Started Vault Sneakers because I got tired of the same three marketplaces flooding every search with fakes and re-releases.

Here's the thing about original-run 90s/2000s basketball sneakers: unlike modern GRs, the pair count on OG colorways is actually finite. No restocks are coming. Every year, fewer deadstock pairs exist in wearable condition — sizes get scooped, boxes crack, soles yellow.

A few things I look for when authenticating a pair for the Vault:

• Stitching consistency — OG factories had tighter tolerances than most people think, machine-stitch spacing varies by year

• Box label fonts — Nike changed label typography multiple times through the 90s, a mismatch is an instant red flag

• Midsole yellowing pattern — even, gradual yellowing is natural aging; blotchy or overly white patches usually mean a bleach/restoration job

If you collect or resell, the biggest mistake I see is buying off marketplaces with zero verification layer. A grail pair with a bad authentication story is worth 40-60% less at resale, even if it's 100% real.

Building a place where every pair gets checked before it changes hands. If that's useful to you, come hang out.