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What you need to know not to enter the infinite drop cycle.

How to buy sneakers and make leather gems last longer.

Are you one of those people who spends the night awake to get the last drop? Can't you accept losing a new collab, even if it's the same silhouette you already have in a different color?

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Before you lose hours of sleep, and waste your money, you could take a look at your shelf of sneakers, or the stacked boxes, and ask yourself if you need another pair.

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But don't worry, this isn’t some analysis or intervention. After all, we're also aficionados and grateful for all the culture that this billionaire market has and continues to provide, but the sad fact: buying too much does not mean quality.

Although many brands are evolving towards more inclusive, sustainable initiatives, the work with social media, endless collabs, and the never-ending drop cycle have made consumers into accumulators of boxes.

As soon as you get one launch, another comes along, and your kicks are in the closet, catching dust, damp, never going out for a walk. And when you finally remember them, you find a crack, a mold mark, and they end up out there. But the life of your shoes doesn't end “there.”

Here's a list of how you can take better care of your gems, and not get lost in the fantastic drop cycle.

1. Know the materials and their origin.

One justification for having too many sneakers may be that demand has made mainstream silhouette prices more affordable, but what are they made of? And who is making these sneakers so low budget? In addition to the many ethical issues behind this, it's much better to know that the people who create your shoes really have a history in this culture and want to make the best of it.

Eugène Riconneaus, for example, started creating his own skateboarding kicks because the ones he bought didn't last. Once you've finished this list, check out our exclusive interview with him here and here, a chat from one sneakerhead to another.

And speaking of skate shoes, Vans Vault pieces have raised discussions about pricing, and here we talk about this shift to leather structures. In short, they have made traditional silhouettes more durable, easier to maintain, and for those who practice the sport, it's a trade-off that makes sense.

2. Is it just for the hype?

Without googling it, how many AJs and Dunks have been released this year so far? It's impossible to remember them all. Obviously, the silhouette has a story, but it's not necessary to announce a new collab every day.

And we're not talking just about Nike, all the big sportswear brands have bet on nostalgic structures, or simply drop another color of something we already know. It’s usually accompanied by the name of a celebrity, the singer of the moment, and an oversharing on social media.

Before entering your credit card numbers, ask yourself: What material are these shoes made of? Don't I already have one of these in blue? Who's this person being part of the collab? Think of it as YOUR NEW MANTRA.

3. How to make them last longer.

You finally made your purchase consciously, it was worth it, now what? We recently showed the work of Justin Poulsen who made a custom box miniature like a 7-Eleven to put Nike Dunks, and we talked about whether to keep the shoes in the original box or not.

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Experts say that's no problem, as these packages are generally not thin to allow sunlight, but you need to be aware of where they are. Check for signs of moisture, contact with dust, and don't forget to let the leather breathe. As we've mentioned before, sneakers made of this material last longer, but it's important not to toast them.

If a shelf helps you notice that you have kicks enough, go for it.

4. Sneaker care.

If you need a day to do facial masks and your skin routine, your sneakers need it too. But without so many steps, leather shoes make the task even simpler.

Arrived from the street: check conditions. If the sole is dirty, brush it with water and mild soap and the problem should be solved. For the sides, use a soft, slightly damp cloth, and let it dry in the shadow.

For storage, you can put socks inside to keep the shape and help absorb any odors. But use some foot powder, please.

5. What about your sneakers out there?

When it comes to the environment, we already know that it doesn't exist out there, every disposal has a consequence. Over the years, we've seen brands creating initiatives to try to tackle the problem — or show that they're trying — while the problem remains at the source.

Can a sneaker made from something that takes 500 years to decay in nature be considered sustainable? We prefer it when designers and shoemakers breathe new life into leather sneakers that have finished their job.

In addition to Riconneaus, we recently spoke to Ceeze’s founder Connor Seltz, who reuses discarded silhouettes to make innovative designs, such as the crossbody, revolutionizing sneaker culture and building an authentic and true green path.

Now you can classify your life as B.C and A.C = Before with consumerism, and After without consumerism.

Timeless, unique, and conscious creations in [𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐚 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬].

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