Filipino ER Nurse: Joe Anthony Bersabal

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

It all started with me owning my first ever Yeezy in 2018 - it was the Yeezy 350 "Sesame." I would say it was love at first "fit". The fact that this pair was hype and very hard to get during that time, made me realize if I should collect more, and the rest is history.

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

I think the vision that Kanye West started is by far the best years of the sneaker era for me. When he began the 350s v1, a lot had changed. The design, clean and minimalist aesthetic are undeniable works of a "genius."

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

Oh, that is a good question. Correct me if I'm wrong, but a sneaker enthusiast gets so hyped whenever an upcoming collaboration shoe is released. And joining raffles in the US, Dubai, UK, and Australia just to get your hands on those shoes is truly exciting. Especially if you could cop and not pay to resell in the secondary market, it feels like you won a million bucks! The feeling is surreal.

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

Kanye West (Genius), Chitose Abe, Virgil Abloh, Teddy Santis, Ronnie Fig, A Ma Maniere (James Whitner), Jjjjound, and Travis Scott x Fragment (Hiroshi Fujiwara) are some of my favorite creators/designers of all time!

They are always thinking outside of the box. Their designs are out of this world and are insanely dope! That is why these designers are sought after; we can't deny that they are changing the sneaker-game culture worldwide ever since.

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

I think Sacai (Chitose Abe) and Off-White (Virgil Abloh) are the dream collaboration I am most excited about and looking forward to. Imagine the fusion of two exquisite aesthetics creating an out-of-this-world masterpiece - Abe's "hybridized" design combined with Abloh's minimalist/industrialist vision.

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

I think I started late as a collector. But as the saying goes, "better late than never." Currently, I have 60+ pairs on hand, most of which are with me in Qatar, and the rest are back home in the Philippines. My current rotations include Sacai x Nike Vaporwaffles, Yeezy 350s, Yeezy Foam runners and slides, New Balance (2002r, 990v3, 990v2, Protection pack), Asics x Jjjjoud Gel-14 Kayano, Balenciagas Track 1 and Runners to name a few.

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

I dream of having Nike x Virgil Abloh x Louis Vuitton Air Force 1, the ones being auctioned in Sotheby's. That is, for me, the epitome of design, hype, culture, and luxury.

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

Aside from shoes, I love collecting Virgil Abloh (Off-White) related stuffs and Kanye West (Yeezy x Gap) merchandise, such as books, shirts, jackets, and caps.

Where can people find you on social media?

Instagram: @ako_si_j0e

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