What’s Quietly Hot – is a new series based on my resale data utilizing StockX. These are shoes that have taken off and are selling very well, but still under the radar.
Source: Jordan Point Lane Infrared
There is an overemphasis on the classics by many “sneakerheads”. There is always contention between those who consider themselves OGs and the new and next generation of sneaker enthusiasts. Companies pay to understand the culture around sneakers. Sneaker culture has driven kicks into the mainstream and with that advancement across the aisle, the culture introduced a completely different collector and fan of various brands.
When I do the monthly resale report in many instances I leave off shoes that don’t make the top ten. I’ll mention a shoe that spiked as a “note to self” because I try to avoid disrupting the sell through of a particular model for myself. StockX is attempting to engage the consumer with alternative sneakers to the more popular, hyped sneakers on the site. It makes perfect sense. If a seller can prove that there are more options available to flip, the site expands to non-traditional sneaker fans.
I’ve been asked to highlight sneakers that are going under the radar. This post is one of the first of many to come, but it’s a bit different. The model in the picture at the lead is an in-line Jordan Brand model. Sneakerheads scoff at these shoes. Sneakerheads only want the Jordan Retros from the brand. While Jordan is a 3 Billion dollar brand, which is really intriguing when you learn that Jordan Brand by itself rivals the size of New Balance, Under Armour and is worth more than Reebok recently sold for, Jordan Retros are released in limited runs. There isn’t a breakdown of the numbers between retros and inline product, but a lot of the product created for Jordan Brand isn’t retro numbered Jordans; it’s shoes like this new Point Lane and shoes like the Jordan Delta series that make up the majority of the product delivered.
The Point Lane ‘Infrared’ (link at the lead of the story) has been one of the best selling shoes of the last two weeks via my account on StockX. I haven’t visited retail to see if the correlation is there. Right now, on StockX, the shoe carries an average resale value of $170.00 dollars. That’s 30 dollars above the retail price, for a shoe that “sneakerheads” laugh at. The model is reminiscent of SpiZike and Six Rings in that the Point Lane, named for the street Jordan lived on in Chicago, alludes to several of the most popular models in the Air Jordan line up. The heel arrives courtesy of the Air Jordan 3 Retro. The Jordan Jumpman under the collar is from the Air Jordan 11 tongue. This colorway and the layers on the medial and lateral sides of the shoe are similar in design to the Jordan 6 Infrared. Even the midsole and outsole combination immediately call to the Infrared 6. The smartest play by Jordan Brand here is with the Max Air Cushioning. It’s a retooling of the Air Max 200 that didn’t perform well at retail.
What’s Quietly Hot this week on StockX? The Jordan Point Lane is going under the radar. How long will this pair have an above retail value? I can’t make that projection without visiting retail. I do know that we are in a time where sneaker culture is adding more fans who aren’t aware of the unspoken rules and guidelines of what is dope… and that’s a good thing. Check back next Tuesday for the next WQH.