Jeff Staple to make Payless Exclusives
Posted by Matt Halfhill | Dec 3, 2008 Jeffery Ng, aka Jeff Staple, has teamed up with Airwalk Shoes, owned by Collective Brands (a subsidiary of Payless Shoes), to create a line of Airwalk sneakers exclusive to Payless Shoes. Jeff Staple is frequently in the topics of conversations of those in and around the footwear and fashion industry, but I can’t say that I was expecting to see this.
“Payless is democratizing the latest ideas in footwear by making them accessible and affordable to all. I am very excited to join in this philosophy and approach,” says Jeff Staple. He later stated that “What gets me most excited, though, is the reach of Payless. I feel like the age of ‘1-of-24′ or ‘1-of-100′ is becoming obsolete.” These are pretty big statements from someone who designed one of the most rare, sought after, and expensive Nike Dunks, but also limited runs of shoes with New Balance and soon to release with Converse. The STPL 4 Airwalk shoes are expected to hit stores in Fall of 2009 priced at approximately $50 - you know, the amount you paid for your Pigeon fitted. Source: Collective Brands |
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:13 pm
first! wow
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Who visits this site and would cop a payless sneaker. Not I
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Oh my…payless pigeons? Anyone who thought the converse collabo was overkill should really get a kick out of this.
If it were anyone else wouldn’t this be considered career suicide *walks off*
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:15 pm
OMG…. payless shoe sales r gonna b thru da roof!!……. sike man wtf who cares bout sum damn payless shoes? i guarantee u dnt here ne say a man u got dem exclusive shaqs dat came out yesterday?
nicekicks- y even post dis article?
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:16 pm
On another note…there will be endless ridicule aimed at anyone who camps out for the Payless pigeons…lmao
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:17 pm
i will be waiting to see what kind of desings he comes up with? i just hope that they don’t look anything like a nike product?
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Payless is for LOSERS!
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I dont think that any of you morons get the point that Nice Kicks is putting Jeff on BLAST.
Damn if you kids would learn to read, life would be a whole hell of a lot more enjoyable..damn!
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:19 pm
People Please do not forget (or let me put u on game, cuz u prolly didnt know) That airwalk is one of the biggest skate shoe companies of all time…. idk maybe its cuz i been skating all my life… but a staple X airwalk collabo doesn’t sound weird 2 me….
I respect anything Jeff Staple does… but especially this, its positive, whats wrong with wearing a sneaker not made by nike or that u dont have 2 sleep on the sidewalk 2 purchase????
(i know im about 2 get absolutley crucified for this lol)
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:19 pm
LMAO
Hillarious Nikeindabutt….
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Wow Jeff, you officially did it.
Your stock was at an all time high with the release and hype of the Pigeon Dunks, but it has been downhill ever since.
Staple Clothing - does it actually sell?
Pigeon New Balance? Rehashed design made famous by the swoosh and limited numbers.
Staple x Fila Grant Hills? Epic fail bro. That CMYK wants to go back to 2006 badly son.
Staple x Converse? At least you are doing something with the parent company that made you hot, but NOPE!
Staple x Airwalk x Payless Shoes? You are officially the best laugh I have had all year.
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:22 pm
uhhhh….
My pigeon fitted just lost a lot of importance to me. Nice move Jeff
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NOT!
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:23 pm
the fila’s(at least one colorway) were complete nostalgia son… i own a couple staple shirts (and fitteds for that matter),and why is it that whenever sumbody does sumthing that doesnt start with “dunk or AF1 or Jordan 1-13″ that people hate…. u havent even seen the damn shoe yet!!!!
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I don’t think having a collabo with ‘Airwalk’ is what most people will find disturbing…the issue (if any) is that
1) Staples has been pimping the ‘pigeon’ logo/colorway lately which is diminishing the “exclusivity” and appeal of the design, and 2) PAYLESS??? That name has long been synonymous w. “low budget” considered the housing projects of shoe stores — yeah it’ll do but not what you would choose if you could afford to do better.
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:27 pm
ha………..neva thought he would be so hungry for money…….but will def will be camping out for these…………..lol
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Looser Kid:
Airwalk isn’t only sold in Payless. jeff could have made some good kicks for Airwalk that was sold in other places, but him making stuff exclusively for Payless is not a good look…
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:29 pm
If it makes money it makes sense
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:31 pm
man, i guess this is how the dude affords to run around with hiroshi and whateva
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Vulkan,
i have to disagree with you 100000%.
just becuz something makes money dont always make sense. Nike could start selling Air 1’s for $50 and make more money by selling more kicks putting them at payless, but i can guarantee you that after 2 years no one would want them no more.
