The Supra Society
From Mod Mania
The Supra Society: Wayne Huet s3284277
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Supra “ABOVE AND BEYOND” The supra shoe has been covering stinking feet since 2005. Mr. Angel Cabada, who was into the skateboarding and style, founded the Supra range of shoes. Supra shoes combine unique design, fashion, beauty and skateboarding as one. It has become a major trend around skateboarding communities and the shoe collecting community. The performance of the Supra shoe as well as the beauty of it makes it one of the superior skate shoes ever made. The Supra Sky tops became the new thing in the skate culture by having a much slimmer look and lighter feel than the conventional chunky skate shoe, being made to compliment the skate styled clothing worn. The name supra is a Latin word that means “above and beyond” (www.sneakerfreaker.com/feature/supra-angel-cabada/5 Pg5). Supra is all about skating with good quality shoes and looking fresh with various designs and styles of Supra shoes while skating. Supra shoes are not usually modified besides the shoe laces, were the owner has the option whether to change the colour or style of laces. The reason why the Supra shoes are of high quality is that the Supra of the Supratuf range of product are made using genuine suede, they are tested using the Taber Abrasion Meter. The measures abrasions in cycles, regular suede goes through about 25 to 40 cycles before abrading. The average Supratuf range of shoes will go through more than 200 cycles before abrading.
A reoccurring theme or practice of the Supra Sky top shoe is in the way that it is worn, because the Supra Sky top reaches the ankles, the bottom of the pants are usually roughly tucked in the shoe, to show off the appearance of the shoes. Another reoccurring theme is seeing how long the shoe will last while skating or seeing how much the shoe can take “In 20 years of skating, I’ve never had the upper outlast the rubber outsole…until I skated these” - CHAD MUSKA. “I normally go through my shoes within 2-3 days of skating them. I skate these for 3 weeks and couldn’t bust through them” - ERIK ELLINGTON.
The Supra culture is embedded within the wider skate community and the street culture, therefore having an extended and larger community. A part of the Supra vibe and community is music, art, skateboarding and the events that encompass these categories. The Supra website has these categories as a submenu within their news menu tab and within the submenu categories it has information and news about music, art, skateboarding and the events relating to these categories and Supra. Supra have sponsored musicians and artist to wear the Supra shoes, while performing and working, by doing this it will broaden the Supra community including all the art and music fans that are into the particular genre of music and style of art.
Within the Supra community there are many forums and events that are communicated throughout the community. Supra events often occur throughout the year. The latest event to happen is the “Three amigos Texas Tour 2011”. At this event the Supra team of professional skateboarders Furby, Spencer Hamilton, Horsey, Keelan Dadd, Boo Johnson, JS Lapierre and Cody McEntire will travel throughout Texas in March. The team will show off the latest Supra shoes, perform skate demos and autograph signings. The tour is called the Three Amigos Texas Tour because the three main skaters Furby, Spencer Hamiliton and Horsey were involved in the creation of the latest Supra Shoe named after the blockbuster film the Three Amigos. This community event attracts both the skateboarding fans and the shoe enthusiast. The Supra community also has forums of people advertise, show off, and share information and experience about the Supra shoes. This forum is full of comments and pictures that the Supra community upload.
The supra shoe is the [fastest selling shoe on shelf ever in history] (www.sneakerfreaker.com/feature/supra-angel-cabada)
Who are these enthusiasts? The average price that the Supra shoes are sold from is one hundred to three hundred dollars. Within the Supra community there are three types of enthusiasts. The Skaters, they are the hardcore skater fans or skaters who delight themselves wearing good quality, tough Supra shoes and skate until the shoe wears out and are torn to pieces. The people who just wear Supra for fashion, they are the type that enjoy wearing good supra shoes. "I have two pairs of work supra shoes. One that I bought very recently and these, which I've had for the last 18 months. I use them until they get to the worst possible condition and then throw them out. "- (Jag Anu, 2011Supra-shoes.com/news). The last types of the Supra community are the ones who are the shoe enthusiasts. They are obsessed and look for the rare, limited edition Supra shoes and will get the shoes at any cost, they make sure that there shoes remain in pristine condition. "I've a pair to match every suit, so I've got 10 pairs and then I've got a whole range of other sneakers."- (Josh Chapmen, 2011 supra-shoes.com/news 2005 - 20012)
The Shoe forums and Supra event blog establish these types of people within the community. The skaters are the ones on the event blog, the shoe fans and enthusiasts are the ones that are on the forums searching for cheap prices on Supra and the latest news on limited and rare editions.
The supra team Supra Footwear Company sponsors these professional skaters to wear their apparel. This team is a part of the supra society, a major part of the community. In terms of hierarchies in a community these guys are at the top of the supra society. These skaters wear the Supra shoes, collaborate with the Supra Footwear Company in creating new shoes and skate while promoting and advertising Supra, whilst entertaining the skater fans. The supra team consist of professional skateboarders as Keelan Dadd, Mike Plum also known as Lizard King, Antwuan Dixon, Tom Penny, Matt Mumford, Erik Ellington, Scot “Horsey” walker, Stevie Williams, Jim Greco, Boo Johnson, Chad Muska, Furby, Spencer Hamilton, Terry Kennedy.
REFERENCES AND IMAGE REFERENCES http://www.suprafootwear.com/pages/news http://supratalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=26 http://www.2011supra-shoes.com/news/how-many-pairs-of-supras-shoes-does-a-man-need/detail-121.htm http://www.shopoverload.com/SUPRA_FOOTWEAR_s/100.htm http://www.oksuprashoes.org/index.php/archives/4 http://www.suprashosaustralia.net/supra-new-arrival http://www.sneakerfreaker.com/feature/supra-angel-cabada/8/
