Community Spotlight - @inspiringkicks

On this week's Community Spotlight we sat down with fellow collector and community member, Kurt. AKA @inspiringkicks.

We delve into Kurt's personal collection to get a sense of what it looks like and find out what introduced him to the sneaker culture.

Q: Thanks for sitting down with us today, please introduce yourself and tell us a little about you?

A: I'm a passionate sneaker lover and collector who also happens to have a deep love for basketball. I moved to London during my teenage years and started collecting sneakers from 2012.

Q: What is it that introduced you to the world of sneakers, and what made you start collecting?

A: Basketball started my passion for sneakers. I started playing ball since I was 6 years old, I have been watching basketball games too. I always wanted basketball shoes but couldn't afford them at the time. Times move on, but growing up I started hustling where I was brought up, in a 3rd world country, and slowly I was able to get some proper basketball sneakers. Back then we used to play on the streets with just our bare feet and as far as I can remember my first basketball shoe was the 1's.

Q: What types of shoes do you tend to collect?

A: Mostly Nike and Jordans' before, now it's a bit of a mix of all brands.

Q: What is the most important factor when deciding whether to purchase a sneaker? For example; looks, materials, exclusivity, comfort, collaborations or hype?

A: Good question, now if I'm out shopping it all comes back to one question for me. Will I wear them? 

I still try to join raffles and if I get lucky then "YAY" and if not then I move on. Before I would buy a pair every month, it didn't matter if it was GR, Limited Edition or there was a hype around them.

It was more fun to collect before as you could queue with your friends outside the store and talk about sneakers etc. Now it's all focused around raffles and connections.

Q: What's your top 3 sneaker brands in order?

A: Nike - Nike remains one of the most popular sneaker brands in the world, known for their innovative designs and collaborations with athletes and other brands.

Adidas - Adidas has gained a strong following in recent years, with their classic styles and collaborations with popular artists and celebrities.

Jordan - Jordan, a subsidiary of Nike, remains a staple in the sneaker community, known for their iconic designs inspired by basketball legend Michael Jordan.

Q: What's your top 3 silhouettes across all brands?

1. Jordan brand, mainly 4's (collected 4's mainly before anything else)
2. Hummel Hive (love the style and comfort at the moment)
3. Adidas Yeezy (easy to wear whenever and no stress)

Q: Digging a little deeper into your collection, what's the oldest and newest pair in your collection?

A: My oldest pair now is 1997 OG He Got Game 13's - Wearable and still in very good condition. OG Box aswell!

My last purchase was the Jordan 1 High 85 Black & White.

Q: What's your favourite shoes that you own and why?

A: Jordan 4 Retro, Tour Yellow/Rare Air (2006)

You can never go wrong with a pair of white sneakers - I love the accents of grey, black and yellow too! The tongue featured a velcro patch which read " Jordan Rare Air" when removed, and I can also put the patch upside down or sideways which is cool!

Q: What is the rarest shoe in your collection?

A: I would say the Chicago Off White Air Jordan 1. I only joined 1 raffle that time and luckily I won, I think it was meant to be!

Q: What pair holds the most sentimental value to you and why?

A: The Jordan 4 White Cement 2012. These were the first ever pair I bought here in London, and after that the addiction continued. I played ball in them and wore them every day. Just lots of stories and memories were had when I wore them.

Q: What shoe is your all-time grail?

A: The Jordan 3 88's Nike Air (2013) I missed out on them on the release day and I paid resell and copped 2 pairs. You just can't go wrong with a classic shoes and the story behind it as well.

Q: What pair is next on your list?

A: Nike Air Jordan 4 SB

Q: Where can people find you on social media?

A: Check us out on TikTok: @InspiringKicks | IG: @InspiringKicks