Mumbai sneakerheads are not in it for the hype

These sneaker enthusiasts from the financial capital give us a peek into their shoe collection

Unless you’ve been living in a world cut off from social media, you must be aware that the sneaker subculture is at an all-time high in India. And street style culture is pushing this trend like never before. But for this crew of sneaker enthusiasts, collecting shoes is not just a fad—it’s rooted in the intention of buying shoes as collectors’ items or with the goal of investment instead. Our ongoing series spotlights sneaker enthusiasts from Mumbai and their vast collection of super kicks.

Vineet Mhtare

Mhtare’s current sneaker count amounts to 40-45 pairs. “Most of them are from Nike, but I own a pair from all other major sneaker brands,” he says. The Navi Mumbai-based HR professional’s love for sneakers is rooted in his passion for football. “When I saw Cristiano Ronaldo, my idol, signing with Nike (in 2003) and wearing Air Force 1s, it fuelled my love for sneakers,” says Mhtare, whose first pair of sneakers was Nike’s Triple White Air Force 1s. “No doubt it is Nike’s best silhouette. It is timeless, classic and versatile,” he adds. But the most expensive pair of sneakers in his collection are Travis Scott’s collaboration with Fragment and Nike Air Jordan 1 in low-rise, which he believes were 2021’s sneaker of the year. Mhtare’s Instagram account chronicles his ever-growing footwear collection and streetwear style, which is “liked” by over 77,000 followers. “What’s great is that this subculture promotes some amazing homegrown streetwear brands, which create employment opportunities and diversity for consumers. The sneaker community is growing at an unbelievable pace in India, and stores like Superkicks and VegNonVeg play a crucial part in shaping the country’s sneaker culture. It’s also good to have so many resellers to choose from now, which allows us to bargain and get amazing deals on sneakers,” he says. For his next big purchase, the sneakerhead has marked his calendar for the 19th of November, when the Nike Air Jordan 1 High Lost and Found, a remake of the Classic 1985 ‘Chicago’ Jordan 1 High, drops.

Sanjana Patil

Patil got her sneaker education during her internship at Mainstreet Marketplace as a content contributor in 2019. The first pair of sneakers she ‘copped’ was Nike’s iconic Air Jordan 1 ‘Banned’. “When I developed an interest in working at a streetwear store like Mainstreet Marketplace, I knew I had to educate myself more about it. That’s how I learnt more about sneakers and the culture around them,” she says. As a content creator, Patil’s personal Instagram account is a mood board for wearing sneakers with every outfit. “I feel like sneakers can make any outfit look complete. There is so much variety, but they’re also very comfortable footwear. You wear a basic outfit with a pair of orange Nike Syracuse dunks, and you’re good to go. It has the power to make your look stand out from the rest,” she adds. As a female sneakerhead in this community, Patil’s streetwear-inspired looks stand out, winning over 30,000 followers. You’ll find her styling her sneakers with everything, from a pair of jeans to mini dresses and skirts. “There was a time when you wouldn’t see many women who were into sneakers. But now, women sneakerheads are coming into their own. Watching their style and putting so much thought into why they wear particular shoes is interesting and, honestly, very refreshing,” she says. But despite feeling that women are finally making a mark in the sneaker community, Patil also believes it’s a bit saturated. “Most people that you may call a “sneakerhead” are buying it for the hype or trying to follow a trend. Buying 15-20 or even 100 pairs of sneakers may make them a sneakerhead, but how many of them try to find out about the story behind the shoe or this culture of sneakers itself?” she asks.

Dhaval Singh

Filmmaker and YouTuber Dhaval Singh was unaware of the hype around sneakers until he saw the 2020 Netflix docuseries called ‘The Last Dance’, which follows the career of Michael Jordan and his final season with the Chicago Bulls. “This series  inspired me, and it was then that my girlfriend gifted me my first pair of Air Jordans for my birthday,” says Singh, who has built a collection of over 30 pairs of sneakers. “It was mostly about comfort for me at the time rather than the hype. I started buying more, and at one point, I had bought around 70 pairs of sneakers before reselling about 35 of them,” he shares. His most expensive pair was his most recent purchase. “I recently copped the Dior’s collaboration with Nike Air Jordan 1 in lows. There are only 8,500 made in the world, and I managed to get one for around $5800, not including the tax,” Singh reveals. The Mumbai native believes that the newest trend of collaborations in the sneaker world is where the hype is now. “I don’t see more manufacturers coming in the sneaker game because brands like Nike, Adidas and New Balance are ruling the market right now, especially with their multiple collaborations from artists and athletes, like Lebron James, Travis Scott and Billie Eilish. Like Mhtare, Singh, too, is looking to add the Nike Air Jordan 1 High Lost and Found to his growing collection of sneakers.

Praful Jaien

“It wasn’t about the hype for me, but the love of shoes that got me interested in sneakers,” says Jaien, whose collection already boasts about 150 pairs of sneakers, considering he started collecting them just over six months ago. “My cupboard is filled with colourful shoes as colour attracts me first,” he adds. Scroll through Jaien’s Instagram account (@jobless_millionaire), and you’ll find proof of his sneaker shopping splurges. But the first pair that he bought, which started his recent obsession with sneakers, were the Air Jordans in Red Cement that he copped from Superkicks—a multi-brand sneaker store in India. “The sneaker culture has picked up so much in India, and it’s only going to get bigger and better with the number of events, pop-ups and resellers coming into the game,” says Jaien, who works in the gold and diamond jewellery sector and deals in exclusive watches and jewellery. When asked about the most expensive pairs of sneakers in his collection, Jaien mentions the limited edition Dior and Louis Vuitton collaborations with Nike’s Air Force 1s; the latter retailed as a ‘collectable sneaker’ for $3,000. His next big purchases? The Nike Air Jordan 1 High Lost and Found, Concepts x Nike SB Orange Lobsters and DJ Khaled’s collaboration with Air Jordan 5 that are yet to be released.

Bhavay Taneja

For Taneja, buying new and different shoe styles started as a hobby when he was about 17. “I didn’t have that much money to buy Air Jordans or Nike Dunks at the time, so I’d save my pocket money and invest in Puma’s RSX series or Future Riders or R78, which were affordable,” says the professional cricket player. “I’ve been playing cricket since a young age. I remember someone checking out the Pumas I had on during a tournament. They offered me more pairs in exchange for me doing social media campaigns for them on Instagram, which I did and wore only Puma for almost two years,” says Taneja, who now owns over 55 pairs of sneakers, including the highly coveted Air Jordan 1 High Retro SB ‘LA to Chicago’. Apart from being a cricketer, the 25-year-old owns a sports management company and resells sneakers as a side hustle. “A close friend of mine introduced me to this culture in 2020. I started watching videos of sneaker unboxing and people camping out in front of Nike stores for days to buy some shoes. I spent some time studying the sneaker market and started investing in Air Jordans (which were affordable) and made a list of pairs I’d like to buy, source or resell,” says Taneja, who only started reselling in April earlier this year. “In the first month of business, I sold more than 40 pairs of sneakers, and over 250 pairs of kicks since,” he shares. Taneja hopes to add the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 in Phantom Black to his collection.

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