Shoes are such a fundamental component of an individual’s basic form of expression. The very first pair of shoes you identified with – you realised how satisfactory it was to wear a perfect expression of yourself extended into fashion. Sneaker culture is booming and collectors are indulging in their kicks and high-tops; slowly paving the path for sneakerheads to be inspired by multiple creative designs. The passion that runs through these communities is intoxicating and the stories they have to share are countless.
We had the chance to talk to some sneaker enthusiasts about their love for the kicks. Check it out!
I. Bhavik Kadecha, 27
How did you get into sneaker culture?
It all started after high school back in 2011. Finally, out of years of school life where we had to wear the school uniform along with those typical black school shoes. Hardly got few hours after school to be in our choice of outfits. It was so boring. Finally, I was out of high school and excited to enter college life, free to wear anything. I remember going for shopping to buy shorts and trouser and t-shirts for college and that’s where I fell in love with sneakers. I went to Converse store and that’s where I found my life’s first sneakers.
Which was your first sneaker and how did you get it?
My first pair of sneakers were Converse High Top. I remember travelling all the way to Ahmedabad from my hometown Rajkot. We didn’t have a Converse store in Rajkot back then. I was completely amazed as I went through the whole store. That’s where I found one for myself. It was black and blue coloured high top. I wore it for almost for one and half a year and later I customised it. I cropped letters and graphics from my t-shirts and stitched it on sneakers, painted it to give it a fresh look. I even made painting of my sneakers and got it framed to put it on my wall. That’s the only memory I have of those sneakers. Thinking of it still takes me back to my college times. Completely nostalgic.
Tell us about your sneaker collection. Where do you usually get your sneakers from?
Currently I have Puma, Zara and Nuon in my collection.
Which are your favourite pair of sneakers and why?
My first Converse.
A pair of sneakers you wish you owned?
Adidas Yeezy 350 Glow.
II. Johnson TJ, 24
How did you get into sneaker culture?
I used to wear shoes from childhood. My dad was a football player and he insisted me to wear shoes wherever I go, even if it’s just nearby. So, I developed a sense of love for shoes from a younger age. The people I met, the kids I played with, the one thing I always noticed was their kicks. So, that’s how I got into the culture.
Which was your first sneaker and how did you get it?
My first sneaker was a Chuck Taylor converse camo printed , which my dad bought when he went for a football tournament somewhere.
Tell us about your sneaker collection. Where do you usually get your sneakers from?
I currently own about 40 pairs. I had more I used to resell to get new ones. Now I stopped because the rest of them are too close to my heart. I get mostly from online, thrift shops, deadstock sellers, also from abroad through friends. Never bought from a reseller.
Which are your favourite pair of sneakers and why?
Right now, I love the I 5923(iniki) white – because of the comfort, design and how it looks on my feet.
A pair of sneakers you wish you owned?
I am not a fan of Jordans and Nikes. So I don’t really have Nike grails like most of the sneakerheads. I just look at the design. So for me I want to own a Sacai - Nike waffle sneakers.
III. Smit Shah, 21
How did you get into sneaker culture?
I have been a Hip Hop head for a long time. I always looked out for the trending sneakers to be in the cult. Culture is all we follow to be in a society. For a person like me, sneakers were an important part of my outfit.
Which was your first sneaker and how did you get it?
Adidas Originals Superstar. Since it was expensive back in the day for me, my cousin brother got them for me from the US. Since then, I’ve not stopped.
Tell us about your sneaker collection. Where do you usually get your sneakers from?
Here’s the list – Adidas Originals Superstar, Adidas Originals NMD R1 Black, Converse All Star, Adidas Originals EQT, Adidas Originals Nite Jogger, Zara Mid Tops, Adidas Originals x Pharell William (Goku Edition), Adidas Originals x Bape Ultraboost.
Which are your favourite pair of sneakers and why?
Adidas Originals x Bape Ultraboost. It’s the best sneaker I’ve got so far. The sole is made of amazing quality from Continental, plus the boost makes me feel levitated while walking. The comfort level is 100!
IV. Manthan Singhvi, 21
How did you get into sneaker culture?
I’d always been interested in what I put on my feet. I’d always be buying shoes that I liked and slowly I started learning about what sneakers exactly are and the culture around it.
Which was your first sneaker and how did you get it?
The first sneaker that I prominently remember getting was the collab between The Weeknd and Puma, the sneaker was called Ignite Limitless. It was my birthday and all of my friends got it for me and since it was a collab and it was sold out at most places. I remember going to every store in Mumbai to find my size and finally found it in one of the stores.
Tell us about your sneaker collection. Where do you usually get your sneakers from?
