MEET THE COLLECTOR: BRONX BONITA
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN COLLECTING?
I have been collecting sneakers since about the early 2000's. I remember having my room for the first time. I was so excited to have my own closet; I would arrange my boxes by brand and organize them by style. It was a dream come true moment.
WHAT SHOE PICK-UP MADE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU EARNED THE SNEAKERHEAD/SNEAKER COLLECTOR LABEL?
In high school, I was gifted a pair of OG Air Penny II's. As a lover of classic OG basketball silhouettes, I was like, "YEAH," I am officially a collector. Another pair I felt confident about was a 2006 collaboration with Emilio Pucci - the Adidas Adicolor limited edition Century Low G 3. 'Til this day, I love having those shoes in my collection. The iconic Emilio Pucci print with three interchangeable lace colors had me rocking these like crazy, not to mention the icy sole. Nobody could tell me anything!
FAVORITE BRAND? FAVORITE MODEL WITHIN THE BRAND?
Most of my collection is Nike, so I guess that speaks for itself. But truly, I buy what I like no matter the brand! The more I get asked this question, the harder it is to answer. There are so many different silhouettes, but hmmm, if I had to choose, it would be the Nike AF1. Its longevity speaks for itself, and as a collector, I feel like everyone should own a pair of Uptowns.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SNEAKER STYLE? WHAT TYPES OF SHOES ARE YOU A SUCKER FOR?
In my younger years, I wore a lot of basketball silhouettes, but as I got older, I realized how bulky they looked on my petite self, so I stopped rocking them. Now I go for more of a sleek look. But I'm extremely drawn to colors and patterns. I love a good pattern! Mostly a sucker for classics; it gotta make me feel something. Materials rank high in my shoe of choice as well, if the quality doesn't hit, I don't want it. The Patta AM1 really sparked that love for Air Max me again. Oh, and the CMP AF1 really has a hold on me right now. I feel like I've worn those sneakers the most since I purchased them at a sneakerCon last year.
TELL US HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT SHOES DESIGNED FOR WOMEN.. ARE YOU A FAN AND WISH TO SEE MORE? OR WOULD YOU PREFER THAT BRANDS JUST MAKE MORE INCLUSIVE SIZE RUNS?
I love sneakers designed for and by women! It's such a special time to be alive right now. As a young female sneaker fiend, I never thought I would see the day, and now I'm living in it! I believe brands will continue to hire woman designers. We have always been the trailblazers; time has and will continue to tell our stories. I hope the sneaker world will continue to support our visions and ideas.
Brands should continue to produce both inclusive size runs and woman's exclusives. We deserve both!
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE TEN SHOES YOU HIGHLIGHTED FOR THIS FEATURE. WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON?
For these 10 pairs, I decided to take it back. These days we see the same ol' pairs of kicks showcased. So I dived into my collection in hopes that they will take you back to a time or moment in your life that you can vividly remember or even be reminded of. I want to spark those nostalgic feelings and "Damn, you remember those???"
WHAT ARE YOU TOP 3 PICKS ON OUR SITE RIGHT NOW?
- Bristol Studio, Core Shorts (marble peach)
- Nike Air Force 1 Low Retro (white/royal blue/gum)
- Asics UB3-S Gel-Nimbus 9 (abbey stone)
- Pleasures Penalty Soccer Jersey (brown)
- Air Force 1 book