Scott, “This kinda stuff is disheartening. You try and try as a fan to show love and support for the artist and no matter how hard you try you lose to a bot who enters thousands of times. I mean… I’m gonna keep trying… but odds are against us fans.” More than 200 pairs of shoes, which retailed for $265 a pair, were secured with more...
Black women are some of the most innovative playmakers in sneaker culture today. Their contributions have made a global impact through some of the biggest streetwear brands and even their own self-made platforms that have helped pave the way for others. As previously reported by AfroTech, Black women aren’t waiting around for major corporations to offer them opportunities in the streetwear industry anymore. They’re carving out their own spaces and making room for other people in their communities to erase the “boys club” stereotype. And that’s exactly what True To Us founder Jourdan Ash set out to do when she created her forward-thinking online platform. True To Us — which is labeled as “a platform for you to be seen” — strives to center Black and brown women as the foundation of the streetwear and sneaker industries while also extending career opportunties. Like many sneakerheads, Ash got her proper introduction to the culture very early in her youth, even as early as the day she...
Sneaker culture has become a widespread phenomenon in the digital age that was brought to life via the internet. Sneakerheads have existed long before digital media became popularized, but platforms such as Instagram, Tumblr, and others gave them a place to thrive and connect. Though sneaker culture continues to grow and expand through different avenues, one thing remains unchanged — women, especially Black women, are still fighting their way into the “boys club.” “I’ve noticed that Black women, rather than waiting for major corporations to co-sign them, are actually creating their own spaces, platforms and events,” shared Robyn Mowatt — former sneaker columnist/ associate editor at HYPEBAE and current OkayPlayer staff writer. “This means that they’re taking control of their narratives and also making space for the next generation of young women to have ownership of streetwear/sneaker culture on their own terms,” she added. No longer needing approval from the industry’s gatekeepers,...
Michael Jordan is an immovable fixture in the sports pantheon, and by extension, the business world. On Sunday, April 19, ESPN will premiere “ The Last Dance ,” a 10-hour documentary that focuses on the icon’s final season (1997-98) with the Chicago Bulls. With never-before-seen footage, the series centers on Jordan’s role in one of the greatest dynasties in basketball history. As competitive as the greatest all-time player once was on the court, his off-court determination in business earned him the title as the highest-paid athlete of all time in 2017. Now, he is the first billionaire athlete with a $2.1 billion fortune, according to the Forbes list. Checks over stripes. Nike is Jordan’s longest and most recognizable endorsement deal. The relationship began in 1984 when the then-rookie and the sneaker conglomerate launched The Jordan Brand. As the legend goes, Jordan wanted to sign with adidas but ultimately signed with Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike. Following the first release...