Kobe Dayao - Filipino Basketball Anchor Interview

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

I always look back to the time when I was in High School and the only thing people wanted to wear on their feet were Jordans. I'm talking about the early 2010s where your mom, dad, sister, girlfriend/boyfriend were rocking Toro 4s, Powder Blue 3s, and the like. It brings back a lot of memories of me wanting those certain sneakers and trying my best to find the best deals on them as I could.

Don't get me wrong, I love how sneaker culture has evolved today and that there's so much variety with what people choose to wear on their feet, but just the nostalgia of that time is unmatched, at least for me.

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

I started collecting sneakers in my freshman year in High School. But, I was never one of those kids that got a fresh pair of sneakers every month/every other month. I had to wait a year, maybe two to get a new pair of kicks, which made the moment all the more special when I finally DID get that new pair.

I keep remembering that time, that kid who would get excited to put aside his thrashed Air Force 1s for a new pair of the latest Kobe sneaker, and that excitement, that feeling of unwavering energy, is how I feel to this day whenever I get a new pair of sneakers.

Even if I only wait a couple of months now for a new pair, it's still that same enthusiasm that I had when I was a kid!

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

Nike is obviously top of my mind when it comes to my favorite brands. I think they just have the best mix of history, nostalgia, innovation, and social responsibility that you don't often see with other brands.

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

I love coffee, and I think coffee and sneakers, especially in the last few years, have built sort of a relationship in street culture. So, I think a collaboration between Nike and a for-the-culture coffee shop would be great!

But, maybe not with Starbucks or any other big brand. Going mainstream might not be the right execution on this haha.

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

One of, if not my favorite sneaker right now, is the Air Jordan 2 low 'TITAN', which is a collaboration between TITAN 22—a basketball specialty concept store in the Philippines—and Jordan Brand. It's a tribute to the 1954 Filipino National team that won bronze in the FIBA World Championship, and was designed by Chi Loyzaga-Gibbs, the granddaughter of Carlos Loyzaga—one of the star players on the '54 squad.

I love sneakers with stories attached to it that I can resonate with. And as a basketball fan, and being Filipino, this just hits close to home, and is by far one of the best storytelling I've seen done on a sneaker. It's a perfect everyday shoe that goes very well with a lot of the outfits I choose to wear.

I'm a very basic guy when it comes to my outfits so having a sneaker like that that just pops and turns heads whenever I put it on, it's a Can't-Miss in my collection.

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

The 'Atmos' Nike Dunk SBs are atop that list for sure. It's not a legit Atmos collab, but the colorway is just too iconic and with that silhouette, it doubles down on it. I absolutely love that sneaker and that's definitely one of the pairs I'm searching for in 2023.

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

My watches are some of my favorite non-sneaker pieces. Like my sneakers, I have watches that I attach certain memories, moments, and milestones with that I always remember whenever I put them on.

Might not be the flashiest piece on my outfit, but it's definitely one that packs the hardest punch in terms of the stories attached to it.

Where can people find you on social media?

Instagram: @kobedayao