We chat to Offspring Community member Cameron aka @metrajeperdido
Tell us about yourself.
Hi all! My name is Cameron, 20 years old, born and raised in Birmingham—arguably the next best thing after London! I’m in my final year of university studying physiotherapy, and life for me is all about balance: sports, sneakers, streetwear, travel, family and friends – all of which shape how I move through the world, helping me live my best life every day.
How was it growing up? What was the sneaker and fashion scene like up there? What were you guys wearing?
Growing up in Birmingham, you are surrounded by culture and diversity, which gives everyone a strong sense of identity - something I’m proud of as a Brummie and has helped me navigate life. For me, fashion and sneakers are always going to be the easiest way to express that identity. There’s always time for a quick trip to the Bullring, hitting up the sportswear and sneaker stores that help define our style.
Growing up you’d often see classics like Nike Air Max 90s, 97s, TNs, Air Huraches and of course Air Force 1s on the streets - these were staples. And when it came to Adidas it was Superstars and the Adidas NMD or Flux at one point, whilst always being able to spot Gazelles when it comes to that iconic football culture.
And there’s no doubt we always kept a close eye on trends from the UK’s fashion capital, London, making sure we didn’t fall behind.
How many languages can you speak?
I speak three languages: English, Spanish, and French. Growing up bilingual with both Spanish and English, and later picking up French from the age of 11. I also tried learning Chinese for five years, which was a challenging yet rewarding experience to say the least. Languages have always been important to me - they’ve unlocked so many opportunities and allowed me to connect with people in ways that go beyond words.
How long have you been into sneakers and how did you get into them?
Like most people, I’ve been into sneakers for as long as I can remember. It was always naturally on my mind—probably from the pressure of wanting to have the best pair on feet in my friend group or class, even going back to the primary school days. I remember asking my mum for Nike Blazer Highs in Year 4 or the triple black air max 90s in year 5.
As I moved through secondary school, I began straying away from trends and focusing more on that sense of identity I mentioned earlier — going for pairs that resonated with me or carried respect and history beyond just school culture. One that really stands out now that I think back to, was the Nike Air Max Deluxe, the bros looked at me funny and couldn’t see the vision!
Football played a huge role too — religiously scouring the internet for the latest boot reviews that the biggest stars were rocking on the pitch. And something I’ve always done, when playing in my school or weekend league games, and still do to this day is remember the opposing teams’ players not by their shirt number or face but by the boots they had on feet. It just made sense.
You’ve been part of the community for a long time, but interestingly your mum was there first with you in tow... this is beautiful to see and quite unique. Tell us more about this special relationship.
My mom as many of you will know is incredible. One of the many things she’s blessed my life with is always being true to herself when it comes to fashion and sneakers, she loves her colours and comfortable style – infecting me from young. Some may say she’s the OG sneakerhead in the house, but little did I know that whilst watching my sneaker YouTubers or scrolling through the SNKRS app back in the day, she was taking notes.
End of 2019 was when it got serious, sneakers were on the Christmas list as per, and so we came across the Air Jordan 1 ‘Blood Lines’ – she took an immediate interest which I thought would be for me instead for herself! I remember entering for the Jordan 5 Retro Off-White Muslin on the SNKRS sneakily one morning and to my surprise my prayers were answered so it was time to reveal the £169.95 price tag to mom. It took little convincing for her to be invested and she knew exactly how special this win was for me. Our introduction to Offspring then came along naturally and was the perfect way for me and my mom to share the passion and journey that we are on when it comes to sneakers – always trying to help each other out for whatever drop and attending the best drops and events Offspring and London have to offer. It’s only added to the already special journey of collecting sneakers. (I’m a mommy’s boy if you couldn’t already tell.)
Who’s got more shoes, you or mum?
I’d love to say it’s me, but honestly, I think my mom still has me beat! She’s got the heat, and we all know everything looks so much better in small sizes. One thing I can say is, comparing our collections and hyping each other up whenever one of us lands a new drop never gets old!
What’s your most prized sneaker and item you have?
Right now, my most prized sneaker has to be the Nike Air Max 95 x Lorenz.OG Volcano, which I picked up earlier this year. Beyond the aesthetics, they hold a special memory for me, as do many others. The whole spontaneity and uncertainty around the day, living that golden ticket, Charlie and the chocolate factory moment with mom right by my side and our community friend Shivani cannot be beaten - especially getting to meet Lorenz.OG himself. The moments that unfolded throughout that day make these kicks priceless to me.
