Don’t even bother trying to match it when a sneaker head starts dropping knowledge about your Jordan Vs with the 3M tongue, 2001 Footlocker retro re-release... I mean we like, like love-like,  sneakers but forget about dropping in a few phrases like colourway or fresh when dealing with obsessive-compulsive sneaker freakers - just smile and nod. Recently however, we caught up with one of our favourite suppliers to the foot-fetish industry, Adam Dekok over on the ‘neez at First in Flight. We were hoping Adam might be able to provide some insight into what makes a fresh pair of kicks such compulsive desirables.

Are people mad? What is this obsession with sneakers?
Yes, I believe many are. The sneaker obsession must be different for all people, but mine has been there from a very young age. My father ran marathons and I can remember loving sneaks way back in primary school. A lot of it is reverting back to your childhood and all the shoes you couldn’t have or afford. Kids these days go nuts for kicks, and the companies push this with the old supply vs demand rule. The best kicks are released in limited numbers most of the time creating the demand from the kids.

I think of sneakers and I think about Michael Jordan. How he used to put on a fresh pair of boots to play each game because of the feeling you get wearing a new pair of sneakers. Basketball cards, the early 90s… is this all a part of why people love owning not just one, but many pairs of kicks?
It’s a sickness. Anyone who collects anything usually starts out the same way I think, you get 3, you get 10, and then you are on your way. Then you find out about the rare ones, the colours you can’t find. Sneakers seem to be something everyone has in common during their lives, they are a great way to show your individuality and style. Lots of people out there follow like sheep, but just as many want to be wearing stuff that no one else has. I remember being stoked to have 10 pairs of nice kicks, then 50, then 100, and now it seems like it will never end. A true collector will never have all the shoes they want, either they are too hard to find, or too expensive, or will just never be produced ever again. It’s a curse, but then there are far worse things to waste pay packets on.

What does a sneaker say about the person?
Sneakers say a whole lot about people, especially to me. A guy came in once and laughed because when I said hello I looked straight at his feet to see what he was rocking. Total habit for me and any other self-respecting sneaker head. You can actually tell if a guy is a collector, passionate sneaker head or just a one pair a year type of guy, just by looking at what he’s wearing. It’s not always what he has on, but how they are laced and looked after.

Which sneakers do you give the biggest props to?
Kicks I give the biggest props to are the ones I can see took some effort to get a hold of. Anyone can pay $400 off of ebay, but chasing all over the country/world and actually laying your hands on a pair is much more satisfying. Having said that my top 5 are: nike 180 runner | nike epic | nike air max 1 | nike Pegasus | nike air safari.

What does it take to sell sneakers?
Our thing is to try and get more kicks in that the other shops don’t have. Most people don’t want to see everyone else wearing the same thing as them. Footlocker is a global store so has some pretty strong influence and buying power with the big brands. It’s hard for a small local boutique like us some times, but the brands help by offering us unique products, like just the other week we released Kanye’s Nike Air Yeezy. Only 17 pairs came to Adelaide which we were lucky enough to get, and 100 pairs country wide.

FIRST IN FLIGHT - 7 Ebenezer Place