Sneaker culture has always been prevalent here. Whether you wear Vans or love a pair of fresh Jordans, shoes can enhance how a person expresses themselves. Most students have a few pairs of shoes, but some are sneaker collectors.

Every sneaker collector has their own reasons for collecting shoes.

“I’ve always had a love for fashion,” said sophomore Brysen Chisholm.” Your shoes are the first thing people notice about your outfit, so why not have a nice pair?”

When students want to look their best shoes are an important element of a complete outfit.

“Salem’s got some heat, “ said Chisholm. “I wouldn’t say a lot, but some people know what’s popping right now.”

Chisholm believes Salem has a more underground sneaker collector scene, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t favored styles for all students. Hiking boots are big right now and Vans can be seen in nearly every classroom.

“Most popular shoe at Salem is probably Air Force 1s,” said Chisholm. “This shoe is a staple in any sneaker collection and goes well with literally anything

Liking shoes doesn’t necessarily mean you need to have the most expensive shoes or a large number of shoes. It just means that you love the culture and like to recognize what shoes other people are rocking.

Sneakers can be seen as just some footwear that eventually wears out; however, they can also be a means of expressing ourselves.