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:52 pm
this is a great idea and i quite frankly find it sad and pathetic that simply because its payless none of you would by them. he wants to extend his product to the vast majority who cannot afford a pair of high priced sneaks at a shoe boutique and you guys are ripping on him?
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:59 pm
woah these responses r crazy i havent really read the article yet wait wait….. thats what im talkin bout some shoe dude who cares about the people F.T.P. thats whats up ……..ill never buy though just not my type ima strait casual dude pumas adidas and such i feel better thats some one cares nice to know screw jordan and his brand
Dec 3, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Thank u dave!!!!!
My sentiments EXACTLY!!!!
IF it were an exclusive drop with idk… L.A Gear (another obscure brand from the 90’s with nostalgia) and they were 50 bucks and at staples store… people would be camping out NOW for them joints… but since its a colabo with a payless owned brand… sumthings wrong… People get the high snobiety stick out your asses and wait for the pic’s 2 surface
Dec 3, 2008 at 2:20 pm
ummmmm…………
Dec 3, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Street Steez….. not ripping on you or anything of the sort… cuz lord knows i dont want any enemies on my favorite sneaker new site…. but what i basically got from your last statement is that the PRICE, more than form, fucntion, colorway, nostalgia factor, and comfort… is the reason why people buy sneakers…. THAT MAKES NO SENSE 2 me… basically the higher the price.. and the more exclusive the place its being droped, the better the sneaker….
I am not saying this shoe is gonna be epic or anything of the sort…. i am reserving my judgement till i SEE THE SNEAKER!!!!… but as a broke ass college student who just dropped 125 in kicks on black friday for the wheat supra’s and who is staring another 850 dollars in the face for books nxt semester… a 50 dollar Jeff Staple shoe sounds AMAZING 2 me…. just saying..
Mr. Moderator… why dont u give us your point of view on this subject lol i know u are reading all these
Dec 3, 2008 at 2:28 pm
nothin wrong with addin a pair of kicksto your collection without spending retarded amounts of money
Dec 3, 2008 at 2:28 pm
*kicks to
Dec 3, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I agree wit you Looser Kid, it’s good sum skater kids and less fortunate people will be able to get sum decent sneakers for a good price. I’m a certified nike head and have dished out a few bills for exclusives but I had to grind and hit them books to cop high end sneaks. I know if I fell on real hard times and the shoes was nice I would cop. Some of yall rich kids need to fall back main everyone isn’t balling in this world.
Dec 3, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Looser Kid,
You can just call me “Matt”
I try to let everyone get their points and opinions out there before I chime in because I don’t want to influence anyone’s opinion or thoughts.
Regarding an affordable shoe, I am all for it. While this will help the Airwalk brand a ton as well as Payless, I don’t know if the same can be said for Staple Design or Jeff at this point - it is way too early to make any judgements imo. I am VERY interested in what is to come, but as I said in the post, the shoes will retail for the same price as his pigeon fitteds.
Price and quality of product aside, the Staple name and brand will not be seen as exclusive as it once was (i.e. right after the Pigeon Dunk release), but none-the-less I am interested to see what is to come of this joint effort by Airwalk and Jeff.
I tweeted Jeff to see if he has a hand in the Airwalk Jim Shoes that we blogged about months ago that we have not heard a word about since. If Jeff can pull strings to have some of those land in my office, someone is getting a steak dinner on me.
Dec 3, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Real Talk if they look hot every sneakers head is gone hop on they jock…. dont sleep they could look hot
Dec 3, 2008 at 3:09 pm
nvm wtf was i thinkin air walks are some garbage and this is a bad move for jeff this is like jordan sayin he going to make some exclusive skechers or shaqs.
Dec 3, 2008 at 3:10 pm
well then…
i wanna see ‘em before i pass any “judgement”…and if making an affordable shoe ONE TIME kills your career then how established could he have been in the first place? it’s not like Stpl is on the same level a Hermes or Lanvin. anyway, i’m fly so i’m sure i could rock the hell outta these and still pull chicks! lol
sorry that some of yall need $200 shoes to validate your “coolness”…
Dec 3, 2008 at 3:17 pm
airwalk is a classic skate brand, never mind that its sold in payless now…and you guys hate on everything, a bunch of kids from the suburbs who think throwing a pair of jays or dunks on your feet automatically makes you fresh, the same ones that’ll line up in front of payless the day this shoes drops
Dec 3, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I’m excited about this
Dec 3, 2008 at 3:32 pm
yall lames just proved that it doesnt matter who makes your shoe… the only deciding factor in whether you buy it or not is where it was retailed at.
