Sneakerheads, people who love sneakers, are serious about shoes.
On Saturday, the Javits Center in New York hosted a conference for such people called Sneaker Con.
Two fans got into some sort of altercation, Complex reports.
It's not known why the fight broke out, but as you can see from the below video, it got serious at one point. One of the guys took the other to the ground.
The two sneaker fans apparently didn't get too far before giving up and parting ways.
In the last decade, sneaker collectors have evolved from a subculture to a full-fledged consumer class. Retailers have been quick to capitalize. Music and fashion moguls Drake and Kanye West have signed shoe deals with Nike and Adidas, respectively.
Before them, rappers, Nelly, 50 Cent, Eminem and music mogul, Jay Z have all branded and/or designed shoes for various athletic brands.
Many of these sneakers can cost hundreds of dollars — a distinction that once belonged only to the fanciest of dress shoes. But, sneaker heads — perhaps like any other devoted collector of merchandise — have proven they're willing to pay for the privilege of owning the next great pair of kicks.
Many have heard of the legendary Adidas Stan Smith sneaker.
But few are aware that the shoe, first introduced in 1963 and recently hailed as one of the most important sneakers in the world, takes its name from former No. 1 tennis player Stan Smith.
To boot, a lot of the trendsetters bopping around in Stan Smiths today probably weren't even born by the time Smith had retired from tennis in 1985.
The shoe's recent popularity is somewhat surprising, considering the sneaker hadn't sold particularly well in previous decades. Adidas even pulled Stan Smiths off the shelves in 2012.
It was reintroduced to much fanfare in 2014, with an aggressive social-media campaign targeting celebrities. For the stunt, Adidas sent A-listers shoes with their portrait on the tongue, instead of the usual drawing of Smith, according to an interview Smith did for the book "Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture."
A photo posted by Ellen (@theellenshow) on Sep 10, 2013 at 10:49am PDT on
From there, the shoe's popularity just exploded. Supermodel Gisele Bündchen wore them (and nothing else) on the cover of Vogue, and they started appearing everywhere from the red carpet to the runway at Alexander Wang's spring/summer 2015 show. Cementing the shoe's cultural influence, song-lyric annotation portal Genius.com lists approximately 350 Stan Smith mentions.
And Footwear News named it "Shoe of the Year" for its "widespread popularity" during the same year the shoe returned to stores. According to an Adidas spokesperson, the company sold more Stan Smiths in 2014 than from 2010 to 2013 combined.
Going back to the year it was born, 1963, the shoe was a revelation for the sport of tennis — but it wasn't called the Stan Smith.
It first appeared as the "Halliet," after French tennis player Robert Halliet. The Halliet caught on because it was constructed out of leather and offered a lot more support; most tennis shoes at that time were made of canvas.
When Smith became No. 1 in 1972, Adidas tapped him to co-brand the shoe, as Halliet wasn't too well-known outside of France and had recently retired. For a while, the shoe was confusingly named after both players: Smith's portrait adorned the tongue, while Halliet's name was written across the sole from 1973 to 1978.
After 1978, the shoe was renamed the Adidas Stan Smith, as we know it today.
What's changed since '78? In addition to the original green and white shoe, Adidas also sells versions with red and navy substituting for the green. Additionally, there's a variety of materials to choose from, including suede and knit, as well as colorful models with artwork and those designer collaborations we mentioned earlier.
What hasn't changed is the reason this shoe has endured and sold over 40 million pairs since its inception: Its simple lines and low profile are timeless, explaining in part its perennial popularity.
If you ask Smith, however, he'd just say it's the shoe's "simple design" and "clean white color" that have made it such a permanent fixture on and off the court. "It's fun to see people from all walks of life coming back to the shoe," Smith said in the book.
Sneakers are more than a workout staple. A quick walk down the street or around your office will prove it. But, there's a big difference between the Flyknits and Stan Smiths you spot your coworkers in and the sneakers you run 5ks in at the gym.
