Hush Puppies is the damn good example how a small brand reaches its tipping point and then spead like the virus.
this old style, unfashionable shoe was occationly wore by the downtown "opinion leaders", same reason as Mel Gibson's white shocks on the sceen,who care it is fashion or not, those opinion laders has the power to influent others.
a few fashion designers later catch this small trend and employ it in their carwalk show. sudently the un-hip brand became extremly hot around the New York fashioners.
you probably read the story from Glawell's TIPPING POINT.