Sneaker confidental

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.

8) Post a picture on your blog of a pair of shoes that you own or wish to own.  What makes these shoes particularly desirable to you? Are they worth the money?

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.