The former are more polished; some of them may not be meant for demanding physical activity at all.
Instead, this new class of sneakers — a class that can be described as purely aesthetic — is the perfect complement to gingham shirts and jeans on casual Fridays, so long as your HR department is open-minded when it comes to employees wearing casual-looking shoes at the office.
To get you started on the right foot, we found 12 sneakers for you to pair with the rest of your business-casual attire. Popular sneakers brands like Nike, adidas, New Balance, and more have many different styles to choose from. The search is narrowed down for you, below.
Pair TOMS' light-wash denim sneaker with dark-wash denim jeans for a polished, casual Friday outfit.
Native Shoes is quickly becoming a go-to for people who want sneakers that are both sporty and stylish. They're also incredibly lightweight and airy, which make them perfect for summer.
The serendipitous plug occurred when one of Jenner's sisters said, "So, tell me about the untied shoelaces."
"These are sock shoes," the 38-year-old rapper said as he took off the all-white sneakers to give the woman a look.
"Look how light they are!" Jenner's sister marveled.
West then explained, "The laces are sort of after the fact."
"Yeah, not necessary to keep them on your feet," she responded. "OK, I just want to be cool."
According to SoleCollector.com, West made the shoes popular earlier this year.
The sneakers are Adidas ultra boosts, a line of running shoes that retails for $180.00. West was first seen wearing them last May when he headlined Power 106's PowerHouse 2015 concert at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, according to the shoe blog. They were available on pre-order, but sold out right away after making their debut on West's feet.
Another white-on-white pair of ultra boosts was released in June, but they too are apparently sold out.
An Adidas representative didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
Here's some of the viewer reactions to West's sneaker plug:
Feet the world over rejoiced when Converse revealed the redesign of its famous Chuck Taylor All Star.
The new model, called the Chuck Taylor All Star II, features completely redesigned innards (using parent company Nike's Lunarlon foam impact-absorbing technology), a padded tongue, and micro-suede lining. They're like a stealthy luxury version of the retro original.
Beyond feel and performance, stylistic changes include better materials, color-matching shoelaces and grommets, and replacing a glued-on vinyl patch with a stitched cloth version.
For the most part, though, the All Star II looks the same as the original. And therein lies the problem: The All Star may be iconic, but it sure is ugly.
Don't get me wrong — the II is a vast visual improvement on the classic All Star. The subtle tweaks and use of higher-quality materials certainly help, but the shape of the shoe is still a problem.
Given its icon status, I feel slightly blasphemous saying this, but I've never liked the shape of the Chuck Taylor.
The shoe has a near century-long history, and unfortunately it's showing its age. From its eight rows of shoelace eyelets to the tacky patch and rubber toecap, it has a clownish quality.
I realize that the All Star has a special place in the hearts of many who've either grown up wearing them or belong to a subculture that's co-opted the former basketball sneaker. They're probably overjoyed that their favorite shoe will now be more comfortable to wear for extended periods.
In fact, the high-top II is completely sold out on Converse's website, as of the time of this article, so I'm clearly in the minority here.
Unfortunately, I just can't get over the shoe's peculiar shape. It's not for me.
The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
Unless you work at a bank, you don’t have to wear dress shoes everyday, especially in the summer. It would be a mistake to wear sandals at the office, but slip-on shoes are a more casual option that works well both in and out of the office. When summer turns into fall, these shoes will go just as well with dress pants and jeans as they did with shorts and bathing suits.
Slip-ons with comfortable and breathable interiors — like durable canvas and terrycloth linings — can easily be worn without socks as well. The same cannot be said about stuffy leather dress shoes that make your feet sweat all summer.
We rounded up our favorite slip-ons you can pick up for under $100 below.
The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
Since you don't have all day to scour the web for noteworthy sales and discounts, we rounded up the best tech, home, and style deals for you to shop in one convenient place.
