Loaded

There’s one thing you need to know about me and it is this: I LOVE SNEAKERS!!!
Don’t get that confused with Snickers, the chocolate bar. I love that too, but that’s for another review.
Loaded was the very first store that «urbaned» me out. The first thing I purchase from there, and I can remember it vividly, was a New York Yankees original on-​field cap.
From that point forward, and helped along by many hours spent watching MTV (especially ‘Cribs’) I wanted to up my urban wear.
Loaded became my go-​to place. Loaded feels like the essences of both LA and New York brought together in one small Auckland shop.
The brands they carry include Crooks and Castles, Black SCVALE, Nike, Adidas Originals, New Era, G-​Shock, Puma, Supra, among many other streetwear brands.
What’s cool about their main store on Queen Street is that they’ve got a simple shop layout, meaning when you walk in, it doesn’t take long to familiarise yourself with the store.
The other cool feature is their «dungeon» where all the latest sneakers are held, and where the majority of my time is spent.
Price-​wise — let’s just say you get what you pay for. The prices may seem a little high, but the shop usually gets limited edition products, which accounts for the price spike.
So, If you’ve always wanted to properly look fly, Loaded is the place for you.

If you are looking for some new sneakers, something a little bit different to everyone else, something in your face, then Loaded on high street is the place to go. On the street level of Loaded, you can expect to find a full range of street wear and accessories such as caps and ‘bling’, however, the wall-​to-​wall sneaker goodness is hidden downstairs. However, if you are wanting to dabble in a new artistic endeavour or an existing one, they also have a large wall stacked with spray paint, and just as many colours as their sneakers range. If you do love your sneakers, this place is a must visit.

If you’ve ever wanted to be one of those guys who keeps the sticker on their hat just to proclaim its legitimacy, Loaded is the store for you. With an upper area of high-​end urban clothing — which has a startling similarity to what you can get from knock off asian shops, and a basement area full of shoes and spray cans.
I sometimes wonder who profits off graffiti. There are two classes who do — the guys who get paid to clean it off (in fact, im pretty sure these are the same guys who do a lot of it) and shops like Loaded which sell «boutique» brands of spray cans.
They have a good range of shoes and clothes — if you fit into their target market. However, if you are a fedora wearing fellow, I recommend you steer clear.

There are rarely ever shops that both my partner and I love in equal measure but in Loaded, we’ve found perfect equilibrium. He loves it because of the mens streetwear on the ground floor: they’ve got more of a selection of street brands like HUF, Crooks and Castles and Vic than I’ve seen anywhere else in the city and he covets pretty much everything they sell. My own affection for the place, however, lays in the footwear section in the basement: shelf after shelf of Nike, Supra, Adidas, Puma and more in high tops and low tops.
The staff leave you alone to browse but are always there to help and advise you if you need it, which in my opinion is how sales staff should be in every store. I just wish they sold more of a selection of girls clothing, they’ve got some pieces in there but the section is pretty small. There should be more places like this in Auckland for sure.

This is a super duper intimidating shop. Like, sometimes I walk past this place and think to myself, «Oh. Cool. I should go into this place and look at the cool cool shoes and also the caps and watches and stuff.» But then I take a step towards the door and see the sort of muscly guy who is working there and is wearing a very very crisp snap back hat and a t-​shirt and like pants or something and just kind of melt a little. I’m not cool enough or something. I did buy a watch from here one time. I never wear it. Also I bought some Adidas shoes but refused to wear them because I was kind of over-​neurotic and felt like the stripes on them made me look fat.

Merchants who have their ear to the ground of the urban street ware fashion industry. Sometimes you do not realize how uncool you have been looking until you try on a new jacket or shirt and look into one of Loaded mirrors. I bought a Carharrt jacket from this place 8 years ago and it is still one of my favorite things to wear, I think it is by far the longest I have ever had a piece of clothing, this thing has been around the world with me and it is still in mint condition. If you walk down the road to Rakino’s bar on a Saturday night, well over half the people look like they might be wearing something from Loaded. Shopping here is pretty much a guaranteed way to make yourself look cooler, but you might have to wait until pay day before you visit, some hefty price tags.

Loaded is the home of premier streetwear in Auckland nestled on the top end of High Street. They cover a lot of great brands that aren’t widely available in New Zealand like Crooks and Castles, and also stick your classics of Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Wrangler and New Era. They have exclusive releases on some of their stock and have regular drops of new gear in-​store, so its safe to say they’re always bringing their A-​game.
This is definitely my go-​to place when I’m looking for a nice piece for my partner that’s a little ahead of the season. The guys at Loaded are really helpful, always give honest opinions and are never too pushy. Their stock is great to have a browse through and those with quite a bit of money to burn would find they could easily buy an entire outfit here. They’ve got a great women’s section there too which I love, a lot of Lee and Wrangler stuff as well as tees and jeans from a local and international brands.
I think Loaded already knows its target market and I’d say a majority of their customers go in there knowing what they’re after style– and brand-​wise. Gift cards are available and are a great present, especially for guys– stock at Loaded isn’t necessarily cheap and I can assure he’ll love the gesture.