20 Ways The Sneaker Game Was Different 20 Years Ago

Can it be it was all so simple then?

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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"The sneaker game just ain't what it used to be." You've probably heard people say it plenty of times, but what does it really mean? Were things so different back in the day, or is it just old folks wishing they had their youth back? We're here to tell you that things WERE so different back in the day — and we're going to tell you exactly how. So pull up a chair and dig into 20 Ways The Sneaker Game Was Different 20 Years Ago. Things done changed.

Air Jordan Was A Player, Not Just A Shoe

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Sneakers Were Sporting Equipment

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Your Beaters Were Actually Beaters

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Big Sneaker Companies Didn't Take Skateboarding Seriously

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People Wore More Brands

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Most Sneakers Came In Five or Six Colors Max

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Nike Wasn't Sold on the Signature Basketball Sneaker

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Nothing Sold Out On Release Day — If Ever

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There Was Actually A "Sneaker Culture"

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You Could Only Get Player Editions From Players

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Everything Went On Sale Eventually

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The First Time You Saw A New Basketball Sneaker Was When Someone Wore It In The NBA

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There Weren't Retros, Just Old Sneakers

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Artists Sneakers Meant Drawing On Them Yourself

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No One Lined Up For Anything

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Price Tags Were The Only Status That Mattered

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There Were No "Release Dates"

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If You Wanted A Euro Release, You Had To Go To Europe

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No One Had 100 Pairs of Sneakers

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You Actually Had To Buy Sneakers In Person

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