SAUGUS — Despite a price tag approaching $500, 100 limited-edition sneakers hand-painted to evoke Route 1 landmark Kowloon Restaurant sold out in roughly two days.
The sneakers are Nike Air Force 1s, hand-painted in red, black, and gold, by a local artist who goes by the name Sway. The sneakers feature the restaurant’s logo as well as Chinese characters written in red paint on both sides of the shoe. Kowloon co-owner Bob Wong explained that the sneakers came about via a conversation he had with Sway where the pair agreed launching a sneaker based on the restaurant would be a fun project.
That conversation took place just before Christmas and the idea of a Kowloon sneaker faded into the background during the holiday season, Wong said. They later revisited the idea and decided to move forward with the sneaker, which the restaurant announced on its Facebook page Sunday night.
The design of the sneakers was “all Sway,” Wong said. The only input he had on the design was pointing Sway toward what colors might best represent the restaurant.
“He was able to figure out and incorporate the colors into the design,” he said.
By Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., all 100 sneakers had sold out. Wong said he was slightly surprised by the high price tag, but explained that between purchasing the sneakers and the labor involved in hand painting them, he had no issue when Sway asked him to set the price at $495.
“At first I had no idea what sneakers go for and I basically let Sway set the price point,” Wong said in a telephone interview Tuesday evening. “It seems high but it’s amazing people pay for it.”
Wong said he did not snag one of the pairs for himself, recalling the days of patching up a pair of worn-down sneakers with duct tape.
Those who missed out on the sneakers this time need not worry, as Wong said the restaurant plans to come out with a second design in the near future.
With the success of the first round, Wong said a portion of the proceeds from the next sneakers will be donated to charity. He indicated that The Joey Fund, which supplies financial support for cystic fibrosis patients and research, might be a beneficiary.
While designs for a next sneaker are still in the works, Wong said they might include the logo of whichever charity is chosen, in addition to that of the restaurant.
The sneakers could soon serve as a way to recall Kowloon’s legacy, as the iconic property is set to be redeveloped into two apartment buildings, with a smaller restaurant occupying part of one building. The restaurant will likely remain open for the foreseeable future, but as limited edition sneaker prices have a tendency to skyrocket, $495 may have been a bargain for these.
