At present, Kim Jayde stands tall as Sneaker District South Africa’s head of selling. Having lately celebrated the shop’s grand opening, Jayde’s dedication to stepping out of her consolation zone has earned her the sneakers she fills right now as considered one of her area’s proud representatives within the sneakerverse.
Coming from Bulawayo – a small city in Zimbabwe – Jayde’s love for sneakers has blossomed alongside her skilled profession. A former MTV Base VJ and style blogger, she managed to cement herself as a part of the scene with sneaker content material creation and the founding of her manufacturing home. All through this journey, kicks spoke to her as a chance for self-expression. She shared with us that in South Africa, “a whole lot of the celebrities favor fancy clothes, weaves, nails and so on. and I used to be like yeah, I’m going to do my sneakers and I’m going to do it my manner.”
On this version of Hypebeast’s Sole Mates, Kim Jayde discusses her love of the Air Jordan 4, the rising concentrate on girls within the business, South Africa’s sneaker historical past and her work with Sneaker District South Africa.
Taff Meda
Hypebeast: What sparked your curiosity in sneakers?
Kim Jayde: I come from Zimbabwe the place I used to be raised very conventional – girls put on clothes and heels and boys put on sneakers and shorts. After becoming a member of MTV Base as a VJ, I began touring the world and connecting with artists – oftentimes rappers – and being uncovered to all these folks and cultures, which was eye opening. That introduced me into the world of sneakers tangentially, however it was the primary sneaker {that a} model seeded me that had me hooked for all times.
What’s the story behind that pair?
I’ll always remember it. It was the FENTY x PUMA Bow sneakers and once they arrived I began crying and keep in mind considering “they’re so costly and superb and Rihanna is a goddess!”
What number of sneakers do you personal now?
Positively over 100. At one level, I neared 200 pairs and realized it was an excessive amount of and that there’s really folks that actually want kicks. I labored with Particular Olympics South Africa and was capable of share 60 pairs of sneakers, a becoming solution to cross on what I seek advice from as my “infants.”
How did you construct up your sneaker assortment?
Like many, the Air Jordan 1 was my old flame. Someday, I walked right into a retailer and an affiliate acknowledged me and requested if I used to be there for the drop. I hesitated however stated sure (I didn’t know what was releasing that day) and it was the Air Jordan 1 Excessive “Satin Black Toe.” After I began rocking 1s, folks began reaching out and providing pairs. Earlier than I knew it, I used to be monitoring drops and importing kicks from all over the world that nobody else in South Africa had.
“Cigarettes include a warning, sneakers don’t.”
It’s straightforward to get carried away rapidly.
So rapidly! Cigarettes include a warning, sneakers don’t.
Was this your first pair of Air Jordan 4s?
This Off-White™ collaboration was my first pair, it bought me into the silhouette and apart from it being fireplace, I really like that it doesn’t crease.
Taff Meda
How did you get your fingers on the Off-White™ x Air Jordan 4 “Sail?”
After I left MTV and began my very own manufacturing home, I needed to additional dive into sneaker tradition. I began the YouTube sequence “Kickin’ It With Kim Jayde” the place I interviewed sneakerheads from South Africa and celebrities all over the world. For my first season finale, I used to be capable of hyperlink with DJ Clark Kent. We stored in contact afterwards and when the Off-White™ x Air Jordan 4 “Sail” drop got here round and it wasn’t releasing in Africa, I needed to hit him up. He was so variety and stated he’d put me on “The Record.” Due to him, I paid retail, which is so loopy to me. To suppose {that a} woman from Zimbabwe might join with one of many best hip-hop DJs ever to get sneakers – all due to social media – how superb is that?
What would a Kim Jayde x Air Jordan 4 appear to be?
It’d need to be a colorway that’s straightforward to type – one thing within the neutrals with nudes and grays. I’d undoubtedly embody a reference to my residence nation of Zimbabwe as properly. Not one thing as apparent as a flag however refined colour inclusions or a small design – a bit of nod to Africa to say: that is the place I come from, we’re right here now.
Do you suppose that Jordan Model does a great job catering to girls?
Historically, most of us girls have felt that the dudes get the dope drops. Greater than ever now, males are complaining about not getting their sizes on girls’s drops. It’s nice that they’re catering to us and that extra sneaker manufacturers have us in thoughts. Whether or not it’s producing merchandise, creating women-focused social channels, no matter. I admire it as a result of I really feel like we had been omitted for the longest time.
“[Sneaker culture] doesn’t see colour, gender, or race. When you’re sporting warmth in your ft, respect.”
Are you able to inform us extra about South African sneaker tradition?
The impression of apartheid and the monetary struggles on the time led many to Converse due to its affordability. In consequence, it’s the shoe of South Africa in a manner and carries a big historical past on this nation. These days, because of globalization and social media, every thing goes. There’s a magnificence in how we see everybody sporting no matter they need. Sneaker tradition doesn’t know boundaries. It doesn’t see colour, gender, or race. When you’re sporting warmth in your ft, respect.
Taff Meda
You simply celebrated the opening of Sneaker District South Africa. What in regards to the retailer makes it stand out from the scene there?
Because the peak of the pandemic, getting anybody out of the home to purchase one thing is a problem. What we’re doing at Sneaker District – as they’ve completed in Abu Dhabi – is create an experiential retailer. We now have a full-time customization space with artists that may paint your sneakers any day of the week, alongside providing warmth urgent for attire customization. Past that, Purple Bull created a 3-on-3 basketball court docket and bar whereas a Crep Laundry setup is obtainable as properly. We provide manufacturers from internationally whereas additionally offering a tremendous expertise and constructing a group for younger creators and sneakerheads.
What sneaker model is on the come up proper now?
Reebok goes to make an enormous comeback. As somebody concerned with buys at Sneaker District, I’m aware of trying on the subsequent 12 months’s price of merchandise and it’s fireplace.
“They let a sneakerhead into the boardroom, this sh*t is rarely going to be the identical.”
What’s it like taking a look at merchandise early?
It’s absolute heaven. Once I joined Sneaker District I stated “they let a sneakerhead into the boardroom, this sh*t is rarely going to be the identical.” Creatives and entertainers which can be followers of the tradition don’t ever get to be within the boardrooms the place they make the selections. Deciding stuff like which influencers to contain, how we converse to the market with our branding, what’s the message we’re going to current, and so on. It’s an absolute honor, I really feel like a child in a sweet retailer. At any time when our consumers meet with manufacturers, I gotta be there.
What do sneakers imply to you?
They’re a type of self-expression they usually empower me to be myself. Going to occasions and seeing the entire different girls in stilettos, my kicks let me be completely different and go towards the grain.
