Style File: Sneakers

WSVN -- It's an underground culture. Sneaker junkies who will do anything to get their hands on a pair of coveted kicks.

In this world it's about how many you own.

Rafael Rodriguez: "Right now, I'm more working with 3500 to 3600 pairs of sneakers."

How old and how rare your shoes are.

Deelah: "The oldest pair I have is from the 90s."

And owning sneakers everyone else wishes they had.

Rafael: "When you pass with some Uptowns that nobody has ever seen, they are patting everyone on the hand, 'Look at his sneakers, we can't get those.'"

At Culture Kings in Miami's Design District, it's all about vintage. You know, shoes from way back in the like 90s.

Chris Oh: "What sets us apart is the selection of shoes we have. We carry products from the early 90s to recent releases."

Since most of this culture started with Michael Jordan. This store caters to all the Jordan-heads.

Mike: "Here we have the Air Jordan. This shoe is already almost 13 years old."

Mike: "This is the Air Jordan Space Jam. These are the 11s, another sought after shoe."

You can also snag some exclusive shoes that aren't even out yet.

Mike: "This shoe is the Air Jordan 12 Fusion. This is not going to be released until 2008."

If you want custom, J Fish Kicks just opened up on South Beach. You can find one-of-a-kind Nikes and Vans all designed by some of the hottest artists around.

Jason Fishbein: "It's like collecting art. It's the same thing."

Some of the sneaker standouts, this pair created by Miami Ink's Chris Garver.

Jason Fishbein: "He hand-painted it, and it's basically a tattoo on a shoe."

Or how about some art on a canvas mixed with a little bling from sneaker painter Sole Junkie.

Jason Fishbein: "He put real gold on the shoe, real 22 karat. He hand-painted this, a picture of Tito Puente."

With shoes going from $300 to $2,700, you better be a collector. That means keep them clean or in a box.

Rafael: "To have a pair of sneakers that cost $200 to $300 is the same as having a Ferrari."

And you thought your new running shoes were cool? Makes them look more like a used car.

Belkys Nerey: "Get this, there are even sneaker battles being held at different clubs around South Florida. Everyone tries to one-up each other with rare or exclusive shoes."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

J Fish Kicks
225 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-535-1715

Culture Kings
4300 NE 2nd Ave.
Miami Design District
305-573-2399