KYW Monthly Mailbag 📩— Did the DN work? ... Not-so-Impossible grails ... and more
Goooood morning, folks! Welcome back to the Kicks You Wear. Thank you so much for rocking with me this morning. I appreciate you taking the time.
Have a good week? I hope so. Mine was a bit stressful. But I’m glad the weekend is here! Gonna do the Easter thing this weekend. Paint some eggs, maybe? Idk.
Let’s rock.
Sooooo…Air Max Day? Was that good or bad
The reader continues… I mean, I don’t even know what would really make it “successful.” But what were your thoughts on everything?
This is a great question. Measuring success in individual sneakers is pretty tough.
We don’t have stock or sales numbers, so we’re just gauging vibes here. Instant sellouts are usually the benchmark people use for “success” but I think that’s the wrong way to go about things. The long tail impact of a sneaker is far more important.
Where things stand: It’s still a bit too early to tell, but I think I’d probably consider Air Max Day and the launch of the DN solid to this point.
A quick overlook: The DN isn’t necessarily sold out everywhere, but did seem to sell well.
Checking Nike’s site, three different colorways of DN men’s pairs sold out. Multiple sizes on other colorways also sold out.
What’s interesting is that didn’t seem to work nearly as well on the women’s side. Some sizes are gone, but all four colors (ONLY FOUR???) have quite a bit available.
What this means: Overall, I think the signs with the DN are good.
Nike’s big push on these worked. It wanted people to like the DN a lot, and that happened one way or another.
Sure, every pair didn’t sell out. But remember: Nike flooded the market with these. This wasn’t supposed to be an instant sellout. It’s not a hyped drop. This is a sneaker that the brand wants everyone to have. A lot of people will have that opportunity if they want it, and that’s a good thing.
The key: The second part of that last bullet point is huge. People will have the opportunity to buy these if they want to. Do they actually want to? Will people want these? We’ll have to find out. That’s what the long tail effect I mentioned earlier is. That feels like less of a guarantee.
The other side: While the DN did well on Nike.com and SNKRS, it didn’t sell as well at other sneaker retailers. For example, if you check retailers like JD Sports and Hibbet.
That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It doesn’t mean the launch wasn’t a success or that this shoe has no long-term future. It just means that people may not be sold on them just yet.
I actually think it’s a good thing.
Optionality is always great for the consumer. The more pairs available, the better. It’s good to allow people to see a shoe in the wild and then return to it.
That’s a possibility with the DN. When that initial wave hits the streets, folks will react to it. If the reaction is good, they’ll come back for more.
If people love it? It’ll be the next Air Max 270. If they don’t? Well, it’ll probably go the way a bunch of other models you’ve forgotten about have.
Either way, it’s a bit too soon to tell. So, temporarily, I’ll say Air Max Day was solid. But I think a wait-and-see approach would serve us all best here.
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What’s with the New Balance 1000?
The reader continues… I’ve seen a bunch of models supposedly coming out like the Joe FreshGoods joints and I think some ALD pairs, too? Where did this model come from? Do people actually like it? I think it looks kinda weird…
The New Balance 1000 model is about to undergo a renaissance that will probably give it much more of a spotlight than its original release ever did.
What’s happening: The brand’s plan for the 1000 is already in motion.
We’re getting collaborations on the 1000 from arguably New Balance’s top creative partners in Joe FreshGoods and Teddy Santis with Aimé Leon Dore.
On top of that, there have been GR models floating around the internet over the last few days.
You know how this works. The collaborations drop first. After people miss out on those, they flock to the GR models in similar colors. There’s that halo effect again.
The backstory: New Balance is taking a model from its Y2K era and leaning in on a current trend.
The 1000 originally dropped in 1999. It was a departure from the mesh dad vibes of New Balance’s 99X line and the company’s dive into a more edgy look.
This was a direct response to Nike’s Air Max line, which had taken a more futuristic turn with models like the Air Max 97, for example.
Don’t feel bad if this is your first time seeing the 1000. It’s not a shoe that folks were checking for back then. That’s why it’ll probably work so well now.
New Balance has done well to bring back lesser-known models like the 610, 550 and more over the last few years and give them a fresh spin.
