I've always loved trainers. I don't know what it was that started this obsession. Friends at school, adverts, cutting things out of catalogs, the older kids on the estate? My first pair of Nike trainers were an all black pair with a white swoosh, I think I was like 8 or 9 years old. I got my first pair of Jordan trainers when I was 10, think it was an AJ5 (Fire Red) just because of the colourway. After that I got a new pair of trainers every summer, but on a budget of course, perks of having a big family lol.
“I knew at a young age what we could and couldn't afford. I had 3 younger brothers which made it even more difficult lol, so whatever one got, the other had to get one too regardless of the occasion.”
The one shoe that I remember that hurt the most when I was a kid which I was fully obsessed with... A kid at my Saturday School had them and I hated him a lot lol!
People it was the Nike Air Diamond Turf! *Drools* I wish Nike would retro these!
I've never seen anything like it.
How beautiful are these bro? I still feel the same about these until this very day.
Did you have these growing up? If you did, hmmm I hate you too! Ha!
Secondary School
I can remember this like it was yesterday, my first pair of Reebok classics in year 7, colourway was cream with a mint green logo with that butter kind of leather that if you scuffed it or it got wet, it would look so bad that the scuff would look grey.
That following year I got a pair of workouts, you know the white with the orange sole, the girlie shape one? Yeah lol. I loved this shape, look sick with pretty much anything, I got the same pair again the year after but anyway, this year it was different. One of my friends came into school with these Nike trainers which looked like something from the fricking future... The air bubbles went all around the sole in different segments, the upper looked like this shiny kinda plastic with these kind of slits on the toe box and the heel unit was just incredible. This was the first time I saw a pair of TNs.
That day I got home, I went to knock for my boy and asked him to come outside asap! I didn't want to ask my friend at school because you know how that works, "nah you can't copy man lol."
You just wouldn't do these things. So that weekend I went to my local footlocker and these shoes were £110!
Yeah, I cant afford that lol! God these TNs were beautiful, it had different shades of grey with black and white detailing. One of the first colourways to ever release.
That same year (Year 9) was when I first heard of the term 'CREP'.Once that went around school, we no longer called trainers trainers. I thought it was silly because the only crep I knew was the french omelette crep bruv lol. So yeah! 20 years later we are still using this term! Even a shoe care company has this term partially in their brand name now.
College Days
So by this time I had a few pairs of TNs in my collection. OH MY DAYS! Actually let me stop and explain! Because there is no way my parents are handing over big money so I can go and buy trainers. I had bought these mostly from saving any money I'd get but also from EMA money (Education Maintenance Allowance), man I saved every penny of that! I was so grateful as this really got me through College. Transport, food or anything else I needed.
I didn't really get pocket money as I shouldn't, man was 18 years old, I felt like I should get a part time job. At the same time I was embarrassed to ask my parents for money and now I had 5 bothers ffs lol.
I guess I was a bit lazy, so I had to find a hustle! I would buy Nike sportswear and sell them to my friends around the estate.
Once I sold a few items, word got around and I started to take orders along with money. If I had a camera phone back then it would of made my life so much more easier! Instead I had to write everything down, that was long. I learnt quickly about refunds too lol, nah mate, all sales are final! What is this a flipping shop? Lol!
The plug was dope! I met him a Saturday market, it was mad! I got some pretty dope stuff, including some expensive stuff too! I don't know where this guy got it all from but they were 100% authentic but rarely would anything come with tags. Some of the neck tags were even cut off a little. Always wanted to know why they did that? Do you know why? Anyway,
Nike Rifts got released in 1996. This was a whole new thing, and I loved it! I wore basketball shorts no matter the weather and this matched perfectly. At the end I had about 7 pairs, these retail at £75 and you get free Ninja Turtle socks with them.
So Solid came out with their album and the hood went mad and the new vibe became Evisu jeans and Nike Rifts. The good old days! Bro, now Rifts cost £115 man! They don't come with socks either! Nah man! Return that back!
University
I guess was by this time I had about 13-15 pairs so I didn't really need anything but there was always something that I wanted, more TNs, AM90s, or 95s. After 4 months I got a job at a Primary School as a Speech and Language TA full time, whilst going to University in the evening 3 times a week part time. So now I could pretty much buy whatever I wanted as I had the funds. I was living at home and so I didn't have any bills but I was always did the food shop and helping towards other bills, thats standard.
That same year as I got my first job I bought a PS2, a 34inch Samsung screen with Time Crisis 4 and 2 orange guns! I spent all summer holidays chilling. If I wasn't playing basketball, I'd be in my humble abode playing video games and watching Prison Break and Dexter. Oh, these AJ12s were my go to play ball.
At present, thinking about all this... I've never once camped out or anything like that in my life mainly because I'd probably get a slap from my mum saying "what is this is all nonsense." LOL. If I ever want something but it was sold out, I'd just take the L and if I really wanted it them I'd have to hit the resell market I'd spend £80-100 max over retail. I just got into a habit of doing that or I would just pass on it. I wouldn't ever go crazy or nor could I let it. I had responsibilities, man couldn't operate like that in my family lol.
So now when I see the new generation reselling and camping out or going to Supreme to buy stuff on a School day and they are with their parents I find it absolutely bonkers!
Some of these kids who are reselling are like 12 - 14, the ones I've met anyway. I started my hustling around College but never at this scale.
The key was to never spend your own money, you would use the profit and keep it rolling over.
You just had to make sure that you didn't spend all your profit on silly things.
So am I a Sneakerhead?
I'd have to say 50/50, my obsession has grown a lot stronger since 2010. I dress head down, sneakheads dress toe up. I usually pick a pair depending on how I am feel and you gotta' include the weather too bruh! I just got into this habit of dressing head down when I had braids (plats), so my hair style would depend on whole fit lol. I know, I know its mad lol. I'm going to stop there because this is a whole new article in itself!
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Have a great weekend and stay safe.
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