RICHIE ROXAS Hard-core New Balance collector “If it says New Balance, I have to have it.” How many pairs? Five hundred? I stopped counting around 400. I would say 350 are New Balance. Favorite shoe: New Balance 1300, specifically the one produced for the Korean market. It’s slightly different with this extra tab on the side. I just think it looks cooler. How did you get into collecting? I bought my first pair of NB in 1995, with money from my first job at a movie theater. Once I had five pairs I was like, I’m into this brand, I like the quality.
Farese’s collection is valued at $750,000.
MARK FARESE Brand ambassador for Crep Protect, a weather-proofing sneaker spray
Do you consider yourself a sneakerhead? I don’t call myself one. I don’t like any of those words— freak, head. They weren’t around when I started this. It was just something I was into and eventually it became a collection.
“I went from not being able to afford sneakers to being able to afford whatever I want. I still think $ for a pair of Air Force 1s is a good shoe for a good price.” How many pairs? I stopped counting at 2,600. I only wear the all-white pairs once, three times tops, and then I give them away.
Roxas doesn’t just love New Balance sneakers, but also owns all sorts of branded vintage apparel including this jacket and cap.
Favorite shoe: Nike AF1, in the linen/atmosphere [pink and tan] colorway. It was only available in Japan. I like pink. Favorite brand: Nike is the girlfriend you love to hate, but I like the classics: Puma Clydes, Adidas Shell Toes, Pro-Keds. How did you get into collecting? I grew up poor. My mother bought me a shoe called the Mark-5. I thought I was the coolest kid because I had my name on my shoe. So I ran downstairs and everybody laughed me off the block, because they were no-brand skippies. I went upstairs crying and I vowed I would never ever get laughed at again when it came to footwear. Do you consider yourself a sneakerhead? No. Growing up the South Bronx during the crack era, any “head” is an addict. I’m going to pay my bills and take care of my family before I buy a pair of sneakers.
30 hue | winter 2015-2016
Ron Wood
1986
Nike releases the Air Jordan 1, a shoe as popular as its namesake Chicago Bull Michael Jordon. Jordan’s endorsement deal is so lucrative he continues to wear the shoes on the court despite repeated fines for NBA dress code violations.
Ron Wood
Nike releases the Air Force 1, the first shoe to use Nike Air Technology with a thick sole that holds up better for playing basketball on asphalt. Like most Nikes of the era, it is only produced for one year. Responding to an outpouring of demand, three Baltimore retailers pay Nike for 2,400 pairs up front to get the sneaker back into production. Soon customers and retailers are travelling to Baltimore to buy shoes unavailable elsewhere.
1984
Most valuable shoe? The Undefeated Jordan IV has an aftermarket value of around $25,000. They only made 72 pairs.
Run-DMC releases the single “My Adidas” to combat the negative associations between sneakers and drug culture. Pictured, a 25th anniversary pair of Adidas Superstars that Run-DMC helps design in 2011.