Sole Friends: Nya Lorraine.

Nya Lorraine (@NyaLorraine_)

Brooklyn, New York.

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

Hey Hey, I'm Nya...I go by Nya Lorraine for the most part. I'm from Brooklyn, NY. Currently living uptown.

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

The hustle haha, nah but for real, just being able to use sneakers to express myself is what really got me going. Just being able to be fly and comfy and still emulate the women and girls in my family & community that I thought were the coolest.

What was your first sneaker?

I think my very first sneaker was a pair of baby Reeboks, so 90s of my parents but the first sneaker that made me want more was the cherry red 11 lows in like 01 or 02!

Your favorite pair? (or top 3)

Taxi 12s Black Cement 3s Air Max 95 Neon Green.

Your favorite sneaker memory.

Wow! Favorite memory would probably be being able to get up on a Saturday and cop what you wanted, not having to be a VIP or someone with a large following, just a lover of kicks being able to walk in a store and cop what they want.

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

I do wear my shoes, there's like maybe 9-10 pairs I haven't worn but it was always because I was thinking too hard about the fit. If collector means you don't wear them, then nah but if you can still wear them while collecting, yeah I'll take that.

What's your favorite brand of sneaker and why?

Nike/Jordan and honestly it's not biased lol these are the brands that I wore the most and the shoes I fell in love with first.

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

Olive 9s, Aqua 8s, Off White 4s, 3 pairs which I don't have but need badly.

Your favorite sneaker campaign?

Ouuuu, I like this question...hmm growing up I think

A must have for your closet? (A recommendation)

Black Toe 1s...I think it's one of the cleanest pair of 1s that combines the classic red, black and white colors, that looks amazing dressed up or down.

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

The way life works is amazing because I actually get to do this now, to an extent but if I got the chance to sit down with a brand, I would probably just say, don't forget about the little people, yeah the market is larger than it's been in the past but don't just cater to the people in the forefront right now. Lastly, keep pumping out the heat but get creative with it, try something new.

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

Fila Disruptors & those fake Pradas they had, the Helmsman Hi (I had to look up the real name cause they fake Pradas to me)

Most you’ve ever spent on sneakers?

Sheeshhh, actually I don't think it's that bad, I got TS AF 1's for $400. I usually only go double retail but I really wanted these and that was about as good of a price as I was gonna get at that time.

A sneaker you regret sleeping on?

Cavs 4s & Beluga Yeezy 350s.