It’s nice to see that you have a variety of shoes, from adidas Wales Bonner to New Balance. How would you describe your style?
I take pride in having a versatile collection, with a bit of everything, as long as it’s true to me. There are so many great brands and silhouettes out there that I think it would be wrong to conform to a particular one in my opinion. The same goes for how I dress. While some people might say I have a style, I like to think I’m always open to new inspiration, especially from the greats in the community. I’m always willing to try something new if I see the vision—but of course, that’s sometimes easier said than done! A lot of my inspiration comes from how my mom helped dress me when I was younger. She always made sure I was stepping correct, matching that youthful energy with the perfect fit.
Do you have any early sneaker memory? Where did you shop back in the day? Take us down memory lane.
Who hasn’t had the classic school uniform battle, trying to find a pair that could somehow fool the teachers into thinking they fit the uniform policy? The rules were strict: triple black, leather shoes. Most of my friends went straight for Adidas Superstars, but I knew that was too risky. I had my eyes on one pair and one pair only - Air Force 1s... perfection. But my mum had other ideas. She took me back to her teen years and introduced me to the Reebok Club C 85.
At first, I wasn’t sold. My friends weren’t tapped into that culture yet, and neither was the school. After a week of eyeing them, the headteacher pulled me aside and made sure to let me know they weren’t acceptable, even going as far as including ‘Reebok trainers are not part of the school uniform’ in the weekly newsletter! From that point on, I knew I had something special on my feet. That supple leather still stands out in my memory.
As for where I shopped, it was all about browsing local sneaker stores, you never knew what you might find on the sales rack or shelves. I vividly remember my mum picking out a pair of Nike Air Prestos. To me, they almost looked like football boots, and they were so comfortable. In the perfect colourway, too - something that matched all my Marvel or Disney graphic tees and jackets. Perfection in a shoe that joined me on all my young creative endeavours.
Do you have any sneaker regrets and what is your sneaker grail?
I don’t know about you, but I can never resist browsing the marketplaces for grails or pairs I’ve been after for ages but just can’t seem to find in my size, let alone DS. One of those long-time chases has finally been ticked off the list: the Nike SB Dunk High Carpet Company. It’s been three years in the making, and with a bit of luck, I stumbled upon them. Without hesitation, I pulled that trigger, almost wanting to put them in a frame to hang on my wall. But the Travis Scott Air Jordan 1 High ‘Mocha’ are still on that list!
Sticking with the online marketplace theme, a sneaker regret has to be the Corteiz Air Max 95 ‘Les Bleus.’ With the lowest stock out of the trio, it was a now-or-never moment when my mom found a pair on eBay in my size for a fair price during the early days. And you guessed it… I said no to completing the pack! Big regret.
What sneakers are in your rotation currently?
Generally, my rotation fluctuates mainly between Nike Dunk low SBs, Nike Air Maxs and finally New Balances when I’m feeling a change. With the shorts packed away for the winter months, it’s all about making more selective choices - sneakers that work well with most of my jeans/joggers and those that can handle the unpredictable UK weather. We all know how it is over here, so stepping correct is essential, especially when it comes to sneaker materials and durability.
Aside from sneakers what else are you into?
Outside of sneakers, I’m big into football like most people (a Manchester United fan over here) and all things sports. Sports have always been close to me, much like my love for traveling, streetwear, and exploring different cultures. I think these interests tie back to my natural passion for languages and that sense of identity that is present throughout them all.
As I’ve grown, I’ve also come to appreciate how important it is to understand myself and keep growing - not just academically, but personally. Whether it’s through listening to podcasts, reading books, or trying new things, I’m always looking for ways to improve. The key is maintaining an open mind.
Finally, what does community mean to you?
Community, to me, is a space where people who share the same passions can come together to create a sense of identity and belonging. For me it’s also a place where we can disconnect from the demands of everyday life and immerse ourselves in what we love. Whether it’s sharing our own unique interpretations or celebrating others' similar opinions, community allows for that freedom of expression. The attraction of it lies in its constant evolution - there’s always room for growth, new ideas, and connections forming amongst people, with no constraints holding us back in my opinion.
Quick fire
Who’s got a better collection – you or mum?
Mum – it has to be said!
One shoe mum has that you wish you had?
Nike SB Dunk High Ishod Wair x Magnus Walker, the Jordan Jumpman Jack ‘Sail’ or the A Ma Maniére Jordan 3 ‘Raised By Women’.
Midlands or London?
The midlands used to have my heart but you can’t beat the London energy. We gotta step up our game.
Lots of love to everyone and thank you for reading!
