I am a sneakerhead episode 209 - @Nohypelah
First up, could you please introduce yourself?
Hello! my name is JP Briones (@nohypelah on IG). Born and raised in the Philippines, and have been living and working in Singapore as an IT professional for about 10 years now.
Do you remember what your first pair of sneakers that you really cared about was?
Back in the late 90s, my sister's boyfriend (now my brother-in-law) used to let me borrow his triple black Nike CB94s. I think this kicked off my interest in sneakers, particularly Nikes. I have been drawn to it since then and I always make sure I have a fresh new pair before the school year starts.
How many pairs do you currently have? Are you planning on keeping that number steady or growing/decreasing it?
Currently, I have 80+ pairs and I'm planning to keep it steady at that quantity because I have limited space at home right now. The problem is, My interest in Airmax 1s grew when I started collecting them these past few months and it's very hard for me to resist copping a pair since Nike won't hit the brakes on dropping bombs left and right.
You seem to have a great variety of sneakers in your collection, do you have any favorite brands?
Right now, I try to avoid having favourites because each brand has always something unique to offer. But right now am leaning towards Nike again, particularly on the Airmax 1s & 90s. A few years back used to collect mostly Asics and Diadoras, but sadly had to let go of most of them as the weather here is not "friendly" compared to other countries. Most of my Asics and Diadoras acquired molds and some of their midsoles crumbled. I guess that's the reason why I went back to Nikes because it's a lot easier to take care of.
Do you usually buy sneakers in physical stores or online?
I do both. I know this time it's a lot more convenient to buy sneakers online as it's easier, more accessible, and gives lots of options to choose from. But, I am an old guy. I still find it more satisfying to go to the stores and check out the pair thoroughly before buying it.
Have you ever needed to pay a resell premium for a pair of sneakers?
Yes, I did! I pulled the trigger a couple of times before, especially when I'm still at a point where I'm trying to grow my collection. But now I'm just going for "retail or bust". If I can't buy it for retail or cheaper, I just move on and wait for the next drop. I think I have better self-control now as compared to before.
What is your favorite pair in your collection?
This is quite hard to answer since I have a lot of favourites in my collection! But if I have no choice and I need to choose one, I think right now my favourite would be my HAL Studios x Asics Gel 1130 "Earth". I just love everything about this pair! From the silhouette, and the different materials used, to how comfortable the shoes are, it all seemed too perfect for my taste.
If you could only wear one pair for the rest of 2023, which would it be and why?
I'd wear my New Balance 1906R silver/gold metallic. This would be the perfect beaters for me! It is very comfortable and very easy to match with all the clothes I have!
Make sure to follow John on Instagram: