I am a sneakerhead episode 225 - @Mlouderr
First up, could you please introduce yourself?
It might sound like an AA meeting, but let’s go ahead. My name is Marco, I’m 30 years old, and I was born in Busto Arsizio, a small city just outside Milan, where I still reside. I studied to be a graphic designer but never quite became one. I started working in the footwear industry while still in school and have never left the field. Initially, I worked in stores, then showrooms and eCommerce. Now, I mostly do brand consultancy and work as a freelance project manager and content editor, talking and writing about footwear for stores, events, brands, magazines, media outlets—you name it. I run a blog called “Never Not Talking” where I endlessly discuss things I like, and a podcast named “Scarpe.pod”, where I do the same but with my friends Niccolò and Andrea. The name translates to “Shoes.pod.” We wanted to make the main topic clear from the start.
That’s all, I think.
For how long have you been a sneakerhead?
I've liked shoes for as long as I can remember. I was fascinated by the colorful stuff my older brother and his friends wore in the early '00s, and I always put that extra care into picking out the shoes I wanted when I was in school. If we count 'being a sneakerhead' as being aware of a cultural environment, knowing what I was buying, or even just knowing that there was someone like me out there, I'd say 15+ years.
How many pairs do you currently have in your collection?
I recently had to move most of my shoes, and I sadly became aware of how much stuff I have. I’d say I have between 600 and 700 pairs, counting everything that is strictly for the archive or can’t be worn anymore but I can’t let go of. I still try to wear most of my shoes whenever I can, but not being able to keep everything at home has been the main obstacle.
Do you remember what your first pair of sneakers that you really cared about was?
Of course. It was a pair of 'Shima Shima 3' Nike Dunks my brother got from the local FootLocker around 2003. I was so envious, and when he got bored and stopped wearing them, I kept them for a year or two until I grew up enough to wear them myself without looking like Krusty the Clown. I just knew they were Nikes, so while waiting, I started going around in stores, showing them and asking for information. That led me to skate shops first, then to the 'cool' stores in Milan, and later online using a clunky translator to understand eBay listings and blog posts. Finally, I joined forums like Crooked Tongues, Nike Talk, or ISS. I hadn’t posted a single comment for at least a year before I felt confident enough to take part; it was probably in 2007 or 2008. I was way too young to read some of that stuff, but it was already too late at that point.
You seem to have a great variety of sneakers in your collection, do you have any favourite brands?
I wouldn’t say I have a favorite brand; I go with the flow. I’m trying to buy less of the stuff I like but won’t wear (that’s a huge lie, but it sounds like something an adult would say), so right now, I’m focusing more on comfort and quality. Hence, I'm buying lots of New Balance, Asics, Y2K adidas, and Saucony, mixed with newer stuff like Norda — technology is always a pull factor for me, even if I’m the laziest guy around. I keep buying my beloved classics from Nike and adidas, still have a soft spot for my favorites like Footscapes, Air Forces, or Dunks, but I really don’t have much room left for 'collector' stuff.
Don’t want to go off-topic, but growing up in that analog/digital era I was talking about, sharing my passion for sneakers with people way older than me taught me, first and foremost, to stand my ground about what I liked and 'defend' my opinion even if it was different from what was commonly said. I always liked to stand out a bit, keep looking around, and stay open-minded about trends and brands. So while everyone was into Air Jordans, I kept wearing the Insta-Pump Furys, ZXs, and retro running shoes I saw from London or Amsterdam collectors and so on. It wasn’t to be the 'too cool kid,' just to not fall into easy boredom and save lots of money, as I bought most of my stuff on clearance, lol. Rest assured, I got my fair share of SB Dunks, Retro Jordans, or Asics in the Ronnie Era. If a shoe is good, it’s good independently from trends or hype.
Do you usually buy sneakers in physical stores or online?
Whenever I have the chance, I buy in-store. I’ve been lucky enough to create amazing relationships over the years, both locally and all over Europe, so when there’s an opportunity to support or just exchange favors, I take it. Online purchases are mostly for good deals or for private sales and marketplaces. I've never lost the good habit of digging through eBay, Facebook, Vinted, and everywhere else from time to time.
Have you bought anything in 2024 so far?
Way too many. I got a pair of the Horween x New Balance 1700 for a stupid price off Vinted. While I was in Paris with my Scarpe.pod mates, I bought the new Asics GT-2160 that my friends at PaperBoy/PaperGirl made with Beams. A great friend of mine (thanks, Gufo!) recently was in NYC and got me a pair of the black UNDFTD x Nike Air Terra Humara. I don’t understand how that shoe is still available in-store; it looks amazing and belongs to a bygone era of sneaker collaborations.
What is your favourite pair in your collection?
That’s an almost impossible question to answer. If you ask me in a couple of days, I’ve probably already changed my mind. One pair I’ll never let go of is the Stash x Nike Air Force 1 Low I/O, signed by the man himself when I got a chance to interview him in Rome some years back. Or a pair of adidas ZX420 “Quotoole,” still deadstock, that I’m saving for the day I’ll finally visit the archive in Herzogenaurach. Or the first sample of the Diadora N9000 I worked on for Special Sneaker Club. It’s so hard for me to just pick one, and I love that I can keep going on with a list of shoes that have a special place in my heart.
Do you already know what your next purchase will be?
One pair I’m sure about is the Air 180 'Ultramarine' coming out for Air Max Day. I’m so happy that they finally worked on a pair with the proper shape, proper colors, and most importantly, the right name. That’s the kind of classic I was talking about before. I can’t promise I won’t buy anything until March; there’s way too much stuff coming out, and lots of good finds if you have the patience to do some digging, plus even more items I left behind. For example, I still have to pick up the 'Baklava' New Balance 990v6 by Action Bronson or the Above the Clouds x Asics GT-2160 if I find them at the right price. I really like the Earls Collection one too; I’ll be waiting for that one.
Make sure to follow Marco on Instagram: