In Our Words
menu
Andra Williams

Andra Williams is the cofounder of a new site for female sneaker fiends called KICKmySOLE. Read more about her then check out her site. It's hopping!

Age: 34

From: I was born in Jamaica, raised in the Bronx, I currently live in Florida. However, NYC is embedded in my blood.

Is your taste in sneakers influenced by where you’re from?

Yes, being Jamaican we tend to be full of color. If you ask people who really know me they’d tell you that if I’m caught in any sneakers that are loud & colorful, that’s exactly me all day “out & bad”(JA slang)! On the other hand I pay homage to the Bronx, because it was the stores on Fordham Road filled with sneakers that pronounced us sneakers & wife!

When did you start loving sneakers?

I got engaged to sneakers when my parents were still buying my sneakers at a young age I’d say 12 or 13. I married sneakers when I began buying them with my own money.

Did you have a “first love” in your sneaker life?

Yes, my first love for sneakers is the Reebok Freestyle Hi, Classic or aka “The 54-11’s”

What do others say about you being a sneakerhead?

One thing mainly is of course because I am 34 years young, many have said I should think about stopping buying kicks by now. In my rebuttal I say, “You should start thinking about minding your own business now!” I am in no way hurting anyone by buying sneakers. This is something that brightens me up. I have a son & he’s WELL taken care of, so I’m blessed and that means the most.

What’s special or challenging about being a female sneaker fiend?

What’s challenging about being a female sneaker fiend is that I believe we need to be knowledgeable about our kicks. You set a tone for yourself when you know about what you’re rocking. If there is a certain historical moment that is attached to a pair of sneakers you should be able to speak on it off rip. It messes it up when you don’t have a clue as to what kicks you are in possession of, especially if you have some heat. When you don’t know, it works with the myth that females only rock kicks for attention. We want to work against the myth.

What do you do when something bad happens to a really nice pair of sneakers?

Funny you ask because this happened recently. I just lost a member of my collection. My Nike Trainer SC High (Bo Jacksons). I moved to a new house, and they had been sitting in a box for some months now. I live in a HOT climate, and they were in my garage. Needless to say, the sole practically crumbled when I took them out. The sole was detached, the air bubble, everything. It was my fault so I licked my wounds and laid one of my babies to rest... I’m a good sport about losing a pair, nothing lasts forever!

What else would you like to tell other female sneaker fiends?

Camille Bowers and I have created yet another home for the female sneaker fiends to let loose and run rampant on which is www.KICKmySOLE.tumblr.com. I don’t want to spoil it by giving a summary of the site, but let the name intrigue you enough to go check us out. We welcome picture and video submits of anything regarding females and sneakers combined. We are definitely showcasing the female fiends in the sneaker community and we plan on making a big mark. We implore everyone to support us in any way they can. One luv!

(And don't miss them on twitter, Facebook, and more!)

Return Home