The Kickz Stand Co-Founder: Jay Mijares

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

I've been into sneakers from a young age because I played basketball and watched the NBA. Everyone loved Michael Jordan and his sneakers, but the pair that triggered my passion for sneakers was the Fila GH1, released in 1995 and worn by my favorite player at that time, Grant Hill from the Detroit Pistons.

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

The moment that resonated with me the most was when my closest friend and I created a community group in Australia without realizing that we had created something way more significant than we had expected. Fast forward to today, we have achieved so much and have made an impact not just in Australia but also overseas.

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

Honestly, it feels fantastic when you get and wear a new pair of sneakers. There's the build-up of excitement, from purchasing it online to waiting for them to arrive, unboxing, checking the quality, and finally wearing them. I love feeling fresh with a new pair of sneakers!

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

I'm a fan of Shigeyuki Mitsui because he designed my favorite sneaker: the ASICS GEL-LYTE III. It was released way back in 1990 when both the technology inside and the construction were cutting-edge. It's rich with the history of going against tradition and subverting stereotypes. I had the honor of meeting him in person when he was in Australia in 2019 for the 30th anniversary of the GEL-LYTE III. I'm truly blessed that we are still keep in touch.

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

Hmmmm.... for me personally, one day I would love to see a sneaker collaboration with The Kickz Stand x ASICS. Wishful thinking or coming soon? I guess stay tuned... hehehe

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

My weekly picks are the MITA Sneakers x ASICS GEL-LYTE III 'Far East' 25th Anniversary, Limited Edt x SBTG x ASICS GEL-LYTE III 'Monsoon Patrol' II F&F, AFEW x ASICS GEL-LYTE III 'Beauty of Imperfection,' Ballaholic x ASICS GEL-QUANTUM 180 6, The Kickz Stand x Chase Shiel x Nike Air Max 1 'Cherry,' Atmos x Nike Air Max 1 Desert Camo, and Atmos x Nike Air Max 1 Tiger Camo.

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

Maybe one day, I would love to own a pair of the AFEW x ASICS GEL-LYTE III 'Red Koi' and AFEW x Beams x ASICS GEL-LYTE III 'Orange Koi.' But regarding the ultimate 'holy grail' sneaker, I already own it, the SBTG x Nike Air Max 1 'Mika Akito.' Custom sneakers my friend Mark Ong, aka Mr. SBTG, made for me are dedicated to my children.

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

Hmmmm other than sneakers, I also collect random things such as toys (Voltron, Astro Boy, Voltes V, Transformers and TMNT), DVD/bluray movies and gaming consoles (Nintendo and PlayStation).

Guess you can say this is a daily essential/treasured item, my 2020 Subaru WRX STi. I love going for a cruise on my days off or if I need some alone time to think about world domination hehehe *jokes*

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Where can people find you on social media?

Instagram: Jay Mijares

The Kickz Stand

It's More Than Just Sneakers

Website: https://www.thekickzstand.com.au

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/thekickzstand

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/thekickzstand

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