What’s on your list of essential purchases as the coronavirus pandemic refuses to release its hold? As the Great Lockdown drags on, there are some predictable winners in the shopping stakes, and also some surprising winners. But what about footwear? Our ace correspondent Julie Chang Murphy has the rundown on everything you need to know about the current market for limited-edition luxury sneakers – and a curated list of the latest cool new sneaker drops to love right now.
it’s a buyer’s market for limited-edition luxury sneakers
Some of the retail winners to emerge during COVID-19 have been predictable: lounge wear, exercise equipment, and home office furniture. Others have surprised us: lingerie and sex toys, video games, and fine jewelry.
The new luxury limited-edition sneaker drops to know about right now.
Imagine these “must-have” items in a time capsule for future generations and historians to analyze. These are the things that brought comfort, provided entertainment, and enabled productivity while the world shut down.
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But how’s the sneaker market right now?
Will sneakers like the Medicom x Nike SB Dunk Low “Bearbrick” be in that time capsule of essential items during the Great Lockdown? After all, limited-edition sneakers are the nexus of casual wear and sports, with the cache and investment potential of luxury brands.
Case in point: the Jordan 1 Retro High Dior. This first time collaboration between the Jordan brand and legacy fashion house Christian Dior was released in April of 2020 for $2,000 a pair. Now the sneakers are being resold on StockX (an online resale platform) for an average price of $11,108.
New limited-edition luxury sneaker drops: The Jordan 1 Retro High Dior. Courtesy Photo.
Dazzling as that return on investment may be, this out-sized success is an anomaly. During the pandemic, sneaker sales have dropped with brick and mortar store closings. And sales via online resellers, like the previously mentioned StockX and GOAT have remained steady overall. But they haven’t lived up to previous expectations.
After an initial four percent decline, about 300 of the top 500 sneakers have increased in price since the lockdown began, while 200 have decreased in price, reports StockX’s Senior Economist Jesse Einhorn.
There have also been production and shipping issues resulting from COVID-related shutdowns, and like blockbuster movies, many sneaker release dates have been postponed. Even the most ardent sneakerheads are being more choosy with what they buy, and (gasp!) actually wearing some of their kicks.
New limited-edition luxury sneaker drops: The Air Jordan 1 High OG Court Purple. Courtesy Photo.
Others, like Canada-based influencer Cid “The Kicks” Merisier, has said he is not interested in buying anything at the moment, preferring to concentrate on his family. Except for a pair of Air Jordan 1 High OG “Court Purple.”
New Sneaker Drops to Know right now
Could it be a buyer’s market? We think so! If you’re in on this, here are some of the most noteworthy drops from this month and next.
the new limited-edition sneaker drops of fall 2020
Those are the buzzed-about new limited-edition luxury sneaker drops to know about this fall. And if the trends continue, sharp-eyed buyers will score some great deals. Are you in? Happy shopping!
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Crediting her training as a cultural anthropologist at Wellesley College, Julie has immersed herself in various industries in the last 15 years including fashion design, event planning, and fitness. Julie lives in New York where she loves trying every ramen and dumpling restaurant with her husband and three children. She finds joy in bold prints, biographies of fierce women, kickboxing. And spending way too long finding the perfect polish color to express her mood.
Join our community
For access to insider ideas and information on the world of luxury, sign up for our Dandelion Chandelier newsletter. And see luxury in a new light.