New Journalists Start at FSF

FSF is always looking for great writers, and this summer we're proud to announce our two newest journalism interns, Louise (aka Weezy) Hoffman from Norwich, London, and Ally Levine from Ithaca, NY. Louise will greatly increase our coverage of England and Europe, and Ally promises to improve our coverage of girls in the skate scene... But their first assignment was to interview themselves, so here they are!

"Air Weezy"

What’s your full name? Louise Hoffman, but everyone calls me Weezy.
Where are you from?  I’m from the UK, living in a city called Norwich which is about 2 hours away from London.
How old are you? 25
What else do you do? I have mostly worked at magazines, including The Manufacturer, which is a national trade publication. I started as an assistant but ended up running the whole thing! Right now I’m doing a little temporary office work and some freelance writing. In my spare time I often help out at my friend’s independent sneaker store called Main Source, and I will now be repping FSF!
 

When did you realize you were a sneaker fiend?
When I pushed some dude across a club because he stepped on my new shoes! Oops….

What do family and friends think about you being a sneaker fiend?
My parents think I’m wasting my money. I always tell them they should count their blessings – I could be spending it on crack.

Describe the life of a pair of your sneakers.
Man, I treat my shoes GOOD! I clean them with baby wipes pretty much every time I wear them. They are all displayed in my room – I like to be able to see them, not keep them boxed up. I have a few pairs which I like to call my ‘play shoes’; those are the only ones I allow to get dirty. I wear them to work, BMXing, and if I have any doubts as to the underfoot conditions of my destination!

Do you have a favorite pair of all time?
I have several favourites – my Nike Snow Waffle II (black/yellow/green), my Santana Edition Dunk High Premium, and my black/gold vintage Vandals (a shoe for all occasions!). But my most recent discovery is the Air Max 90 Current. Wearing those is like walking on a cloud…

Do you think it’s different being a FEMALE sneaker fiend? 
It definitely is different, over here at least. It’s probably because there are less females rocking kicks than males. Most of the females in the UK are all about their heels or pumps. I have time for those too, but wearing what I want and not following the crowd makes me stand out, especially to men. Some like it, some hate it. But that’s what life is all about! Anyways, it’s always nice to be the only female who can still walk properly after a night out, and not end up stumbling about like a lame horse, or resorting to bare feet and getting tore up by broken glass.

How do you recognize a FSF? She’s looking bad ass!

Speaking of looking bad ass, here's Ally Levine:

"Ally Force 1"

What's your full name? Ally C. Levine
Where's home? Born in Stamford, CT. I consider “home” in Ithaca, NY. Now living in Brooklyn.
How old are you? 22 years-old
What else do you do? I just graduated from Ithaca College, am somewhat of a workaholic, write creative non-fiction, research subcultures, sketch and take notes on life, collect sneakers and tattoos, and work at a skate shop in Manhattan. Just trying to become a literary journalist.   

How much will you spend on a sneaker?
As far as price ranges, I’m a college graduate fresh out of school, so the piggy bank is limited these days; but I’m definitely willing to drop two hundred and eat Ramen noodles for the next couple weeks for the perfect pair of sneakers.

Do you have a favorite pair of all time?
I don’t currently own my favorite pair of all time. The Thrashin SBs would be my ultimate sneakers. Or the Bloody Sundays. Told you I was loud! Really though, picking an all-time favorite is like discriminating against my children, ha-ha. Love them all.

What do your sneakers say about you?
My sneakers say something about my femininity. Sneakers aren’t generally perceived as the feminine ideal in footwear. I make a point to try and challenge feminine ideals whether with body modifications or sneakers. I believe beauty and aesthetics shouldn’t be confined to any particular interpretation. In my opinion, sneakers on women are ten times more attractive than on men because they are a reclamation of something socially masculine. So when a girl can pair sneakers with a cute dress—that’s awesome.

How do you recognize a FSF?
FSFs carry themselves with confidence and walk with swagger that others lack. For me, necessary capital-A-attitude distinguishes the role of any given female sneaker fiend. You can tell that they have a sense of pride about the kicks they’re wearing. And if they’re spotless, then you know they’ve got their toothbrush and Windex somewhere near their shoe rack. I know I do, ha-ha.

How does who you are impact your being a sneaker fiend?
I think being some petite Jewish white girl covered in tattoos might make people second guess my sneaker enthusiasm. Everybody and their mom have been rocking Dunks lately, which doesn’t necessarily make you a sneaker collector or sneaker fiend. It’s the same with tattoos. Both have become mainstream trendy. What people sometimes overlook is the relativity between these facets and the underlying appreciation for art that ties them together. Tattoos, sneakers, music, graffiti, any creative outlet—those with a respect and passion for the arts make true sneaker fiends and tattoo collectors.

So there they are! Get ready for more coverage of England and Europe, not to mention the skate scene and sneaker tattoos!