In this extensive qualitative research paper, semi-structured interviews with ten sneakerheads were conducted to find an answer to the following question: what are people’s motives behind partaking in the sneaker culture, and how does it influence their lives? This research aimed to fill the gap in the already existing literature about sneakerheads, namely, a lack of understanding of the real people in the culture and their personal, individual motivations for participating. A combination of four themes identified throughout the interviews provides an answer to the before-mentioned research question: 1) appreciation of the sneaker beyond its function, 2) incorporation of sneaker culture in participants' personal identity, 3) participants getting pulled into the sneaker culture, and 4) participants' experience of affiliation with the community within the sneaker culture.
