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Saturday, August 18, 2007
Two Year Anniversary!
Two years ago today, my life was changed for the better. My heart became one with a beautiful woman who stole my breath and still does to this very day. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with her. Everyday I smile because I have her in my life, everyday I feel very lucky to have her by my side, even though we are so far apart. She has made all my dreams come true and continues to do so everyday. I Love You Princess, Happy 2 Year Anniversary Beautiful!
Why? Story of A Sole Collector
The one question that I get every time when people learn about my sneaker collection is, why? The irony to this question is that no answer will satisfy the person asking the question, unless you’re speaking to another collector. Regardless of your response, in their eyes you’ll be an outcast. Now not everyone outside of the culture may perceive you in this way but for the most part people think of it as an odd thing to collect. I can’t answer for every sneaker enthusiast out there this question, but I will attempt to answer it for myself.
This is, like I mentioned before, a culture. Throughout the years it has gained popularity, thanks largely to Bobbito Garcia; if you don’t know who he is then your not really part of this culture. Bobbito started this with his The Source article “Confessions of A Sneaker Addict” and following publications “Where’d You Get Those?: New York City's Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987.” As Bobbito states in the title of his first large publication, this is a culture. Throughout the years it has evolved to include countless forums, magazines, communities and its language/terminology. I have made many friends because of this culture and these are people whom I can truly call friends and not just acquaintances. The knowledge within the culture is incredible and even if you aren’t into sneakers, finding out the process of a sneaker from design to marketing will blow your mind. I digress; it is this culture that has drawn me to collecting.
The first sneaker to catch my attention was the Air Jordan XIV in the white/university blue color way, I was 12 and there was no way my parents were going to spend $125 on sneakers. The first “official” sneaker to get me into this culture was the Adidas The Kobe in the black/gray color way, which I purchased on my own (buy one get one ½ off Champs sales…haha). This particular sneaker made me appreciate the design aspect s of a shoe. From its double-collar padded ankle to its foam like material. Still to this day I consider it one of the better basketball shoes I have had the privilege to own. From then I chose to continue my collection by focusing on the Kobe line. This continues till this day, including all of Adidas Kobe line, Crazy 8(retro), The Kobe, KobeTwo and Nike line, Huarache 2K4 and 2K5, Air Zoom Kobe I and II. It is the appreciation of the work and detail for why I collect.
Every sneaker to me is a work of art. Strange as it might be, it is for its how it starts, as art on a piece of paper which eventually formulates to a 3 Dimensional model, a prototype, sample and final production model. Everything from the smell of a new pair of sneakers to the way it looks in its original Dead Stock (DS) condition, to how they look when worn, is art. To me this art came to fruition with the release of the Air Zoom Kobe II Strength, which Vulkan nicknamed the Orca. This shoe is what sparked this piece. The Orca is the first sneaker that I can not bring myself to wear without acquiring a second pair first, not because of the value it may have in the future; for which I could care less, but because I personally find it to perfect to wear. The inspiration behind it, the killer whale and the design aspect of that into the shoe, the technology and most of all that Patent Leather toe. The Patent Leather toe takes me back to the classic Jordan’s, XI and XVI, and the Orca is another classic sneaker in the making. To truly appreciate it, go to your local Footlocker and hold a pair of AZKII Strengths aka Orca’s and you’ll see the masterful art piece I’m referring too. So why do I collect? I collect because it makes me feel like a kid, because I enjoy it and because of the appreciation for design, technology and the culture.
This is, like I mentioned before, a culture. Throughout the years it has gained popularity, thanks largely to Bobbito Garcia; if you don’t know who he is then your not really part of this culture. Bobbito started this with his The Source article “Confessions of A Sneaker Addict” and following publications “Where’d You Get Those?: New York City's Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987.” As Bobbito states in the title of his first large publication, this is a culture. Throughout the years it has evolved to include countless forums, magazines, communities and its language/terminology. I have made many friends because of this culture and these are people whom I can truly call friends and not just acquaintances. The knowledge within the culture is incredible and even if you aren’t into sneakers, finding out the process of a sneaker from design to marketing will blow your mind. I digress; it is this culture that has drawn me to collecting.
The first sneaker to catch my attention was the Air Jordan XIV in the white/university blue color way, I was 12 and there was no way my parents were going to spend $125 on sneakers. The first “official” sneaker to get me into this culture was the Adidas The Kobe in the black/gray color way, which I purchased on my own (buy one get one ½ off Champs sales…haha). This particular sneaker made me appreciate the design aspect s of a shoe. From its double-collar padded ankle to its foam like material. Still to this day I consider it one of the better basketball shoes I have had the privilege to own. From then I chose to continue my collection by focusing on the Kobe line. This continues till this day, including all of Adidas Kobe line, Crazy 8(retro), The Kobe, KobeTwo and Nike line, Huarache 2K4 and 2K5, Air Zoom Kobe I and II. It is the appreciation of the work and detail for why I collect.
Every sneaker to me is a work of art. Strange as it might be, it is for its how it starts, as art on a piece of paper which eventually formulates to a 3 Dimensional model, a prototype, sample and final production model. Everything from the smell of a new pair of sneakers to the way it looks in its original Dead Stock (DS) condition, to how they look when worn, is art. To me this art came to fruition with the release of the Air Zoom Kobe II Strength, which Vulkan nicknamed the Orca. This shoe is what sparked this piece. The Orca is the first sneaker that I can not bring myself to wear without acquiring a second pair first, not because of the value it may have in the future; for which I could care less, but because I personally find it to perfect to wear. The inspiration behind it, the killer whale and the design aspect of that into the shoe, the technology and most of all that Patent Leather toe. The Patent Leather toe takes me back to the classic Jordan’s, XI and XVI, and the Orca is another classic sneaker in the making. To truly appreciate it, go to your local Footlocker and hold a pair of AZKII Strengths aka Orca’s and you’ll see the masterful art piece I’m referring too. So why do I collect? I collect because it makes me feel like a kid, because I enjoy it and because of the appreciation for design, technology and the culture.
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