British Sneakerhead and Nike Lover: Sophnsneakers

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

This sounds cliche, but I've always been into sneakers. However, what started it for me was my first non-uniform day at upper school. I wanted a new outfit and dragged my mom and nan out to JD. They brought me my first pair of Air Max 1s in the Sail Mortar colorway. After that, I got a triple black reflective Nike Free Run trainers off depop, which I was obsessed with because no one else in school had them.

The moment sneaker culture really kicked in for me was when I saw someone walking around the sixth form with some Nike Sean Wotherspoon on. At that time, I had no idea what they were, so I started googling. And this led me down the sneaker rabbit hole where I am today.

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

I'm not sure there is a specific moment in history or a trend as such. Then, I came into the scene when Virgil Abloh was midway through releasing 'The 10'. I'd never seen anything like it, reworked and deconstructed shoes. That was the start of something new, and Virgil brought something different; that is probably the sneaker trend that resonates with me the most.

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

The excitement starts when you actually manage to cop a pair and get that winning raffle email or DM. Then once you get that in hand, it's all about that ASMR; the lid comes off, and the paper rustles while slowly pulling back to reveal a box of fresh sneakers. That first step outside with a brand new pair is always a good feeling.

After that, I spend most of the day looking down every five minutes to admire what I've got on foot.

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

I'm not big on designers; I like to have a statement shoe rather than a statement piece to wear. I usually keep it pretty casual and sporty with Stussy or Nike. I get inspiration from streetwear threads and pages on Instagram. But I mostly buy what I like at the time, and it's usually oversized.

‍

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

I'd love to see Murakami and Nike collab on something other than a NFT. I'm into something physical and attainable.

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

Some pairs I'm wearing at the moment are the Air Max 1 Patta (Monarch and Aqua), Jordan 4 Oreos, Jordan 1 Atmosphere, Yeezy Pure Slides, and Jordan 1 Hyper Royal.

‍

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

Oh, this is a tough one! I think most people assume the holy grail is the most expensive, but that's not the case for me. I will not use the word grail, but there are two pairs I haven't attained yet. They are the StrangeLove Dunks and the A Ma Maniére Jordan 3s, and I can't stop thinking about them.

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

I can't go without a coffee in the morning. I also never leave the house without my rings on!

‍

Where can people find you on social media?

Instagram: sophnsneakers

Tiktok: sophnsneakers

Do you have a sneaker collection that you wish to showcase or share with the world? Or maybe you have some hyped deadstock that you wish to sell. Join Ox Street as an early community member in our beta stage today and get $25 SGD off your first order (while discount slots last).