For back to school shopping each year we used to go to Champion factory outlet for clothes, and were told to get all irregulars which were cheaper. It was a big find as you endlessly went through the bins to find something that someone couldnt tell was obviously messed up when you wore it
I'll never forget my first pair of real basketball shoes - white Chuck Taylor high top Converse in 6th grade. Before that I swear some of the cheap sneakers I had to wear seemed like they were plastic on the bottom 😛