British Sneaker Photographer: Oran Denman

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What was the moment you first got drawn to sneakers, and which pair of sneakers triggered your passion?

When I was 16, it was getting to the point where I was leaving high school and started sixth form; I realized that I don't really own a 'nice' pair of shoes. I wasn't too clued up on all the brands at the time and just wanted a pair that looked good! 

I went on the Nike website and looked through everything. I scrolled until the last page, then I found a pair of White Elephant Jordan 1's that I instantly fell in love with. That was the pair that sparked my interest in sneaker and streetwear culture.

What’s one moment or trend in the history of sneaker culture that resonates with you?

I will never forget when Yeezy 350s were first coming about and there was LOADS of hype surrounding the shoes. This time period is where I learned all about sneaker raffles, drops and resellers - all of them are a massive part of sneaker culture today.

When the Zebra colourway of the V2's dropped, they very quickly became my dream pair! After losing countless raffles, I ended up purchasing them for resale on StockX back in 2017 and they were the first pair of Yeez's I owned.

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Please describe how it feels to you when you get and wear a new pair of kicks?

I don't buy new shoes too often any more so whenever I do get a new pair it is a very exciting time. I'm very picky when it comes to buying new shoes/clothes, so when I order something then I am always very happy with the product.

Wearing a new pair of shoes is a good feeling for anyone, like having a fresh trim, it definitely has you feeling yourself!

What are some of your favorite creators/designers or brands and why?

Off-White has been a personal favourite for a long time. Their signature stripes on the sleeves got me every time. They always have cool and unique designs and their collaborations are always very creative and definitely give inspiration to other brands in the niche. The recent news of Virgil's passing (R.I.P.) was a big shock as he was such a huge part of the culture and has had such a big impact on today's fashion.

Pleasures is another favourite of mine. Their designs are always out of the ordinary and sometimes can be thought-provoking. They also deliver great quality products for prices a bit more affordable than some of the other bigger brands.

Nike deserves a mention here too because they are definitely on top of the game and have been for a minute. Their collaborations have been very successful and it seems every week they are bringing out heat that I want to cop.

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What is one sneaker collaboration that doesn’t exist, but you wish/think should exist?

Coming from the UK, I think a Trapstar x Nike collab would be big for the culture over here. Maybe a black Air Force 1 with the T branding or something similar, nothing too over the top.

What are some of the current pairs of sneakers in your rotation?

My general rotation currently consists of about 5 or 6 pairs. I have a pair of Dunk lows (Animal Pack Giraffe/Cheetah) which I wear to match any outfits with neutral colours. I own a few pairs of Jordan 1 High's now but my current favourite/go-to is the Electro Orange pair.

I also wear a pair of Linen Jordan 1 Mids which were a gift from my Girlfriend (she's a keeper)! These also work really well with neutral outfits and greys.

I went for a long period of time where I didn't wear Yeezys, but now I wear my Zebra 350 V2 for the gym as they are the most comfortable shoes I own. I also can't forget to mention my pair of black Air Force 1's which get used day-to-day as my beaters.

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What is your ultimate holy grail sneaker that you have not managed to acquire so far?

The Mocha Jordan 1 High is my current dream pair.  I feel like most people would say the Travis 1's instead but I genuinely think the Mocha's look so much better.

Other than kicks, what are some of your daily essentials or treasured items?

One of my daily essentials is my MCM wallet, the only one I wish I wouldn't have to use daily! Supreme x Hanes boxer briefs deserve a mention because I own so many pairs and they are definitely my go-to.

Nike socks are always essential too! I use Dior Sauvage aftershave daily and have stuck with the fragrance for the past few years now and I can confirm it definitely works!

My camera is a treasured item of mine and gets a lot of use when I'm shooting outfit pictures or doing photo/video shoots for clients. I also use my Macbook to edit photo/video content and for general day-to-day use for the likes of Netflix, social media, etc.

Where people can find you on social media?

Instagram: @oranzy

TikTok: @oranzy

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