It’s no surprise that everyone loves Chicago. Chicago’s the home of basketball legends, history-making Presidents, industry-shaping designers, and decade-defining musicians. The figures that Chicago has raised have raised everyone else – they know their own and their taste is impeccable. So it’s worth looking at what Chicago loves. We took a look at all our historic sales in the US and compared Chicago’s buying behavior to the national averages to see where the residents of Chicago spend their money and what sneakers they support the most.
10. The last of the top ten sneakers that Chicago loves above everyone else is the Air Jordan 3 Katrina. Also known as the “Hall of Fames,” the colorway originally graced pairs that were auctioned off in 2006 to support the relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. Jordan 3s are always a winner, and the white upper with hits of red and wraps of elephant print on the toe and heel make for a very clean look. There’s no obvious reason for why Chicago loves this pair of 3s so much, showing 147% more sales in Chicago than the national average, but we can’t blame them. It’s a great shoe.
Spot number nine for the sneakers that Chicago loves above everyone else is the Adidas Yeezy 700 Mauve, starting a trend that you’ll recognize pretty quickly – Chicago loves Kanye West. One of the more accessible colorways of the Yeezy 700, the Mauve CW has a sense of neutrality to it that the brighter colors just cannot compete with. Whether they want a shoe that stands up to the incredible weather variety of frigid winters and hot summers, or it’s just an affinity for Mr. West, Chicago buys the Mauve Yeezy 700 at a rate of 148% above the national average.
8. Air Jordan 6 Black / Infrared
As we get higher up the list we see two Chicago kings converge with the Air Jordan 6 Infrared in spot number eight. The sneakers that were originally popularized in 1991 when Michael Jordan wore them to the ASW Game, saw a resurgence after Kanye West rocked them in 2000 and beyond. The colorway has appeared a few times since then, each time inspiring the same fervor, but the love Chicago has for these sneakers is unique. Chicago cops the Air Jordan 6 Infrared at a 151% higher rate than the rest of the country.
When you’re looking at Chicago wins you can’t get away from Kanye West even if you want to. The Yeezy 500 Bone is the seventh sneaker that outperforms in Chicago compared to everywhere else in the US. The mix of materials, textures, and off white tones means that the shoes are guaranteed to stand up to the streets of Chicago and offer comfort along the way. The sneakers outperform in Chicago by 153% meaning that 2% of all sales of the shoes in the US go to The Windy City.
6. adidas x Pharrell NMD “Mother”
Hitting the middle of the list is the surprising entry of the adidas x Pharrell NMD “Mother” from the Solar Pack. Pharrell’s take on the NMD with the wide lacing system was updated with deeper lugs on the outsole and features a sort of glitchy pink and grey Primeknit upper with white, blue, yellow, and green throughout the rest of the shoe. The top features “M0TH3R” embroidered directly into the knit, and while the empowering message that pays homage to motherhood is respected and unique, we’re not quite sure why Chicago has shown outsized love for these sneakers. Other than the obvious: you gotta show love to your moms.
5. Air Jordan 11 “Cap and Gown”
Jordan Brand finally answered the demand for formal sneakers in 2018 with the Air Jordan XI Cap and Gown. Designed to be worn during graduation, the sneakers were quickly scooped up for proms, then weddings, and then finally anywhere they could be snuck in. Chicago loves this sneaker, buying them at a rate of 155% above the rest of America. That might mean that Chicagoans are a little more formal in their sneaker purchases than anyone else, or it could just be that Chicago knows how to turn up at the function even if it’s black tie.
4. Air Jordan 1 “Shattered Backboard” 3
Before the first Shattered Backboard Jordan 1 dropped in 2015, the story of the sneaker was a quirky piece of basketball history that few knew. It wasn’t even sneaker history at that point, and that’s part of the reason the sneaker was slow to pop off: orange was an underused color and the memory of Jordan wearing orange in the offseason was all but forgotten. A handful of releases later and Chicago is buying up the third Shattered Backboards quick as can be, grabbing them at 162% above the national average. The extra bit of shine on the SB3s might be what is catching the city’s eye.
3. Air Jordan 1 “Defiant Couture”
Everyone loves a renegade and no Jordan sneaker dove into the counter couture culture like the Air Jordan 1 Defiant Couture that took a luxurious all-black version of the Jordan 1 and splashed a solid red stripe across the swoosh. Chicago loves this sneaker, buying it at rates 165% above the national average. It might have something to do with the Chicago adjacent colorway, or that it’s a comment on the play between high fashion and streetwear. Either way, we know that Chicago is rocking this sneaker hard.
2. adidas Yeezy Boost 700 V2 Geode & Vanta
Looking at what sneakers Chicago loves, the second-highest spot goes to one shoe in two different colorways. Even if we didn’t combine the Geode and Vanta colorways of the Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 V2 they’d still be right below the top of the list on their own merits with buying rates at 193% and 171% over the rest of the US respectively. The Yeezy Boost 700 V2 is a shoe that can take a beating with a solid sole, rugged construction, and tonal hues. The tough city needs a sneaker that can hold its own and the Yeezy Boost 700 V2 can do exactly that.
1. adidas Yeezy Desert Boot Salt & Rock
Of course, the number one sneaker that Chicago loves would be a boot presented by a Chicago native. The adidas Yeezy Desert Boot takes the top spot and does it twice in two different colorways. The Salt and Rock shades of the sneaker are far and away the two kicks that Chicago is buying above any other place in the US. 6% of all sales of the Yeezy Desert Boot in Rock are made in Chicago, whereas a stunning 7% of every pair of Yeezy Desert Boot in Salt make their way to the Windy City. Look, we know there are some rough winters and plenty of rock salt on those streets, but these numbers are crazy. Chicago sees 458% more sales of the Salts and 392% more sales of the Rocks than anywhere else. That’s true love.
To see everything that StockX has going on for ASW 2020 in Chicago and beyond, check out the hub and click here.
