The Kicks You Wear, Vol. 400 — The price of the kicks are going up 🚨
Trump's tariffs are going to impact your sneaker collection (and a bunch of other stuff with it!)
Good morning, friends! Welcome back to the Kicks You Wear. Thanks so much for rocking with me today. Appreciate you taking the time.
Like most of you here, I’m still reeling from the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade. Laker Exceptionalism. Blegh.
’s take here is probably the best thing I read on the deal. It’s a very measured response, yet it also captures just how tired we are of this.Another generational NBA superstar heading to LA for nothing. Sigh.
Anyway, let’s get things popping here.
America’s tariff war begins
Considering everything else happening in the political sphere (including the wealthiest man in human history enacting a hostile takeover of the United State’s treasury department!), a potential increase in sneaker prices is probably the least of our worries.
But considering that this is a sneaker newsletter and this issue is a global one that will inevitably make its way over here, let’s discuss it anyway.
What happened: Donald Trump’s administration officially issued three tariffs on goods coming from Mexico (25 percent), Canada (25 percent) and China (10 percent).
As I’ve explained, these tariffs will almost certainly heat inflation again and make life more expensive for Americans.
How it works: Tariffs are taxes on internationally imported goods. Let’s say Company X is importing goods from Country Y. Country Y has a 10 percent tariff on all goods coming from the country. Company X is paying that extra import cost. The only place to make up that cost is through you.
What this means: Goods that companies source from Mexico, Canada and China will get more expensive in the very near future. Some examples? Fruits, vegetables, lumber, steel, grains, electronics.
And, yes, footwear.
The skinny: The tariffs levied on goods imported from China, specifically, seem likely to impact footwear prices moving forward.
The Washington Post’s Jaclyn Peiser has more on the industry impact here:
“More than 99 percent of the shoes sold in the United States are sourced from overseas, primarily China, Vietnam and Indonesia, according to Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America, a trade group. More than 60 percent of footwear brand and retail executives said they expect operating costs to rise this year, according to an FDRA survey. More than a third of executives expect to increase retail prices by 5 percent over last year, and an additional 20 percent of respondents forecast increases between 11 and 20 percent.”
That’s a whole lot of talk about price increases from industry executives. It’s no longer a matter of “if” — it’s “when.” The clock is already ticking.
Where things stand: Many footwear companies have taken the bulk of their operations out of China, but the industry still has a strong presence there.
Here’s how much of the manufacturing production from the companies you spend money with comes from China, via Sneaker Freaker:
22 percent of Nike’s total production
20 percent of Adidas’ total production
25 percent of Puma’s total production
25 percent of New Balance’s total production
28 percent of Asics’ total production
Vietnam is where most of the production takes place these days but, as you can see, China still makes a huge difference. Because of these tariffs, one of two things will happen:
Either companies will shrink that number even further and take business nearly completely out of China
Or prices on footwear will simply increase to make up for extra costs.
The latter is more likely. These companies have been entrenched in China for decades. A massive shift would mean a massive disruption in the supply chain.
Be smart: Price might increase, but that doesn’t mean we have to foot the bill. We could just buy less!
That probably won’t happen. These companies produce goods people need or desperately want. Demand won’t just dissipate overnight. But over time, we’ll probably see that demand wane. People will have to juggle priorities and new sneakers will be at the bottom of most folk’s lists.
That’s quite a shame. Despite inflation concerns, consumers have still been more willing to spend. That spending has kept the economy juiced.
As prices increase, that’s probably going to change. You’ll probably see plenty of stories out there complaining about people hoarding cash and the lack of willingness to spend. We’re already starting to see it.
But, remember, when that day comes? It wasn’t you who asked for this. You don’t need to be the one to pay for it, either.
The Superstar 2025 starts now
Adidas is looking for the magic wand that will wave it back into the good graces of the North American consumer with Yeezy in the rearview mirror.
The search starts now and the Adidas Superstar is getting the first crack at it.
What’s happening: Adidas is celebrating the Superstar’s 55th anniversary with a bunch of special edition pairs and drops coming in 2025. We’re getting the first few this week.
On February 6 we’re getting the Superstar’s most classic looks in four separate white and black colorways.
On the same day we’re getting a special-edition beaded Adidas Superstar, which is a pretty creative spin on the classic sneaker.
There’s also an Adidas Superstar roller skate — yes, you’re reading that correctly — that pays homage to when kids used to tape skates to their shoes back in the 70s and hit the roller rink.
At least that’s what I heard happened, anyway. I don’t know. I’m not that old.
This is just the beginning of the big year that Adidas has planned for the Superstar. There are a bunch of collaborations coming, including some with JJJJound and the Whitaker Group. Seeing the Superstar work with some contemporary sneaker boutiques of the day should be fun.
The big picture: I don’t know if the Superstar will be the catch-all shoe that Adidas wants it to be. It’s a shoe we’ve seen so many times before, and it wasn’t that long ago that we all wore them with our skinny jeans in the mid-2010s.
But, hey. If you’re going to take a shot, I guess the best way to do it is with a tried and true classic.
Sean Wotherspoon finds his lane
Sean Wotherspoon has struggled to find his niche since leaving Nike after 2018’s hit Air Max 97/1.
Since then he’s worked primarily with Adidas and Asics on the footwear front.
He’s dropped some solid projects. He’s dropped some meh projects. He’s dropped some terrible joints, too. But, by all accounts, none have really lived up to what he did with Nike.
But… I think Wotherspoon may have finally found his niche. And it’s not in sneakers at all — it’s with Gap.
What's happening: Wotherspoon and Gap are dropping their first curated vintage collection on Tuesday.
As the company’s “Global Vintage Curator,” Wotherspoon is charged with sourcing classic Gap essentials.
The pieces date back to the 1980s and 90s. Classic logo hoodies, button-ups, denim jackets, anoraks. You know how it goes.
Some examples: Not sure that all these looks will be included in some way, but this is what the aesthetic will be.
My take: I’m excited to see what this looks like. This seems right up Wotherspoon’s alley, honestly. It feels like a more comfortable fit for him than any of his work with Adidas did.
Gonna try and cop something. We’ll see how it goes.
LeBron & Luka finally united
Words cannot explain how much I hate that Luka Doncic is a Laker now. But I guess this was destined to happen at some point, considering how much LeBron James loves the dude.
Remember: James wanted to sign Doncic to a “Team LeBron” brand under the Nike umbrella in 2019.
Obviously, that never happened. Luka signed with Jordan Brand and the rest is history. But, now, the two are teammates. So in a way, I guess, Luka is officially on Team LeBron.
Maybe Nike will find a way to shift him on board for Bron, too.
What’s droppin’, bruh?
Nike Air Max DN8 — Thursday, February 6
Adidas Superstar “Beaded” — Thursday, February 6
New Balance x Salehe Bembury 1500 “Growth Be the Tree” — Thursday, February 6
Asics x Juliana Salazar Gel-Kayano 14 — Saturday, February. 8
Reimagined Air Jordan 5 — Saturday, February 8
That’s a wrap, folks. Thanks so much for reading today. I appreciate you. Hope you have a fantastic week.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, feel free to hit me via email at mikedsykes@gmail.com or shoot me a message via Substack.
Peace and love. Be easy, be safe, be kind. We out.
-Sykes 💯