We chat to Offspring Community member Karen aka @asiangracefully
Tell us about yourself.
Hi community, my name is Karen – nice to meet you. My Mum and Dad are from Thailand and Hong Kong, respectively. I was born, raised and live in sunny West London. I am a mum to two amazing daughters and a wife to a fellow Sneakerhead! I work for a Global Executive Search Firm which helps to fund my love for beauty, art, travel, festivals and of course – collecting shoes.
How long have you been into sneakers and how did you get into them?
I have been into sneakers since the early 90’s with my earliest memory seeing my cousin with a pair of Reebok pumps that I really coveted but were way too big for me to borrow. My teenage sneaker years mainly consisted of wearing them for PE classes, tennis tournaments and running around the Trocadero rather than as a fashion statement. I would wear each pair to death and move onto the next one. Literally leaving the old pair in the shop and walking out with new ones on. These included multiple pairs of Air Max’s and New Balance 574’s.
During my college years, my most memorable pair were super chunky white Fila’s which I now know to be ‘The Grant Hill 2’s’. I used to rock these with vintage straight leg Levi 501’s from Kensington Market and a bright white, cropped GAP puffa jacket – the OG naughties vibes!
Do you have an early sneaker memory?
Working and living in New York over the summer of 2004, was where I had my 1st encounter with Jordan 1s. I recall my friend giving me a pair of black and yellow Js that were a whole size too big but I wore thick socks and rocked them anyway. My flat mates both had an immense collection, and it was the first time I’d seen sneakers as a collector’s item and as a ‘work of art’. My girl even wore red and white J1’s with her wedding dress when tying the knot in City Hall that year.
I quickly fell in love with the hidden sneaker shops in Brooklyn and the more relaxed street style where wearing a tracksuit and not participating in a sport was OK, even normal. At this stage I had yet to appreciate the true history of the sneaker culture but immersed myself heavily in the New York Hip Hop clubbing scene and the fashion that went with it.
Not long after – back in London, I met my future husband. He recalls being horrified the first time he saw me in my trainers – not only was I so much shorter than when I was rocking my 4-inch office heels, but the ‘state of my trainers’ was shocking to him. I was still in the mindset of wearing a pair to pieces before moving onto the next, whereas he had always kept his kicks pristine.
So off we headed to Global Sports in Shepherds Bush Market and picked up a brand-new pair of Air Max’s that I was to keep immaculate ha-ha. Little did I know but this shop was to become a massive part of the gifting side to our relationship, many pairs of shoes and New Era hats were bought here for Birthday and Christmas presents. The most memorable being the Jordan Spizike’s in 2006.
The following year, being pregnant and unable to rock the sky-high heels, I soon found myself being drawn back to the comfort of sneakers, mainly to Air Max’s. Over the years I have bought many in different colourways whether they were limited runs or not and designed my most favourite pair of gold Air Max 1s on Nike ID.
On a family holiday abroad in 2015. we popped into the Nike Store and saw the OG Infrareds which hadn’t yet been released in the UK, this was my first taste of ‘limited release’ shoes and the beginning of a passion for collecting sneakers.
Do you have any sneaker regrets and what is your sneaker grail?
My biggest sneaker regret is buying most of my collection in a UK size 5 as now I’m almost a whole size bigger after having my second baby so ultimately most of my collection can’t really be worn for more than a couple of hours. I love, love, love animal print and my sneaker grail is the Nike Air Max 1 Atmos Animal Pack 2.0.
What sneakers are in your rotation currently?
Our hallway shoe rack holds the shoes we wear the most. Mine are currently the Nike Craft General Purpose Shoe (when it’s not raining) and the Patta Air Max 1 Waves ‘Monarch’. The comfort levels on both pairs are amazing and the colours have really carried my ‘Mum on the run fits’ from Autumn through to Springtime. I have to confess that my Pattas are ‘well-loved’.
Now the weather is starting to warm up I will definitely be getting out my Watermelon Air Max 1’s and finally debuting my Air Max Concepts. I genuinely still find it hard to stop myself from wearing the same pair each day and wearing my collection on a rotation.
As a woman in the sneaker industry can you tell us how you’ve been able to navigate yourself in a predominately male space and your experience so far?
I don’t consider myself as woman in the sneaker ‘industry’ and often get imposter’s syndrome at meet ups and events. I’m just someone who loves nice looking things and treating myself. I live strongly by the ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’ school of thought.
I personally have not had any negative experience in what is considered as a predominantly male space. If anything, having the support of my husband and his OG sneakerhead friends have been nothing but encouraging. The husbands and partners of female sneakerheads I’ve met really celebrate the women in their lives having a cool hobby. It’s really a case of the more the merrier!
Although having a baby has put my spending on hold (for now), my passion for sneakers is a part of me. I finally identify as a sneakerhead and feel really happy when my non-sneakerhead friends ask for advice on what to buy or where to look for their own grails.
Through the Community I am a proud member of The Sneaker Sisterhood. The girls uplift and support each other daily. I know I can call on them anytime and consider many of them as family.
They celebrated my pregnancy over lockdown and welcomed my family with open arms. My eldest daughter has become great friends with another members daughter, so the community is reaching further than just an appreciation for lovely shoes which is a beautiful thing.
Aside from sneakers what else are you into?
I love attending music festivals and concerts as well as spending time with family and friends enjoying delicious food! I am also a fully qualified Eyelash extension technician (since 2018) and I’ve been told I bake a tasty vanilla sponge cake :)
What does community mean to you?
Community to me is belonging to a group whilst still being true to yourself. To be accepted for who you are and to be supported by like-minded individuals. Your community should be there for you through good and bad times, always carrying good vibes and a strong sense of family values.
Check out more from Karen on Instagram @asiangracefully
