KYW Monthly Mailbag — 📥 Giving up on Kobes, sneaker renting and more
I can't believe we're still having to go through this with the Kobes
Gooooood morning, family! Welcome back to the Kicks You Wear. Thank you so much for rocking with me today! Appreciate your time. Hope you’ve had a fantastic week.
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With that out the way, let’s dive in.
Why do Kobe drops still feel so impossible these days? + Can we get some generic Kobes for the hoopers?
These are a couple of questions combined related to the Kobe drops that we saw coming down the pipeline this week. Obviously, this was a big week for Bean fans.
The Kobe 8 “Halo” dropped on Bryant’s birthday, which is August 23.
The very next day on August 24 Nike held a shock drop on the SNKRS app with limited amounts of pairs that have dropped over the last couple of years.
The results were as disappointing as usual. Very few sneakers released, a ton of Ls and endless complaints from fans. After all the promises over the last few years of finally getting Kobes to fans who truly wanted them, we were back at square one.
That’s where these questions come in.
The first: The reader wants to know why it feels so impossible to buy Kobes these days.
One thing we need to come to understand about these drops is that it’s like that on purpose. A post from Vanessa Bryant ahead of the “Halo” drop outlines it here.
Nike wanted this debut Halo Collection to be limited and collectable but the good news is Nike is working towards more units for future Kobe releases! The “Kobe Halo” collection debuts on Kobe’s birthday tomorrow, collect all future Halo releases to celebrate this special day every year.
Nike wanted the collection to be “limited and collectible.” That means two things.
First, the stock number on these “Halo” models is low. It’s limited, meaning that it’s not something for everyone to have access to.
Second, it’s collectible. That means there are more models like this that are coming. Nike has outlined in its Kobe Brand plan that more “Halo” models are coming and they’ll be released on Bryant’s birthday annually. So expect the same next year.
Something about that just doesn’t feel right, though, does it?
This has essentially been turned into a game. With regular sneaker drops, that’s fine. But with these? These aren’t just sneakers to people anymore. Folks see these shoes as their connection to a hero that they’ll never see again. They just want to buy into that. Turning that into a game of chance just feels like a violation.
At this point, it’s just as bad as the resellers who upcharge for the shoes on the secondary market. Nike is just as complicit in using this man’s death for profit.
Looking forward: As far as future models go, Vanessa Bryant alluded to that in her post as well. There are going to be more Kobe sneakers coming outside of these Halo drops that won’t be as limited.
I want to believe that this is something that will happen. It has to, right?
In order for a brand to truly leave its mark, consumers have to have the product. A Kobe Brand can’t survive off of limited drops alone.
Plus, as the brand continues to grow, we’ll probably get more variations of Bryant’s shoes. More Kobe ADs, more original Mamba line stuff and maybe even some new models to go along with that.
That sounds great. It’s certainly possible. But, at this point, why should we believe that it’s something that’s coming? It hasn’t happened yet. Nike and the Bryant estate reunited in March of 2022. Since then, all we’ve gotten since were limited drops and empty promises.
It’s hard to keep the faith here. I mean, how many times have I written this same article with the same issues? We’re all just waiting for Nike to get this right. The brand just hasn’t. It’s all been so disappointing.
My final thought: Honestly, I think it’s time to quit with this. That sucks to say, but it’s the best solution here.
Fans deserve so much better than this sort of treatment. This has literally been turned into a game. Promises of more have been broken and that’s just not going to stop happening. At least not anytime soon.
So, ask yourself, is it worth it? Do you really need that pair of Kobes? Will having them make you more of a fan than you were yesterday before you did? The answer to that question is no, it won’t. This isn’t a need. It’s just a want. Kobe still means the same thing to you regardless.
Stop settling. Don’t come back to the same well. You deserve better. Maybe Nike will give it to you one day. Until then, please stop tripping over these sneakers.
With resale prices moving where they are, Foot Locker situation the way it is, backdoors as open as they are … what's stopping you from embracing enjoying sneakers again by renting?
Speaking for myself here, I’ve never personally had a problem with renting sneakers. When the previous iteration of KYX World still offered that as a service, I thought it was a valuable tool in the toolbox for sneaker lovers.
Here’s why: Let’s think about where we were.
At the time, the most hyped sneakers were still so hard to purchase. That stretch from 2020 until about midway through 2022 had us all down bad. We couldn’t even cop the simplest pairs of Dunks.
We saw tons of companies pop up and offer options to help people just purchase sneakers. Unboxed, SoleSavy, Sole Retriever, Tradeblock, KYX World and more.
The more folks out there looking to help, the better. At least, that was my thinking, anyway. So I’d be excited every time another option came forward. I often wrote about them here. I even did work with some of them.
But things have changed: Backdooring is still a problem, certainly. But I think the resale market has cooled considerably. And I also think that Foot Locker’s struggles (which I’ll dive into more fully in Monday’s newsletter) show that the consumer has a lot more choice in where they spend their money now.
Circling back to the question at hand, though, which is what’s stopping people from embracing renting sneakers? The market conditions mentioned above are one thing. Maybe more importantly, though, the spirit of sneaker culture stands in the way. People want to own their sneakers.
