hello there lovers of sneakers and all things beautiful and tasty. just thought i’d take this opportunity to introduce myself as it looks as tho i will be a regular guest here on the SOLEblog.

my name is Vincent, but you can call me Krupky – my old DJ name from back in the day when i was spinning the funk and disco hits at the clubs and parties. actually that’s where i got my start in design – doing flyers and posters for clubs and bands. these days however, i work mostly with Nike’s Innovation Kitchen (Pantry) and Jordan Brand.  while i’m not exclusive with them, most of my time is spent working with them. i work with Mark Smith, Tinker Hatfield, and Tom Luedecke & Eric Avar mostly, but i’ve done some other work for the Considered group with Jane Savage, Sam McCrackin and the N7 team, and Lee Banks and the Doernbecher gang – i did those funky art pieces last year. i pretty much do whatever i can in order to stay busy and creative – which is no easy task, let me tell you!

i started working with Mark Smith back in the late 90’s but didn’t really hit my stride with him in until the Air Jordan 20 dropped. it was that shoe and the Jordan racing team website that really sealed the deal. i guess he liked what i was doing cause after they got back from the big release party, Mark laid this lovely pair of shoes on me.

while that wasn’t the beginning of my love affair with kicks, it certainly made me realize what it meant to have a truly rare pair of sneakers. and boy was i happy… it was then that i started my first shoe shelf. these days, most of my kicks are in boxes and stored away to keep safe. but i have a few choice ones on display and every once and a while i go thru them and drool and remember when i got them  - like hearing an old song or smelling a familiar smell – taking me right back to the day..

anyway so i’m here blogging and hoping that it might inform, inspire, or ignite you in your quest for the deliciousness of sneakers, art, design culture, and music because all these things are a part of my life and i’ll be sharing them with you. until next time friends…