Michael Kors releases a new sneaker -- for Facebook fans only

In celebration of the brand’s Facebook fan base hitting the 5 million mark -- Michael Kors released a limited-edition, zebra-striped sneaker Wednesday that will be available for purchase only by its Facebook fans.

At least that’s the way it’s supposed to work -- with just 500 pairs of the $275 shoe available for purchase either through the Michael Kors Facebook page or by providing a special password (accessible only to those who’ve made their fandom official by clicking “Like”) to sales associates in a handful of select bricks-and-mortar Michael Kors boutiques (including the Rockefeller Center store in New York City, Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris and Regent Street in London).

Although we’re pretty sure the super-secret password will be plastered all over the Web in no time at all (if it hasn’t been already) and we’re also well aware that Michael Kors is far from the first fashion label to leverage social media this way, we think it’s a sales strategy that that will become increasingly more prevalent in the ever-more-cluttered future of online retail.

ALSO:

Designer Michael Kors sticks to reality

Booth Moore reviews Michael Kors Fall 2013 runway

Is luxury back? Michael Kors’ profit triples, sock soars