Dec 3, 2008 at 3:35 pm
“I feel like the age of ‘1-of-24′ or ‘1-of-100′ is becoming obsolete.â€
Praise fricking jesus. I don’t care how rare my kicks are. I just want to wear them. A novel concept to all you barbie doll collectors, I’m sure.
Dec 3, 2008 at 3:59 pm
all you hatas need to fall back ight its not about where you buy the sneaker its for the love of sneakers in general ya dig i bet the ppl hatin r goin 2 be the first 2 b in line i support it fully it doesnt mean im goin 2 cop but if they are 2 my liking i will
Dec 3, 2008 at 4:08 pm
It’s funny how a lot of “kids” comment on Jeff making this kind of move but the minute Mom or Dad is laid off from their job… guess where you “kids” will be shopping for kicks? Cats need to stop acting like everyone is balling and get real. Not everyone is into SBs and Jordans or Supras. Open your minds and see where this kind of move goes.
I’m not mad at Jeff. I wish I was him with that move. No one says he has to wear the kicks, just design them.
Dec 3, 2008 at 4:29 pm
oh and “nice kicks” you said the staple brand will lose its “exclusivity” and i think that’s the point of it all, a shoe should be available to anyone who wants it, not just those with the free time to camp out or shell out major dollars on ebay
Dec 3, 2008 at 4:32 pm
I respect the collab because it just goes to show on how Jeff is deep in the sneaker “culture”. I see from where hes coming from. Most of the people here can’t say that they have never owned a pair of payless, because I have. And I remember treating them the same way I treat my “grails”.
These negative comment show that collecting sneakers has changed a lot, and Im hating every single minute of it. From middle schoolers posting videos of their latest crap jb pick-up to nut-hugging tight red pants.
sorry I just had to get that off my chest :p
Dec 3, 2008 at 4:41 pm
lost respect for him
Dec 3, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I FEEL SOOOO PROUD THAT ITS NOT JUST ME!!!!!… cept for greenmaker24… dont know where this guy is lmao….. but im on a serious budget right now… and i used 2 rock airwalks back in the day… so this is a win win… i love staple… and if he can help me relive my childhood with a dope colabo…. idc where the hell im buyin em from
Dec 3, 2008 at 5:26 pm
gabrielo,
to clarify, I was referring to the image of exclusivity of his brand, Staple Clothing, not shoes.
Dec 3, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Shoe collectors have lost touch with reality. Does how much a shoe on ur foot cost really validat you? He’s just doin somethin for ppl who cant afford his other work. You can buy sneaks but how many of yall still live at home over 21? Check yourself.
Dec 3, 2008 at 6:17 pm
ok, this is a GREAT idea imo. i KNOW heat, i own sneakers like black supreme lows, and heinys, i appreciate “limited” runs, but i still think this is a dope idea, and i cant wait to cop me some pigeon airwalks =)
Dec 3, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Don’t see how this would help airwalk or payless.People who shop at payless obviously don’t care much when it comes to sneakers.I also doubt most even know what a pair of “pigeons” is let alone care.Truth is Jeff is selling out and getting his money.Like every other person who sees a little sucess.Whoring out his name for a few extra bucks.Big suprise
Dec 3, 2008 at 6:52 pm
LMAO @ a Payless Pigeon camp out!
*dead*
Dec 3, 2008 at 7:10 pm
HAHAHAHA I love it, thank you Jeff Staple for bringing everyone back down to earth
Dec 3, 2008 at 7:11 pm
It’s a financial move more than philanthropic. He can make more money off a percentage of each shoe with Payless than through another brand. $50 a pair, a million pairs. Who wouldn’t want just 1% of that? Plus, he gets his loot off the top, becuase he never sees any money from re-sellers, like eBay, for other limited releases.
http://www.myspace.com/shoebusiness
Dec 3, 2008 at 7:16 pm
thanks for clarifying
Dec 3, 2008 at 7:34 pm
mindblower, your right on the mark with your comments
Dec 3, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Co-sign with Mindblower, Looser Kid and the others that know what’s up. Some of you lames need to wake the hell up. Just cause you dropped $200-$300 on some ‘exclusives’ doesn’t make you a true ‘head’ or ‘fresh to def’. A lot of you need to get ya damn priorities in check and get back to reality. I probably won’t get them myself. (I don’t skate and never wore Airwalk.) However, I do want to see what the final product is and where it goes.
Opening the doors up for the others who cant get that deep in the game, or want to start, is a good move, IMO. The damn lot of you who ride the ‘hype’ need to get off that damn ‘Swoosh’ and ‘Jumpman’.
BTW, the hell with those damn skinny-huggin’ jeans! You look like a damn clown! Man the f$ck up!
