Blog

When it comes to collecting, storing and keeping kicks, let’s face it, we all have our own little idiosyncrasies. Hands up who’s got their own specific set of shelves for their collection, keep them up if said shelves happen to be kept in their own spare room. Thought so. ‘The Spare Room’ is a section in the mag where time to time we’ll showcase someone’s collection, how they keep it and what they want next. First cab off the rank is Nike aficionado DJ Nino Brown. As the nation’s best-known urban DJ with constant tours and appearances around the country, this guy needs his shit straight. We get the dirt on how he…gets the dirt off that collection of his… Peep the pics in the gallery!


What's your favourite pair of kicks you've copped recently?
 
Air Force! Low Premium Sp, they're blue with green laces/inner, and the blue body has a mesh material near the ankle.


 What's one of your all-time fave pairs?
 
I got a couple, my Air Max 90 Premium polkadot and the Mister Cartoon Cortez.


How many pairs do you own?
 
AT least 75+


 How do you store them?
 
You gotta keep the air/dust/sun off them, so many are in boxes with labels on the side, like "AF1 - white w blue swoosh," stuff like that, so I can match up quickly as I'm getting dressed. Others are in wardrobes, others are on show racks out of the sun, wrapped in plastic bags!


 Are you one of those guys who is pretty meticulous with his up-keep of his kicks? How do you keep them clean? Any secret tips?
 
Yep, I spray them three times with shoe protector before wearing, and when I get home, I wipe them down and scrub the edges of the soles.


 How long have you been collecting kicks?
 
I don't look at it like collecting, 'cause to me a stamp collector doesn't use his stamps, I wear my shoes, but I have pairs that I havn't worn yet. I keep saying "I'm gonna save them for something BIG."


There's a fire in your apartment, which pairs do you take?
 
I have my newest/favourites next to my studio desk, so I grab them. I can take six boxes with ease, I've tried!


What's the next pair you want?

I always buy kicks, especially AF1s. I am trying to just always have box-fresh white ones ready, and I have been buying a lot of air max, they're more comfortable and look good with shorts.


Was there a particular kick you’ve slept on and wish you hadn’t? Or one you always wanted as a kid but missed out on?
 
Nah, I always found cash for shoes, or I bought them on the re release.


What’s the order - get dressed then sneakers to match, or choose your sneakers and then get dressed to match?
 
I lay all my gear out on my couch while walking around in my boxers, tee has to go with the sneaks, and the New Era fitted with the tee/sneaks.


 Favourite nike collab shoe?
 
The Cartoon ones are sick. He's my dude, they're shoes that are art and I would collect. I've kept a pair just to have, that's my favourite collabo.


 You could only wear one type of sneaker for the next year, which one and why?
 
That's a trick question, no pair of sneaks would look fresh enough for a year, BUT if I had to choose it would be box fresh classic white AF1s, I could switch them and fool you guys!