JULIAN X Words : Nick Santora | Photographer : Julian X
Location : USA via Liverpool U . K . | Age : 40 ’ s | Occupation : Unknown Collection : 550 pairs
People come to love sneakers for many different reasons . Depending on your age and geography , the paths are different , but the destination is essentially the same . The connection can be triggered by an athlete , entertainer , or just an older kid at school , flexing with the craziest sneakers you ’ ve ever seen in your life . It ’ s the combination of time , place , and perfect design , that creates specific brands or sneakers that resonate with us . In the case of Julian . growing up in Liverpool during the early 1980s , shaped his love for adidas .
Within the term “ sneaker culture ” live many different subcultures , like the so-called “ Casuals .” It ’ s a term I ’ ve read about , but understand better after my interview with Julian . It started in England during the time he was growing up , and comprised of a combination of elements , including soccer , luxury tennis attire , and most importantly , adidas trainers . Through soccer , Julian and his friends traveled as lads across Europe , blowing entire food stipends on sneakers and apparel , at the first sporting goods store they could find . Before the world became smaller with technology , sneaker distribution was much more regional . If you wanted a pair of adidas Stockholm back then , good chance you had to hop on a train to Sweden in order to find them . On every trip , you hoped to go back home with a model or colorway nobody had even seen before .
After securing a fresh new pair of adidas to compliment your team ’ s soccer jersey , the final step to obtaining the Casual look , was to add a tennis jumper to your outfit . This is when European tennis brands transcended the country clubs and became part of everyday youth culture in the U . K . Many of the prime pieces included the Bjorn Borg FILA , John McEnroe Sergio Tacchini , and adidas Ivan Lendl signature collections . Hip hop gets all of the recognition for incorporating luxury athletic apparel into street fashion in the late 1980s , but these guys were also doing it on the other side of the pond , possibly even before it was happening in Hollis , Queens .
For a window into the rise of adidas and its influence on generations of British youth culture , enjoy this interview with Julian .