I can’t remember how I met this lovely DJ just over a year ago, but sharing a mutual love of Old School UKG, we’ve always got something to talk about! You might all remember the exclusive mix that he put together for us a while back.. well, Bannerworx is back for more and this time, he tells us about his sneakers!

Name/Occupation?
BANNERWORX / DJ, Photographer, Marketing.

First sneakers you ever bought?
I’m a bit old to remember, but I can say the Nike Cortez was my preferred sneaker of choice from my youth.

Is there a particular sneaker that sticks out from your youth?
Anything Nike, Cortez, Air Flight’s, Air Jordan’s, Reebok Pumps.

Did you own them?
Yeah, I cherished my Air Jordan’s & Cortez’s, but as luck would have it as a kid growing up in New York, where every street corner had a park with hoops, I thought I could fly like Mike, ended them quickly.

What’s your favourite pair of sneakers of all time and why?
That’s easy, Nike Air Max 95’s, just everything about them, the build, the air support, arch support, lacing up, and the fact that they could be worn straight from the street into the gym, and still support a bit of cross training.

Do you have a pair of kicks in your collection that you don’t wear very often and why?
I’m not that fussy really, but it would have to be my Nike Air Jordan CMFT Max Air 12′s. I bought them on a whim in Nike Town. I was shopping for new AF1’s and I saw them and had to have them. I’ll only wear them if the weather is right, and I’m not hopping on TFL, oh lawd let someone step on them……

Staple everyday pair in your collection and why?
These are my every day beaters! Simple, I wear them to work, wear them to clubs if need be. The Fila’s are my newest beaters, bargain of £20 from JD Sports online, and they are comfortable.

Is there a particular style that you keep re-buying?
2 styles will always be in my collection, Air Max 90’s because they make my feet look small and they are comfortable, and give me a bit of height when they are box fresh. And my favourite style is the Air Force 1 Lo, absolute classic style, which will always be timeless, and with so many variations of the sneaker in the world, you can’t possibly tell me you’ll get bored of them.

Beaters or best for raves?
My rave beaters are definitely my black Air Force 1’s if I’m on the decks, and if I’m doing other work in the club, then it’s the all black Air Max’s, baby wipes have to see them both when I get back home afterwards.

Grails?
Nike Huraches, the White, Blue with hyper Green, think it was in ’89 I wanted them. My cousin had a pair, and they were the envy of everyone in the neighbourhood. I’ve been waiting for Nike to re-release them, once they do, I’m all over that like white on rice!

Furthest you’ve ever gone to get a pair?
Nike Town in Oxford Circus sees me for the purchases really, unless it’s a pair I can get in my local FootLocker.

Latest purchase?
My Fila beaters, but as my birthday is approaching, I’m heading to Nike ID to design 2 new pairs for my collection.

Best sneaker experience?
Had to be my Reebok Pumps. I had the hi-top versions, with the blacktop soles. I loved pumping them up…

Worst sneaker experience?
……..until I broke the pump, on my Reebok Pumps. I think I actually cried, because I had saved up for them as well.

Favourite sneaker stores?
Always Nike Town, then Foot Locker, both on Oxford Street, London.

Any new releases you’ve got your eye on?
Looking at the new Reebok Classics collection that Rick Ross keeps posting up, I know they’ll land here in the UK, but when? And any new colour ways for the Air Max 90’s

Have you got any sneaker related stories that have happened when you’ve been djing at a party?
I purchased some Adidas Stan Smiths, they are blue and yellow, so of course, I matched my outfit to go with them and wore them to a event, where I was up on a stage, during my set, people kept pointing at the bottom of the decks where my feet were and smiling, totally did not know what was there, but when I looked down at my feet they were glowing lol. Yeah glow in the dark paint all over the sneakers, so that was cool.

We both share a mutual love for UKG… how has the footwear ravers wear, changed from the Garage days, up until now?
It’s all changed, in the 90’s (Yes I am that old) we didn’t wear sneakers into raves. Hell, the only 2 people in the UKG scene who could do that was, DJ EZ and Karl “TuffEnuff” Brown, the rest of us had to wear loafers, shoes, Gucci’s. Now it’s a casual thing, no effort is really made by the guys, so they waltz into a rave wearing beaters, dusty Converse, old Stan Smiths. The cleanest footwear you’ll get now are Vans. It’s just not the same.

Anything else you’d like to add?
Big ups, to everyone showing love & support. Lel always my inspiration, Hatcha because if he didn’t kick me up the arse I wouldn’t be back DJing and my boys Shak H, Kallum, Kane, Jacob for having my back.

Check out my website.
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Join my Fan Page.

Lock into my radio show on www.rood.fm Sundays 12noon – 2pm for Sin City recordings.

Check out Bannerworx’s Easter Spesh Mix!

Thanks so much!

@YaniLDN

Instagram – YaniLDN