1 Man, ? Vans
+ a serious discussion about brands
You love shoes.
I got my first pair of Jordans when I was 13. He was in the Olympics. It was his second Gold medal. It didn’t have the usual “23,” it had his jersey “9.” They were $219.
I got to buy 1 good sneaker a year.
My first job was a shampoo boy at a Tai Tai salon. My bosses, clients were decked out like celebrities. I felt the need to keep up, have the Saint Laurent Wyatts, Tom Ford Gucci, Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada.
I used to think Cartier rings would help make me the man I wanted to be perceived as. I’ve a lot of Hedi Slimane’s Dior Homme.
They’re at home; I don’t wear them now.
After Kanye West, I got rid of all my Adidas. They’ve milked the market. I’m totally against Off-White x Nike.
Vans.
I stumbled on the Vans x Beatles collection, got a pair of the slip-ons. The following week I bought a pair of Originals in red. I started checking out shops for Vans. They’re colourful, durable.
Most of my Nikes have fallen apart.
I frequent Leftfoot. “Do you have this, this, this in a Size 10? If not, a Size 9. I don’t want to try.” Some of the guys text me if I want certain designs.
I have the same styles in different colours. Dress up, down. I wear them every day.
I can wear a different pair for every day of the year.
“You only buy general releases.” No, I buy whatever I want. I have Vans that cost $500, retail. Others, I get $30 from outlet shops.
I make it a point not to wear the same shoes every day. Once in a while, I shift around stacks of boxes. For 5 years, I’ve only bought Vans and Nike.
Vans has not contacted me. I’ve joked, if I don’t want to do hair anymore, I should be a distributor.
A lot of what I want can’t be bought in Singapore. I need to find my sister, friends to buy pairs in the US, Japan.
Addiction?
It’s a bit out of hand. Vans are more affordable. It doesn’t help. I recently promised a friend I wouldn’t buy shoes this year. Obviously, I have; just not posted. I’d owe him coffee.
I’ve bought 5, 10 pairs a week. Once: midway through work, I headed to Leftfoot and bought 1 pairs; after dinner, headed to Tangs, picked up another 3 pairs.
I’ve always been obsessive.
Back then, I’d spend $6,000 a month on shoes, clothes, lifestyle. Growing up, I wasn’t confident. It probably was to make up for it.
A pig farmer in a Rolls Royce is a pig farmer.
Now, I’m comfortable with myself. I don’t buy to impress.
