Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)

News broke that the Complex Network was being sold for $140 million; a low price given its stature in the sneaker community. As the sneaker game has cooled off, so has sneaker content. The content game has evolved to something different, and is based on the wants of the consumer. Matty Ice discusses. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.c...

The recent release of the Jordan 1 Royal Reimagined saw the sneaker community largely sitting it out. What once would have sold out in a heartbeat can now be found in a full size run on the SNKRS app. What happened? Was the shoe poorly executed, or did Nike make a misstep in their release plans? Matty Ice dives in. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https:...

Spike Lee should have been on the icons list — and host Matty Ice will be the first to admit it. This episode corrects the record, diving into Spike Lee's early influence on sneaker culture, his relationship with Jordan Brand, and the shoe that came from it — the Jordan Spizike. With Nike bringing the Spizike back in 2024, it's the perfect time to explore the full lineage of Jordan hybrid models....

Today's world and media is all about hyperbole. We are constantly prisoner to recency bias in giving people the label of icon. It happens in the sneaker community as well, but what does truly make someone an icon in sneaker culture? Matty Ice talks through his criteria, offering up influential names of the past for people to remember. In the end, you find out his Mt. Rushmore of icons in the sneak...

The Nike SNKRS app is the bane of many sneakerheads' existence. Between taking Ls and app crashes, it's difficult to feel positive about SNKRS. Nike has listened to some feedback over the years and has done more with giving exclusive access on SNKRS. While their efforts are commendable, the math for many releases will always be the fatal flaw for the user. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Sub...

Reebok, once a proud staple in footwear and fitness, has struggled in recent years to find its place amongst the sneaker community. Sensing the need for a new identity, Reebok hires Shaq and Allen Iverson as President and Vice President, respectively, of Reebok Basketball. While this is a savvy front office move, will it be enough to bring the brand back to prominence in the world of basketball sh...

Atmos USA is closing the doors on their three brick and mortar stores in the United States. Atmos USA is a part of the Footlocker family, and Footlocker is a company looking to regain footing in the culture. Long gone are the day that people exclusively rely on stores for their sneakers, so how will the closing of Atmos USA affect sneaker culture going forward? --- New episodes released weekly. --...

The Nike Refurbished program is Nike's attempt at giving sneakerheads the ability to cop shoes they may have missed out on. In the sneaker world there is a negative connotation with the term refurbished. Many see them as low quality, when in fact they are most likely used returns. Is it Nike pulling a fast on on the community, or is this a legitimate attempt at listening to sneaker culture? --- Ne...

Jordan Brand, and by extension Nike, is fully on the "reimagined" path when it comes to their most beloved Jordan colorways. The unveiling of the Jordan 4 Bred, and its beautiful black leather, have brought mixed feelings to some in the culture. Is Jordan brand missing the point of reimagining these iconic shoes? Host Matty Ice talks through some of other colorways Nike should consider giving the...

How do we determine the true value of a sneaker? News outlets such as Complex make this a complicated questions to answer. The viewpoints and personalities they present are not representative of sneaker culture at large. In the end, we need to be smart about how we place value on the items we love. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com...

Matty Ice does a lot of talking about sneakers that others wear, but rarely gives a glimpse into his own sneaker closet. In this episode, you get a peak of the top fives sneakers in Matt's current sneaker rotation. As a surprise, in lieu of a release of the week, you get to hear about two of Matt's recent pick-ups! Support Crucial Van: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Oldasskilla --- New episodes release...

The recent release of the Union Jordan 1 highlighted how far sneaker releases have come. Smaller shops and boutiques are taking measures to give sneakers back to the real consumers and less to bots and resellers. Transparency from companies like Nike would go a long way in building trust within the community, but will it ever happen? --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear...

