Forensic Footwear Documentation
The science of preservation, not hype.
A scientific platform for the documentation, authentication, and restoration of Golden Era footwear. No hype. No valuations. Citations required.
Latest Specimen Files
The Research Lab: Week 1
A Manifesto for Serious Preservation + The Chemistry of Inevitable Decay The Problem With Sneaker Media Open any sneaker publication. Scroll through any dedicated Instagram account...
Read autopsy →The Research Lab: Week 1
A Manifesto for Serious Preservation + The Chemistry of Inevitable Decay The Problem With Sneaker Media Open any sneaker publication. Scroll through any dedicated Instagram account...
Read autopsy →The Research Lab - Week 2: Project Rosetta Launch
Sole Cartel Research Division | Weekly Briefing The 6-Character Truth You've been lied to about authentication. The truth is in a 6-character code. For years, the authentication co...
Read autopsy →The Red October Launch: A Case Study in Manufactured Scarcity
The Nike Air Yeezy 2 "Red October" did not revolutionize sneaker design. Its materials were standard. Its construction was conventional. What it revolutionized was distribution—and...
Read autopsy →The "Smell Test" is Real: Identifying Glue Variants by Era
Your nose is a forensic tool. Here's how to use it. In authentication circles, the olfactory examination remains one of the most underutilized diagnostic instruments available. Whi...
Read autopsy →The "Puffy Tongue" Physics: Inside the Foam of an SB Dunk
The fat tongue isn't just aesthetic. It's 14mm of polyurethane foam that will eventually fail. This week, we're dissecting one of the most recognizable features in sneaker history:...
Read autopsy →Field Dispatches
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