ICYMI: Sneakerheads gathered again for the first time in two years

By Bill Urrutia

On Oct. 25, 2014, the first-ever Manila Sneaker Expo took place. That year, Yeezy was still with Nike, unveiling the famous and highly-priced Nike Yeezy Red October. The Adidas Pure Boost was just released. The Kobe 9 Elite High was made public while Kobe Bryant was on his last couple of seasons in the NBA. In the Philippines, the sneaker game was in its adolescent period; the lines were long during sneaker releases, but at least the overnight isaw-like lines were less prevalent.

This year, the Manila Sneaker Expo made a comeback after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The “isaw”-like lines also made a comeback, but this time in a bigger and better venue. The 2022 Manila Sneaker Expo last April 24 packed the SMX Convention Center with sneakers, streetwear apparel, and people from literally—and figuratively—all walks of life. Upon entering the venue, an influx of fashion bravado filled the room, and attendees were all conscious of not stepping on each other’s prized possessions as all were looking down for obvious reasons.

It seems as if Manila Sneaker Expo became the grounds for showcasing sneakers purchased during the pandemic but never saw sunlight due to the lockdown. If you sit on the floor, the passersby will grant you a free sneaker fashion show. You can even score a pair of your own as almost all models from major casual and athletic footwear brands were available for attendees to purchase. Although, the mean price would be somewhere around P8,000 to P10,000, with one pair reaching P95,000 (Travis Scott Air Jordan 1 Low Dark Mocha).

With this in mind, we have curated our top five sneakers seen at the event.

#5 Puma MB .01 Red Blast

The Puma MB.01 Red Blast is the high school phenom turned NBA star Lamelo Ball’s first signature shoe with shoe brand Puma.

#4 A Bathing Ape Bapesta

The Bapesta by A Bathing Ape was first released in 2000, paying recognition to the street culture while integrating the bold design of the brand.

#3 Yeezy 350 V2 Ash Pearl

Since the partnership of Kanye West (now officially named Ye) and Adidas in 2013, the Yeezy 350 V2 has become the go-to sneaker for comfort and style; cementing itself to be the sneaker-to-have since its release in 2016.

#2 Jordan 1 Retro High Off-White

Even before the passing of its designer Virgil Abloh in 2021, the Jordan 1 Retro High Off-White is considered to be one of the holy grail of sneakers given the deconstructed approach to a Jordan classic.

#1 Nike Air Yeezy 2 Red October

The Nike Air Yeezy 2 Red October was Kanye West’s last pair designed for Nike, which only became more sought after since its public release in 2014.

All of these pairs seen in the event, of course, are from resellers. They are those who line up for hours in front of retail stores only to purchase and resell the pairs at a higher price. This, in turn, gave rise to the “shoe game,” ultimately stocking up on limited-edition pairs and reselling them once their value increases. Given the burgeoning number of resellers and steadily increasing prices, it won’t be a surprise if purchasing power will be a barrier to entry and may even discourage existing shoe lovers to continue growing their collection, or otherwise find other means to satisfy them.

Regardless, the passion and shared love for sneakers and streetwear was fully evident during the event. The streetwear culture from the hip-hop scene of ‘90s New York has now grown famous in the Philippines, especially in the past several years. Enabled by the convenience of online shopping, social media fashion trends, celebrities, availability, and the increasing appreciation for the style, streetwear is slowly becoming the norm among those who dare to wear it.

Even if the culture is more apparent in the younger generation, it has definitely caught up with the more mature market. And the latest Manila Sneaker Expo is proof of that. Everybody has an ounce of confidence in them, and apparently fancy sneakers and apparel aid in bringing that out. I guess what the market should know is that the beauty and art in streetwear do not only rely on the outfit’s price tag, since part and parcel of the fashion is carrying it with a balanced amount of boldness, character, and conviction.