Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)

The Doernbecher Freestyle series is an important part of sneaker culture and history. Is it the best thing in sneakers? We'll discuss, this week on Fire Footwear. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefootwearsneakers Subscribe to Matt Frates on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mattfrates --- Follow Matt Frates on Instagram: http...

It's no secret that Kanye, or Ye, has been in the news a lot for all the wrong things. His behavior has caused a public outcry, and the loss of his Adidas contract. At the end of the day, Kanye will always be synonymous with the sneaker game, but what will the Yeezy legacy be going forward? --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefo...

Sneakers inspired by Halloween have been a "thing" since the late 1990s, but the trajectory to get to where we are today has been a journey. Today, Halloween sneakers are an expectation, but that was not always the case. Which sneaker most defines Halloween? --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefootwearsneakers Subscribe to Matt...

For the past five or six years Nike has trafficked in the hype surrounding sneakers; their profits and stock price soared. Now that hype and reselling are cooling off, they decided it's time to police resellers and bots. Does Nike really care about us, or are they just serving their own self-interests? --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube...

While the Jordan 1 may be seen as "the shoe that started it all", it owes it all to the Air Force 1. The Air Force 1 is one of Nike's most sold shoes over the last forty years; the work horse of the Nike line. The history of its debut and ascension are marked with mystery and a dash of discomfort. Either way, it's a staple for any sneaker lover. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to F...

Using a different show format for this week only, Matty Ice takes our journey to the next most logical place; the history behind the Air Jordan 1. It is "the shoe that started it all" and the history surrounding it is steeped in nostalgia and lore. In order to understand the now, we must understand the past. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.y...

The Air Jordan 1 Mid is quite possibly the most hated on shoe in all of sneaker culture. Debuting in 2001, and being mass produced over the last few years, it lacks both nostalgia and hype. Is this really a fair assessment? Matty Ice attempts to break it down. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefootwearsneakers Subscribe to Mat...

Sneakers and hype have a complicated relationship, but what is hype, really? Over the last five years, hype has contributed to the meteoric ascention of sneaker prices and demand, but has hype permeated into the culture more than just a Travis Scott release? --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefootwearsneakers Subscribe to Matt...

Sneaker lovers unite! This podcast is back after a 7 month hiatus. Host Matty Ice catches you up on everything that has happened, plus breaks down a fundamental question: what is an old head in the sneaker game? --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefootwearsneakers Subscribe to Matt Frates on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mat...

Exclusivity defines sneakers today, but are sneakers ever truly exclusive? With the inspiration of Union's "Passport Pack" of Dunk Lows being a time before resale, when region specific shoes made it impossible to get something, it got Matty Ice thinking about the truly exclusive shoes. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefootwea...

Getting back to the main theme of the show, the love of sneakers, Matt dives into a main question. Is there such a thing as a underrated Air Jordan in today's sneaker world? In a world constantly filled with releases, is there a silhouette we have forgotten about? Soliciting answers from the sneaker fam themselves, Matty Ice gives you his most underrated Air Jordan. --- New episodes released weekl...

The term "sneaker culture" used to mean something; a descriptor of what made the sneaker community so tight knit. Nowadays it feels like the culture has changed. With so many choices, niche markets like NFTs, and collecting for the sake of likes on social media, Matt wonders if the world of sneakers has lost its way? Sneaker love is about the shoes and how they make you feel. Does that matter to t...

Recording on MLK Day (despite getting the date wrong), Sneaker Love returns to ask the question of "Do you expect morality from your favorite brands?". As Nike fires its unvaccinated employees, costing people jobs, do you care as long as the shoes get to your doorstep? The Air Force 1 is getting some retro love in the form of old colorways being re-released. Matt also takes listener questions for...

At the core of sneaker culture there is a healthy respect for the past. When it comes to Air Jordans, the brand is always willing to bring back an old classic in the form of a retro. Despite seeing it with many shoes, we never see retros of SB Dunks; why is that? With so many we sneaker lovers would to see back, why does Nike SB keep them locked in the vault? New episodes released weekly. --- Subs...

Happy New Year sneaker fam! In this first installment of 2022, Matty Ice comes to you in both audio and video form! Every year promises lots of heat, and 2022 is no exception. This episode breaks down the already known releases that pique Matt's interests, including a big year for the Jordan 4. What are your favorite upcoming releases this year? --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to F...

Calendar year 2021 is nearly over, and with thousands of sneakers releasing this year, it's time to choose the best of the best. Sneaker of the Year isn't all about hype, but about story, drop success, and impact it has on the sneaker community. Matty Ice goes over his most prominent shoes in 2021, and in the end gives his pick for the best of the bunch. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subsc...

Christmas and sneakers have a rich history, both with the NBA and the sneaker community as a whole. The story arc of sneakers and Christmas follows two paths, those worn in the NBA on Christmas Day, and those beloved within the sneaker community. Join Matty Ice as he dives into the history and his favorites for each. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: http...

The Air Jordan XI is one of the most iconic in the Jordan lineage, but it is also was a huge risk at the time of its release. A favorite of the man himself, MJ, the 11 has stood the test of time and become one of the most coveted. Every December a release is dedicated to the 11, and its place in sneaker culture is nearly unrivaled. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear o...

The sneaker world has been lacking a critical part of what makes it so special: community. In today's Us versus Them world, the folks at SoleSavy are trying to bring community back to sneakers. Not only are they building a business based on helping people get sneakers for retail, but the organic, family-oriented community they have built is doing so much more for the future of sneakers. --- New ep...

This episode was supposed to be about something else entirely, but the death of Virgil Abloh rocked the sneaker community to its core. His life and legacy was about more than fashion or shoes, and this episode goes into that legacy while Matty Ice talks about the Virgil designs that mean the most to him. Rest in Power Virgil. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouT...

In an episode where there was no plan, host Matty Ice starts thinking about sneaker shops. One that comes to mind that has had a huge impact on today's market? Union. Starting way back in the late 1980s, Chris Gibbs and company have been instrumental in paying homage to popular Jordan models. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fire...

In the landscape of sneakers Nike tends to dominate the space, but Adidas is right behind it. Adidas' long history goes well beyond today's hype market as its ties to the athletic community stem back to the 1920s. While it may not seem as if Adidas is on the same level as Nike and Jordan brand, learning the rich history of the company will give a better perspective as to its true stamp on sneakers...

The Nike Dunk is one of the most sought after silhouettes in today's market, but its history is interesting. What started out as a stroke of marketing genius turned into a forgotten shoe. In comes the skateboarding community and the story arc of the Nike Dunk was changed forever. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefootwearsneak...

Kanye West, while eccentric, has had quite an impact on the sneaker community we know today. From his Chicago connections with Virgil and Don C, to his time with Nike, to now, Yeezy has given us some of the most iconic silhouettes of all-time. His vision is similar to Virgils in that the art is the true passion; bringing a different kind of art and sustainability to the masses. --- New episodes re...

Virgil Abloh is one of the biggest names in fashion today. His love for fashion began with his architecture roots, and blossomed into some of the most well-known and hyped Nike shoes of the last five years. While his shoes are iconic, he differs from other collaborators in the intent of his vision. Showing love to lesser hyped silhouettes and models, his artistic vision is one of bringing art to t...