SOLEBOX x NB x TOOTHPASTE

Hey Hikmet, what's been crackin' since the awesome Snkr Frkr Issue 10 launch in Berlin?

I took time off from work for a two week rehab to get rid of the alcohol in my veins… and I am now rehabilitated! No, no. Just joking. Everything is well and we now have lots of people in Germany asking more and more for Sneaker Freaker Magazine. We don’t have anything similar here. And those who didn’t know you before, now know the number one sneaker magazine!

So you've conquered Puma with the Solebox Clyde and now it's  time to tackle the New Balance 1500. What is your thought process going into collaboration with such major shoe labels, and how do you choose from the extensive array of models?

To be true, I am very lucky to see my passion become my profession. I think this is one of the best things what could happen in somebody’s life. The best part is now companies are asking me to work with them. They are convinced of Solebox’s ideas. The times have changed. But it wasn’t as easy as many think.

I’ve been doing it for a long time, a real long time (over 15 years to be true) and I had moments where companies didn’t take me seriously. They even laughed at my ideas. I think it is really important to trust yourself and your aims. I am sure anybody out there can do what I am doing. But always be sure, if you do something with passion then it works. Do not do something because you have to do it! Do it because you love to do it.

The choice of the style is always based on my taste. You can never argue about taste. It is good that we all think a bit different and have different tastes and opinions. I chose the 1500 because I love the shape, the aggressive form and the simplicity of details. Nothing is unnecessary on this shoe. It is an all-time classic. The saddest part is the U.K. has stopped production of these babies for inline products. So I had to do this as a 1500 fan.