You know those alcoholics/drug addicts meetings from movies – I imagine myself standing up and saying: ”I’m Domagoj and I am addicted to sneakers”, and then everybody starts clapping and saying: ”Hi Domagoj!” But how did I ended up there?
Well, if you ask me, nothing compares to that feeling when you’re walking down the street in the rhythm of music coming from your earphones, wearing your brand new sneakers and feeling like you’re in a music video.
Based on years of research, I’d say that RUN DMC’s “It’s Like That” is still the best song for roaming the streets in perfect rhythm. Kylie Minogue’s “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” gets the silver medal. You know, the song that goes “la-la-la-la-la-la-la…” If you wanna act tough, I recommend “Seek and Destroy” by Metallica.
It’s fascinating how the music you like can make you happy, but for me, it’s nothing compared to the pure joy of buying new sneakers. Unfortunately, I’m not (yet) a sneakerhead with the unlimited source of money, so buying a new pair of kicks is always a process. Sometimes it takes days; visiting stores, shopping malls, outlets, checking online sales… I turn into Indiana Jones of sneakers in search of the Holy Grail.
However, the thing is, there is no sneaker Holy Grail. Whenever I buy new sneakers, I’m in love with them for about a week, and then I’m like: ”I should have bought the other ones.’’ And that’s when this virtuous circle starts – I buy the other ones next time, and then again fantasize about something else. The point is you have to keep getting sneakers, gotta catch ’em all, like Pokemon.
My love for sneakers probably started through playing basketball as a kid. Sneakers are important part of basketball culture, ever since Chuck Taylor designed the legendary Converse All Stars (of course I had those, duh). And then in 1985 some guy named Peter Moore came up with the Air Jordan 1’s and everyone just lost their minds (I never had those, they are expensive. I need a new job, please).
There are two main rules in broadening my collection. I have a soft spot for classic design – not only in sneakers – so I pretty much always buy classics. The second rule is to try as many brands as possible – over the years, I had sneakers from Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Vans, New Balance, Saucony, Onitsuka Tiger, and I hope it’s just a beginning. Gotta catch ’em all…
Everyday Struggle 