Thursday Thoughts: Patent Leather
Introducing Thursday Thoughts.
Let’s delve into something that is apparent in the sneaker culture today. Everyday we get sneaker news about release dates, future releases, samples, sneaker collections, celebs rocking sneakers, etc. Whether we think the news is good or bad is always up for debate. So let’s talk about…
Patent Leather Usage (Shout out to 4Drumz for the idea)
Patent leather – A hard, glossy, smooth leather, used especially in shoes and accessories.
Easier definition? That shiny leather you see on shoes. There are many mixed reactions on patent leather when used on a shoe. Some like it because the shine it gives off when it’s used on a shoe while others hate it for the same reason. The reason patent leather is being brought up is because of people’s reactions regarding the usage on recent Jordans (and 4DRUMZ). Let’s take a look at the past few updates on Jordans that have patent leather use:
1. Air Jordan 3 “Black Carbon”
2. Air Jordan 5 White Midnight Navy Red
3. A few of the Jordan CMFTs
4. Air Jordan 2011 Black Patent
Does not seem like a long list but people voiced their opinions on each about the use of patent leather on each. Some say patent does not belong on certain shoes, some say patent only works on certain parts of a shoe, and some say patent doesn’t work at all. So the question is,
How do you feel about patent leather use? (All brands, not just Jordan Brand.) Are there only certain shoes that should have it? Have you ever NOT bought a shoe because of patent on it? Only certain parts of shoes that should have patent leather use?
Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Written by Jedi Jump High aka Jordan Rainey
Photo: Cherish (Ma Got Sole)
See something in the sneaker culture that catches your eye and drives you crazy or impresses you? Send it to JJHKNOWS [@] gmail.com (topic only), and it could be used in a future Thursday Thoughts. Credit will be given if the idea has not already been planned or submitted by someone else. Remember, it can be anything sneaker related. Put “Thursday Thoughts” as the subject of the email.
Category: Debate
Let the debate begin! Good work, Jedi. #ThursdayThoughts #TSGFAM
Patent leather is nice in moderation. When it’s over used I think it just looks tacky and weird. You can’t go wrong with PL on the xi’s. But when it comes to jb putting it on the newer retros, it becomes a bit much.
As Petrie explained in the design of the Lebron VII… patent is an excellent structural choice for a purposed basketball sneaker. The Jordan XI also made it innovative for the sneaker industry! Outside of those two thoughts we clearly see it being ABused all too often IMO. It seems “almost every” JB offering has a hint of patent on it. The patent OLY VI’s were the tremor of horrible things to come when they introduced patent on typically non-patent #’d Jordans. Yes, patent has its place and sometimes it’s purpose… yet all too often I seems used as a fishing lure for sales!
IMO, it should only be on the 11 mids…no other shoe no matter if its JB, Nike or whomever.
BTW… CLEAN pic of the Space Jammies!
if a shoe wasn’t designed with patent leather, it shouldn’t be added as a retro. the 11′s are the only jordans that should have had patent leather. it didn’t even look right on the 16s.
Patent leather is a tool in a designer’s belt, a dope tool at that. It should be used in moderation, but should not be forbidden by any means. If a designer has a vision for a colorway that includes patent leather, they should be free to express their creativity. Just because a Jordan 3, for example, didn’t have patent leather on it in 1988 doesn’t mean it should not be allowed on the shoe when another designer takes a stab at a new colorway IMO.
@ BOSS
agreed! and the only Nikes that look good with patent are the Lebron VII (DunkMan especially)
@ Backroad
I understand what you are saying but sometimes thats what makes the retros look fake and not liked to certain sneads.
Along with original foamposite, the Jordan 11s revolutionized what I thought a sneaker could be. On some shoes it works (jordan 11), on others it doesn’t. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I can say this. I love it because it’s easy to clean. Your shoes look fresher longer etc. I appreciate patent leather. Patent leather made my Jordan 11s look fresh my whole sophmore year.
Only shoe that should have patent leather and can pull it off at a high level is and will always bee the Jordan 11′s. Period. End of story. Roll the credits.
Despite that I dislike XI’s, I love patent leather accents on a sneaker. I love the AJ 19s becus of that. My fav sneaker of all time has patent leather (Air jordan iii black cats). I like PL cus of the way it looks when light hits it. I feel it makes the sneaker more edgey.
PL is a gift and a curse all at one time. How many people have the XIs and love them but have creases on the inside part of the shoe? How many sn’eads want the Dunk Space Jams but hate the fact that the toe box is PL simply because they don’t want to see the dreaded creasing formation? Most of us pay attention to that. Some of us like PL because its easy to clean (I used to use alcohol pads and wipe the PL down on my X1s when I was in HS). As for usage? I personally think PL is great when used in moderation. The AJ X1s would be the best example of it being executed perfectly along with the Black Cat 3s (S/O to J Dizzle). Even the AF1 with the front of the shoe in PL was a good look. It’s when you take the PL too far that ruins the look. Back in the 90′s I had a pair of all white AF1s in PL and I loved them to death. However, when the toe box started to crease and the PL started to yellow they had to go.
I know I’m repeating here, but I agree with patent leather being good when used in moderation, as an accent so to say. Looking back, these all-patent BAPE & Greedy Genius kicks are a #FAIL purchase.
It works for me when used on the toebox (like on Jammies) and maybe the occasional side-panel. That’s it!
I think patent leather has its pros and cons.