Dec 3, 2008 at 9:44 pm
After re-evaluating the situation it still doesn’t seem to make much sense. The people who know about Staple designs(sneakerheads mostly) probably are not going to go out and buy these since they are sold in payless. With that said, how well will they really sell. I don’t think the Payless crowd knows the cultural significance of a Jeff Staple release and it will be just another shoe. And at 50 bucks, they would be overpriced in a Payless shoe store. Seems like a lose-lose. Then again, they could be hot.
Dec 4, 2008 at 7:39 am
I want to see all the losers that gonna be all up on EBAY tryin to get these kicks… wait and see what they look like before you pass judgdement. The design might blow you away but becuase payless sells em you’re not gonna cop? PLEASE! lets get over the fact that if a kick doesnt break your pocket, it isnt DOPE.
IMMA COP 2 WIT THAT BOGO DEAL… HAHAHA
Dec 4, 2008 at 8:13 am
I see this clearly as a money maneuver And I cant hate em for that. for one:
• You barely making money off of all that exclusivity shyt!
• more people buy 50$ shoes than 150$ dollar shoes…more money
• Payless has a shyt load of doors all over the nation…more money
Pretty much in this climate, its a good money maneuver to stay afloat during a recession.
Yeah, his Brand might take a hit….but he can rebuild his brand…that shyt aint hard….just do another collab with adidas or something.
Dec 4, 2008 at 8:54 am
Hahahaha wats so fuuny is the air-jordans 2k9 gone be so trash its gone by pass the outlets n go str8 to payless racks….move out tha way shaq’s tha Air-Jordans r on there way…LMFAO!!!!
Dec 4, 2008 at 10:38 am
this is hilarious….everyone is on here bashing jeff for making a payless shoe but i dont see ANYBODY on here designing for any companies at all shoe wise. You all need to get ur little snobby noses out of the air because he’s just trying to help out people who cant afford $200 shoes. Honestly 3/4 of the kids who spend $200 on sneakers can’t even afford it, which is why sneaker forums are packed to the brim with kids selling “VNDS” shoes.
Point blank, if u dont want to buy the shoe then don’t. It’s not supposed to be an exclusive collectors item so who gives a f$&*. It’s not like somebody’s gonna see ur pigeon dunks and compare them to the jeff staple payless shoes so cool ur jets u little hypebeast line forming campout loving idiots.
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Nope not me. The only shoes I get from payless is dress and houseshoes.
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:02 pm
TR3V!N
You got a big point their in your first paragraph. Your right, not alot of people can’t afford those high priced shoes, so this is a good idea for alot of people.
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:48 pm
He’ll be back … they always come back.
Dec 4, 2008 at 1:02 pm
How about we do this… Lets take these sneakers that Staple is working on…
Lets say that there will only be 200 worldwide…
lets put them on this site 6 motnhs before they drop…
get the hype started early…
lets get Lil Wayne a pair to perform at an awards show…
charge 200$ a pair…
I bet you then NONE of these Hypebeasts will care whether the shoe was in a Payless or in a bodega in the BX… I respect what Staple is doing… A person with a sense of morale gets destroyed… How can I respect this? Cause these kids want what no one else can get there hands on… and then they get mad when sneakers like the Questlove get restocked… cause they never really wanted the sneaker just the hype behind it… smh! Big ups to Mr. Wilson, Mindblower and Looserkid.. I respect everything ya said…
Dec 4, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Rofl! Pigeons! XD
Dec 5, 2008 at 7:48 am
i think its funny
watch when we see the designs they may be dope, they may not be
but i can GUARANTEE there WILL be some people not necessarily camp out but will get there early to get these shoes.
thats what HYPE does to ppl nowadays
Dec 6, 2008 at 3:23 am
Who ever is really hating on this collabo is a damn herb && y’all know it cuz how everyone be sucking the L.A gears and if y’all know the deal with kicks which ya probaly don’t..[ ya need to step ya game cuz] L.A gear at one point was being sold by payless a lifetime ago..I mean idk really how this collabo will go for staples buhh I hope alright just for his sake LOL damn this will be a quest for the pigeon man bunch of haters && ducks in the game..
Dec 6, 2008 at 4:22 pm
LMAO @ this airemax90 dude frontin’ in here.
Let me guess, you must have the whole Starbury fleet in your closet?
If Faded Glory (Wal-Mart brand) made a “dope sneaker,” you’re gonna cop?
Who the HELL are you trying to convince with that theory?
Oh wait, we shouldn’t pass judgement and cop, because the designer is “known.”
Now I get it.
Thanks for digging your hole deeper.
Mar 24, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Revive this because I can’t wait to see some of these collections!