Vintage Sneakers: How Do You Value Your Pair?

Trainers pay. Whereas just a few years ago, trainers were designed to keep feet comfortable, today they are kept in boxes, never worn, and sold at astronomical prices. These new collector's items are therefore subject to the law of speculation, and some pairs are veritable treasures. So how do you put a price on these shoes?

The brand

The three stripes of Adidas or the swoosh of Nike are often important guarantees. In fact, their reputation, the history of the brand and their ability to generate hype around their products are all factors that can drive up prices (especially as even their 'common' models already command rather high prices).

However, other brands were not to be outdone: Converse, Reebok, New Balance, Asics... All these brands offered trainers that collectors snapped up. The power and renown of the brands is also important, as they are the ones with the money and marketing strength to come up with strong collaborations. This is the next point to look at.

Working together

The New Balance x Colette model, the Nike Cortez x Kendrick Lamar, the Yeezy, the fruit of the collaboration between Adidas and Kanye West, or the Adidas designed by Pharell Williams... All these collaborations give rise to limited editions that are snapped up at gold prices.

Of course, the price of the pair will be mechanically influenced by the reputation of the brand or personality with which the manufacturer is associated.

The hype

The hype refers to both the notoriety of the model (particularly on social networks) and the expectations surrounding it. The higher the hype, the higher the price. This phenomenon is often strongest for models manufactured in small numbers, and is therefore a good indicator of the potential resale price.

The quantity

As you might expect, the less there is, the more it costs. The universal rule of supply and demand also applies to sneakers! The most exclusive models are already very expensive to buy, but can be even more so when they are no longer available. This criterion is also related to age: older models are also highly prized. Remember the self-lacing shoes from Back to the Future? We'll let you have a look at the prices on the web...

The state

Wear them once, and their price will fall sharply. If you're aware of the pair's potential value and that it's a pure investment, then a word of advice: put them on display if you like, but never put a foot in them! Once they've been worn, the shoes become 'second-hand', and the price will inevitably be affected.

A few examples

• Nike MAG 2011 - €15,000
• Nike Air Yeezy 2 "Wolf Grey" - €3,800
• Tom Sachs x Nike "Mars Yard Shoe" - €3,000
• Nike Air Yeezy 2 "Black/Solar Red" - €2,600
• Patta x ASICS GEL-Lyte III - €2,500

All these aspects need to be taken into account when buying or selling a pair of limited edition or collaborative trainers. Of course, it's essential to secure the transaction, whether by hand delivery or by using the payment method specially designed for purchases and sales between private individuals: Obvy!

On Obvy, you can ask the seller or buyer to verify their identity, and the entire transaction is traced. No more scams or nasty surprises. And to take delivery transactions one step further, you can even ask for video evidence so that the seller films the sneakers and their packaging and the buyer films the opening of the parcel and the first contact with the shoes.