EunHyuk Lee and the Nike Air Max 97 for Hypebeast’s Sole Mates

EunHyuk Lee is a pioneer in Asia’s streetwear scene. The pro skater turned shop owner is the founder of Kasina — a Korean retail entity whose nationwide retail outposts amalgamate the worlds of fashion, sneakers and skateboarding. Since its inception in 1997, Lee’s streetwear haven has served its visitors with an extensive array of brands including HUF, Stüssy, LRG and its own in-house label, while producing collaborative projects with footwear brands like adidas, Reebok, Nike and New Balance.

Skateboarding silhouettes, Converse staples and Nike Sportswear offerings have all played a profound role in Lee’s life, but he wanted to zero in on his love for the Air Max 97 for his Sole Mates feature. The 97 holds a special place in his heart owing to its unique build, and the fact that it was released the same year that Kasina first opened its doors makes it that much more significant to his journey. His personal collection consists of classics like the “Silver Bullet,” coveted collaborations from UNDEFEATED and Sean Wotherspoon, the Korea-focused “Hangul Day” colorway and more.

Hypebeast caught up with Lee to discuss his favorite aspects of the Air Max 97’s design, how one of Jackie Chan’s films inspired him to pick up a skateboard and how sneakers inspired him to open Kasina.

Who or what got you into sneakers?

Skateboarding. My first encounter with skateboarding was in 1986 when I was in middle school, and it was during a time when movies like Back to the Future, Wheels on Meals and Police Story were very popular. I remember seeing Jackie Chan perform his own stunts on a skateboard in Wheels on Meals. That inspired me to buy one and eventually led me to find a community of local skaters. 30-40 of us would always meet up at Sajik Stadium in Busan and we’d ride together every weekend. By tapping in with them, I started to pay attention to their style and sneakers, and my love for sneakers took off from there.

Do you remember what silhouettes you were into early on?

Growing up, I remember gravitating towards a lot of skate-focused silhouettes. Vans were a major go-to as I loved the Authentic and the Sk8-Hi. This brand called Vision Street Wear made a shoe called the NOS 14050 Shockwave that I loved. And then adidas Nizzas, Converse Chuck Taylors, Etnies, eS Skateboarding and DC Shoes found their way into my rotation as well. At the time, many of these brands were made in factories in Busan, so there was always an endless supply of them at my disposal.

Did you naturally find yourself interested in streetwear along the way as well?

Absolutely. When it comes to fashion, I was influenced a lot by Japanese magazines. I don't understand Japanese, but I remembered trying to follow the skateboarding trick guides just by looking at the pictures. There were also plenty of advertisements in Japanese magazines, so I started to become familiar with more brands through those.

When did the Nike Air Max 97 come into the picture for you?

I was instantly drawn to them when they first came out in ‘97 because the design was so unique. I loved how the midsoles exposed the inner Air unit and how the upper felt like it was one piece. When I got a pair, I would use them strictly for street style outfits. I was scared to skate in them because I didn’t want to ruin them. Rocking 97s with a pair of Levi's selvedge denim and an oversized tee was a huge trend.

Do you have a favorite Air Max 97 colorway?

I love the “Neon Seoul” colorway because it expresses Korean style in a very sophisticated way. Virgil Abloh’s Off-White™ collaboration was done very well, as well as the “Hangul Day” iteration.

Kasina has worked on Air Max 1 and Dunk capsules with Nike in the past. Tell us about that experience.

Working with Nike was everything I could have ever imagined. I was super impressed with how much creative freedom they gave me and how patient they were in working with us through the pandemic.

Has the conversation for a Kasina x Nike Air Max 97 collaboration ever come up?

Not yet, but it’s definitely a model that I want to collaborate on in the future. If it does happen, I want it to be special and arrive during a time when we’re celebrating a major Kasina milestone. It needs to be organic and not just because Nike is pushing it.

"I can credit sneakers for opening so many doors for me and paving my career path."

Is there a person or brand that has had the greatest influence on your personal style?

The brand that influenced me the most was Powell-Peralta. Another moment that made me fall in love with skateboarding was when I watched the movie Police Academy 4: Citizens Patrol because the Bones Brigade, Powell's professional team, made an appearance in it. They were a big group who led the skateboarding scene at the time and I was influenced by their tricks and style. They had legendary skaters like Tony Hawk, Lance Mountain, Steve Caballero and Tommy Guerrero on their squad, the latter of whom was my favorite.

Why are sneakers and their stories important to you?

Sneakers are important to me because they’ve allowed me to find community and build a business. When I look at certain sneakers, I automatically think back to nostalgic time periods of my life. They remind me of my early days skateboarding along with my favorite films and childhood memories. I can credit sneakers for opening so many doors for me and paving my career path.

This issue of Sole Mates was originally posted on HYPEBEAST KR and has been adapted accordingly.

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