Nearing the two year anniversary since Momma Ice passed away, Matty Ice gives you a glimpse into her and their relationship. Momma Ice was a complicated woman at times, but loved fiercly. Time is a finite commodity, and sometimes we need to put the sneakers aside to ground ourselves. In the end, we need to do what we can to cultivate and nourish our important relationships. --- New episodes releas...

Kobe Bryant's legacy goes beyond the basketball court. His untimely death in 2020 took his popularity in the sneaker world to new heights. With the announcement of the Kobe 8 Protro "Halo", to honor Kobe on his birthday, Matty Ice talks through Kobe's lasting legacy in sports, sneakers, and life. --- Hat worn by Matty Ice: Halls of London - http://www.hallsoflondon.com/ --- New episodes released w...

Replica sneakers are probably the most polarizing topic in the sneaker world. Are they evil? Should you wear them? Does it matter? Matty Ice talks through the topic of reps by diving into the recent rumblings with them, the different perspectives people have, and the spreading of love and unity within sneaker culture. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: htt...

Between the Travis Scott "Utopia" Air Force 1 and the A Ma Maniere Jordan Air Ship, sneaker collabs seem to be getting lazy. Sneaker companies are trying to convince us that hype still sells, and we need to do better at showing them that we need better designs and innovation. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefootwearsneakers...

Matty Ice brings Fire Footwear, a long standing audio podcast, to I&C Sports on YouTube. A passionate member of sneaker culture, he asks the question "what is the state of sneaker culture today?" It's a loaded question as the tides have changed since 2020. The real question is "are we in a golden era of sneakers?" --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: htt...

For an entire generation, sneakers and tennis shoes are one and the same. In today's world, basketball is the sport most associated with sneaker culture thanks for Michael Jordan. What has long been forgotten is the true history of how tennis shoes, shoes made for playing the sport, have a huge part in today's culture, and even its trajectory moving forward. Find out how in this week's episode. --...

Having finally seen the critically acclaimed movie "Air", Matty Ice is ready to break it down for the Fire Footwear community. While initially hyped as a movie for sneakerheads, it really was a movie about the underdog. The real question for the listeners is did the host enjoy it? Tune in and find out! --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube...

After a visit to see his dad over Father's Day Weekend, Matty Ice comes back to the airwaves to reflect on his time there. Time and experience bring with it wisdom and growth, and seeing his son interact with his dad has added new layers of perspective on his childhood. Also, what are some of the "best" dad shoes of all-time? Tune in and find out! --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to...

In a sneaker world where Jordans and Dunks are becoming stale, we must look for a solution this complacency. In today's episode, Matt dives into other silhouettes, and companies, that aren't on the radars of most sneakerheads. In an effort to expand our thinking, we look at how you can still be fire, but maybe even with some function too. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Foo...

Sneaker culture reached an apex during the pandemic, but is seeing a crash down to earth of late. Nike is shifting their executives to better serve the needs and wants of sneaker culture; to innovate for the future. With this shift in mindset, the question becomes, is this the best time to be a sneakerhead? --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.yo...

In this episode of Fire Footwear, host Matt Frates dives into the future of sneaker culture, examining the rise of the resale market, the impact of social media on hype, and the emergence of new sneaker brands like Novella. He discusses the importance of storytelling in design and the role both established and emerging brands play in shaping the sneaker world. From the iconic Jordan brand to innov...

Kanye West and Adidas are back together, but it's not the love story we've all been waiting for. This temporary partnership could change the sneaker game, and we're here to break down what this means for you, the sneakerheads, and the role of corporate America in feeding our needs and wants. We're also putting the spotlight on the current state of the sneaker industry – particularly Tom Sachs' rec...

Get ready to step into the world of the iconic Jordan 4 silhouette as we explore its unique design elements and legacy in sneaker history! From the unmistakable wings and side cages to the heel tab, lace lock, and tongue, we'll discuss why the Jordan 4 stands out among other sneakers. We also tackle the issue of comfort in Jordan four retros and share our excitement for the upcoming Military 4s. J...