Here are the safest brands to bet on if you want to flip your kicks
On this week’s episode of “The Flip,” host Racks Hogan shares advice on what brands sneaker aficionados can buy and — for the most part — sell at a profit.
According to Hogan, while Nike and Adidas have seemingly cornered the sneaker market for decades, brands like New Balance have seen a resurgence in popularity. As sneaker blog 5 Inch and Up points out, the demand for New Balance — especially its “933” running shoes — has grown exponentially this year. Fashion search engine Lyst notes, for instance, that New Balance sneakers saw a 41 percent increase in page views in the first four months of the year alone.
But, as far as flipping sneakers is concerned, you should probably place your bet on collaborations, Hogan says. Case in point: the Air Jordan 1 Retro Off-White, which originally retailed for $190 but has seen its price skyrocket to nearly $4,000 on the resale market.
“A surefire safe way to [flip sneakers] is to attach yourself to a brand that has a strong collaboration with somebody either in pop culture, fashion or design,” Hogan says.
That being said, let’s get to this week’s sneaker drops.
Shop: Air Jordan 3 Retro “Varsity Royal”
In 1994, Nike briefly re-released the Air Jordan 3 — one of the most popular Jordan models — following Michael Jordan’s return to the NBA. Fans of the sneaker would have to wait seven years after that to see the Air Jordan 3 Retro, which followed the same design concept but came in different colorways.
In keeping with its tradition of infrequently bringing back some classic Jordans, Nike released the Air Jordan 3 Retro “Varsity Royal” this month. The sneaker is made of an all-blue tumbled leather and has grey perforated leather inserts. Like the colorways that preceded it, the shoe also features a cement print overlay around its toe and heel.
Still, Hogan advises against buying this sneaker — unless you’re really into the Jordan 3 Retros. The sneaker’s MSRP is $190, and Hogan expects it to resell for around the same price.
Shop: Union x Air Jordan 4 Retro “Off Noir”
Remember earlier when we were talking about betting on collaborations? This is it. Recently, Nike’s Jordan brand partnered with streetwear store Union, which first opened its doors in New York in 1989, to come up with a unique take on the Jordan 4 Retro. This collaboration was done in partnership with Union’s Los Angeles branch (the New York store was shut down a while ago) and features black, white and blue mesh, suede and nylon. The sneaker also has a cream midsole and tongue.
The shoe’s MSRP is about $250, but Hogan expects the price to jump significantly if resold.
Ivy Park x Adidas Ultra Boost OG
Lastly, we have Adidas’ collaboration with Beyoncé. Like the Air Jordan 4 Retro collaboration we mentioned, this sneaker will definitely be in high demand — thanks to the hip-hop and R&B artist’s star power.
Beyoncé’s joint effort with the German sneaker brand, which first dropped in January, almost instantly became a hot-selling item. Now in a neon yellow colorway, it consists of a Primeknit upper with a matching lace cage, along with Adidas’ signature Boost midsole and a rubber outsole. The sneaker’s MSRP is approximately $150, but the price is also expected to soar on the resale market.
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