While the sneaker scene has always been popular, the en-masse spike in interest over the past decade has led to the increase in prices of many rare and coveted sneakers. Sneakers are now being seen as an investment class to the mainstream, with acknowledgement from the likes of Bloomberg and more. The following pairs command crazy prices on the resale market, be it because of their signifigcance in sneaker culture or pop culture references that collectors can’t get enough of.
NIKE MAG (2016) – $50,000
Topping our list is the Nike MAG, the mythical sneaker worn by Marty Mcfly in the iconic “Back to the Future II”. In 2011, 1500 pairs of the sneaker were auctioned off through eBay, with all proceeds – a whopping $4.7 million – going straight to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research a few years later, Nike produced a limited quantity of Nike MAGs with their latest and greatest technology of the time. “Adaptive Fit”, aside from mimicking the self-lacing in the 1989 classic movie, was created by Nike and marketed to allow those living with conditions impairing their coordination and dexterity. Being such a classic pair, with all-round appeal to a mainstream audience of film lovers, it’s no surprise to see these trading for ridiculous prices.
NIKE SB DUNK LOW “FREDDY KRUEGER” – $27,539
The greatest sneaker that never was, Nike SB’s 2007-designed “Freddy Krueger” Dunk Low is modelled after the classic horror film “Nightmare on Elm Street” and its antagonist. Red and Green stripes allude to Freddie’s knitted sweater, while leather overlays see blood splatters throughout. Originally intended to be included in Nike SB’s “Halloween” pack, Nike quickly received a cease-and-desist order from the movie’s creators, revising the design only to be denied once again. The only pairs available of this sneaker were smuggled out of factories by workers before they were set to be destroyed – most of the pairs even have visible stains on them from being doused in petrol – or were sold off early by mistake by a Mexican skate store.
AIR JORDAN IV “TRAVIS SCOTT F&F” – $25,000
Rivalling Kanye West and Virgil Abloh’s outputs in the last few years, Travis Scott’s collaborative portfolio with Nike has grown massively, with a new release every few months taking on La Flame’s cultivated aesthetic. While his pairs that are readily available often fetch prices in the thousands, the most sought-after are those that were exclusive to friends and family of the Houston rapper. The Air Jordan IV is here decorated in block purple, and the pair has been spotted on a select few – Travis himself, as well as OGChaseB, Adam Levine and PJ Tucker – hence the insane pricing on the secondary market.
NIKE SB DUNK LOW “PARIS” – $50,000
With only 202 pairs produced back in 2003, the Nike SB Dunk Low “Paris” is perhaps the most coveted Dunk of all time. Over a beige base artwork from the late artist Bernard Buffet is laid, with each sneaker featuring a unique combination of patterns and colors. The pair was planned to sell at an exhibition in an art museum, but due to the hysteria caused by the sneaker’s release this was scrapped and the 202 pairs were sold for $69 by Nike SB accounts in Paris.
AIR JORDAN IV “WAHLBURGERS” – $26,000
American actor Mark Wahlberg’s restaurant chain “Wahlburgers” is perhaps one of Jordan Brand’s most peculiar collaborators. The pair was unveiled in 2018 at the grand opening of one of the restaurants, and arrives in a green colorway laden with Wahlburgers branding. 30 pairs were available to the public, with the entry raffle working to fundraise to fight the California wildfires running rampant at the time. Every $10 donated was counted as one ticket to the raffle, and 30 lucky donors were picked to receive a pair as well as a 1-on-1 video call with the actor himself.
More on CULTED
See also: NIKE & BALENCIAGA’S NEWEST SNEAKERS HAVE A FEW THINGS IN COMMON
See also: A MA MANIERE’S AIR JORDAN 3 IS AN INCLUSIVE HOME-RUN
