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People looking to get into sneaker collecting often want to know if the sneaker they think is popular is still cool. There are some kicks that seem to always at least be kind of on trend (Air Force 1s, Dunks, Air Jordan 1s). For New Balance kicks, it’s not always so cut and dry. Here we examine if the New Balance 550 are still popular.
The New Balance 550 Is Still Fairly Popular
The New Balance 550 was one of the “it” sneakers of 2022. This skyrocketed its popularity among collectors and the general public. The sneaker’s profile has decreased recently, however it is still a great choice with an on-trend vintage aesthetic.
This sneaker was very popular in previous
years, but is it still?
Shop 550s on: eBay
Sometimes a sneaker can be on top of the world when it comes to collecting. The NB550 is one of those sneakers. Thanks to limited edition releases and popular collabs, the 550 shot up the ranks. Interest in the retro 80s basketball shoe aesthetic also helped the New Balance 550 became an extremely popular sneaker.
Sneaker popularity ebbs and flows. What was popular last year or even a few months ago can fall by the wayside. This depends on a few factors such as saturation or being dethroned by another model.
The real question boils down to whether the 550 has the staying power to become a sneakerhead mainstay like the Air Force 1. Or, will it fade from production?
Shop New Balance 550s on: eBay
How the New Balance 550 Got Popular
Vintage 80s-era basketball sneakers like the New Balance 550 have become fashionable in recent years. High profile collabs and limited edition releases have propelled the New Balance 550’s popularity among sneaker collectors and the general public alike.
Hype is the reason a sneaker is popular and thus difficult to find, especially in the 2020s.
Vintage 80s-era styles have been popular for the last few years. Particularly retro basketball sneakers such as the Nike Dunk. The NB 550 has ridden this wave as an “alternative” to sneakers like the Dunk. The NB casual basketball sneaker retro is going to be in direct competition with Nike’s popular offering. This appeals to sneaker collectors that don’t want to follow the hype, but actually still do, just on a “different” sneaker.
Collabs with Rich Paul and Aimé Leon Dore helped bring the model into the spotlight initially, and continued limited releases keep the sneaker highly visible. Celebrities and social media exposure also help put the model on many people’s radar.
Initially, the 550 colorways featured lots of offwhite vintage palletes, which ties in well with the vintage aesthetic that has only grown stronger in popularity. Especially as influencers on social media help the continued spread of this style.
How The 550 Might Lose Popularity
As a sneaker becomes popular, the manufacturer may decide to flood the market with colorways to take advantage. Once the “limited availability” ceases and “everybody” has a pair, collectors tend to move on to the next new sneaker. Such may be the case with the New Balance 550.
Initially, the sneakers were limited and tough to find in stores. As we near the saturation phase of the model, we are now seeing a lot more pairs release which means they are getting easier to find and releasing in a lot more places.
While certain colors of the shoe still sell out, we are still able to get certain colorways at retail. As more and more people out there are seen with 550s on feet, sneaker collectors begin to see the shoe as less “special”.
Does this mean that the NB 550 will become “uncool”? Probably not, but whether or not it fades entirely depends on New Balances approach to releasing the sneaker.
Often times, a shoe will be popular, enter the saturation phase, and then decline in sales. A sneaker company at this point typically stops releasing colorways, moving on to the next “it” sneaker along with sneaker collectors.
The alternative is that New Balance keeps faith in the 550 and turns it into a mainstay. By keeping a limited release or two per year, releasing special editions, and always having basic colorways available, the shoe can be kept “alive” like the AF1 or Air Jordan 1. This allows the sneaker to have waves of popularity and possibly a resurgence down the line.
Conclusion
As always, my rule with sneakers is: if you like them, buy them. It’s your style and your wardrobe, so if you want a sneaker that is going to hit that 80s vintage hoops aesthetic, the New Balance 550 is a good choice.
I personally find the fit on the 550 off-putting, but many love the style and don’t mind the feel of the shoe. This is a prime example of a sneaker still being popular, even if it’s not for me personally. I think if you like how the 550 looks, do not worry about whether it’s popular or not, just get a pair and see if you like the fit and how it looks on YOU.
If the sneaker decreases in popularity and eventually goes out of production, that’s ok. That means that the shoe is now truly limited as in no more are being produced! Then, any pair that manages to survive over the next several years will actually be vintage, and not just a vintage aesthetic. Often times, pairs of sneakers I bought that weren’t the most popular wound up being sought after later on down the line.
At the end of the day, sneakers are a very personal choice. If a shoe goes with your style, and you like how it looks, you will look great in them. Nobody is seriously going to say “Look at that person wearing New Balance 550s, those are so played out”. Or rather, nobody that is not a complete sneaker snob is going to say that. So don’t worry about whether a shoe is “still popular”, but instead consider if you like how it looks on you!
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