Attempting to get their feet wet in new activities, certain students have discovered a shoe society through Facebook in which people in the St. Louis area can purchase, sell and trade sneakers.

A few Facebook groups pertain to the St. Louis area specifically, and the largest one consists of a few thousand members.

“I’m on there basically daily looking for deals and information on new shoes that are coming out,” senior Jack Lieberman said. “It’s also cool to see the collections that guys have made over the years.”

Some people believe shoes can tell others about their personality, lifestyle and swagger. Lieberman has his own ideas.

“I think it’s a cool way to express yourself,” Lieberman said. “Not a lot of people choose shoes as a way to express your style, and I think it’s a cool way to do it.”

Lieberman has a certain style that he enjoys searching for.
“At first I looked for flashiness and uniqueness, but more recently I’ve looked for comfort,” Lieberman said.

Senior Andrew Kaiser is also a part of the sneaker society. He also looks for specific qualities while interested in shoes.

“I look for the colorway of the shoes, and I don’t to wear anything that’s too ugly or I wouldn’t wear a lot,” Kaiser said. “I look for condition if I’m buying a used shoe; I don’t want anything beat up. I pay attention to the model of the shoe and if I like the design of it in general.”

Hearing about it from a friend, senior Erick Stephens joined the community a little over a year ago. Similar to Kaiser and Lieberman, Stephens looks for comfort and style, as well as high top shoes. However, he also enjoys shoes for a different reason.

“I like limited shoes because not everyone can get them,” Stephens said. “It feels good to be the only one with them.”

Stephens also looks up to celebrities, which has slightly sparked his interest in shoes.

“I think shoes are stylish, and I’ve always liked Michael Jordan,” Stephens said. “I think it’s cool to wear the shoes that NBA players are wearing.”

The most Stephens has spent on shoes in this community has been $250 for a pair of Kevin Durants. Lieberman recently purchased a limited edition pair of shoes for about $210. Kaiser has spent $320 on a certain pair yet still doesn’t consider his love of shoes an addiction.

“Shoes are just a hobby; they come last,” Kaiser said. “If I have to pay for something important, shoes come last. It’s just excess money.”

On the Facebook group itself, members must be granted access by an administrator. After that, people post pictures of their shoes, including condition and the price they are seeking.

Then people will comment if they are interested in buying or perhaps trading.
“I go on it every day mostly,” Kaiser said. “It’s fun to see what people do.”