The portable Bluetooth speaker market is flooded with options, but only a handful of them have the right balance of compactness, style, sound quality, and affordability. This $30 Logitech speaker, down from $50, is a nice combination of all of the above.
Nike's popular LunarGlide sneakers look just as sleek in the office as they do on the track. The brand released the newest LungarGlide, the 7, in June. Since then, it has discounted its previous model, the 6, a significant amount. They still look great.
On the whole, Nixon's watches are generally very budget-friendly, with higher-priced models maxing out at around $300. Right now, though, you can save even more — East Dane marked down the Time Teller Watch to $67.
Bose headphones are widely regarded as one of the best values and sound experiences on the market. The pair featured here is 40% off at Nordstrom, and it's the lowest we've seen them priced. At Amazon, they'll cost you a hair under $120.
When looking for a portable smartphone battery pack, it's important to know when and how often you're actually going to need it. ZeroLemon's battery packs a hefty 20,000mAh of juice into its sturdy frame, which can charge your phone or tablet multiple times over.
The company — which makes everything from a signature white low-top to a black combat boot — stands out in the oversaturated sneaker world with minimalist design and the promise of better construction and materials.
Founded by magazine art director Peter Poopat and brand consultant Flavio Girolami, the goal of the brand is simple: create the perfect sneaker, which Poopat and Girolami envision as minimalist and high-quality.
This understated style is what sets the brand's designs apart from widely loved sneakers like Converse All Stars and Stan Smiths. Yet it's those exact shoes that have helped inspire the Common Projects aesthete.
The minimalistic design is broken only by 10 gold numbers, which represent the article number, size, and color. This has since become the brand's signature and appears on all of its shoes — but the numbers aren't permanent and can easily be rubbed off.
All Common Project shoes (men's and women's styles) are made in an Italian footwear factory in the Marche region of Italy, which made only leather dress shoes before Common Projects asked it to manufacture sneakers, according to Business of Fashion. The shoes are made of Italian leather and are stitched by hand.
All of this adds up to a shoe people are going crazy for.
A spokesperson for the company — which only sells shoes — told Business of Fashion that it currently does "roughly $10 million” in annual sales. No one can accurately pin down the used market for Common Projects shoes, but most previously-owned or resale shoes go for $250 to $300, a definite indicator of a strong demand.
Critics have also praised the shoe's simple design. GQ has featured a Common Projects design as its "Shoe of the Week" twice — once in 2014 (the B-Ball Low in navy) and once in in 2011 (the white Achilles low).
But the brand wasn't an overnight success. It launched in 2004 with only one shoe, because that was its initial mission: to make one perfect shoe. That shoe is now known as the ever-popular Achilles. At it's launch, the Achilles retailed for $265 — a loss, when materials and other costs were taken into account.
Flash forward to today and merchants are lining up to stock the $400 shoe, primarily fueled by the Internet's menswear blog Hypebeast.
“Hypebeast, Selectism, all those guys, I think it’s amazing,” Poopat told Business of Fashion. “The men’s market has blown up and we have to thank the Internet for a lot.”
Over time, the company has built up both stockists and fans (who affectionately call the sneakers "CPs"). They've become the identifiable minimalist leather sneaker. So much so, that when Adidas came out with an all-white colorway of its famous Stan Smith, Internet commenters accused Adidas of copying Common Projects' signature Achilles shoe.
Since 1999, Florida residents have been swapping their unwanted guns for sneakers as part of a program called Kicks For Guns.
Today, the 17th annual event is taking place across Central Florida and law enforcement are hoping for a turnout like last year which saw 802 firearms turned in, 21 of which were illegal.
Depending on the location one chooses, the weapons can be exchanged for a gift card or sneakers. Although it isn't clear which sneakers are up for the taking, this sounds like a pretty solid deal to us.
For a complete list of participating locations, head over to Real Radio FM.
