Evian Chow is one of China’s most reputable sneakerheads and even in the U.S, the Chinese Sneaker collector has managed to make a name for himself thanks to his Sample / PE photos making it to major blogs. Alongside Clot INC, Frank 151 managed to interview Evian Chow on behalf of his collection and gives us an in depth look Chow’s Stash. Get ready for some PE Heat after the Jump!
Interview: CLOT Inc.
Photos courtesy of: Evian Chow
There are plenty of sneakerheads in every country. But a very few stand out from the pack as their collections are far more limited and superior. Here’s a candidate for China’s biggest sneakerhead.
Name: Evian Chow.
Age: Twenty nine.
Location: Guangdong Zhong Shan.
How long have you been collecting sneakers?
Since 2008.
What type of sneakers do you collect?
I brought home everything I liked when I first started collecting. In the past two years I’ve focused more on basketball shoes, worn or designed by athletes. I also collect some streetwear shoes.
Do you have a favorite pair?
Every single pair, because they all took a lot of time, effort, and passion to get.
What’s the one sneaker that you want but don’t have?
A pair of my own design, with my own logo.
Do you wear your sneakers?
I buy two pairs for that: a pair for wearing and a pair for my collection.
How do you store your sneakers?
Everyone has their own method of storing shoes. I store mine in a room with regulated temperature and humidity. The shoes that require special care will be vacuum-sealed.
What was the shoe that got you into sneakers?
AJ23 North Carolina.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to get a pair?
I think what I do is already very crazy. For the past five years, I’ve spent at least two hours on the Net everyday searching for sneakers. Because of the time difference, I set my alarm and wake up in the middle of the night, at least once a month, to place a bid.
If I had to give an example, it’d be the Jordan Brand x Converse pro-leather sneakers. They only made 23 pairs in the whole wide world. I had a friend hand deliver them from the States because the shoebox was made of wood. It was big, heavy, and very delicate, so shipping was not an option.
If a pair of shoes has more than one color, do you buy one in every color?
It depends on the design. I have 60 pairs of Hyperdunks in different colors.
Does the amount of hype around a shoe determine whether or not it’s worth collecting?
I go out of my way to collect the shoes I like. If I don’t like them, then it doesn’t matter how valuable they are. So hype has no place in my collection.
What do you look for when a new pair of shoes is released?
There are new shoes coming out every month. I basically buy all the ones I like. But I have to be more selective as I’m running out of space to store my shoes.
Are you the biggest sneakerhead you know?
In terms of quantity, there are a lot of “bigger” sneakerheads. In terms of quality, I guess I would be one of the best in China.
Which shoes do you love to show off the most?
I want to show off every single pair because I’ve spent a lot of time and effort to bring all of them home. My dream is to someday have my own sneakers exhibition.
Why do you love sneakers so much?
I just love them. You can’t explain love.
