If you have a passion for collecting rare or exclusive footwear, you're probably all too familiar with catching yourself developing some strong emotional ties for certain pairs from your collection.
In the monthly Kickin' the Door Blog series, we welcome fellow Rotterdam-based sneaker aficionados and footwear connoisseurs to share the Top 3 sneakers from their collection and let us in on the stories that make them so special.
PIM ROGGEVEEN @PIMROGGEVEEN
For the 22nd edition of the Kickin’ the Door series, we are joined by Pim Roggeveen, who is the co-founder of WEAR Sneaker Cleaning and does freelance communication advice on the side.
We are curious - What are Pim's Top 3 sneakers from his collection and more importantly, what are the stories behind them?
#3
NEW BALANCE 991 20TH ANNIVERSARY
(Released in 2021)
I feel like 2021 was New Balance's year, it had so many great releases! I felt like the brand made such a comeback. I got an L on the pink NB Patta 991 at the beginning of January but liked the model so much that I started looking for other versions. Then I saw this anniversary model and knew it was the one. I really like that it's made in the old NB factory in England. It's something you also really notice when looking at the materials. It's a very high-quality sneaker. When buying new sneakers I always try to look at their durability. I think New Balance always takes this into consideration as well.
#2
KARHU SYNCHRON CLASSIC "LUNAR ROCK / LANTANA"
(Released in 2020)
I bought these at Woei about 2 years ago. A lot of my friends were already wearing Karhu. I really liked there was a new brand on the block (at least I thought it was new), but at the time I just couldn't find a model that I liked. Then I walked into the old Woei store and fell in love with this colorway. It's also a very comfortable sneaker and the materials are high quality too. I mostly wear them in more sunny periods of the year. Recently I found out more about the background of Karhu. I learned that Karhu has been around for ages and that it sold their signature three stripes to Adidas for two bottles of Whisky and some money. I absolutely love those background stories
#1
AIR JORDAN 1 LOW "NEUTRAL GREY"
(Released in 2021)
I don't own a lot of Jordan's, mostly because the ones I like are only available at expensive resell prices. These ones released in the summer of 2021. At the time I was searching for a clean white sneaker for my summer holiday. I didn't want to go for a classic white Air Force 1, because they look a bit chunky on a guy like me with size 11.5. When I saw these being released I registered for a number of raffles and got lucky. One of the things I like about them is that the materials are easy to clean. An important feature for someone offering cleaning services. I've also worn them under a suit to some formal occasions. They never disappoint.
HONORABLE MENTION
NIKE SPACE HIPPIE 01 "MELON HINT"
(Released in 2021)
With WEAR we hope to play a big part in making the sneaker industry more sustainable. A lot of brands are already making an effort to reduce their carbon footprint. They improve their supply chain, working conditions and are increasingly using sustainable materials on sneakers. The Space Hippie is an example of Nike's sustainable collection, called Move to Zero. It's partly made from recycled plastics. The design process is very interesting as it's inspired by life on Mars where supplies are scarce. It's a peculiar sneaker that's not loved by everyone, but it's definitely a sustainable step in the right direction. We hope to see sustainable materials being integrated into more popular designs like Jordan's or Air Force's. Also without the need for a dotted pattern on the midsole to exemplify the sustainability aspect.
"When buying new sneakers I always try to look at their durability."
CLICK HERE FOR THE PREVIOUS KICKIN THE DOOR WITH INSTAGRAM SNEAKER-GURU EVA NICOLA!
