Sunday – September 9, 2012
It’s really hard to find the right sneakers when you’re a kid! There are so many variables: style, colors, brand, friend’s opinions, size, personal taste, and maybe comfort. Sneakers often tell a personal story about the wearer. Today in the technological age, the selection of sneakers has become even more complicated because one can “personalize” their footwear. The sneaker-wearer is able to select a variety of colors for the different parts of their footwear. For example, the left and right fabric sides and tongues can all be different colors and sport a variety of patterns. Matching or contrasting shoe laces add another level of self-expression.
Converse Stars & Stripes
I learned this lesson on a family pilgrimage to the Converse Sneaker Store in Soho, NYC. On a warm sunny afternoon, the store was buzzing with activity as shoppers spilled into the colorful shop. On one side was a huge display of red white & blue sneakers arranged in a stars & stripes pattern to simulate the American flag. We walked through the high-ceilinged store looking at the sneaker models on display and admiring the Converse-label clothing. I never knew there were so many Converse choices!
Artist-Designed Sneakers
A high table at the rear of the store was set up with six iPads. People were huddled around the devices to view and select patterns and colors to print on their sneakers. There was also a display along one wall showing sneakers which had been designed and decorated by local artists. In the back corner of the store, there was a huge color printer which was printing the selected patterns on blank canvas sneakers. We discovered that another option was to email a personal drawing or photograph to the store and have that image printed on one’s sneakers.
My Tag on the Graffiti Board
Too many choices for me, I decided! Ultimately, the decision was made to look on-line where there were, believe it or not, more personalizing choices. On-line options included “neon” colors which appealed to the youngest member of our family sneaker-team. Who knew that selecting sneakers could be so personal, and so complex?!