I am a sneakerhead episode 175 - @Ericgalassi1
Could you please introduce yourself?
Hello, my name is Eric Galassi and my IG is @Ericgalassi1. I live about an hour outside of Chicago and I'm a steelworker.
For how long have you been collecting sneakers?
As a kid growing up I was into shoes. In 1991 I was 12 years old and I got the Black/Infrared Air Jordan 6. To this day this particular shoe is still my favorite of all time. Growing up in the Chicago area especially during the 90s the Bulls and Michael Jordan were everything.
You have one of the most notorious collections on Instagram, do you have an estimate of how many pairs are in your collection?
Sometimes I don't like to answer this question because I don't want it to look like I'm bragging. Trust me I work hard and a ton of hours every week and this is how I reward myself. To answer I know I'm over 1,200 right.
Speaking of your collection, you seem to have a great variety, do you have any favourite brands and potentially models?
Asics and New Balance are my top big brands. I still love Diadora and miss them steadily putting out collabs. Of course, Sonra is a brand that I've been following since the beginning. The quality of them is amazing. Kangaroos is another favorite. Saucony has been doing great lately. Nike and Adidas I still like not since I stopped buying Jordans I don't buy much Nike. I still love air max of all kinds.
Where do you purchase your sneakers from? Do you have any favourite online shops / physical stores?
I purchase 99% of my shoes online. Due to my work schedule and now covid it's just so easier to buy online. Hanon, Afew, SNS, END, and Politics are probably my top online shops.
What's your favourite release of 2021 so far?
Favourite releases so far are
1) New Balance x SNS 920
2) New Balance x Bodega 990v3
3) Diadora x Hanon N9000 Pictish Warrior
4) Asics x Concepts Gel Lyte Otoro
5) Sonra x GP Ice Race
What's your opinion on the current state of the sneaker community?
Of course, I hate BOTS and resellers. However, I do have to pay resale for pairs so I guess it's a necessary evil. Aime Leon Dore just did a preorder for some NB 650. I'm not a fan of the 550 or 650 but I love what they are doing. Ok, I understand it sucks to have to wait until 2022 but that kills the resale market. I also think shops should reward their loyal and the shops that do always have a major loyal following base. As for me I will always try to help someone get a shoe if they need help. I've come across some of the best people in the shoe world. I appreciate this opportunity.
Make sure to follow Eric on Instagram: