Image via Complex Original
When I first saw people wearing the New Balance 990v3 in Washington, DC, I didn’t get it. At the time, around 2012, I was more focused on Air Jordans and Foamposites (another DC favorite—more on those soon) and my taste in New Balances veered more toward the collab-heavy models. The ubiquitous grey 990v3 reminded me too much of the model you’d see sitting at Dick’s Sporting Goods; a dad shoe years before the term was popularized.
But the way I saw it worn during those trips to the District gave me a whole new vision of the shoe. It wasn’t worn with broken-in khakis and polos, it was worn with all-black outfits and North Face and Helly Hansen jackets. And the shoes’ laces weren’t tight enough to cut off circulation, they were often left loosely unlaced near the uppermost eyelet. I started seeing the 990v3 in a different way, and it wasn’t long before that influence led me to trying out a few pairs. Today the 990v3 is one of my favorite sneakers, and I don’t have any qualms admitting it took me a while to fully appreciate it.
When images of the Off-White x Air Jordan 2 collaboration leaked, people were quick to get off takes. What led designer Virgil Abloh, who passed away unexpectedly Sunday after a private battle with cancer, to add Michael Jordan’s autograph to the sneaker? What exactly was on Abloh’s moodboard when he conceptualized the black colorway? And what in the world was going on with that midsole? Another thing was all but guaranteed: Abloh’s signature touch spelled incoming hype for the long-maligned Air Jordan 2 model. It’s not that people dislike the Air Jordan 2. In fact, one fan of the sneaker was so devoted they caught the attention of Abloh himself. But despite a cult following and collabs with the likes of Don C and Vashtie throughout the years, the 2 has always felt a little underappreciated in the Air Jordan canon.
Some took Abloh’s version positively, excited that one of their favorites was finally getting the attention they felt it deserved. Others were less than thrilled, and there was a lot of disgruntlement that people who’d never really been into the Air Jordan 2 would suddenly become fans overnight.
Let’s call it what it is: gatekeeping. On one hand, it’s understandable. The feeling when something that you see as unique to you becomes more mainstream can be deflating. That’s part of the reason many of us chase rare and obscure sneakers in the first place, so you won’t bump into someone wearing the same thing. But at the end of the day, it’s also silly for adults to catch feelings when “their” favorite sneaker (or brand, or band, etc.) becomes the next hot thing.
If you’re someone who never really cared for the Nike Air Foamposite but is into the recently released Comme des Garçons collab, own it, don’t let the internet tell you it’s uncool. That’s part of what collaborations help to do, bring a new perspective to product that may have been overlooked by fans of the respective brands. It’s also a great sneaker design. Say what you will about its $520 price tag, but there’s a reason the hypnotizing molded upper was popping up on social media all year long.
It looks like the Foamposite’s return to the limelight could have some legs, too. Virgil Abloh’s Fall/Winter 2021 Louis Vuitton men’s collection features a sneaker that uses some distinct Foamposite lineage. Due to its timing and presentation on the runway last January, it’s clear that Abloh’s Louis Vuitton shoe isn’t a reaction to the Comme des Garçons collab, but it is another example of a fashion house using the DNA and could be an indication that a full-on Foam revival is in the cards. The Air Foamposite One is also due for its 25th anniversary next year, and Nike tends to treat such milestones with careful attention to product rollout.
As for the Air Jordan 2, there’s also a lot more on the way that people will be talking about. A handful of images have surfaced of Union Los Angeles’ upcoming take on the shoe: a grey and electric blue high-top that mixes perforated nylon and suede. There’s a second rattan-based Union style coming, too.
All of this attention to the previously overlooked model spells out that a ton of general release Air Jordan 2s will presumably follow in the not-too-distant future. It’s a classic recipe, the same one Nike’s exercised in recent years with shoes like the Dunk and Air Jordan 1, although that’s not to say the Air Jordan 2 will end up having as big of a moment as either of those. Perhaps by design, Abloh played a major role in the revival of those models, too.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been into shoes like the Air Jordan 2 and Foamposite since day one or if you’re just getting into them today. If you’re new, maybe do some digging so you’ll better appreciate the shoes for their design and heritage, but don’t get caught up in what naysayers might tell you. If you’ve been here awhile, try not to take things so seriously, and if it really bothers you, move on and seek out your next favorite thing. With Abloh’s sudden passing, there will likely be a newfound appreciation for his work—something we’re already seeing as resale prices begin to surge—and that’s OK, too.