rolands-inspiring-story

Exploring Fashion and Culinary Passions with Roland: A Sneaker Enthusiast's Journey

My memory of Air Max takes me back to my school days, where everyone seemed to be rocking those iconic Air Max 95s, or as we called them, "110s." It was almost a rite of passage to own a pair. At that time, I was more into skate shoes and Nike SBs, but the peer pressure got to me, so I eventually got a pair in black and dark grey to wear at school. They allowed me to maintain my skater image while still fitting in with the crowd.

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But the real turning point came in 2007 when I first laid eyes on the atmos 'Animal' pack. Those shoes spoke to me on a whole other level, and they remain a Grail item for me to this day. That's when my profound love affair with Air Max 1 and the 90s began, and I've lost count of how many of those shoes I've owned since.

Beyond sneakers, my biggest passion in life is food. I come from a background where we appreciated and enjoyed all kinds of cuisine, so it's always been a significant part of my life. I'm an enthusiastic home cook, and a few years ago, I decided to take my love for food a step further and became a chef. I could spend every day experimenting with food and discovering ways to make it as delicious as possible.

A typical day in my life could be summed up as a "professional moocher" constantly on the move. I love staying busy and having a variety of activities to fill my day. I usually start by contemplating life over a cup of coffee, then I head to the markets to see what's fresh and exciting – it's all about discovering unique ingredients. After that, I make my way to Nomad, our cafe, where I meet with fellow chefs to brainstorm new menu items for the week or plan for the future.
Once work is done and I'm back in my flat, it's a pretty relaxed time. My flatmate is a music producer/beatmaker, so I enjoy unwinding by making more delicious food and listening to his creative process. We chat, listen to some beats, discuss random ideas, and think about the future – it's a cycle that repeats.

As for my fashion sense, there's a clear distinction between my work attire and my personal style. At work, it's all about functionality. I prefer canvas clothing because it doesn't stain easily, and when it comes to footwear, it's almost exclusively Birkenstocks or Crocs in attack mode. Comfort and practicality are key in the kitchen.

Outside of work, my fashion is a bit more eclectic. I don't really have a go-to "look." I'm deeply inspired by Japanese streetwear and how they like to push the boundaries of fashion. One constant in my personal style is that I always go for oversized clothing, and I'm a stickler for color coordination. I tend to stick with a limited color palette at any given time, and I'll tell you one thing – skinny jeans are not my thing. They can go straight in the bin.

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Source image: https://blog.size.co.uk/2021/03/23/a-liverpool-cafe-owner-who-has-an-affinity-with-classic-air-max-roland-has-a-great-story-to-tell/