It’s also given us newer models like the 9060 on top of that.
The same strategy is probably going to work here.
Do you have any favorites that aren’t impossible-to-get grails?
The full question… Lately, I’ve been obsessed with sneakers that have a tear-away upper or something that fades or rips over time to reveal a different color or material underneath. I love the idea of a personal story through its wear patterns, similar to a good pair of jeans or a leather wallet. I know the Nike Maui Wowies and the Statue of Liberty SBs, but do you have any favorites that aren’t impossible-to-get grails?
This question is from the homie Joe in Boston. Appreciate you for taking the time to drop this in, bud. Thanks for reading.
My grails: To be honest, I wouldn’t say I have any grails that are “attainable” at this point. They’re all too expensive! I’ve only got a handful (and probably won’t ever own any of them).
Original 2005 Nike Raygun SB Dunks: It’s probably too late for me to own these. All the pairs available are nearly 20 years old.
2014’s Northern Lights SB Dunk Low: This is one I’ll forever beat myself up for. I had a chance to cop these for a little under $150 in 2017, but I passed because, well, I was broke. Now I’m not…and I still can’t afford these. LMAO.
“No emotions are emotions” Joe FreshGoods 992: I was distraught these joints were only dropping in Chicago. I’ll get them one day…when I have a few racks to spare.
I hope you cop your grails soon, bud! I’ll let you know when I get one of mine. Just…don’t hold your breath.
Of the major shoe companies, who has the most random athlete with a signature shoe in 2024? (And why is it Paul George?)
Is Paul George’s signature sneaker that random? I mean, I get why you’re saying this. But, apparently, he’s the GOAT for Gen Z. It’s so weird, yo.
Anyway, if I had to choose someone from a major sneaker brand, it’d be Donovan Mitchell with Adidas? Don’t get me wrong. I like what Mitchell’s sneaker line has done lately. The D.O.N. Issue 6 looks incredible. But he’s never had a deep playoff run and has never played in a big NBA market.
But look… I’ve got to be real with you. The answer that I wanted to say here is Gordon Hayward. YES. GORDON HAYARD.
This man was showing off his Anta GH4 at the beginning of the NBA season. He’s been with the company since 2018 and signed a five-year extension in 2022.
And I want to tell y’all I’d wear these, but I’d definitely be lying to you. Look at them. No thanks.
Look, I don’t want to hate on Gordon Hayward here. And I understand that for Chinese basketball brands, it’s a matter of just getting your foot in the door where you can with these major athletes.
BUT GORDON HAYWARD?!? I’m sorry. Does not compute.
What are you looking forward to wearing in the spring?
Yo, honestly? It’s kind of crazy. I was just looking at my last few footwear purchases, and it’s clear that I’m a bit obsessed with burgundy and red right now.
My last 3 pairs:
And the next pair I cop (at least hopefully!) will be the Joe FreshGoods New Balance 1000 in the Black Ice colorway, which is extremely similar to a few sneakers mentioned above.
I don’t know what it is about that color that I’m so into right now, but that’s what I’m going to be rocking all spring. We’ll see if it lasts into the summer.
#TheKicksWeWear
Y’ALL KNOW THE VIBES!!!!! LET’S GET IT!
First, the homie Saoirse popped out in these LOVELY Forces. These are so tough, man. Those laces? SHEESH.
My dog Nick came through with some Louboutins for MLB’s opening day. I’ve never seen these joints before. Wow. That’s MONEY.
The homie Cesar came through with the Jjjjound 990v3s. I be hating on Jjjjound. These joints never miss tho. This colorway is niceeeee.
The homie Jay came through with the Fire Red AJ3s. Classic shoe. Classic colorway.
Then, the homie Kevin sent us home with baby boy showing off them ALDI 1s! I LOVE THESE SO MUCH LOLOLOLOL.
Y’all did that, man. Thanks for sharing! SMOKED IT.
Thanks so much for reading today, fam! Appreciate y’all. I hope you have a fantastic weekend ahead of you. If you’re celebrating Easter, please have a blast with the family.
Let’s chat again on Monday. Until then, folks. Peace and love. Be easy, be safe, be kind. We out.
-Sykes 💯