Petar Radojčić Bizzo (Founder of Fresh Island Festival Croatia) and Nicolas Decker (Head of Online Shop & Social Media at BSTN)
Moderated by Damjan Rudež
With today’s sneaker market worth 80 billion dollars, and projected to hit a staggering 120 billion in 2026., we have to ask the question – how did the world get so crazy over sneakers? Your favorite “kicks” are no longer just a tool to help you enjoy your favorite sports, but instead, they slowly transitioned into a lifestyle staple and a must-have item that has people anxiously waiting for new releases all across the globe. Here to give us two widely different perspectives on this topic are Nicolas Decker, Head of Content at BSTN, a premium sportswear platform, and Petar Radojčić Bizzo, Croatian hip hop pioneer and renowned sneaker head.
If some people are wondering what a “sneaker head” is, it’s a person who collects trades and/or admires sneakers as a form of hobby. Sneaker heads, like most collectors, are passionate and dedicated to both shoes and culture. Many are very knowledgeable about the origins and history of sneakers but most importantly, the shoes they choose to put on their feet define them as an individual and thee subculture they live in.
Decker explained how BSTN gained its success, by watching the U.S. market while also staying true to the European culture with their sneaker offerings on their platform.
Bizzo, an avid collector, says there are people who collect sneakers, and people who live by the culture of collecting sneakers.
BSTN, with a social following of over 1 Million, recently did a campaign with Nike where they customized yachts, jets and G Wagons around Croatia. The campaign was featured in HypeBeast, HighSnobiety and Wired.
As for the future of the sneaker market, Decker says it will not slow down. With platforms like StockX and Goal to resell shoes, anyone has the opportunity to buy and sell, and create their own business.
