As a child I can recall a conversation I overheard my mother having with a dear friend of hers. "You can tell a lot about a man by looking at his shoes," she boasted. I never knew what she meant until she almost knocked my head off one day after seeing me bump the back of my church shoes on a wall I sat on. "I didn't spend all that money on those things for you to scuff them up!!! Now get down!!!" she yelled. 

Once I arrived home, I took off my black leather loafers to see all the scratches I created. She suddenly appeared in my room with newspaper, and shoe polish and had me to fix the damage I had done. "The way you treat your shoes tells a lot about you, and no child of mine is going to be ripping and running in dress shoes, now clean them up, and don't get any polish on the rug." Hell, I was just happy I didn't get the beat down.
We didn't have Dfax back then (lol). From that point, I realized just how important shoes were and what they meant to various types of people.
		Zuriick's Jack Jack Aqua high Top
Almost instantly I became obsessed with them... Looking down to see all the different types and styles people were wearing, then trying to figure out what line of work they were in. And let's no forget the most important…to see if they actually matched. I quickly grew out of it because I was bumping into too many people. I did however pick up another hobby…Shopping for them. Whether it's basics, something with a little zip, or just down right flashy Zuriick is a Utah based American brand that offers just about all. These affordable kicks come in an array of colors, both high and low tops and are extremely comfortable. The Jack Jack is one of the newest designs and is priced around $79. Average shoe sizes are 8-13.
For those of you who like to own shoes that you may not see on many others, lines such as Premiata or Fessura may be ones you would like to consider.
		Fessura
Fessura launch their shoe line in 2000 and takes pride in creating innovative gear, while using comfortable yet flexible materials. Premiata is also known to push the boundaries when it comes to their designs. These Italian sneakers can be dressed up or down, but be prepared to pay a higher price point for them. An average sneaker starts around $150- $200.
		Premiata Hightops
Haling from San Francisco are two guys that I have been following for quite some time. Nice Collective designers Joe and Ian first introduced themselves with their edgy creations, and it was obvious they were here to stay. With somewhat of an "industrial" flare, Nice Collective has clothes for both men and women. I am ecstatic they have expanded into doing shoes as well. These American made fashionable army boots are dusted with the sands of a Nevada desert and can be found at several boutiques across the U.S.
		Nice Collective Army Boot
Timberland decided to add a twist to their traditional boots that we all have come to love. This new collection is named Abington (the original name for the shoe line). The Rolltop is just one of the boots from the collection.
		Timberland Rolltop Boot
Why did they choose this name you ask? Its simple, the boot allows you to fold down the top portion to give your look more flare and or comfort, but is stable enough to stand for those who need more support. The boots are not too expensive ($160) because of the line being known for their durability.