ACNE Curious, 3 Questions with Kavanagh

Yetunde: What does sneaker culture mean to you?

Kavanagh: The feeling that always sticks out to me is the sense of community. Last Saturday I was running around Soho for Proxyeed’s monthly 99p Saturday treasure hunt with random people that I’d just met who are now new mates. The feeling of community has always been the case for me, everyone’s rooting for each other even if it doesn’t relate to shoes.

Yetunde: The world of streetwear in general (not just sneakers) is beginning to align itself with activities beyond skateboarding and basketball. Are you looking to pick up any new outdoor hobbies in 2022? And have any brands inspired that choice?

Kavanagh: What’s happening at the minute is really exciting and really interesting, with Drake's Nike x NOCTA Golf collection and trainspotter Francis Bourgeois being the face of The North Face x Gucci. I don’t think I’ve been inspired by any brands to do anything just yet, but my brother and I are going on our first hiking trip, probably wearing Salomon trail running shoes. We’re also going skiing this year, but probably going to choose function over fashion for that.

Yetunde: What releases are you looking forward to this year?

Kavanagh: 2022 is meant to be a crazy year for sneakers so this is tough. The Nike Cortez is making a big comeback and I’m here for it, especially the collaborations with Sacai and Union. Then, I’d have to say the Air Jordan 1 Yellow Toe’s, a pair very similar to my first ever pair of Nike’s that I used to call my ‘bumblebee shoes’ (I was only 12). Lastly, I’m hoping that we will see some of the Nike x Off-White’s that Virgil Abloh had been working on and never got to release - potentially even the Nike x Off-White Air Jordan 1 “Canary Yellows” that have been rumoured for 2 years now. Fingers crossed.