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The skate industry is a fucking joke and if you think that “skater owner” means they care about you then you’re delusional. Lakai doesn’t give a fuck that I literally couldn’t even walk in that Manchester reissue cause there is zero heel support. They’re laughing to the bank while y’all police each other into what you should be wearing. As for corporate brands, they are trying to make the best possible product they can to rule a market. They are in competition with themselves and their peers, which resulted in some of the most iconic designs that have been tested by multiple different athletes of all kinds of different disciplines. (And no I’m not a “jock” I was actually first chair clarinet all thru high school ) There’s a reason why the superstar, Stan Smith, samba, dunk, blazer, Chuck Taylor, ect have been in production for generations. They are tried and true. Why wouldn’t you want to wear a shoe that has stood the test of time? Ill tell you why, Mob mentality. If you’re not one of us you’re against us mentality which, imo, is how supremacy is born. This way of thinking is directly related to how skaters interact with each other on a micro level as well. It bleeds into our social interaction with other skaters who may differ in the way they look or dress. In the end it’s purposeful ignorance, which was funny to watch at first but now it’s just plain sad and it honestly pins us against each other more than you would think. At the end of the day skate in what you think is the best shoe for your skateboarding cause as Waka Flaka once said
“fuck this industry, bitch I’m in these streets”
When did anyone say this? That skating should stay under the control of skaters is not a sentimental argument. It's a practical one.
How so? What is so practical about it?
Why the fuck would skaters want outsiders influencing and controlling skateboarding? Are cool sneakers really worth relinquishing any or all of that power? I don't know about you but that sounds like a bad idea.
Also thinking that you’re keeping money in skating by purchasing “skater owned” is like joining one of those instagram cash app Ponzi schemes. But do you boo boo
most "skater owned" brands arent randomly closing the door to skateshops though
Right why would a skate brand not sell to a skateshop?
Because it’s not the company it’s how business works. With what’s going on now with backed up logistics and lower man power why sell to shop X when product isn’t moving like the other 4 big box Retail stores in the area? Why would I go to the skateshop who’s trying to sell me Adidas Superstar “AVD” for 89.99 when footaction has superstars on sale for 29.99? It just makes sense. It’s actually practical by all means. Am I suppose to just bite the bullet and go to the skateshop where I’ll get cool guyed by the employees and get up charged cause you slap skateboarding on it? I mean if that doesn’t make sense idk what does.
Going to a shop and buying from them is an experience in of itself. You're supporting not only the owners of the shop, but employees wages, moving stock for them to get more in a new order, and help with the local scene. Now yes you might get a better deal from footlocker, but of course, they're getting their orders at a wholesale discount. All these footlocker mall stores are already at an advantage so they can sell their deadstock for pennies, because it doesn't matter to them. At a skateshop it does, they have to move product at the fixed rate because they don't get the advantages of a corporation. And honestly I rather take my chances at a shop, strike up a conversation and maybe make some new friends and gw t a discount that way. At footlocker sure you're getting a deal, but what experience are you getting?
"Hey bro wanna grab some socks while you're at it? How bout we sign you up for a card? You don't want a account with us why? You can save 5% every order... Just need that email...?"
I'll continue to support shops, in person or online.