The amazing fifteen-dollar shoes

By Alyssa Kelly

A major selling point besides the affordability of the Starbury Line is the use of high quality materials found in more expensive shoes like Nike Air Jordans. (Alyssa Kelly photo)

PABLO — All across the US people are talking about the $14.98 Starbury sneakers collection and the Flathead is no exception. There are many families that can't afford expensive shoes for their children come basketball season or all year round. These shoes offer the opportunity to get the same high quality and stylish shoes for a decent price.

In September of 2006, the Starbury shoe line began with doubts from the industry. In comparison to other NBA player endorsed shoes like Air Jordans (endorsed by former NBA player Micheal Jordan) whose prices can range up to $5,000, a lot of people doubted the public would embrace it. In some circles expensive shoes are so important because of the fact that they are expensive and not available to everyone.

Aside from concerns over the consumers' reaction to the over availability of the shoes, people were also concerned with Stephon Marbury's lack of star power and the effect it would have on his endorsement. "He doesn't have the selling power of some of the more famous NBA stars. He's not LeBron James. He's not Kobe Bryant. He's not Allen Iverson. He's not even Gilbert Arenas. Shaquille O'Neal is one of the biggest celebrities in the world and even his sneakers - available at Payless - don't sell much. Marbury's previous sneaker line, released under And1 and sold for upwards of $80, didn't do that well and the company no longer endorses him. Their dropping him is what spawned this idea," says Word Press.com.

The Starbury collection began with NBA player Stephon Marbury of the New York Knicks. He grew up in Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York and remembers not being able to afford the more expensive basketball shoes. "Anybody who grew up in a household with a lot of brothers and sisters, they know how it is, as far as, you know, everybody wearin' the same, hand-me-downs," Marbury said on the Today Show. As an attempt to help people of poverty-stricken areas, he created the $15 sneaker, so that disadvantaged children could enjoy the same quality shoes as richer children.

Marbury's inspiration for creating an affordable shoe line came from a conversation with Knicks General Manager Issiah Thomas about the Civil Rights Movement. "[Thomas] was explaining to me how my generation never went through anything. There was a generation that went through things that we never even envisioned. For me to be able to talk with him, get insight on how things were back in the day, I got a picture of what he created for me to see. It made me feel like I want to put my mark on history as far as letting people know that I'm a part of something that I'm moving with. All this is brand new, this is revolutionary, the thing that we're doing right now."

The mission statement attached to the shoes reiterates this idea: "This is about you and me. This is about you and me changing the world. This is about you and me saying it's not about the commercials, the gimmicks, the dollar signs. This is about you and me showing the world that it can be done. Starbury is my life. This line was built on what I've been through. From Coney Island to Madison Square Garden. These are the shoes I wear on the court; these are the clothes I wear off it. This is what I believe in. I'm tired of people saying it can't be done. Change the world with me."

Alonzo “Pops” Brings Yellow shows off his Starbury Shoes (Alyssa Kelly photo)

Even with his self-proclaimed "movement" being based upon "it's not about the commercials, the gimmicks, the dollar signs," Marbury has faced a lot of scrutiny from the public in regards to his shoes and his true intentions. On the court, Marbury is known for being selfish with the ball and it has brought the public to wonder how selfish he is in life. Some critics suggest Marbury is using "the movement," slogan as an attempt to exploit the less fortunate by selling low quality shoes that only look like the more expensive brands.

Another concern is the work conditions faced by workers who manufacture the shoes. Steve and Bary's shoes are manufactured in China. Scot Nova of the Worker's Rights Consortium, an anti-sweatshop monitoring group, says: ""We have found serious human rights violations in factories producing for Steve and Barry's. The company's response has been a mixed bag. In one case, the company did take action and progress was achieved. In another, we reported serious violations, including sexual abuse of women workers by managers. Steve and Barry's response was slow and ineffective."

Regardless, one of the main sales pitches being released to the public by the Starbury Company is the guarantee that their shoes are made with most of the same materials as the more expensive shoes. Because of the material, the company also claims that the shoes are of equal quality. On the evening news program 20/20, a shoe design professor examined the shoes and compared them to an expensive pair of Air Jordan shoes. Both were cut and examined and in conclusion, both shoes truly were identical aside from an extra outer air vent found in the Air Jordans.

However, the debate on the true durability of the shoes are in the hands of the consumer. "When I first played in them they started rubbing on my ankle a little bit and I took them off right away, but that was before I broke them in. Now they feel good. I like them," says Alonzo "Pops" Brings Yellow, a local Starbury shoe owner.

Regardless of the consumers' opionion, Stephon Marbury actually wore the Starbury Ones on the court all through the 2006-2007 season of the NBA. His decision inspired teammate Steve Francis to "join the movement," and like Marbury, he wore the shoes through several games. Then, in March of 2007, Marbury recruited Chicago Bull's player Ben Wallance (Big Ben) to endorse his shoes. Wallace has agreed to wear the shoes through the 2007-2008 season of the NBA and his own Big Ben signature Starburys will be released next season.

Needless to say, Starbury shoes have been a success since their release and they now have over 200 products offered to the public. All products are sold exclusively at athletic clothing store Steve and Berry's. The closest Steve and Barry's to our reservation is located in Spokane, Washington at the North Town mall.

For more information on the Starbury shoes you can go to www.starbury.com.