Aljoscha Kondratiew runs the show over at Solebox. Solebox is one of Europe’s leading lifestyle retailers with two original doors in Berlin (we know you’ve seen the robot arm) and Munich, and newer locations in Amsterdam, Brussels, Vienna and more.
Out of his home base in Köln, Germany, Kondratiew and his team have been preparing for the opening of Solebox’s latest outpost in sunny Barcelona. We tapped Kondratiew to ask him a few quickfire questions about what’s on his feet, what’s in his pockets, and how Barcelona came to be the latest home of Solebox.
First, what kicks are you keeping in rotation lately?
I just added the New Balance 992 “Nimbus Cloud” to my daily rotation, and I’ve been wearing these for three days straight. The light grey with the silvery mesh goes with everything, and they are just extra comfortable.
I also wear the Awake x Reebok Club C a lot, the cream colourway goes pretty well with a lot of Carhartt workwear pieces that I like to wear at the moment.
For me, a pair of classic Air Force 1s or the adidas Samba will always get a fair share of wear throughout the summer months.
How did you choose Barcelona as the home of the latest Solebox store? What do you enjoy about Barcelona personally?
Barcelona is one of those special cities in Europe. First of all, it’s the skateboarding capital of Europe. With the skateboard scene being very present over there, you also have a strong creative community, plus a very international vibe during the summer. I would say a little bit like Berlin, but with better weather and a beach.
Barcelona also has a big impact on European sneaker culture/ I remember the days when Bread & Butter tradeshow was happening in Barcelona. So all those factors provide a great platform for a retail hub like Solebox.
You’re based in Köln, Germany. What is one thing about Köln that you wish people knew?
To be honest, Köln is a love and hate relationship. With my regular schedule and a lot of travel days throughout the year, I enjoy Köln because it allows me to recharge and focus. But on the other side, I enjoy being in the markets where things happen, like Berlin, Paris, NYC, LA and Tokyo. Köln is a very easy city, a lot of students, not that much ego. If you are new in town, you won’t have problems connecting with the city. But I’ll tell you one thing, that carnival is too much.
What is underrated right now? What is overrated?
I think collaborations are overrated at the moment. Yeah, we still get excited, but it takes more and more to top the excitement level of the last hyped drop. I hear three-way collaborations are on the way, and yes I am excited about that, but at the same time, I appreciate a good pair of inline New Balance 992s, Wallabees, classic Air Force 1s or Sambas.
Tell me about a recent big purchase that was not shoes or clothing.
Besides shoes, I am also into furniture and vintage watches. I am looking into something at the moment that I can’t talk about, otherwise, the seller might take advantage of that information.
But the last big purchase was probably a conservative one. I bought an apartment and will probably be in debt for a long time.
What do you keep in your pockets at all times?
Things I always have with me are obviously my iPhone to stay connected, my keys, AirPods, and next to my wallet I always carry a little bit of cash. In Berlin, there are a lot of places that won’t accept card payments so a little bit of cash is always good. Show some love and tip your waiter, cab driver etc. In America, that’s daily business, but in Germany, we are often conservative when it comes to tips. If I experience good service I want to show appreciation and give back to the people. I think that’s only right, so always have a few bills in your pocket.
What does your WFH fit usually look like?
Always cozy. I just invested in a few Aimé Leon Dore uniform pieces and I am not regretting that purchase.
