We chat to construction worker, public speaker and Offspring Community member Katie aka @Katie_LDN_
Tell us about yourself.
Ohhh it’s like Blind Date (showing my age)! My name is Katie K and @Katie_LDN_ on Instagram, I’m from South East London, and I work in construction. In the construction world I am known as Katie Cranes or the crane lady with pink hair, I have a construction podcast called ‘Tales from the Hook’ and I do a lot of public speaking and speaking in schools about women in construction, apprenticeships, the workforce, skills & training.
How long have you been into sneakers and how did you get into them?
Honestly, I think I have always been into them. I remember back in the day telling my mum I was outgrowing my trainers just to get a new pair – I made it up to a size 7.5 even though I am only a 6 now lol. I remember Reebok Classics were a big thing when I was at school, then I got into 95’s and TN’s. I think the collecting (excessive buying) really started when I started earning my own money and could afford to buy my own.
Then I discovered the scene, the people, the events and honestly it just went crazy – everyone’s collections, purchases, new releases are all over Instagram and it is addictive, completely sucking you in.
Do you have any early sneaker memory?
Not my earliest sneaker memory but one that made my memory bank was wanting a pair of Nike TN ‘Lightning’ so so bad because they just looked epic! My parents never really saw the value in trainers so kept saying no and somehow by the grace of God I ended up with a pair (I guess if you ask enough) anyway I felt like such a bad ass in this pair.
It’s the year 2000, I’m 16, I have a Baby G on my wrist, a Nokia 3310 in my pocket and I’m probably rocking tracksuit bottoms and a spaghetti vest, the TN’s completed every young G ensemble I could imagine!
Do you have any sneaker regrets and what is your sneaker grail?
Regrets is a big word; I honestly try not to have sneaker regrets but maybe my biggest regret was parting ways with my Air Max 1 ‘Safari’ because ‘I thought they didn’t suit me’ ugh! I think my biggest asset in collecting is my patience, I miss tons of things on release, but I move on and if I can’t move on, I sit and I wait for a bargain and when the time is right, I will jump on it.
I have managed to pick up so many pairs this way – Atmos Ducks, Elephants, 90’s Homegrown, 1 Beasts, 90’s Off Whites, Bel Air’s, Toro Bravo 4’s – these dropped in 2013 and I got mine in 2018.
Grail is also a big word and my personal grail that I own is the Nike Air Max 90 ‘Atmos Ducks’, I wanted them for so long and honestly, they are such a banging pair! I bring them out on special occasions, usually Offspring events.
Another pair would be my ‘FreakerSneaks Gameboy’ customs. I remember when they came out in 2018 and there was press all over the internet about the gaming customs that he was knocking out. They were next level quality, and the detail was amazing. A gaming friend of mine offered me his DS pair last year, sadly not my size but they look great on the shelf.
Obvious grails that I don’t own but would love to – Nike Air Max 1 x Patta ‘Cherrywood’, Nike Air Max 1 x Parra ‘Amsterdam’, Nike Air Max 1 ‘Grand Piano’, the list could go on and on!
What sneakers are in your rotation currently?
Anything I can get my hands without too much effort usually makes the cut, but currently I rock black Yeezy 350s for the office, Nike Flyknit Racers from about 10 years ago are thrown everywhere to be called upon at any moment. I have at least three pairs of 1’s out – mostly GR’s but include currently Rebel Skulls, a pair of 97’s and a pair of BW’s. My Off-White x Nike Air Max 90 ‘Desert Ore’ are also a pair I can’t seem to put away.
Recently, you were featured on the SNKRS app to celebrate the launch of the Air Max 1 ‘Crepe’. What was your highlight from this experience?
Honestly what an absolute honour, the fact I was chosen for this meant everything to me, I think I had a little cry when I was asked. It was just such an amazing thing to have been noticed and asked to take part in it alongside such awesome collectors such as @Solelove1 @Danbatch_ and @n1keb4by. Proud moment, I think I showed everyone!
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?
My personal experiences have honestly been great, I work in a very male space that can sometimes be full of ‘banter’, bullying, misogyny, sexism, and a lack of inclusivity. On the other hand, I feel like the sneaker space is trying to make everyone welcome, naturally it has some strides it needs to take in the case of inclusive sizing / female role models and other things, but I feel it is a progressive space and a space that is actively trying to make everyone welcome at the table.
You mentioned you have a construction podcast called ‘Tales from the Hook’ and do a lot of working surrounding women in construction, can you tell us more?
‘Tales from the Hook’ takes a deep dive into the people who make up the construction industry and looks to tell their stories, I hope to inspire, shock, and give the listener some food for thought. I have interviewed all sorts of people from apprentices, CEO’s, content creators and influencers. Season 2 is currently in the works, and I look forward to getting more honest stories out there.
I am really passionate about the industry as it honestly changed my life for the better, I previously went to university and worked in sales for around 10 years before doing my apprenticeship and I always thought to myself I wish I knew about apprenticeships sooner. Apprenticeships and the construction industry are often undervalued and not spoken about in schools. This is why I think it’s important to do the school visits, the assemblies, the career talks. Not that I tell everyone to go and be a crane operator, but I tell them about the industry, the vast number of roles available, the fantastic money and apprenticeships available.
I also think it is particularly important for young females out there to see visible role models, to see people doing a wide range of jobs – kicking ass, doing well. To know that so many doors are open for them and if they want to work in any male dominated industry there are people out there like me doing it and making a living out of it.
I created stickers that I take into schools just for this, hopefully to inspire and show them anything is possible. I have seen them stuck in bedrooms, on laptops on skateboards – it means the world to me. On a side note, the last figures I read is that women in construction only make up around 14% of the total numbers and only around 2% of those work in trades and on site!
Look, you can’t change the world and it’s very hard to change a whole industry, but I was the first female lifting technician to be taken on by my old company and I am proud to have inspired a few more to do the same thing. It’s the small steps that matter and who knows maybe 10 years from now someone will remember a school talk that I did and think I want to work in construction.
Aside from sneakers what else are you into?
I think this could be a whole piece on its own, for as long as I can remember I have always been into a lot of things…
I have always been a gamer all my life and for probably over 20 years I have been collecting retro games consoles and games, a lot of interesting rarities and a lot you would recognise. I also collect carded Teenage Mutant Ninja/Hero Turtles figures and a lot of geek culture items, movie poster, toys etc. I love 80s/90s nostalgia, horror, movies, anime, technology. If it’s up your street, you can check out my collection at @Throwback_Katie
I also love cars particularly BMW’s and have been on the scene since I was 19 when I joined up to BMW forums and went to meets and events. I have had a number of BMWs under my belt and a handful of M cars. That said I am a little less active these days, but I still have my Z4M Coupe which has seen a few laps of the Nürburgring.
When I have time, I also like to dabble in a bit of art, usually inspired by an Offspring competition but it gives me an excuse to make time. It was fantastic to have a piece featured in the Offspring zine for Air Max day. And for normality travelling and cocktails!
What does community mean to you?
Community means to me belonging. I was very much a solo sneaker collector till I discovered Offspring and the Community. I can sometimes be a little hard to coax out to events but honestly, I have always found the Offspring events, meets and collections a really positive experience, and even made some friends.
This was all further enhanced when I joined the Sneaker Sisterhood, a group of fantastic women brought together by a love of trainers and sneaker culture! There is no judgement, and I was accepted straight away. I have made some great friends through these communities and honestly it helps with what can sometimes feel like a slightly isolated life.
Check out more from Katie on Instagram @Katie_LDN_
