How did your passion for sneakers begin, and what was your first memorable sneaker purchase?

I got into sneakers at the same time I started watching the NBA! As I learnt about Lebron James and Steph Curry, I started watching reviews of their latest signature shoes and I was hooked. The first memorable sneaker purchase I made was a pair of Air Jordan 5 Metallic Silver’s back in 2016. I could still fit into Grade School sizes at the time so it was much cheaper than buying Jordans for myself would later become.

Tom’s first pair

What role do you think sneakers play in fashion and self-expression today?

I think sneakers are always near the forefront of any fashion conversations, because of their ability to make an outfit really pop, and stand out from the rest. Sneakers are such a complex item of clothing, that are made in such a variety of shapes and sizes, that they naturally play a huge role in our self expression.

I think a good tip for newcomers when navigating the sneaker marketplace, is not to get too stuck on a particular popular model. Rather, figure out the sort of style of sneaker you would like, and what colors interest you, and look at a broader range of shoes to find the best deal.

What future sneaker releases or trends are you particularly excited about?

Personally, I’m very excited about the Adidas Tyshawn 2 which was released earlier this year. Currently it’s only available in black or white, but I’m looking forward to more colorways being released in the near future.

adidas Tyshawn – Typical Skate Sneakers

Where do you see your writing career going in the next few years? Any specific goals or projects in mind?

Well, so far writing has been a side-hustle of sorts that I have had to fit around my education. As of this summer however, I am out of education, and would like to take my writing more seriously!

Who or what influences your sneaker choices the most?

These days, I’m heavily influenced by skate culture and what other people are wearing at my local park. I’m often there on weekends to paint the legal walls that surround it, and I get a lot of inspiration from what the riders are wearing.

What trends are you most excited about?

At the moment, I’m very happy to see sneaker culture accepting a greater variety of brands into the mainstream, particularly seeing Asics and New Balance giving Nike and Adidas stronger competition.

In your experience, how has the sneaker community evolved over the years?

I think we’ve seen a move away from the brand focussed, “Hypebeast” – centric era of the late 2010s. These days, a greater focus has been put on the self-expression aspect of sneakers, especially as the sneaker community has grown and split into different niches.

What are your top three favorite sneakers of all time, and what makes them special to you?

I don’t know if I could give a top three because there are just too many contenders, but I know my favorite sneaker of all time without a doubt. The Air Jordan 31! It was one of the first shoes I ever fell in love with, and my mother and I own matching pairs!

Jordan 31 – One of Tom’s favorites

What motivated you to start writing about sneakers, and how did you get your start in this niche?

When I started collecting sneakers, I quickly realized I was going to need to make some money if I wanted to continue! I thought about what I was passionate about, and found myself writing about sneakers.

Can you describe your writing process? How do you typically research and develop your articles?

Naturally I consume a lot of content about sneakers. So when a topic gets given to me to write about, I usually have a pretty strong starting point, and I know the gaps in my  knowledge where I would need to research the topic further. I’m a very creative person, so I try to bring that into my topics, and try to think of interesting angles to bring to my articles.

Do you have a favorite sneaker collaboration that you’ve covered in your writing? What made it stand out?

It’s not a collaboration, but I have really enjoyed covering the resurgence in popularity of the Adidas Campus. I love its shape, and the 00’s edition is so beautiful. Researching those articles was so fun, because it’s all information I would like to know anyway.

Adidas Campus – typical for streetwear 2023-2024.

What message do you hope to convey through your writing?

I think the most important thing for me is that my passion comes through in my writing.