Kanye West fans were in a frenzy this weekend after the rapper's latest line of Adidas sneakers, the Yeezy Boost 350, immediately sold out.
Fans waited in hours-long lines outside of Adidas stores from London to Chicago to get the sneakers on Saturday, but the majority of the $200 limited edition shoes were reserved for customers who had pre-ordered online.
Most who went to purchase online day-of were greeted by this:
Just an hour after the sneakers went on sale to the general public Saturday morning at approximately 11:25 a.m. EST, the official Adidas Twitter account posted: "#YEEZYBOOST 350 is now sold out online in the U.S."
People went nuts online, expressing their frustration via Twitter:
Kanye first signed a sneaker deal with Adidas in 2013. His first line of Yeezy Boots sold out in ten minutes, and the demand has remained off the charts ever since.
The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
Since you don't have all day to scour the web for noteworthy sales and discounts, we rounded up the best tech, home, and style deals for you to shop in one convenient place.
We've spent the last few weeks working on buying guides for the the best in-ear,on-ear, and over-ear headphones. This discounted on-ear pair from Sentey didn't make the cut, but its 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon (that's culled from nearly 550 customer reviews) isn't shabby in the least.
Labor Day weekend is fast approaching, and so, too, are those end-of-summer sales. If you click over to J.Crew's site, you can save up to 25% on select shirts, T-shirts, and sweaters for men and women by using the promo code SHOPNOW at checkout.
As part of Amazon's slow climb up the fashion ladder, you can shop 20% off men's and women's shoes through August 31. Notable brands include: Loeffler Randall, Schutz, Dolce Vita, kate spade new york, and Sam Edelman for women, and Cole Haan, Lacoste, New Balance, and Sperry for men. Simply apply the code NEW4FALL at checkout.
Similar drones in the sub-$100 price range aren't necessarily equipped with camera-related tech, however, this copter also has high-quality integrated camera that can record your flips and rolls through the sky.
This sleek-looking leather strap watch from Marc by Marc Jacobs is a lot more durable than it looks; it's water resistant up to 100 meters. It's also a cool $140 at East Dane right now, down from its $200 sticker price.
Sneakers at the office — all the cool kids are doing it. But for one reason or another, you still haven't taken the leap. We're here to give you a push.
Basically, if other people at the office are wearing sneakers, you can, too. But the presence of sneakers at your workplace does not give you carte blanche to wear any old thing.
Keep it simple and look for a classic silhouette with a solid color and understated design. High- and mid-tops are easier to wear around the office, but low-cut shoes are great for summer.
Here are some of the trendiest choices that tick all of our work-appropriate boxes and can be had for as little as $60.
Leather
Most leather shoes have a place at work, and leather sneakers are no different. Subtle, cool, and comfortable, these all-leather, stark white New Balance 574's are great for just about any office.
Solid Color
Simple is the name of the game. These Common Projects Tournament shoes are like a high-end Converse All-Star, only more minimalist and presented in luxe suede. In a bright tan, these sneakers might even get confused for a pair of cupsole chukka boots — a serious plus.
Low-Profile
Adidas' Stan Smiths might get played out, but that's only because they're so versatile. In a pristine white interrupted only by a strip of leather on the heel and a graphic on the tongue, this shoe is perfect for casual summer Fridays. Pair them with cuffed denim and you're good to go.
Canvas
Leather may be the office favorite, but canvas is still in the game. A plain blue canvas shoe like this Vans x J Crew collaboration is more than work appropriate. Though it loses points for the offensive branding, it makes up for it with its skater-kid-goes-yachting-for-the-day vibe.
Not-So-Sporty
A sportier look can be worn to work, but only if it has a retro lean. This Nike Internationalist is a far cry from the running shoes that have elbowed their way into the realm of casual attire. It's a casual sneaker with a hint of sportiness. After all, you're not literally running from meeting to meeting.
