Ashley Hall is a prime example of what it means to truly engulf one’s self within the sneaker community. Hall’s dedication to sneakers started in her early childhood, with her mom scoping out a pair of Jordan 2s just for her. Since then, her obsession with sneakers has led her to a full-time career working in media and content creation and developing a collection of over 100 pairs.
We chat with the Rate ‘Em show host on her journey within sneakers, growing up as a young collector, and how her Blackness has helped define her experiences within the sneaker community.
StockX: How did you get into sneakers/streetwear? Was there someone in particular or a specific moment that introduced you to this culture?
Ashley Hall: I’m a Bronx girl, so sneakers and streetwear are part of the uniform. My mom bought my clothes growing up, so she always made sure I had what I wanted and needed. She’s actually the reason why the Chicago AJ2 is my favorite shoe. She saw them, thought they were cute and we went on a hunt to find them. So I’d say she played a big part in my introduction to sneakers and streetwear.
SX: How long have you been collecting sneakers?
AH: I’ve been collecting sneakers since childhood. Unfortunately, I got rid of a lot of older pairs [out of stupidity], so I’m on my 2nd collection, which dates back to 2010/2011.
SX: What about sneakers/streetwear culture resonates with you?
AH: With sneaker and streetwear culture, I love that Black and Brown people, especially Black women, took things that may not have been seen as high fashion and made it fashion. It’s what we’ve always done and continue to do. I think the part that resonates with me most is the impact that Black women have had and continue to have on the culture. Women were mostly the ones buying clothes for their kids, nieces, nephews, etc., and men usually get dressed to impress women, so I think it’s safe to say that [Black] women have had the biggest impact on sneakers and streetwear as we see it today.
SX: Which sneaker or piece of streetwear do you connect with the most and why?
AH: There are so many pieces in sneakers and streetwear that I connect with, but I’ll speak to my love for the AJ2, specifically the Vashtie 2. I’ve loved 2s for years, since my very 1st pair, so when I saw there was the first-ever women’s Jordan collaboration, I needed to get my hands on them. I was also in the beginning stages of rebuilding my collection, so I knew the value this shoe would add. I don’t wear them as often, but the Vashtie 2 is still one of my favorite collaborations to this day.
SX: What was sneaker/streetwear culture like when you were first getting into it? Was it popular amongst the general mainstream public or was it still considered a niche hobby?
AH: When I was first getting into sneakers/streetwear culture, I’d like to think it was niche because it was popularized and celebrated in Black and brown communities. However, that was my mainstream because that’s a majority of what I saw in my neighborhood. I loved going to school the week after a sneaker release to see what my classmates were wearing and to talk about what we picked up over the weekend. I also feel like we’ve always seen sneakers and streetwear culture in the mainstream; it was just really specific to who was wearing it. Now, you can’t blink without seeing sneakers and streetwear in the mainstream.
SX: What is your view of Black culture’s contributions to sneaker/streetwear? How do you feel as though you’ve contributed to the ongoing culture?
AH: Black culture has always been a major contributor to sneaker and streetwear culture. I still feel like we don’t get the praise and respect that we’re due, but we know who makes things move. I think what we see on runways and the media we see/consume are clear indicators of the impact Black culture has on sneakers and streetwear. We’ve always been fashionable and had style, but it’s never seen as that until it’s made palatable for the runway. I feel that I’ve contributed to the ongoing culture in a few ways: I share my love for sneakers and streetwear through my work, I work with and celebrate Black-owned brands and designers, and I work with brands that are in alignment to what I’m doing. There’s always more work to be done, but I’m proud of my contributions thus far.
SX: How do you think Black culture will continue to add to the ever-growing sneaker/streetwear scene?
AH: Black culture will continue to be the trendsetters. I like that we reinvent and recycle when it comes to fashion, and we breathe life into pieces and brands that once were. For example, we’re seeing a lot of resurgence of brands that we wore years ago, in junior high school and high school, which is really dope. We’re always ahead of the [fashion] curve; it’s just a matter of time before everyone else catches up.
