4 of the world’s most expensive sneakers
This sneaker trend is getting a little silly, don’t you think? These four pairs of shoes cost more than a plane ride to the other side of the world. Apparently, sneakers have now reached the status of fine art in the sense that there are some collectors willing to spend oodles on a piece of history. Scroll through the gallery above to see the images.
Bicion
A pair of orthopaedic shoes set you back about $100 - or, you could always splash out US$4 million ($5.8 million) to own a pair of Bicion brand sneakers designed by sneaker artist Dan Gamache of Mache Custom Kicks.
Adopting the philosophy that anything can be the world's most expensive if you throw enough diamonds and gold at it, Gamache has outdone himself with this very limited edition pair of kicks (there's only one).
Rock solid
Dubbed the Li-Ning Way of Wade "The Fire Monkey" (we have no idea what it means either, but it has something to do with NBA basketballer Dwayne Wade), the shoes are covered in hundreds of carats of white diamond pieces and blue sapphires set in 18 carat gold. You also get a solid gold hang tag depicting the logos of Bicion and Mache.
Thankfully, this extreme excess is for a good cause. The sneakers were launched in New York City with the announcement that the money will go to Soles4Soles, a charity that collects and distributes shoes and clothing for those in need.
According to rumours, an interested sneaker buff from China is flying in to buy them. We're tipping they're unlikely be seeing any jogging action.
Collectables
Chris Kyvetos, the founder of Australian retailer Sneakerboy, says expensive sneakers are not unusual, especially in the world of collecting.
He once collaborated with luxury French fashion house Balmain to create a men and women's hi-top that featured a waxed hide with python accents. It sold off the shelf for NZ$3,000.
The most expensive sneakers he stocks are a mid-top leather with rabbit fur ankle by Buscemi. Handcrafted in Civitanova Italy, they sell for NZ$2,540.
It's when rare sneakers are resold to avid collectors that prices start to get really crazy.
Kyvetos nominates the Nike Air Mag as a case in point. The shoe was made famous in the movie Back ToThe Future 2, in which it supposedly had self-fastening laces.
Nike released a limited edition run of the shoe (albeit without the self-fastening laces) in 2011 for around $US800, examples of which now fetch in excess of US$10,000.
Tell us in the comments below, what’s the most you’ve ever paid for sneakers?
Written by Stephen Lacey, first appeared on Stuff.co.nz.
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