(BALTIMORE – February 14, 2026) – I first heard Mario Armstrong claim to be a sneakerhead years ago. I stored it in the back of my brain. But truth be told, I have always been a sneakerhead, long before the word even existed.
It was 1977. I had just gotten a pair of Nike Bruin sneakers. Leather kicks were brand new to us. Before that, it was Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars and Jack Purcells. Other brands tried their hand, but by 1980, I had officially fallen in love with a pair of red suede Pumas. To this day, that love remains.
More Than Just Shoes
In urban environments, your sneakers are part of your identity. It is a cultural phenomenon, likely as old as man himself. I understand what it feels like to look down at your feet and see brand new kicks.
That feeling? Priceless…