Quality vs. popularity of shoes

By Tyshawna Jackson

What type of shoe do you like and why?

Many people buy shoes only for the popularity. Meaning, if you see someone else with a specific shoe on, most like you’ll later buy the same shoe. That is if you find it attractive. Of course everyone has their own opinion and their own likes, but sometimes “the monkey does whatever he sees.”

In the past shoes were never really taken to the extreme. No one ever really cared where the shoe came from or who made it. As long as the shoe would fit the foot, the comfort didn’t matter. In so many cases this is still true. Women will go out of there way to look nice. No matter how high the heel is and if it will hurt and even damage the foot, some people will still wear them.

A competition is a way some teenagers live their lives, so it's all about impressing people with what you have and what they don’t. Senior Antonio Brown states, “I buy shoes for the quality and for the popularity. Being different is basically a main priority for me. I like to stand out more than others. I even enjoy competing with others, [because] I gotta be the best.”

Many of the most popular shoes are very expensive, that’s one of the main reasons why people constantly spend their money on them. Whenever a shoe is too expensive it is commonly the reason why people don’t buy them, but it can also be why some people want to spend more money.

The more the money, the better quality of the shoe is the way things should work. Sometimes this may be true, however, an inexpensive shoe does not mean it is worthless. It all depends on the way you treat them. Safely handling a shoe can help the life span of the shoe.

Freshman Keonna Windom feels otherwise. “I love shoes period. Tennis shoes and also dressy shoes excite me. Cheap shoes don's really tend to have good quality, that’s the reason I would rather spend more money [is] to have a better shoe.”

There are many other people that feel the same way, but there are many other views. When shoes are fresh and new a lot of people will make it there business to get them before someone else does. Not because of a competition, some people want the shoes for fashion. Germika Sanders, sophomore, claims, “I buy shoes because they are cute. I really don't think the quality of a shoe matters, it's how well you can keep your shoes up.”

Tennis shoes are one of the most popular types of shoes. Jordan’s, Airman, Daddies and Air Force Ones are the main four picks of a shoe. With many people its they quality. A good reputation is followed behind these shoes. Popularity throughout the community and competition has a lot to do with these shoes being top notch. Junior Paige Johnson has a liking for many different types of shoes. However there’s a specific shoe that interests her the most. “Quality sometimes matter highly. Airmax are very comfortable and long lasting. I'd say they are worth every penny. My feet gotta be fresh.”