If Nike raised its prices tomorrow, would you still be filling up your cart or second-guessing your next sneaker drop? That question might hit home sooner than you think. Reports suggest Michael Jordan’s Nike-owned sneaker brand could face a price surge in the US. And it all traces back to President Donald Trump’s recent tariff storm targeting major sportswear-producing countries like Vietnam and Indonesia. Unsurprisingly, sneaker lovers haven’t taken this news lightly – and they’re making that loud and clear.
However, the big question is: does Nike really have no choice? Over the years, big brands like Nike have been trying to ease their reliance on Chinese factories. But just when they thought they found safer ground in Southeast Asia, this new tariff threatened everything from your favorite tracksuits to cutting-edge running shoes.
And the market felt it immediately. Shares of Nike, Adidas, and Puma took a sharp dive after the announcement. Vietnam was slammed with a 46 percent tariff rate, Cambodia got 49 percent, Bangladesh 37 percent, and Indonesia 32 percent. And on top of that, the U.S. slapped an additional 34% tariff on Chinese goods after already sitting at 20%.
All this translates to a serious jump in apparel import duties – from 14.5 percent in 2024 to 30.6 percent, according to Sheng Lu, a fashion and apparel studies professor at the University of Delaware. His calculations show this could mean $26 billion in apparel duties based on last year’s numbers—more than double what was paid before.
So, if Nike does raise prices, it won’t come as a shock. Especially when IG pages like Sneaker News | DBL are sharing the updates as if it’s a done deal. “Breaking: Retail prices for sneakers and apparel from top brands—especially nike and jordan—are expected to rise following the implementation of massive new tariffs,” read the caption to the post. Is Michael Jordan’s revenue source in jeopardy?
But even with the chances of it happening, it doesn’t mean everyone’s going to accept it quietly:
Fans are visibly upset about the news of a possible hike in Nike’s sneakers and apparel
One Instagram user hit a nostalgic nerve when they wrote, “Remember when AF1 was like $90 .” That wasn’t just a throwback – it was reality until January 2022, when Nike bumped the Air Force 1 Low to $100. And it wasn’t a one-off. The brand quietly rolled out price hikes across several popular models during that period, setting off more than a few alarms in the sneaker community.
As talks of further increases made the rounds, not everyone was ready to play along. Some users were quick to justify why replicas might not be the worst idea anymore. One comment summed it up: “Reps don’t sound too bad now.” It’s a sentiment that’s gaining traction, especially among longtime fans.
Then there were some who found the existing prices of the sneakers themselves a bit too high. An emotion that echoed loudly among the sneakerheads when Nike re-released 10,000 AJ 1 Banned sneakers for $250 a pair. No wonder that once again, an agitated IG user wrote, “Shoes being at 200 is already a joke to me.”
The anger among the sneakerheads is such that one fan even raised slogans of sorts against Michael Jordan’s Nike-owned brand. “STOP BUYING JORDANS,” he wrote, demanding a complete boycott of the brand. Meanwhile, some IG users suggested an alternate yet popular option. “New balance it is,” one wrote. Amid such circumstances, Nike might want to reconsider whether elevating the prices is even a solution.
That $250 Jordan 1 might not break your bank, but it might break the culture. If this is the new normal, don’t be surprised when New Balance feels like rebellion and reps start looking real righteous
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