From a sneaker collector to having his own store and brand. This is the story of Chris Robinson, the guy who sees art in a pair of sneakers, not only glue and sole. Having said that, let’s see together what his story has to tell.
Chris Robinson started his unique sneakers collection when he was 14, actually when he got his very first pair of sneakers. Since then, Chris was determined to make a living out of his passion and now he is a successful entrepreneur and one of the biggest sneaker collectors in the world, owning more than 3000 pairs of sneakers.
What makes Chris different than other collectors is his passion and his love for fashion. He strongly believes that he collects art, not just simply some pair of shoes. For him, there is more than the eye can see, more than just sole and glue. It is a routine, a passion and after all, a way of living.
Chris starts his day hunting for rarities. Checks eBay every morning, StockX and Nike. His Instagram account with over 130k followers, reveals a part of his collections. You will be surprised to see not only fancy, expensive sneakers but also some of the samples used by Nike in designing the original pair of shoes. This fact makes Chris Robinson stand out, it is one of the elements that makes him unique in this large community.
In 2011 Chris opened his sneaker store, one of his dreams came true. He was overwhelmed by the fact that now he is the one who creates the lines, not the one standing in the line to buy a pair of the most desirable sneakers. As an entrepreneur, he had the change to share his success with those in need, donating an enormous amount of money to a few charities such as Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation and Doerbecher Children’s Hospital.
One of his goals at the moment is to create a revolutionary change in the way people look at sneakers. Chris would like the ‘educate’ the society to see more than just a pair of shoes, to see the proper beauty, not a fashion element, or a practical item in our life.
We had the honor to ask Chris some advice for the young entrepreneur but not only. His advice is for you, and me regardless of what are your ambitions in life.
“Know what you want to do, and go after it. Don’t listen to the people around you who may say it will never happen. I am a prime example of hard work and perseverance. A lot of people thought I wouldn’t amount to much, and it was my goal to prove them wrong. I love what I do, and am a big believer in the old adage “Love what you do, and you will never work a day in your life.”
If you would like to see his various collection, please feel free to check his Instagram account @SBcollector. His stunning collection will fascinate you and the way every pair of sneakers is organized, will make you follow him for sure. We all have something to learn from Chris’ story. With ambition, hard work and hope you can reach the top of the mountain.