New Sneakers

Opening a box of brand new sneakers is one of life’s little treats. The immaculate condition, the you-can-eat-off-these cleanliness of the bottom soles, and the distinct fragrance of new kicks really hits a nerve in the right way, giving the newfound owner a sensation understood only by sneakerheads – an indescribable high with a twinge of guilt. Knowing only one other pair of hands and eyes has ever touched the shoe gives the lucky owner a sense of exclusivity and belonging.

The term “deadstock” (or DS for short) is used to describe the state of brand new shoes, shoes that were sitting “dead” in the back of a stock room. A pair that have been worn once and can pass as new is called “very near deadstock”, or VNDS. Both terms and abbreviations are considered sales jargon for online selling mediums, like eBay or dedicated forums. Another term to describe new sneakers is “crisp”. We describe a crisp piece of fruit as one at the peak of its ripening, and sneakers can be considered in the same way.