The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
Since you don't have all day to scour the web for noteworthy sales and discounts, we rounded up the best bargains for you to shop in one convenient place.
Portable, rugged and water-resistant, Divoom's Voombox is best for anyone who's on a budget and wants a Bluetooth speaker for the outdoors. We highlighted a similar version by the same brand in our under-$100 speaker buying guide under, and this pick is just as capable.
If you're looking for an affordable pair of sneakers to wear casually, outside of the gym, Puma's gray suede low-tops are a great choice for the fall. They'll look great worn with jeans on the weekends.
Three feet of cable to charge an iPhone just isn't enough for some people. If you fall in this camp, StackSocial has a great bundle to shop this week: You can buy a 10-foot-long, Apple-certified charging cable and durable phone case for $25.
Online only: You can shop 30% off your J.Crew order of $125 or more by applying the code GETSHOPPING at checkout. Final sale items are discounted an extra 50%. The offer is valid through Wednesday, September 9.
Wallets are one of those items that get a lot of wear and not a lot of care in return. If yours has seen better days, it may be time to replace it: Marc by Marc Jacob's brown pebbled leather bifold will be a welcome improvement to whatever your back pocket currently holds. And you can pick it up at East Dane for 30% off.
Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Martin Wallet, $96.60 (originally $138), available at Amazon and East Dane. [30% off]
Everyone wants a great home sound system, and right now, you can buy Sony's for a 40% off its MSRP. The sound bar's thin, rectangular design allows you to easily and conveniently position it underneath your television, and the wireless subwoofer delivers amazing sound without having to run wires around your home.
Our obsession with sneakers is nothing new. Since the inception of the Chuck Taylor in 1917, sneakers have been a part of the American consciousness.
They're now more popular — as well as more adventurous and varied — than ever before. Pop Chart Lab, a two-person collaboration between a graphic designer and a book editor, has decided to distill over 98 years of sneaker history into the 134 most important styles, all rendered in a beautiful graphic.
From 1917 until today, here's a look at how the styles of the most popular sneakers in America have evolved over time.
Sneakers are usually a lot more comfortable than dress shoes. However sneakers aren't widely accepted in the workplace. Here are some styles that can pass at the office.
Produced by Eames Yates. Original reporting by Dennis Green.
But one mistake is driving the company down — its clunky, outdated logo.
"They seriously need to redesign the logo in order to show the world what their future is," Jeetendr Sehdev, professor of marketing at the University of Southern California, told Business Insider.
New Balance made an effort to rebrand itself in July in an attempt to prove the nerdy perception of the brand mocked on a Satursday Night Live skit and humor website Stuff White People Like..
The brand's current ad campaign boasts the tagline "Always in Beta"— to show consumers that the brand is constantly evolving.
But we haven't seen much evolution in the sneaker design since the brand started back in the 1970s, Sehdev said.
"If New Balance is trying to rebrand itself, they need to be distruptive ... but they continue to play it safe," said Sehdev.
Although New Balance has shown consistent market growth, the brand still can't compare to that of Nike, whose "swoosh" logo has a much more recognizable and sleek look.
Who wants to wear a shoe with a thick, block "N" on it, when they can wear a trendy Nike swoosh?
“The challenge for New Balance is to create a unique visual identity," said Sehdev.
New Balance did make a smart move in partnering up with teen retailer American Eagle in order to appeal to a different audience. But the company still didn't change the style of the sneaker.
Nike still has the largest share, though, with 62% of the market.
But thanks to some recent investments, Skechers is now one of the hottest shoe companies in America.
Skechers "is the latest beneficiary of the so-called athleisure trend in retail, with shoppers snapping up sport-styled clothes and shoes regardless of whether they plan to work out in them," according to WSJ.
So how is Skechers dominating? Through strong marketing and advertising to families.
The brand is smart to market to children because they typically outgrow shoes and need new ones throughout the year.
