A Penny: Lori Lobenstine of Female Sneaker Fiend
Sep 18, 2006 | Comments 6
Lori Lobenstine and her sneaker community for women, [Female Sneaker Fiend], have become the voice for females within sneaker culture. Appropriately, for this installment of "A Penny", KATC asks Lori:
"As major brands have finally recognized the power, importance, and influence of the sneaker connoisseur, what are your thoughts on their efforts, or lack there of, in recognizing the same in female sneaker connoisseurs? Do you think that brands are presently doing enough/bringing the right products to market to deserve the female dollar? What do you feel brands should be doing in order to properly satisfy the Female Sneaker Fiend?"
Continue reading for Lori's reply
A Piece of Lori's Collection
Talk to any hard core female sneaker fiend, and you’ll be lucky if she has even two pairs of women’s sneaks. I’m serious. Well, think about the most sought after kicks: the artist collabos, the clerk packs, the Tier 0’s in general…virtually all of the top stuff is targeted at men. Now, us female sneaker heads are pretty immune to this; if it’s hot, we don’t care who it’s “forâ€. The problem is not that it’s called “men’sâ€, but that it often starts at a men’s 7 or 8. So many of the most serious collectors I’ve met from [femalesneakerfiend.com] are left out…even when they’re willing to hunt the globe or drop their rent for the latest heat. Imagine having a size 4 foot and trying to wear 8s! So they’re stuck searching for whatever comes out in “youth†sizes, and you know those [new polka-dots] are NOT going to be coming out for the shorties!
That said, what do I think sneaker companies should do? Well, there’s a couple possibilities here. For one, companies can start creating sick women’s kicks that are worthy of the real female sneakerheads, and this is beginning to happen to some degree (Nike’s Minmi Court Force collaboration is a good example here.)  I think this sends an important message of respect and awareness that we females are out here doing our own thing…seriously.  My vision is to create a sneaker company that makes women’s sneaks that are so hot, all the serious male collectors know their size in women’s!
On the other hand, the route that I actually like better is for sneaker companies to just make the hottest of the hot available to all of us. Why gender it? Most kicks are so crazy right now, it’s not like folks are sticking to blue for boys. Why stick to pink for girls? Just bring us your best shot, and make it in smaller sizes too. Maybe the guys are just scared to have more competition for their kicks…you just might see some girls busting heads to get to the front of that line!
*Readers are encouraged to share their thoughts by leaving a comment*
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Although I'm not sure this is necessarily the right answer, unfortunately at the end of the day we all know that the companies putting out these shoes that we are all fiending for all seem to have a goal of making their money at the end of the day. I'm not an accountant/economic for advisor obviously but although we do have lots of upcoming women heads out there, I don't think Nike can still justify making smaller sizes for women cause not enough women would buy them. Yet at the same time, how can you know if you don't try right? They should start with the "One Time Only" Pack and see how that goes... best case scenario, girls get their kicks for close to retail if not retail!
As a Sneaker Head , I love that you are doing this section. As an Female Sneaker Head
I totally agree with Lori's enlighted views.( I myself have only 1 pair of
WOMEN'S sneakers) Hopefully Nike and others are not to far behind in understanding
the power of women not only as consumers but as integral part of
the culture. Thanks to Lori for representing!
I recently ran across Lori and FSF site. I was looking for sneakers for my wife and signed up. The site was having some problems and she got them resolved so i could check out the forums.
I agree the sneaker companies are not caitering to women. The only shoe i've found is different colorways that my wife likes is Saucony. I personally think Saucony puts out some sweet stuff for the women, but it's not as rare as the BIG 3 by any means.
Does Nike, Adidas and Reebok look at it as there are 98-99% men who buy rare sneakers and 1-2% women? You bet your *** they do. It's all about the almighty dollar.
What can be done to correct it? Let your voices be heard. Us the internet to your advantage. Speak out, go to DXC's i'm sure it will make a difference. Don't give up!
Lori is as usual repping hard 4 us LADIES. I have gone 2 the ISB in Edison and Atlantic City and am seeing more females rocKing SERIOUS heat, but the complaint of size availabilty is a frequent 1. Nike is now starting most of their men's run @ a size 7 which is a female 8.5-9. Most females can't wear that size, so we stuff, add insoles, and do other types of stuff 2 get by. Why shouldn't we have things made in our size b/c I see PLENTY of guys rocKing HOA Grape AM95s, female Js, etc. REMEMBER BIG 3: THE LADIES SPEND WHEN NO ONE ELSE DOES!
I feel you on the lack of small sizes me being a SneakerHead and a father of 3 I collect for all of us. For my son its ez I cop what's hot and put it on ice he'll grow into them but it doesn't work like that for my girls. So I do a lot of dig'n at old spots 2 see what I come up on. The good news is help is on the way. I have very good intel from my ppl at Nike the whole gender thing is being taken care of. It will start with the teir 0 and work its way 2 GR. And womens kicks will also come up in size so all us big footed dudes get some love too......
I for one think that limmited releases should come out with women sizes as well. That is probably my biggest issue with the sneaker game....I do agree with you and I'm glad someone brought this issue to light.