1) Does this documentary show differing sides to the
Sneaker debate? Explain.
This documentary does show different sides to the
sneaker debate. This documentary is explaining to us how some people buy
sneakers for their collections, how some wear them as a fashion statement and
how some people use them for their regular use, as a shoe for playing sports.
This documentary also touches on the differing prices of sneakers, showing how
we are paying a lot of money more for the brand name, rather than the quality. An
example would be the Michael Jordan basketball shoes. They are defiantly a good
quality shoe but we are more or less paying a price for the brand name than the
actual shoe itself. There are other perfectly good basketball shoes out there
that would serve the same purpose as the Michael Jordan shoes. The only
difference is they are less expensive and you aren't paying for the brand name.
2) Is the sneaker culture an invention of the shoe industry
devised to sell more shoes?
Yes and no. Obviously the main aim of sneaker
companies is to manufacture shoes and make a profit from them, but the sneaker
culture is also about showing off your sneaker collection. People who collect
sneakers aim to show-off their limited edition or custom made sneakers to fellow
sneaker collectors and other pedestrians on the street. The sneaker culture was
not invented by shoe industries but by people who have a love of sneakers and
want to have the most prestigious sneaker collection in the country.
3) Are sneaker prices reflective of the work that
goes into making them or are they inflated to give certain sneakers status?
Yes sneaker prices are reflective of the amount
of work that goes into them. If the sneakers are custom designed or are limited
edition, they will obviously be much more expensive than a regular pair of
sneakers. The more amount of effort put into the sneakers the higher the price.
This makes sense because the designers want to make more money off of something
they put a lot of effort into creating.
4) Do you think sneakers are a necessary tool for
sports like running or basketball?
I do think sneakers are a necessary tool for
sports. Sneakers can help reduce injury while doing a sport because they have
some ankle support, soles that can help cushion your feet from the ground and
can help soften the blow to your legs of the continuous movement of our feet
hitting the ground. Sneakers can also help give you grip if you playing a sport
like volleyball or basketball which can help you play the sport to the best of
your ability.
5) Are sneaker performance claims unrealistic?
Some sneaker performance claims are a little bit
far-fetched, for example sneakers won’t make you run faster. How fast you run
depends on your fitness level not the type of shoes you have. Some claims for
sneakers are perfectly acceptable though. For example if a sneaker company
claims they have better grip for court sports or excellent ankle support that
is a perfectly acceptable claim to make.
6) Do you have a shoe fetish? Yes.
If so what do you think influences your shoe
purchases?
The need of a new pair of shoes will influence
weather I buy a new pair of shoes. If I need shoe for an event I will also go
out and purchase a pair. However if I am shopping and a see a pair of shoes
that I don’t have a specific event for I will purchase them because they are
trending this season, I love the colour, I love the type of shoe or because
they are really pretty.
7) Try
to recall the many ways in which shoe companies try to market to consumers
outlined in the documentary. Write a media log that explains the
different methods that you are marketed to by shoe manufacturers.
1. Shoe manufactures will have celebrities or
athletes model their shoes, or the shoe company will support an athlete so
their products can be marketed. Shoe manufactures do this so their products
look prestigious and better than their competition.
2. Shoe manufactures will also make limited
edition of some types of shoes. They do this so they can make more money, while
promoting their company. The limited edition shoes are no different than the
regular shoes, except they may have different design making them appealing for
shoe collectors.
3. Some shoe manufactures will make their shoes
for a very cheap price. The shoes will be good shoes; they just won’t be
millions of dollars. This again helps shoe companies earn money. The more
customers that buy these shoes will also contribute the marketing scheme for
the companies. If a large amount of people purchase their shoes, their product
will marketed everywhere. Shoe companies can only market their shoes in so many
places, and the more people that wear these shoes the better the marketing for
the company. It will also send the message that the shoes are of good quality,
comfortable and stylish to wear.
These shoes are desirable to me because they were
very trendy last awards season. I could wear these shoes to a fancier occasion, and I don’t own many
high heels so it would give me a larger option of something to wear. I
absolutely love these shoes to. They are unique which makes me attracted to
them. These shoes are very recognizable as a Christian Loubouin design as the
red soled high heels are one of his signature styles. I find these shoes very
chic and would get a lot of use out of them. Therefore I believe these shoes
are worth their price because they are unique and very stylish.
