An imported wine aged perfectly or a painting worthy of hanging in a museum…add a fresh pair of sneakers to the list of coveted items by those who love them. Nike, Jordan, Adidas, Puma, Lacoste, or DC Life, sneaker heads now have a place to satisfy their love of fine footwear at ‘got Sole?’ sneaker boutique.
To the true sneaker freak, a sneaker isn’t something that merely covers one’s feet; it’s a culture, it’s a lifestyle and one that is developing a very strong following. A sneaker is the superstar and the boutique is a stage for the show.
“It’s deep. You anticipate the release of a shoe and it’s like I know I’m a part of this secret society. I know only a certain amount of people in the world will be able to experience the ownership of this shoe,” said sneaker freak, Jason Wright also known as Alpha.
To understand how exclusive shoe shops have become a cultural staple, one would have to go back to the late 70s, early 80s. Sneaker fetishes began in Japan with wild colors, interesting designs and most importantly the hunt for the rare, exotic sneaker. From Knicks legend Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier sporting Pumas, to Run DMC rapping about their love for Adidas, acquiring exclusive sneakers really took off in 1985 with one of the highest selling brand to this day, the Air Jordan.
“Michael Jordan created an empire for Nike, but created this cult following of sneakers. Jordan is almost single-handedly credited with creating sneaker head culture,” explained Alpha.
From there, numerous boutiques began popping up in large cites like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York that was somewhat a disadvantage to sneaker heads outside of metropolitan areas. got Sole? sneaker boutique owner Mike Watson, wanted to bring something to the Midwest to satisfy the sneaker-head hunger.
“Over the last 10 years I’ve been a buyer so I got to do a lot of traveling. I’d always hear people say ‘where’d you get those (sneakers)?,” said Watson. “I love sneakers and decided to open a sneaker boutique in an area that could use it.”
Take it from a local sneaker head, one can’t walk into got Sole? and select a shoe from a wall plastered with footwear. Even the design of the got Sole? store speaks to how special each shoe is.
The store layout is clean, inviting and Watson has created a space that feels just like home. Walk into the Broad Ripple shop and sneaker freaks are not bombarded with sneakers and apparel. Like baby bears’ porridge, the got Sole? volume is just right designed with the sneaker head culture in mind.
“We carry a certain level of sneaker. They’re very exclusive, very limited edition productions. We’ve got a shoe in here that only 420 pair were made in the whole world,” explained Watson.
Sneakers at got Sole? range from $65 to $200 with an average price of $80.
The hunt and capture of a rare sneaker doesn’t just satisfy the lust of a sneaker freak, but a fine sneaker is like wearing art on your feet. These shoes have a story behind the design and a matching color scheme. Time, love, care and craftsmanship goes into each shoe produced. What ever a statement a sneaker-head wants to make, they say it with what’s covering their feet.
As a true ‘head, Alpha loves a rare sneaker for more than it’s looks but enjoys sneakers for their design, meaning, the long history behind a collaborative process, designer and the nostalgia behind a concept.
“I developed a slight obsession in 1993. When I was at Shortridge, I drew a picture of my British Knights and it developed from there,” said Alpha. “With me, there’s a history behind the shoe, and it’s a feeling of knowing I have something that’s special.”
What also makes sneakers and the boutiques that sell them so interesting is that there isn’t a specific niche audience that buys rare shoes. Got Sole? has customers ranging from a skate boarder from Carmel, to a hip-hop head, or men in business suits who enjoy a fresh Nike on the weekend. Got Sole? appeals to both genders and all races.
Although sneaker boutiques like got Sole? are gaining momentum, sneaker-heads who appreciate the artistry behind a fly shoe has created their own couture. Whether you call them gym shoes, tennis shoes, or kicks, sneaker culture is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