Pros: easy to clean; beautiful when used correctly on a shoe
Cons: not easily repairable when scratched; creases very easily
The very first pair of shoes I had that featured patent leather was the Reebok Workout Ice Ripple, back in ’95. They were the first pair of sneakers I can remember being all-over patent leather with an icy sole. To me, the overall look of that shoe was beautiful. The bad part is that the shoe yellowed so bad over time, that I couldn’t stand looking at them. It’s all in the design of the shoe. Sometimes, too much patent leather is overkill. It’s all about what you like.
The more patent the better. It’s clean, the shine is intoxicating. XI’s , XX, AM 97, the list could go on. But I agree not every shoe, or in some cases every colorway needs patent leather (which was invented in my hometown Newark, nj). Patent accents are fly but to each his own. Shop well my friends!
Patent Leather was a legendary decision by Tinker just like the Elephant print. But with the flooded sneaker game as it is, they both have been overused so much…
I love patent leather, good leather, and overall good materials on my shoes.
When they started putting those materials on low level sneakers it ruined the specialness of those materials.
Now they are doing the same thing with that Nubuck stuff that mediocre anyway
Patent leather has only worked on two shoes ever Jordan XI and XVI period
I REMEMBER HAVING A PATENT LEATHER THONG ONCE… OOOOPPPSS!!! WRONG BLOG!!!
I agree with Backroad the most. I think patent leather is a good thing and people should take a stab at it. BUT, I also think how its used, the color, the style, the sneaker, and how much is used all have to do with whether it comes out good or not. Just using patent leather doesnt make it automatically hot and it also doesnt make it automatically wack either. Its allll about the outcome. Sometimes a sneaker with nearly all patent leather looks hot. Like the 11′s. Then sometimes it looks wack. Sometimes a sneaker with a lil bit of patent leather looks hot. Sometimes it turns out wack. So wat im saying is THERE IS NO CLEAR CUT INSRUCTIONAL MANUAL ON HOW TO USE PATENT LEATHER.
There is no law that says “if the sneaker is 80% patent leather then it will be wack, or it will be hot.” Just have to see how it turns out. There are people on here now that are saying that the only patent leather sneaker thats hot is the 11′s. But whose to say that there wont be 10 more jordans that come out with patent leather that do it jussstt to ur liking and you absolutely love them all?
RED PATENT LEATHER HEELS ARE SEXY AS HELL AND WOMEN SHOULD NOT TAKE THEM OFF DURING SEX!IMO
It has it’s pro and cons. The patent on the XI’s is good because that what started it all. At least in regards to sneakers. It also worked well with the Air Jordan 2009 S23. Although many slept on the sneaker it’s really high quality and the patent is more durable than that of it’s predecessor in my opinion. Just like anything in life too much of a good thing will kill you so use moderation.
PL def has its positives but i agree its way too abused. too much of a good thing is a bad thing. its just a marketing tool used to catch the eye of a basic shopper (non-sneakerheads ) pl belongs on the few select kicks aj11 lebrons and six rings
Put patent leather anything Nike and make it quickstrike and itll sell out no matter how ugly the color combination is.
Only the 11′s look right with patent leather only because it’s a strip around the sneaker. I seen all patent leather sneakers & they look like material from an aquafina bottle with the designers favorite choice of paint.
-Unless they going to make a low top patent leather sneaker to give me the ability to go back to the 70′sto get my boogie woogie on to some Marvin Gaye or the Beegees,then it’s not necessary.
Good Stuff!!!
im going to give you guys an example of a pair of Jordans that didnt really need patent leather and looks wack to me.
Air Jordan VI “Detroit Pistons”
holla if you wit me
I don’t think it looks good or bad…A good looking shoe is a good looking shoe rather patent leather is used or not.
patent leather is wack in all shapes sizes n colors. concord 11s r only good if ur wearin a tux
I like patent leather. Whether if its red white blue 5′s olympic 6′s carbon 3′s blackcat 3′s or even 11′s.
Patent “leather” sucks…..it has ZERO place on a running shoe, but I can see it on a basketball shoe for structural purposes. On a skate shoe, like the Pele or Kuwahara Dunks, it does look good and both of those shoe in their exact same colorblocking withOUT patent wouldn’t have nearly the same appeal……so damn, in that aspect, maybe Patent’s not so bad hahaha…….
Patent leather looks good on my balls
crazy.
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are my comments bein’ removed??? dats ass.
Nike Air Jordan I patent – black and gold, white black and red
enough said
JJJumpman’s comment easily could have come out of my mouth.
Surprised only one other person has mentioned it, but patent just doesnt work on a toebox if you’re trying to keep the shoes looking remotely fresh at all… one day of wear and you end up with massive creases. The space jam dunks look awesome, but that toebox is going to be unbelievably creased in no time at all
rising sun 12s, detroit 6s, white/navy/red 5s all could possibly be copped if they didnt use the patent leather. on the other hand black cat 3s are perfect with the little bit of patent leather. what it comes down to is placement and moderation. on another note id like to see some 11 mids without the patent leather. like the colombia’s, even though there is nothing wrong with them the way they are.
Patent leather looks/looked best on the 11′s. I will admit I got few pairs of 9′s with it but that is it for me.
the Patent Leather works on alot of sneakers especially the 1s and 11s i wish they would bring back the patent leather 1s or even the columbia 11s
Lebron dunk man vii’s will just be ignored huh?