My Afternoon with Old Kicks
So, I was clearing out some boxes in the garage the other weekend. You know how it is, stuff just piles up. Anyway, I stumbled upon this old trunk filled with shoes I hadn’t seen in years. Really took me back. And it got me thinking about these sneaker brands that have just been around forever. You sometimes see mentions, maybe in places like the NYT or somewhere, talking about these classic shoe companies.
Digging Through the Past
Pulled out a pair of seriously old Adidas. Like, proper vintage feel. Can’t even remember the exact model name now, but I remember wanting them badly back in the day. The leather felt different, thicker maybe? Not like the stuff they use now which often feels a bit plasticky, even on the pricey ones. They were pretty beat up, soles yellowed, laces frayed. But holding them, I remembered wearing them everywhere.
Then there was a pair of Converse All Stars, the high-top ones. Classic canvas. Those things have barely changed in decades, have they? It’s kind of amazing when you think about it. How does a design just stick around like that through all the fads?
Why We Keep Them?
- Maybe it’s just pure nostalgia. Remembering being younger.
- Sometimes, the old ones were genuinely built better. Felt more solid.
- Or maybe we just forget they’re there, tucked away in a box!
Seeing these old pairs from brands that are still massive today, like Adidas, Nike, Converse… it makes you realize they’ve seen it all. They weren’t always the dominant players, trends shifted, other brands popped up and disappeared. But these guys managed to hang on. They adapted, sure, brought out new tech, new styles, but they often kept their classics going too.
Comparing Then and Now
It felt different just holding them. Less about crazy colors or collaborations back then, more about a simple, solid shoe. You bought a pair and wore them until they fell apart. Now it feels like there’s a new ‘must-have’ sneaker dropping every week. It’s exhausting trying to keep up, not that I really try anymore.
I spent a good hour just looking through that box. Didn’t even throw many away. Cleaned up one of the old Adidas pairs, actually. Might give them a wear, see how they feel. It’s funny, just a bit of tidying up turned into this whole reflection on things that last. These longtime sneaker brands, they’ve got stories worn into their soles, you know? It’s more than just a logo.
