SNEAKER REDUX; EXPLOITING A NEW MARKET POSITION, ATHLETIC FIRMS ARE BUTTRESSING NEW LINES WITH LIMITED-EDITION DESIGNER SPORT SHOES.(Brief Article)

Footwear News, November, 2001 by Thompson, Kelly

As fashion-infused sneakers continue to boom in popularity, athletic firms and retailers alike are banking that the trend will only increase come spring. Sold mostly at high-end and independent boutiques, these shoes are being offered in limited-edition, small-size collections, creating a niche market that's hungry to get the latest exclusive athletic look.

When the women's Nike Air Woven debuted earlier this year in select New York, London and Tokyo boutiques, scores of women lined up around the block to purchase a pair. While the shoes retailed for $150, they were also sold, and purchased, on eBay for more than $300.

"I began to see this trend emerge last summer," said Tarek Hassan, manager of The Tannery, an upscale footwear and clothing...