The Golden Era of Nike SB: Why 2000s Dunks Still Matter

One of the most common misunderstandings in the sneaker space today is the assumption that popularity equals importance. If a pair is everywhere—on social media, on resale platforms, in conversations—it’s often seen as something worth buying. But visibility and value are not the same thing, and confusing the two is where most buyers go wrong.
In India, especially over the last few years, the way people engage with sneakers has shifted significantly. Access has improved, information is more readily available, and resale pricing has become increasingly transparent. On the surface, this looks like progress. But it has also created a culture where decisions are driven more by perception than understanding. Instead of asking why a sneaker matters, most buyers are focused on how much it costs, or how quickly it’s selling out.

This is where hype takes over. Hype is fast-moving and highly visible. It thrives on momentum, on limited availability, and on the fear of missing out. A sneaker becomes desirable not necessarily because of what it represents, but because of how many people are talking about it at a given moment. The problem with this is that hype is temporary. What feels essential today can become irrelevant just as quickly, leaving behind purchases that don’t hold the same appeal over time.
Culture, on the other hand, works differently. It builds slowly and tends to be rooted in something deeper than the product itself. A culturally relevant sneaker usually carries a story—whether it’s tied to a specific collaboration, a moment in music or sport, or a shift in design language. These are the pairs that continue to be discussed years after their release, not because they were difficult to acquire, but because they meant something when they arrived.

The distinction between the two isn’t always obvious, especially for newer buyers. In a market that constantly rewards speed and visibility, it’s easy to assume that whatever is trending must also be important. But over time, this approach starts to show its limitations. Collections built purely on hype tend to feel inconsistent. They reflect the market more than they reflect the individual, and as trends change, so does the relevance of the pieces within them.
What’s more interesting is that the market itself is beginning to shift. As more people enter the space and gain experience, there’s a growing awareness that not everything popular is worth owning. Buyers are starting to ask different questions. Instead of focusing solely on price or availability, there’s a gradual move towards understanding context—why a sneaker exists, what it represents, and whether it still holds meaning beyond its initial release.

This shift is important because it changes the way collections are built. When you start prioritising culture over hype, your decisions become more intentional. You’re less likely to make impulse purchases, and more likely to invest in pieces that actually resonate with you. Over time, this leads to a collection that feels more cohesive, more personal, and ultimately more valuable.
None of this means that hype doesn’t have a place. It’s a natural part of the ecosystem and often brings attention to the space. But it shouldn’t be the only lens through which decisions are made. Because at its core, sneaker culture has always been about more than just what’s popular. It’s about context, storytelling, and the communities that form around these products.

At Les Baskets, this is the perspective we operate from. We’re not interested in chasing every trending release. Instead, we focus on pieces that carry some form of lasting relevance-whether through design, history, or cultural impact. Because while hype will always come and go, culture tends to stay.
And if you’re building a collection that you want to hold up over time, that’s the difference that matters.