Image via Complex Original
State of Sneakers Week continues with a look at the cities that keep our beloved sneaker habit going. All around the world, there are sneakerheads and stores that feed our need for new kicks on a daily basis. While some stores may be currently on top of the game, others have been doing with consistency for longer than some sneakerheads have been alive. But what really makes a great sneaker city? It could be the number of sneaker stores. It could be the number of people that are into sneakers. It could even be the number of sneakerheads that visit as tourists. After all, we all know vacation time means it's time to break out something special. We would argue that it's all of the above that makes a great sneaker city, a combination of shops new and old, a population of appreciative sneakerheads, and a decent amount of visitors to talk kicks with at any of the local spots. With that said, check out The 15 Best Sneaker Cities in the World and let us know in the comments section which places you've been and how they rank for you.
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15. Toronto
Maybe it's just too easy to forget our neighbor to the North. Toronto has the boutiques to get kicks, the spots to show them off, and they just hosted "Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture" at the Bata Shoe Museum, the first show of its kind in North America. Props.
14. Philadelphia
Philadelphia was the home city of two of the NBA's most valuable sneaker pitchmen (Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson) and the birthplace of its favorite anachronism (Rasheed Wallace). The glory days of the mom-and-pop shop may have fallen prey to urban blight - and the internet - but Philly will always be important to this thing of ours.
13. Barcelona
Barca was hot before Michael Jordan and the Dream Team visited back in the summer of '92, but it's nice to think that the Olympic basketball behemoths played some role in the city's current style status. Then again, their football (no, not that football) clubs have been doing the damn thing for decades upon decades. And spots like LimitEDitions and 24 Kilates keep things winning on the boutique level.
12. Honolulu
Ideally one goes to Hawaii to NOT wear sneakers. But if your dogs aren't flip-flop friendly, Honolulu's got you covered. KICKS/HI, founded by Ian Ginoza, is the most well-known spot, but there's also Truest for those releases you missed out on. No need to wait to get back to the mainland.
11. Houston
To be honest, Houston is the perfect incubator for sneaker addicts - you spend all your time either in a car or indoors in AC, so it takes twice as long to dog anything, and no one should ever think twice about rocking their grails. Plus, the H-Town Sneaker Summit has been holding it down since 2003, becoming the world's largest sneaker gathering in less than a decade.
10. Miami
It makes sense that a city where you can wear shorts year-round would be an amazing place for sneakers - and it doesn't hurt that it's also where LeBron James plies his trade. Pretty much the only downside is you'll never know what your kicks look like with jeans.
9. Boston
One of America's oldest cities has been something of an incubator for amazing sneaker boutiques, despite being located in the cold North. Concepts and Bodega each run must-visit retail establishments with a killer history of collabs to their name, while Frank the Butcher continues to drop gems through his Boylston Trading Company. And while much manufacturing has moved elsewhere, Boston has the industry connects as well, with both New Balance and Reebok calling Massachusetts home.
8. Berlin
Germany being the home of adidas and PUMA means that there are plenty of industry folks to ensure that citires like Berlin will always be known for pushing the culture forward. But that's on a grand scale, step back to the boutique level and berlin also has two of the finest boutiques in the game, Solebox and Overkill. Even if you've never made the trip to Berlin, you probably know of both these retailers thanks to their web presence and collaborations. Oh, and Berlin hosts an event you may have heard of, it's pretty much the biggest sneaker and streetwear show in the world, called Bread & Butter. It's also where hundreds of new sneakers are seen by the public for the first time.
7. San Francisco
San Francisco's weather is perfect for sneakerheads. Any day of the year you can get away with shorts and a hoodie or throw on some locally made Levi's and be comfortable. With the longstanding success of sneaker boutiques like True SF and Darkside Initiative, it's no wonder companies like Undefeated and The Hundreds have opened up store in The City. Not to mention, Sheikh and Nike have incredible flagship stores just a few blocks apart here. And with any good sneaker city, tourism is a guarantee that you'll see something neck-breaking while visiting.
6. Paris
Paris may be best known for high fashion, but like any other major global city it operates on so many levels. And besides, not everyone can afford Louis. Like New York, Tokyo and London, Paris is one of those cities that inspires OTHER cities. And as a spot where everyone's trying to get noticed, that just means everyone works extra-hard at it. Even a pair of GRs looks different on Parisian streets.
5. Chicago
Chicago's brutal winters means it's not really a sneaker city at all for a good part of the year, but seeing that it was home to Michael Jordan for over a decade there's no way it doesn't qualify. Shops like LDRS, St. Alfred (by the people who brought you KICKS/HI) and one of the original Niketowns ensure the city stays laced.
4. Los Angeles
Los Angeles is so spread out that it should almost take up more than one spot on this list. And despite the fact that it's a car-based culture, you've gotta get out of your whip sometimes-even if it's just to stand in line at Pink's. Well, and to cop, of course. There's consignment shops like RIF and Flight Club, skate-oriented spots like Supreme and Brooklyn Projects, and of course the local guys made good like The Hundreds and UNDFTD. From Fairfax to Rodeo, L.A. goes in.
3. London
Amazing that such a dreary city would be a mover and shaker in sneakers - pardon, trainers - but London, home to Foot Patrol and Size? (not to mention exclusives king JD Sports) has been doing this for a long time. And with the advent of e-commerce, people all over the world have found it easier to cop London-based designs and collabs. The Brits haven't forgotten how to build an empire.
2. Tokyo
Tokyo-and Japan in general - probably did more to push the vintage movement than any other city. When they started buying in the '90s, tons of Nike product was sent overseas, at prices that seemed high at the time but would shock eBay sellers now. Shops like Flight Club and RIF based their designs on Japanese sneaker stores. And with boutiques like mita and Atmos collaborating with every brand under the sun, Tokyo is still pushing forward.
1. New York
This should come as a surprise to absolutely no one. Get upset all you want, New York was first, New York is best, and no city will ever replace it. Period. Like the man said, "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere."
Where else is there so much sneaker style that you have to have a neighborhood sneaker guide to the city?