Originally from Compton/North Long Beach, CA, Risa is a college professor who primarily wears sneakers to lecture undergraduate and graduate students. Her interests include sneakers, books, music, basketball, broadway, and African American photography.
How long have you been collecting sneakers?
I started collecting in middle school (2001), but I seriously escalated my collecting once I was financially able to build a collection.
How many pairs do you currently have in your closet?
Fifty.
How long have you been a member?
I joined in November 2020.
What is the oldest sneaker in your collection?
Adidas NMDs from 2015.
What’s the sneaker that got you hooked?
The shoe that got me hooked in my childhood was a pair of adidas Superstars with baby blue stripes. After that, I named my first AOL account “addiasms,” (my mama misspelled Adidas 😂), and I was hooked on sneakers.
What’s your best steal or retail cop?
The biggest steal was my grail, the Air Jordan 11 “Bred.” I got them deadstock with a replacement box through a fellow SoleSavy member who saw them locally and bought them for me. Replacement boxes don’t matter to me, so they went straight to feet.
What’s “the one that got away” for you?
I hit on two pairs of the grey sacai x fragment design x Nike LD Waffle. I gave the extra pair to my solesister in SoleSavy as an assist. I typically do not find a need to double up in shoes, but that’s a pair a wish I still had. My current pair is beat, and they are my go-to travel shoe. The comfort is phenomenal.
What are five sneakers every person should have?
I think every rotation should include a pair of Air Max 1s, New Balance 2002Rs, or 993s for maximum comfort, Air Jordan 1s because they can be dressed down or dressed up, and Nike Dunks because they’re meant to be worn.
What’s a sneaker in your collection that always gets looks/compliments when you wear them?
My Union x Air Jordan 4 “Guava” always turns heads.
What’s the most you’ve done for a pair of shoes?
The A Ma Maniere x Air Jordan Jordan 3 centered around Black women. They were a MUST cop. I convinced my husband to drive five hours to Pittsburgh, so I could enter the in-store raffle. I got the W via email on the drive back, and I was able to cop my mama a pair on when they dropped online. The way James Whitner centers Black communities in every drop is powerful. For that, I really cherish every Whitaker Group collaboration I own.
Is there a pair in your collection that always gets slept on?
My Nike Dunk “Lisa Leslie” for sure. Growing up in LA, I was a Sparks fan, and Lisa Leslie was the first WNBA player I knew. So many friends in SoleSavy came together to help me cop for retail. I keep the shoes in a display box in my home office hoping that one day I can get them signed by her.
What pairs do you have for sale or trade on COLLECT right now?
I’m looking to move on from my Tom Sachs x Nike General Purpose Shoe, as well as the Air Jordan 4 “Military Black.” Make sure to send me some trade offers on COLLECT!
What pairs are you currently watching / what will be your next pick-up?
I am currently watching the Off-White x Air Jordan 5 “Sail.” I’m hoping to trade for them in ’23.
How do you think the sneaker game has changed since you started collecting?
When I started collecting, the biggest barrier was the cost of sneakers. My mama couldn’t afford expensive shoes, so I built my collection on $60 adidas and $40 Vans. Now that I have the means, I have to fight for the opportunity to purchase shoes. Shoes that I remember picking up and admiring at FootLockers back in the late 90’s/early ’00s. Thankfully, with SoleSavy, I can pick up shoes I want for retail.
What is your biggest frustration with sneakers as a whole right now?
I find it extremely frustrating when brands place hype above customers. I understand that hype ensures that shoes, especially collaborations, sell out. But being concerned with how fast your shoe sells out more than people actually getting the shoes is extremely frustrating. People artificially place a higher value on shoes simply because of arbitrary resell values and hype. Brands should take better measures for bot protection, as well as improve websites/apps, so they do not crash. It’s easier to fix this beforehand than to give disingenuous apologies after the fact.
Brand rapid fire: What is your favorite Nike, adidas, Jordan, and New Balance model?
Nike: Air Max 1
Adidas: Superstar (the shoe that started it all!)
Jordan: Air Jordan 3
New Balance: 993
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