I am a sneakerhead episode 211 - @Mastahaze
First up, could you please introduce yourself?
Hello everyone, my name is Sergio, I was born in Italy long time ago, precisely in Milan.
After living most of my life in Italy, I had the opportunity to challenge myself and about 10 years ago I moved to Japan, Osaka, where I am actually living.
For how long have you been a sneakerhead?
Well my history as a sneakerhead is pretty much atypical.
When I was younger, I used to play basketball.
I recall my first pair of BB shoes has been a Reebok Commitment Mid.
Being a basketball player obviously brought my attention to other basketball shoes.
But you know, at that time I was still young, studying, so I really had no money of my own to buy shoes.
So the typical way of using a pair of shoes was "wear them til they fall apart". So I did.
After the Reebok my dad finally allowed me to have a pair of Jordan 5 (for a whopping 210.000 Italian Lire, the equivalent of 108 todays Euro), at that time freshly released and widely available.
I still remember the exact moment when we walked inside this store (now it doesn't exists anymore) called "All Basket" in Milan, and came out with the Jordan 5 fire red in the bag. I was the happiest kid in town.
Then came the Jordan 6. The Jordan 7 (probably I still have them somewhere). The Jordan 9. I skipped the Jordan 8 to play in a pair of Air Raid 2. Then again came the Penny 1 recently re-released. Outside of the basketball court however I didn't have neither the money nor the focus to get the hottest releases. I was happy with some Air Max, Presto, Adidas Zx8000 and Nike Mowabb.
Then everything faded until Nike released the Air Max 97. In italy it has been a phenomenal success. Everyone had either the Silver, the Gold or any other color way Nike used to release. But I wasn't into collecting yet. I simply bought a pair and used it until it wasn't usable anymore. And again everything faded. I had other interests. I was studying. I had no money.
I bought shoes intermittently. Used them. Throwed them away when they were falling into pieces.
Kinda the passion briefly restarted when Nike released the first Shox. Puma came out with the Mostro. And I had some other very related to hip hop culture sneakers. I remember a low Puma suede, some Adidas.
Then nothing for years.
I started collecting again during the year 2015-2016.
After a trip back to italy, a friend of mine was already into Jordans retros, and he sparkled the passion once again. From that moment I understood I became a true sneakerhead.
And I never stopped...better late than never.
How many pairs do you currently have in your collection?
I didn't count them exactly, but I would say I have about 250.
Do you remember what your first pair of sneakers that you really cared about was?
Absolutely the first Air Jordan 5 back in the 90's
As of now, I take good care of every pair I have.
I keep them in the original boxes, each shoe inside a thin transparent plastic bag to avoid the contact with bleached paper they came with.
I even wash the sole after using them and store them back. And they are still basically all near dead stock.
Are there any brands in particular that you enjoy, and why is that?
In this matter, no. I consider myself a Ronin.
I haven't any favorite brand. It always depends on the silhouette and the color way, materials, craftsmanship.
I am not really into big names collaborations. For sure some were pretty good, but just a name attached to a shoe doesn't do it for me. At least not always.
For example, years ago at Atmos, I got a lucky shot at the instore raffle for the release of the off white Prestos and Air Max 90. I could get them both just because of the name. But I didn't. Instead I got the Prestos (and soon I will explain why), but in place of the Air Max 90 I absolutely preferred to get the Air Jordan 1 Aleali May that were on sale the very same day.
I love many brands. Nike, Adidas, Saucony, Asics, Diadora, New Balance, Karhu, Sole Architects, Mizuno (even tho I own no shoes from the brand).
Lately Saucony, Diadora and Asics are really doing interesting things.
The quality is always on point. The collaborations they made allow the brands to experiment a lot with materials. They are daring more than other bigger brands. And I like that.
Let's be clear, I love Adidas and Nike and the others. But they are the big dogs, they should do something "more". To be extremely honest, it's not that they aren't, but lately seems like they put less effort, enjoying the market leadership.
Do you usually buy sneakers in physical stores or online?
In all honesty, I prefer buying online, BUT, I used to go line up a lot before, especially at Atmos and Undefeated, to double up the possibilities to get the sneakers I wanted. In Japan especially, It is very damn hard to get something. You really have to be lucky for both the in-store raffle as well as the one online.
Seldomly stores sell sneakers on a first come first serve basis. They want to avoid people camping out.
I saw with my own eyes tails of more than 1000-1500 people lining up for a pair of shoes.
Lately is slightly easier, as many pairs are sitting both in store and online.
The other big turn down of buying here in Japan it's the size availability. I am an US11 and up (depends on the model) and in this size the number of pairs are so few, that for some models it's basically impossible to get what you want.
That forced me (among with the few free time and impossibility to match my free days and the releases days) to switch massively toward the online.
Have you bought anything in 2023 so far?
I started the 2023 imposing myself a limit.
"No more than 10 pairs this year".
And I failed miserably :)
Already got too many pairs, but at least I am happy I could let go so many other pairs released this year. In the past that would have not been possible. Getting better on this side of things.
If I have to make a list...mhhh. that's difficult. I don't remember exactly when the sneakers are being released. Let's see... The Air Max 86 Big bubble....
The Asics Gel Lyte III x Atmos x Red Spider
The Air Max 1 Design by Japan
Jordan 1 Lucky Green
Air Max 1 Co.jp Head 2 Head
Jordan 1 Zoom Cmft 2.
Yeezy Slides
Yeezy Beluga Black Carbon
Yeezy Pirate Black
Air Max 1 86 Blue Safari
Karhu Fusion 2.0 Sassu Kauppi
NB 2002R protection pack
Converse Weapon x Fragment
Air Max 1 86 AND Golf
Diadora Intrepid x Hanon Glorious Moments
I don't think these is the complete list but it might be close...
What is your favourite pair in your collection?
I have too many!
If I have to choose, let's say at least 5, I'll say the Air Max 1 Atmos Elephant, the Presto Acronym Volt, the Air Jordan 5 Fire Red (for obvious reasons), The Air Max 1/97 Sean Wotherspoon and probably the Diadora N9000 x 24 Kilates x Savotage "In vino veritas"...but it's really hard to choose just one.
I love the Air Jordan 1, I have plenty, I love the Yeezys, I love the Ultraboost, the 4D, and I am intrigued by the I.S.P.A line (have at least 3 pairs) with which Nike is experimenting a lot.
And Asics...oh my, the Gel Lyte III...what a shoe! Did I mention Saucony models?
They are really too many!
If you could only wear one pair for the rest of 2023, which would it be and why?
Overall, and what I am about to say it's true in a general sense, means not only for 2023, I would go no doubt with the Nike Presto. Despite the fact that emotionally I am tied to some Jordans, I have to say the Presto is overall the best shoe ever made. Light, comfortable, fit like a glove, and there are infinite possible color combinations.
Make sure to follow Sergio on Instagram: