These are things that are so tied back to the creator that you can’t separate it from the art. The first is the inherent and unintentional ways a product is affected as a result of the creator making it. There are two ways the creators impart value. It’s the creator of art that allows it to have any value whatsoever, as the artist brings the artwork into being. Where does art drive its value? If no one ever saw the Mona Lisa, would it still be worth the same as it is now? Does the fact that everyone in the world has seen it change its value? Do we perceive it to have greater value because of its renown? Another factor of artistic value comes from its creator. It could be said that brand, itself, then, is a form of modern art. Not all art is inherently valuable to all people, but to those who hold it in high regard, art commands a hefty price. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and creative works can be seen as expressions of beauty. In my view of the world, value can be equated to overall impact, and art has impact. In my opinion, artistic value is the most important, but least understood factor. The third, most important factor of value, is art. But once again, quality alone cannot determine value given that the quality of replica Air Jordan often compares with the original, looks nearly identical, and lasts just as long. A tool made out of wood and steel is more valuable than one made out of plastic and aluminum. Will the product last? Will it continue to serve its function over time? Clearly, quality has a huge impact on value, as people consistently spend more for high-quality products. The second factor is quality, which can be closely tied to function. Does this product allow me to accomplish the task for which I purchased it? If yes, then that it is a contributing factor to its value. If you’ll suffer me the ability to put on my philosopher's hat, I posit that none of this actually drives value. Clearly, sneaker fans are willing to match Nike’s price for Air Jordans when buying reps, but can those clones command a 3x price boost in the resale market? Besides, price can often be the victim of market hysteria, as the collapse of the Dutch tulip market demonstrated back in the 1600’s. For instance, it’s not always true that the price drives value. To economists, value is derived from factors like supply and demand, usefulness, or the price people are willing to pay, but these factors are flawed. Nike and Adidas could kill the replica market simply producing enough units for everyone to buy, but would ubiquity diminish the value? If Nike produced millions of pairs of Travis Scott Nike Air Jordans would they be just as prized? What is value, anyway? Can desire be quantified by a price tag? I realize this runs contrary to what most economists will tell you. They’ve been buying this way all their lives.
Pictured: Recent post from u/Raise1nce on the r/Repsneakers feedĪccording to the WSJ, many buyers now “question the whole idea of authenticity.” What’s more, there’s a whole generation of people who “grew up illegally downloading movies or streaming reams of music for less than the price of one CD.” In other words, buying products in less than kosher ways is all a bit normal.