CLASSIC KICKS MAGAZINE VOLUME 2 | Page 55

Luis Miguel Lozano years time if it stops retroing models and do- ing these storytelling things, it will all disap- pear. I’m glad to help in that sense and happy that I have this collection. How has technology and social media af- fected vintage collecting? Today, it’s both easier and it’s more difficult. With the entrance of Facebook groups and Instagram, it’s easier because you have access to everything, but fifteen years ago, you could go through eBay and find amazing sneakers at reasonable prices. Today, that’s impossible. You can’t get any bargains. Nike contacted me a few years ago through social media for an exhibition, and from that day on, I’ve been doing things for them. It’s very funny. When I visited the States years ago, I went to Beaverton, Oregon to the Nike campus. I had no invitation. Nothing. It was rainy, and I just went there and said I want to see the campus right now. They told me, “It’s impossible. You can’t.” I said, “I’m a collector!” The woman at the front desk didn’t know about vintage. Another girl said, “Continue that way and go past the Michael Jordan building and make a left down Prefon- taine Hall and tell the girl I sent you.” I asked her if I could see this and that, and I told her that I was a collector and she said, “No you can’t.” I said, “Look, I’ve got pictures. This is my collection!” At that moment, there was a man who said, “Can I see your phone?” I said, “Sure,” and showed him my phone. He said, “These are yours?” I said yes and showed him pictures of me with the sneakers. He picked up his phone and called someone and said, “I’ve got a guy here with an impressive col- lection, and he’s gonna stay here with me as a visitor.” I stayed for four or five days and visited every single area. I visited the DNA, I had an interview with Mr. Howard White, the president of the Jordan brand. I visited everything. I ran on the Hollister track. I went to the private airport. I did everything. I had the full Nike experience, and now I have some relationships there. I’m very lucky. What shoes are you currently searching for? There will always be something I need to im- prove my collection. Recently someone asked me, “What’s the sneaker you don’t have and can’t sleep because of it?” I have everything. The drawings I showed you? I have them all and tons more, so I’m okay with what I have. I would have never thought that I would own all that I own now. I’m very lucky to have all this stuff. I have a lot of people who help me. Volume 2 | classickicks.com | Classic Kicks | 55