3 Sneakers to Invest in Right Now
Just like the stock market, the depreciation of sneakers due to the coronavirus is accompanied with plentiful investment opportunities. In my eyes, the sneaker market has transformed into a buy market as people are slowly downsizing inventory to add some extra cash into their pockets.
However, only a handful of sneakers are fruitful investments. Here are the top three undervalued sneakers at the moment that I believe should be on your radar:
Adidas Yeezy 350 V2 Earth
Best sizes: 4.5–6.5
Yeezys have become a household name in the streetwear industry. Designed by the rapper Kanye West, this sneaker is a fan favorite due to its comfortability and unique design.
In 2015, when Kanye first released Adidas Yeezys in limited quantities of roughly 9000 pairs, prices skyrocketed on reselling websites. However, Kanye famously said, “eventually everybody who wants to get Yeezys will get Yeezys.” He made good on his promise two years later, when he released the Yeezy 350 V2 in the Cream colorway. One million pairs of Creams were released. One million. Although I initially believed that its over-saturation in the market would negatively impact its profitability, the trend of the colorway proved me wrong:
Anyone who wanted a pair could purchase one. However, the fact that this sneaker still fetched >30% ROI showed that demand for Kanye’s shoes are at an all-time high. As Kanye continues to release record-breaking music and set trends in the fashion industry, I don’t see his sneaker line falling off anytime soon.
The Earths are an especially good investment because they are easy to wear and surprisingly cheap compared to other colorways ($260 as of 3/23/20).
Check out its market trend on StockX here.
Air Jordan 1 NC to Chi
Best sizes: 11W-14W
Close on the popularity list to Yeezys are Nike Air Jordan 1’s. Debuting in 1985 as Michael Jordan’s first shoe, this silhouette has proven to stand the test of time. Trust me, every single sneaker enthusiast I know has a pair.
At first, I thought that Nike’s decision at the beginning of this year to increase the retail price of its Jordan 1’s by $10 would only cut into its potential profitability. However, after holding the Jordan 1’s NC to Chi in hand, I instantly knew the reason behind the price change. Small but noticeable details that sneaker fanatics adore such as buttery-smooth leather and a hangtag, were added to this sneaker. On top of its high-quality craftsmanship, this specific shoe is unique from other colorways, where the color transition within the shoe pays homage to Jordan’s journey from UNC to the Chicago Bulls. The sales volume speaks for itself: its ability to remain on StockX’s top 15 most popular sneaker list despite releasing over a month ago emphasizes that the demand for this sneaker will not falter.
“its ability to remain on StockX’s top 15 most popular sneaker list despite releasing over a month ago emphasizes that the demand for this sneaker will not falter”
Check out its market trend on StockX here.
Nike Sacai Waffle Low White Nylon
Best sizes: 7–9
Last but not least, Sacai’s collaboration with Nike on the iconic Waffle silhouette is an investment that should not be overlooked. This Japanese brand added its own twist to the well-known silhouette by duplicating every aspect of the shoe, including its tongue, laces, and even the Swoosh.
This all-white sneaker is the perfect summer shoe. I predict that these Sacai’s will slowly rise from its current undervalued price and ultimately hit its peak around July. Sacai released a similar iteration of this shoe in the past, and the graph shows a familiar upward trend:
Notice how the previous Sacai’s bottomed out at $510, while the current Nylon iteration is fetching for $280. If the current Sacai follows a similar trend, there is low room for decrease and large room for growth with this specific shoe.
Check out its market trend on StockX here.
Sneakers are assets. And at a global epidemic like now, considering alternative investment opportunities like these is the best way to mitigate risk.