I’m mainly an Adidas guy, it suits me the best as it’s comfortable and I like the style so most of my collection is Adidas Originals. I always try to pick what I really like instead of going for the hype so I feel it’s a good mix of both hyped and general releases. Most of it is online and Superkicks. If it’s something not available in India and then friends, family and The Vault helps me out.
Which are your favourite pair of sneakers and why?
ADIDAS X PHARRELL WILLIAMS TENNIS HU TACTILE ROSE & ROSE PINK. It’s my absolute favourite, I don’t wear it often because I’m scared of getting it dirty. I’m a price sensitive person so I always look to buy sneakers at the best possible price, I waited for it to get a discount and with much difficulty with sizing I managed to cop it in Dubai. The reason it’s my favourite because I love the shoe for what it is and it’s colour, not because it’s from Adidas or because I’m huge fan of Pharrell or anything like that, I just saw the shoe and I was in love with it, there was no social media hype or people talking about it and back then I didn’t get influenced by cause I wasn’t aware of what Yeezys are or what Off Whites are. I simply saw a shoe in store and fell in love it that’s it, no hype, no lining up or paying resell for it.
A pair of sneakers you wish you owned?
I really like the Yellow colourway from the new Nike x Sacai blazer, so yeah that’s been on my mind.
V. Omran Hamza, 27
How did you get into sneaker culture?
MTV and sports. Well I am gulf kid. Born and raised in the deserts of Saudi’s Arabia. Television was part of my upbringing. My elder sister and myself would binge watch anything on MTV and Channel V. We used to watch a lot of UK musicians dress up in track tops and chunky sneakers. There was also heavy influence of the whole pop scenario, bright colours, funky designs and electro music. I noticed a lot of people wearing adidas originals and Puma tracksuits and sneakers in the videos. Back then no internet, so we used to sketch out what we saw and head out the mall. That’s when I saw the iconic Stan smith for the first time. Back when I was in school, I was studying in the gulf and as an Indian kid our parents were trying to save up in any manner. So, shoes were a luxury and in my neighbourhood your shoes gotta last until you were 19 (jk). However, I used to pass the adidas store in the mall and had seen these minimalistic shoes with a tinge of green at the back and I saw the trefoil logo for the first time in my life, the storekeeper told me these were the iconic Stan Smith. The shoes were definitely out of my budget and I used to always window shop that particular store with the shoes on display. I knew one thing if I ever worked in life it was to buy sneakers. Fast forward to the future, got my first job and bought a few sneakers but the stans were still out of budget, saved enough money and there was no size. One fine day the peeps at Originals Bangalore store called and said we got your size. I copped a pair and told myself one day Stan is gonna sign these for me and then I am gonna wear it. It’s been 4 years since I bought them and have never worn it. These shoes have only seen the light of day once for a shoot.
Which was your first sneaker and how did you get it?
Well that’s a tough one. But to be honest I would say with my own money. I bought a classic - a pair of superstars. You got have a pair of super stars in your collection, right? I remember it was my first salary and I had walked in to the store and bought a pair. Funny thing, at the time as I was purchasing the sneaker I was also working for an event. The event I was working for had a certain cricketer who was endorsing the Brand at the time (he was a friend) he saw me buy it and as I was leaving the store, he gifted me a pair of red and white superstars. That was my first sneaker purchase. Still have them both.
Tell us about your sneaker collection. Where do you usually get your sneakers from?
Well about my collection, I buy what I like. No specifics. I have a mix of brands. The collection constitutes of some Grail pieces, limited editions, beater pairs to wear every day and a few just for my taste. My sneaker collection is like art, some like it and some don’t. What matters to me is that I like it. However, I do have a decent collection of Adidas originals NMD (about 10 and still counting). When I buy a sneaker I always like to see and feel what I am buying. The feel of the shoe, the texture, comfort and price point. I purchase online and offline. If I know how the shoe is, I purchase it online. Limited drops require you to go to the store. There are a few international sneakers stores I buy from. However, I have recently been buying from our very own homegrown sneaker stores such as Veg Non-Veg and super kicks India, promoting the growth of these business. Sometimes in a dire situation I reach out to some reliable sneaker re-sellers in India (this is a last resort, an expensive affair but a last resort). I also visit factory outlets in the city, you never know what treasures you come across.
Which are your favourite pair of sneakers and why?
