Trainer Talk Thursday: Women in Sneaker Culture- Sneakermess
I wanted to shine a spotlight on some of the amazing women in sneaker culture that I have been able to connect with on Instagram. I started recently following Sneakermess aka Kai, the first post I think was her showcasing the satin 1s and a dancing/fitness shot, it was an instant connection for me with the caption and selections! I definitely love her posts and reels showcasing her merchandise with her great style and personality & a fellow Scorpio, just saying:) Here’s a Q&A to get to know her better!
What was the 1st pair of kicks that sparked your interest in sneakers?
As far I can remember my love for kicks started when I got my first pair of Jordans in the 5th grade. They were the Aqua 8s.
How do sneakers fit into your life and aesthetic? Is it part of your career, weekend looks, etc?
My go-to shoe is sneakers. Being an ex-athlete and now a fitness instructor, I am always in sneakers. I started wearing them to my 9 to 5 after I had foot surgery! Doctor’s orders! 😉
What are your top 5 kicks and how has that changed over the years?
My favorite shoe of all time is the Jordan 11 Concords. Then the 11 Breds. The Jordan 11 is just a sexy shoe. It’s the right balance of casual and sneaker. I copped my first pair of 11s sitting in a meeting with my boss. I was so nervous!
My sneaker choices haven’t really changed over the years except now I have more money to buy the more expensive drops and I can buy more often.
Air Max 95s would be my top trainer. I love the layers of colors. They make gray look good with anything. My first pair was my Sophomore year in high school. My friend and I had the Wolf Grey pair to rock for Twin Day with a Tommy Hilfiger outfit.
Liquid gold Air Max 90s. First saw them on Beyonce. Nothing more to say. I had to have a pair. Missed them the first time and caught them when they re-released in 2019. When I missed them the first time, Nike had the gold option on Nike ID. I customized a pair and put my and my husband’s name on the back in place of the Nike logo.
Last I would say the Jordan 13s. They are still my most expensive cop at $250 from eBay for the pink and gray pair. I also just copped my grail 13s the He Got Games.
Do you have a favorite athlete or person for inspiration for looks?
My favorite sneakerhead is Tracee Ellis Ross. Her style is just dope. She rocks sneakers effortlessly. I actually have a Pinterest board full of her sneaker looks!
What are some grails that you are on a quest for still?
I just copped two of my grails, the Aqua 8s and the He Got Game 13s. I am now on the hunt for the Black Cement 3s.
What are issues or things you dislike about women and sneaker culture? How would You change those things?
My only issue is there isn’t enough proper representation especially for women of color. I would like to see more women who look like me at the table designing.
What do you see as the future of sneaker culture?
This is hard. If it were a perfect world, I would like to see the resell culture gone. It’s destroying the culture. It’s become all about money and not about the story of the person rocking the sneakers and how that new pair made them feel.
Talk about starting your merchandise line, what that entailed with the website and start-up, and how that has developed over the years?
I started Sneaker Mess in 2019 from my home office. I was creating what I wished existed, shirts that matched my sneakers that didn’t have a bunch of graphics. I also wanted to create a product that people could relate to and feel included. My mom was the inspiration for the name because she didn’t understand my obsession with “this sneaker mess”. I’m now in year two and growing at a steady pace. Sneaker Mess is going to be more than an apparel line. I have plans to make it an experience.
Anything you want to plug for upcoming things?
New colors in the BUY THE SNEAKERS hats will be dropping in a few weeks! Check the website for details! Summer is coming and it’s time for tees!
