The most expensive sneaker costs 15,000 Stutz
Nicolas Lurati (text) and Nathalie Taiana (photos)
If you want this shoe, you have to have a large wallet with you: the most expensive pedal at the is 15,000 francs Sneakerness 2021 in Zurich-Oerlikon. The high-priced sneaker can be found and examined on Saturday and Sunday in Oerlikon Hall 622. This is where the sneaker fair takes place.
For this fair, he wants to address young people in particular, explains fair boss Sergio Muestra (40). The boss, owner and co-founder of Sneakerness, real name Muster, explains: “Our main target group is 16 to 24 years old. In addition, fashion-conscious, critical, but also very loyal. And of course very digitally on the move. ” The fact that the boys then post their photos, reels and videos of the event on Tiktok and Instagram is great advertising for him, according to the Bernese.
“The sneaker is the center of your fashion style”
The sneaker as a fashion accessory has made a meteoric rise. “He replaced the cap, the sunglasses and the jewelry,” says Muestra. «The sneaker is the center of your fashion style. Superstars like Kanye West, Michael Jordan or LeBron James define themselves through the special shoe. Or they even have their own sneaker model. “
Muestra himself doesn’t have a sneaker that bears his name. But he also sells shoes at Sneakerness. Including the expensive mountain pines for 15,000 Stutz. He explains: “It’s a Nike Dunk Low SB Freddy Krueger.” The name based on the horror film character. The layout like the striped sweater of the film character, plus splashes of color like blood stains.
Only 20 to 30 copies of the 15,000-franc shoe worldwide
Muestra bought Freddy Krueger from a colleague around eight years ago for 750 francs. “Because US rapper Travis Scott suddenly wore a shoe from the SB line five or six years ago, these sneakers were brought back to life,” says Muestra. And with that, the price skyrocketed. Worldwide there are only between 20 and 30 pairs by Freddy Krueger – «they say», explains Muestra.
The shoe currently has a new value of 40,000 francs. “The myth and the story behind it make the shoe so expensive. I’ve already worn my copy twice, »says Muestra. Therefore, he can sell his Freddy Krueger “only” for 15,000 francs.
But he doesn’t expect to be able to sell his most valuable shoe. “A star would have to come with the necessary change.”
2020 the Corona interruption, now expansion to Abu Dhabi
The trade fair boss is also cautious with the visitor forecasts: “I expect 4,000 to 6,000 visitors – that would be fewer than before Corona. In 2018 and 2019 we had around 8,000 people each. “
The event in Zurich could not take place in 2020: “We fought for a long time to ensure that the trade fair could take place,” says Muestra (40). “But then we noticed that it didn’t make any sense.” He is all the happier that the event is taking place this year. But he makes it clear: “On Saturday and Sunday, all exhibitors and visitors must be able to show a Covid certificate.”
After the sneakerness in Zurich, Muestra faces the next challenge: on Monday he will fly to Abu Dhabi. “I’m negotiating to organize a sneakerness there too.”