Oh man. This is like asking mom or dad. Well I am inspired design, structure and story. A pair or a series I am in love with, well I would have to say the Adidas NMD R1. In 2015, when I saw the shoe launch and the commercial for the shoe, there was some kind of instant connection I felt. It was a shoe that was inspired by 3 vintage iconic shoes, Adidas just went into their archives and pulled out their history and designed something unique. The shape of the shoe, the comfort, the minimalism. The NMD R1 OG are a personal favourite of mine. The shoe was a modern work of art and like every fabulous piece of art, the shoe was coveted and sought after. Another one would be the Pharrel iteration of the NMD. The musician has known to come out with some fantastic pieces and he has not failed to disappoint. The Hu NMD series was an instant success. My favourite in that range would be the Holi inspired collection, I mean come on? A shoe inspired by a festival in India. Genius. The series is still raging and doing really well. I am fan of Nike air max 1’s The Leonardo or Picasso of sneakers for me would be Tink - Tinker Hatfield, Nike’s legendary designer. His creation of the air max 1 was spectacular. The design, the colour, the comfort. The thought behind the visible air bubble. I love the OG university red colour. The Puma RSX Toys - man those shoes are comfortable than an alpaca lama sweater. The design, colour and overall Price point of the shoe. Makes it an absolute fav of mine.
A pair of sneakers you wish you owned?
The Hu Holi NMD charcoal black. It has equality inscribed on one pair and the other has a Hindi inscription “Sandra” which translates to world. It’s a shoe I have been keen on adding to my collection, not found the right price, but yeah, I feel I will find them eventually.
VI. Akshay Aiyar
How did you get into sneaker culture?
Honestly, I’ve been a sneakerhead for since over a decade when I got the Adidas superstars not knowing what they actually were/ depicted or what the sneaker culture was and meant. Also, I’m a runner so I think love for shoes grew massively with the running boom in this country! Running shoes are the perfect fit and mix of comfort and style. The zoom Pegasus and react series and just pure love to look at and wear for even regular day to day stuff!
Which was your first sneaker and how did you get it?
Randomly walked into the store and picked out the pair cause me and a friend found the superstars to be beautiful. And that started a love that honestly has recently been a big deal for the past 3-4 years where my collection is slowly but surely growing.
Tell us about your sneaker collection. Where do you usually get your sneakers from?
Sneakers in India are an expensive affair. So usually I do my research on the shoes I want and then go through online portals. Mainly Koovs or Myntra. The online boom has made some pairs easily accessible and also cheaper than what they are available at stores. I’m an old-school person so I’m usually searching for the classics like the air max 90s, the Airforce 1s, the Cortez, the Hurrache, currently loving my new Hurraches. From my list you’d realise post my first superstars I’ve majorly been a swoosh fan and continue to be one!
Which are your favourite pair of sneakers and why?
Nike Air hurrache’s my latest pair, completely different for me because I’ve never owned a pair with such a bold colourway. They stand out and are a pair I’m really proud of. Air max 90s. (Still can’t find a good pair here in India) Being a 90s kid myself I’m more into the old school OG sneakers rather than the new age stuff (a personal choice). The air max 90s according to me are the most beautiful pair there has ever been! Also cause of running my odyssey reacts are love too! As you can see, I can never really choose a single pair. Too much love exists there!
A pair of sneakers you wish you owned?
Air Max 90s and the Airforce 1s. Basic white sneakers clean and simple are my type.
VII. Utsav Mathur, 22
How did you get into sneaker culture?
I’d always been a sneakerhead, even before I knew what the culture was. I remember my first good pair being the Nike Shox, my dad bought them for me when I was about 10 or 11. Slowly, I learnt about them and tried to get my first pair, and I was hooked. It’s a been a pursuit ever since.
Which was your first sneaker and how did you get it?
Nike shox, they were comparatively a rather expensive shoe back in 2008, I got them for half off at a Nike store, I’m still surprised for the price I got them for as they were an important sneaker of that time, or even today.
Tell us about your sneaker collection. Where do you usually get your sneakers from?
I’ve been collecting over the years but the real boom happened when I started working as well. I’d get a sneaker, try to resell it as well to get funds for another, it’s a cycle. I usually try to get them on release day from the official websites, or if it’s a rather rare sneaker, stockx is the best option, but the custom and GST take a hefty toll so I try shipping them to a friend or relative in the US who’s travelling to India.
Which are your favourite pair of sneakers and why?
My favourite pair is the Nike Air Max 1. It has a lot of cultural significance, it was the first shoe ever to have a transparent see through air bubbles in the sole, it’s a classic. It’s designed by Tinker Hatfield which plays a huge role for me, he’s one of the top footwear designers in the world who’s designed multiple sneakers such as a couple of the Air Jordans and the Nike MAG self-lacing shoe from ‘Back to the Future’. The technology is always limited for his ideas and he looks far ahead to the future, being a designer myself, I’d say he’s one of my idols.
A pair of sneakers you wish you owned?
Nike Off-White Chicago 1.
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