Johnnys Kicks x Jae Tips
The Johnny x Jae x Xentag collab is changing the way collectible sneakers are owned
The Johnny Kicks x Jae Tips collaboration, in partnership with XenTag, marks a pivotal moment in the sneaker and streetwear community. Launched at SneakerCon NYC ‘24, this partnership not only introduced an exclusive limited edition but also revolutionized the way collectors engage with and trade high-value merchandise. With XenTag’s NFC technology embedded in each pair, fans and collectors alike could verify the authenticity of their sneakers and trade them in the sneaker superfan communities, while brands and creators continued to benefit from every transaction.
The challenge
Counterfeiting and limited creative freedom are two major hurdles faced by designers and brands in the sneaker world. Johnny Kicks, a leading influencer and sneaker artist, and Jae Tips, a rising streetwear designer, sought to change that with their collaboration. They needed a solution that guaranteed authenticity, offered more creative control, and enabled both them and their superfans to continually benefit from the sneakers beyond the initial sale.
Taking up our mission
XenTag’s core mission is to empower creators and consumers through its secure NFC technology. This collaboration was designed to showcase how XenTag enables creators to maintain control over their products by ensuring authenticity and enabling ongoing revenue streams from secondary market sales. At the same time, it provides consumers with confidence in the legitimacy and long-term value of their purchases. By leveraging XenTag, Johnny and Jae gained both the freedom to express their creativity without fear of counterfeiting and the ability to continually earn from their work, long after the initial drop.
Power to the creator
Each sneaker in the Johnny x Jae collection was embedded with XenTag’s NFC technology, allowing buyers to verify authenticity and access exclusive digital content tied to the product. More importantly, these NFC-enabled sneakers could be traded on the secondary market, with blockchain-enabled smart contracts ensuring that Johnny, Jae, and their brand partners earned royalties from every resale. This technology not only protected the integrity of their creations but also fostered a deeper connection between the creators and their superfans, by turning every sneaker into a verifiable, tradable piece of art. The live auction held at SneakerCon further amplified the collaboration’s impact, drawing significant attention and engagement from the community.
Results
- Creative Empowerment: Johnny and Jae were able to break traditional barriers by taking full control of their products, ensuring that their creative vision remained intact and their designs verifiable. The ability to continually earn royalties from the secondary market provided long-term financial benefits, offering freedom to innovate in future projects.
- Royalties and Ongoing Revenue: Johnny and Jae not only benefited from the initial drop but also from every subsequent trade on the secondary market. This continuous revenue stream empowered them to keep earning from their work, fostering a more sustainable creative model.
- Increased Trust and Value: XenTag’s technology added a crucial layer of trust and transparency in the highly competitive sneaker market, reinforcing the scarcity and value of the Johnny x Jae collection and setting a new standard for how limited-edition products can be owned and traded.
The Johnny x Jae collab, powered by XenTag, redefined what it means to own and trade limited-edition merchandise. Through the seamless integration of secure NFC technology, creators now have the power to protect their art, engage directly with superfans, and earn from every trade—both today and in the future. This partnership demonstrated that XenTag is not just about authentication; it’s about giving brands and creators the tools to transform their products into timeless, valuable collectibles.
