Sole Friends: Chris Claxton.

Please introduce yourself, what is your name & where are you from?

Christopher Claxton, Brooklyn, NY.

What was it about sneakers that got you in the game?

I loved how sneakers allowed me to express myself without having to say or do anything. You can definitely tell a lot about people from the sneakers they wear and the condition they’re in.

What was your first sneaker? 

The first sneaker that got me collecting was the Nike Air Foamposite One "Pearlized Pink" from 2012 but my first “hype” sneaker was the Jordan 7 Retro "Orion" from 2011.

Your favorite pair? (or top 3)

Very hard question Nike Are Fear Of God 1, Adidas Mr Bailey OZMORPHIS ‘Core Black’, Nike Lebron 10 ‘All Star’.

Your favorite sneaker memory.

I accompanied my Friend Jonathan to a FCFS Sneaker Release at Kith Brooklyn. We waited in a blizzard for some sneakers he wanted (I was buying nothing) after about an hour of waiting an employee comes out and lists what sizes they had and how many.

Turns out they only had enough pairs for like the first 10 people. Crazy part is Kith Brooklyn more than likely just back doored all their stock and then wasted everyone’s time.

Do you consider yourself a collector of sneakers? & Do you wear your sneakers?

I definitely consider myself a collector of sneakers. I definitely have more than 100 pairs but not sure how much I have in total. I wear my sneakers but I do my best to wait around a year till I put them on my feet.

There’s so much stock when it comes to shoes I like to pull mine out after people beat their pairs up. For example I still have the Air Jordan 11 Breds DS from 2018 and now they’re releasing the Air Jordan 11 Gratitudes which as you may know is the same shoe.

What's your favorite brand of sneaker and why?

Pretty basic answer but Nike & Jordan brand. They do it the best.

Adidas had a great year 2015-2017 but they’re slacking right now.

I love what New Balance is doing but it’s not enough. Saucony makes some good pairs but the best they have are the pairs coming from Jae Tips.

What are a pair of grails to you? (Could be a pair in your closet or in general)

I really want a pair of Adidas Yeezy 750. Doesn’t matter what color.

Your favorite sneaker campaign?

Loved the Jae Tips x Saucony Grid Azura 2000.

He came with great story telling, a very cool retail shop for the release, brought back FCFS for his release and represented my home of NYC.

A must have for your closet? (A recommendation)

Nike Air Force 1, Low Jordan 1 OG High, Adidas Superstar, Reebok Club C.

What is a shoe that you REFUSE to buy, why?

Nike Dunk Low Panda.

Terrible quality, very basic, does nothing to move the culture. Also a shoe you see people who pretend to be in the sneaker community wear.

If you got the chance to sit in a meeting w/ a sneaker brand, what would you ask/recommend/ask/say?

Would love to sit down with New Balance.

I would recommend they market, push and team up with people who push the needle in NYC. Whatever happens here will influence everyone else.

If they would like to see crazy results they need NYC releases, NYC partnerships, NYC events.

Most you’ve ever spent on sneakers?

$818.19

A sneaker you regret sleeping on?

Jordan 1 Low Voodoo.

I didn’t exactly sleep on them, they were reselling for around $300 and I was waiting for the price to drop to buy. People don’t normally buy crazy looking sneakers since they can’t pull them off style wise but they ended up skyrocketing and I’m not paying over $400 for sneakers again.