Skechers' most recent marketing campaign includes singers Demi Lovato and Meghan Trainor.
Using pop stars grabs the attention of children and teens, but the company needs to be careful that its shoes don't become a fad that phases out over time.
Skechers is also continuing to expand worldwide, with locations in the Czech Republic and Nigeria.
The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
Since you don't have all day to scour the web for noteworthy sales and discounts, we rounded up the best bargains for you to shop in one convenient place.
Yesterday afternoon, Insider Picks published its buying guide of the best drones for beginners and experts alike. In it, our commerce reporter Jeff Dunn highlighted the Blade Nano for beginners who are looking to get the hang of the hobby, but who don't want to commit a ton of money to it yet. According to Dunn: "It's small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and thus easy to fly indoors or out. It weighs about a half an ounce. At the same time, it’s tough, with a well-made frame and built-in prop guards for its little propellers."
If you're looking for a vessel to replace your briefcase or messenger bag, try a backpack. Some packs look too casual for men in suits to be carrying to work, but NIID's range of laptop backpacks are professional enough for even the strictest of office dress codes. Their compact designs won't take up too much room on crowded subway cars either. If you buy one anytime before October 10, you'll get a second completely free. Simply enter the promo code MP4S7UPM at checkout.
Sweater weather is here again. For chilly fall mornings, you may want to buy something like J.Crew's fleece pullover jacket, which'll look polished over your button-down shirts and chinos. Today only, you can pick it (and any other full-price items) up for 30% off using the promo code DAYTHREE at checkout.
Men's watches are accessories that can get very expensivevery fast. Brands like Nixon, Skagen, Timex, and Daniel Wellington, among others, are good choices for men who want something that has a sleek and sophisticated design and is fairly durable, but doesn't cost thousands of dollars. You can pick up the Nixon timepiece (pictured here) for 20% off at East Dane.
New Balance's running and training shoes are significantly discounted on Amazon today. If you're looking to replace the worn-out pair you use to go running or you're needing a pair of stylish sneakers to wear outside the gym, this brand's a good choice for either case.
The modern gentleman is constantly on the go. We visited the men's department at the flagship Bloomingdale's in New York City to find the essential clothing items to keep every man comfortable and mobile during the fall season.
Adidas has seen the future of running shoes — and it involves 3D-printing.
A new Adidas concept shoe called Futurecraft 3D incorporates a 3D-printed midsole that's completely customizable to the needs of an individual foot.
According to Adidas, the goal is for customers to be able to walk into an Adidas store, run briefly on a treadmill, and walk out with a custom 3D-printed running shoe.
The shoe would be a completely flexible, exact copy of the runner's footprint — matching the foot's exact grooves, instep, and contours.
Adidas says this will set athletes up for their best running experience ever.
The innovation is part of the athletic brand's experimental incubator and open source collaboration project, also called Futurecraft. For this particular shoe, Adidas partnered with 3D-printing specialist Materialise.
The project represents another in a long line of initiatives by the German sportswear giant. From signing a 13-year contract with NBA star James Haden to collaborating with Kanye West, Adidas has been pulling out all the stops to compete with Nike.
GQ reported that the company is doubling down on research, development, and design by poaching Nike designers to work in its new design lab in Portland, Oregon — the same city as Nike's world headquarters.
While sales are up and Adidas' push seems to be working, competitors like Under Armor and even Sketchers — which recently surpassed Adidas to become America's second-largest athletic-footwear company — have made it difficult for the company to put a dent in Nike's 62% market share.
Check out this video for a glimpse at how the Futurecraft 3D is made.
The company — which makes everything from a signature white low-top to a black combat boot — stands out in the oversaturated sneaker world with minimalist design and the promise of better construction and materials.
Kanye West fans were in a frenzy this weekend after the rapper's latest line of Adidas sneakers, the 
Fans waited in hours-long lines outside of Adidas stores 
While some are upset about the price increase...
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