JEDDAH: Hundreds of “sneakerheads” gathered at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit this week to peruse a collection of rare athletic footwear, as the global Sneaker Con show passed through the coastal city from Feb. 1-3.
After a successful second event in Riyadh, Jeddah’s first taste of the so-called “greatest sneaker show on earth” drew sneaker culture fans of all ages, coming together to buy, sell and trade the latest and rarest sneakers from Air Jordans to Yeezys.
For three days, 100 local sneaker vendors from Jeddah and as far away as Florida, Houston, San Antonio, Ohio, Mexico and Puerto Rico came to showcase their inventory from as early as the 1980s.
Jay Stavola and David Grails, owners of Fair Town Sneakers from Florida, brought some rare examples to the convention.
“We are showcasing a large number of sneakers but the very rare one we have for example is the Timberland sneaker, which was part of collaboration between Jimmy Choo and Swarovski; they put out 50 pieces only worldwide,” Stavola said.
“Another one was made by Swarovski for the F1 racer, Lewis Hamilton.”
He told Arab News that each pair of sneakers cost $15,000.
Jorge Andres, a prominent sneaker influencer and reseller from Puerto Rico, received a rare signed “Friends & Family” pair of the Donald Trump-branded gold high-top sneakers in February 2024, which he is showcasing at Sneaker Con Jeddah.
He was one of six young people who had the opportunity to talk with the former president, in addition to receiving a signed shoe.
The gold “Never Surrender High-Tops” with American flag detail are listed for $180,000, and he told Arab News that since the Riyadh event he had received several offers.
Vendor Andrew Panvilas, from Ohio, is also selling two pairs of the Trump sneakers, without the signature, for $1,000 each.
At the center of Jeddah Corniche Circuit’s Hall, James Hella from Tampa, Florida stands proudly wearing Saudi traditional attire, selling a selection of brand-name sneakers.
He said: “The culture is here and I think it is just a sneaker economy. This is my second year in Saudi Arabia and I love it.”
Asked about his offerings, Hella said: “What I have is a lot of Jordans, Yeezy Travis and Kobe’s baseball glove, which are very exclusive items. I try to jeep my prices fair for all.”
A pair of basketball legend Michael Jordan’s sneakers from his famous “Last Dance” season, made by Nike, set also a record at the event, selling for $85,000 to $90,000.
James Hella from Tampa, Florida. (AN photo/Saleh Fareed)
There were also other athletic shoes sold at more affordable prices, ranging from about SR300 ($80) to SR600 riyals.
Attendees had the chance to browse and buy some of the most sought-after footwear in the game, along with other trendy merchandise sold by more than 100 vendors.
Wael Abu Al-Hassan, a 38-year-old who lived in the US for seven years, told Arab News that he had been a big fan of Sneaker Con for the past 30 years.
Abu Al-Hassan said that sneakers had always been his passion, and that he has been collecting them for years. Since graduating university, it has become his livelihood.
“I buy these rare shoes from attending various events, or on Instagram. Sometimes I sell some of them online and gain some money,” he said.
Shoes can often go for much more than the original price, he said. “Many sneakerheads flock to events like Sneaker Con to see rare pairs of sneakers in person.”