This isn’t to say that renting is wrong or bad. But the entire ethos of sneaker culture has always been actually owning the thing. Not just borrowing it.
For example, if you’re a Joe FreshGoods fan, you’re much more interested in tracking down the “No Emotions” 992s to complete your JFG set with his other models than just renting them and wearing them out for a couple of months.
Be smart: Renting has its place. It’s amazing for styling. You can try sneakers without actually having to commit to them. I think it provides a solid option for people — especially if you’re just looking to stunt for a week or two. It’s solid.
But I’m just not sure if the time for it is ripe anymore.
What's it going to take for A'ja to get a signature shoe?
The reader continues: The public outcry has big more and more vocal - especially since her 53-point game - but will that be enough for it to happen?
Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson absolutely deserves her own signature shoe at this point. We already knew that, but the 53-point burner just gave us more proof.
The question: So how do we get this to happen? Quite literally, all we can do is keep the heat on. That’s a good thing — even if we’re not seeing results yet.
The public has been chiding Nike about this for years. They even did it after Wilson’s 53-point game. Just check the QTs here. It’s everywhere.
Nike sees this. The company hears it. Yes, it does matter, even if Nike isn’t saying anything about it. If the brand knows this is a product people want, it will produce it.
Even if Nike doesn’t see it, another brand will. And, when it’s time, Wilson can leave for Adidas or Puma or New Balance or whoever and do her thing. That’s why the outcry is good. That’s why it matters.
We also have to continue to be patient. It takes a while for signature shoe plans to develop between the ideation, creation, marketing and distribution processes. That all has to happen here with A’ja.
In the meantime, though, don’t stop with the pressure. It will work out one way or another.
Why is it that SB Dunk quality is so good at $130 yet Jordan materials and [quality control] are sus at $200? Is it the quantity?
You hit the nail on the head with this one. People have been complaining about the quality in Jordan materials for years now at this point. Quantity is a huge part of it.
We’re all consuming so much (READ: too much) these days. To meet our demand, brands have sacrificed the quality of their products as well as the quality of life for their workers.
Think about it. We get Jordan drops every single week now, for better or worse. It’s impossible for the quality to be both elite and plentiful.
That’s the thing about SB Dunks. There are more now, sure. But they still come less frequently. And they’re way less popular than Jordans. That’s why they tend to come out better.
That’s not all: There are some other factors at play with this, too.
Nike is selling you Jordan. Anything with Mike’s name on it is going to come at a premium — especially AJ1s. That’s part of the game.
There’s also the fact that SB Dunks are performance-based sneakers. People still skate in those shoes. They’ve got to be built to last, and that means using higher-quality materials when producing them.
I will say I don’t think SB Dunks are made as well as they used to be these days. And they also cost a lot more, too. But that’s just how things go when your consumer base has expanded as much as Nike’s has.
That’s not changing anytime soon.
I just bought my second pair of those Salehe Bembury Pollex clog - HUGE fan.
The reader continues: I apologize if you have already given your take on those, but I wanted to hear your thoughts on them! I think the design is really, really unique. They seem very comfortable too! A bit wide. haha Thanks for all you do, Mike! I hope all is well in your world <3
EL. OH. EL. I absolutely love this question and I’m so glad that you’ve found so much joy in the Salehe Bembury Pollex clogs.
So…I hate Crocs. So much. Just cannot stand them.
I just generally think that clogs are ugly pieces of footwear no matter what colors or decorations you put on them.
I also don’t really find them to be that comfy, generally. Which is very weird. It’s probably because of my stupid wide foot. But that’s a me thing, not a clog thing.
The Salehe joints are cool, though. The design is nice. It’s literally Bembury’s fingerprint, which is super creative. They look like a thumb, but at least it’s a cool thumb. That’s my take.
Will I buy a pair for myself? No, probably not. But I do think they’re well worth your time. I hope you continue to enjoy ‘em! Thanks for writing me!
#TheKicksWeWear
Y’ALL KNOW THE VIBES!!!!
First, the homie CJ came through with these sick Air Trainer SPs. I feel like these were so slept on, man.
Then the homie Yosh came through with this SICK Union AJ1 pair. Talk about grails, folks. WOW.
The homie Scott came through and started us off with the Kobe love. These Grinches are SICK.
Then the homie JD came through with the Mambacita Kobe 4s. Rest in peace, Gigi. These are so awesome.
The homie Luis came through with a Nike ID pair of Kobe 2s and I feel like these joints are sleepers! We need to show more love to the 2s.
And then the homie Nate closed us out with these SWEET Mamba Day Kobe 11s. It’s only right, man. These are BANGERS.
Y’all really did that. RIP Bean.
Thank you so much for rocking with me today, fam! Appreciate you. I hope you have an amazing weekend. Let’s chat again on Monday.
Until then, fam. Peace and love. Be easy, be safe, be kind. And we out.
-Sykes💯
Nike needs to stop playing and get A’ja the signature shoe she deserves and has earned