How many shoes in your collection? Brands/manufacturers?I try to never pass 150 but I'm way past that now. I think I'm somewhere between 250 to 300. I collect and wear a lot of sneaker brands. Right now, I've been digging Savier, Tiger, Lakai, and Nikes of course. In my collection, you'll see New Balance (Why, oh why, did they release the 574 in the states? It still baffles me. They ruined that shoe with patent leather!), Savier, Onitsuka Tiger, Adidas, Lakai, Gravis, and ES.
Do you have a favorite shoe? Brand?Favorite of all time, Jordan II Low. I like Nike & Savier.
Rare shoe?Probably would be the EA Sports Air Force 2
What do you wear on a day-to-day basis?This week's rotation is ES Koston 5, Jordan 3, ACG Wildwoods, Fatlace Savier Tim O'Connor, Jack Purcells, Splatter Dunks, and OG Colorway Nike Trainer 1s.
How did you start/inspiration?I started when I got my first job at Champs at Richmond's Hilltop Mall back in 1985. It was great getting free pairs of shoes every week.
What else are you into besides shoes?I'm into cars. I've owned 15 cars in the last 5 years plus 2 motorcycles. I'm a super fanatic going from Japanese to German and now I'm back to a Japanese car. I just got an S2000 with spoon everything. It's a great car. Also have a civic that's somewhat J'd out.
The most you've ever spent on a shoe?I think about $250. I always try and go basement shopping, but sometimes it's hard.
How much is your collection worth?If 250 times $85 equals $21,250, then that's a whole lotta dough! Thanks goes out to Nike, Savier, Asics, and ES for kicking me down shoes on a regular basis.
Is there a shoe that you want but can't have?Yeah there are so many...But if I was to pick 1, it would be an autographed Jordan II low tops.
Favorite color/fabric/material to use?I would say premium leather. You can't beat the smell of premium dunks on your feet. Damn.
What will be the "hot shoe" for the coming school year?Look out for Nike's Air Trainer 1s. They're the 2003-2004 Dunks.
Sole SearcherDesigner and artist: shepard fairey,obey giant / blackmarket / obeygiant.comHave you ever seen a poster of Andre the Giant on some random pole or wall? Well here's the guy who designed the icon. You can see it in random places everywhere from a tree on a dirt road in Bali to NY's Grand Central Station to a bar in San Diego. And now the icon is at the artist's own gallery situated above the Wiltern Theatre on the corner of La Brea and Wilshire in Los Angeles. He's done stuff for everyone from Earthlink and Pepsi to The Neptunes and the Black Eyed Peas. Now, as a special favor to my man Jerrod at Speedwell Racing, he's doing the all new GTRs.
You're known for a style of "viral marketing." What is it and how did you get people involved on their own: My style of that type of marketing is to put a lot of stuff out there, try to make it so that people find it curious and appealing, and give them ways to participate if they want. I put free stuff out there so that it doesn't become a precious commodity. I even told people where to get a mess of stickers done for like $25. People took it from there.