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Sneakers: The Complete Collectors' Guide
A definitive and indispensable guide to the very best and most collectible sneaker designs. Sneakers, trainers, tennis shoes, baskets―wherever you live, whatever you call them, however you wear them, it is impossible to escape this humble shoe's rise to global popularity. Sneakers have moved beyond sports attire to become a fashion staple that simultaneously transcends class and race yet defines who you are in today's urban tribes.
The world of the sneaker collector encompasses a huge international audience passionate for the rarest shoes, the latest designs, or reissued classics in a myriad of colors and materials. This encyclopedic guide, with more than 500 specially taken color photographs, displays over 180 sneaker designs that have made a mark on sneaker culture worldwide. There are examples to delight both the novice collector and the hard-core sneaker freak, from acknowledged classics like the Converse All Star to the latest Nike Air technology to forgotten styles no longer in production but worthy of modern recognition, such as the Ewing Reflective.
The book features comprehensive reference sections for collectors, including histories of the fourteen leading brands from Adidas to Vans; practical tips on building and caring for a collection; a fully illustrated glossary and chronology; and a directory of shops, resources, and Web sites. Over 500 full-color photographs and illustrations
The world of the sneaker collector encompasses a huge international audience passionate for the rarest shoes, the latest designs, or reissued classics in a myriad of colors and materials. This encyclopedic guide, with more than 500 specially taken color photographs, displays over 180 sneaker designs that have made a mark on sneaker culture worldwide. There are examples to delight both the novice collector and the hard-core sneaker freak, from acknowledged classics like the Converse All Star to the latest Nike Air technology to forgotten styles no longer in production but worthy of modern recognition, such as the Ewing Reflective.
The book features comprehensive reference sections for collectors, including histories of the fourteen leading brands from Adidas to Vans; practical tips on building and caring for a collection; a fully illustrated glossary and chronology; and a directory of shops, resources, and Web sites. Over 500 full-color photographs and illustrations
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 11, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 17, 2011
I found a few sneakers that I would like to add to my collection just based on the information provided in this book. Great Illustrations and detailed information about the history of sneakers including Keds, Vans, Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Puma (one of my all time favorite sneaker brands), even Diadora and Fila.
March 2, 2007
Pretty cool. I've used this one to learn about the history of collectable sneakers and random pop trends. There are diagrams for the various parts of a shoe.
Among others, the author profiles Pumas, adidas, Nike, Bathing Ape, Pony, Reebok and Vans...with lots of neat pics.
Among others, the author profiles Pumas, adidas, Nike, Bathing Ape, Pony, Reebok and Vans...with lots of neat pics.
April 27, 2012
Essential reference book for any sneaker head
October 24, 2012
Okay so basically what surprised me most about this book was how huge sneaker culture is as far as collecting is concerned: and all the books, websites, retail outlets et cetera devoted to sneaker culture. It is amazing that the shoes that you & you're friends wore as teenagers in the '90's are now "Legendary" w/ the Sneaker Culture cannon. Hmmmkay.
This is well-designed book I would say & it can serve as a general (though not exactly exhaustively comprehensive...) reference book. It is published by Thames & Hudson, although it doesn't really come off as a quote/unqoute coffeetableartbook either. Not particulary text-heavy or doggedly historical. You could just causally-thumb through it if you really wanted to. As far as the "scope" goes it really does cover the major, notable, well-known shoes offered through-out the last couple decades for each major brand. There are some notable absences but overall Sneakers: The Complete Collectors' Guide covers-the-bases & ties some of the subcultural connections to various shoes. "The Complete Collectors Guide" aspect is maybe misleading in the sense that it is not exactly an "Encyclopedia" & it was published in 2005, which inthesetimes of INTERNET'd social networking media might seem lightyearsaway but as a "guide" it is a good starting point for sneaker novices or people who don't really collect but want to--
This was the first book I have read on the subject & I would like to read more in-the-future. I cannot really say that I am a collector or a sneakerhead & yet i have a closet-full of sneakers, a few of which that were featured in this book. I checked this book out at the Library but I would like to buy a used copy as a reference-book in the near-future. Totally handy book worth reading.
This is well-designed book I would say & it can serve as a general (though not exactly exhaustively comprehensive...) reference book. It is published by Thames & Hudson, although it doesn't really come off as a quote/unqoute coffeetableartbook either. Not particulary text-heavy or doggedly historical. You could just causally-thumb through it if you really wanted to. As far as the "scope" goes it really does cover the major, notable, well-known shoes offered through-out the last couple decades for each major brand. There are some notable absences but overall Sneakers: The Complete Collectors' Guide covers-the-bases & ties some of the subcultural connections to various shoes. "The Complete Collectors Guide" aspect is maybe misleading in the sense that it is not exactly an "Encyclopedia" & it was published in 2005, which inthesetimes of INTERNET'd social networking media might seem lightyearsaway but as a "guide" it is a good starting point for sneaker novices or people who don't really collect but want to--
This was the first book I have read on the subject & I would like to read more in-the-future. I cannot really say that I am a collector or a sneakerhead & yet i have a closet-full of sneakers, a few of which that were featured in this book. I checked this book out at the Library but I would like to buy a used copy as a reference-book in the near-future. Totally handy book worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews