Name: Emmanuel Coley
Branch: Air Force
Rank: SSgt.
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Currently stationed in: Biloxi, Mississippi at Keesler Air Force Base
Years in the service: 10yrs
How long have you been collecting sneakers and how many do you have? Since 1993.
Top five sneakers of all-time?
1: Jordan VI Carmines
2: Jordan Olympic 7
3: Air Carnivore
4: Air Trainer III VIOTECH
5. Air FOAMPOSITE 1
What sneaker started you collecting shoes? The sneaker that started it all for me was the Nike Air Mowabb. It was something different and I always wanted to be different.
What is the next shoe you plan to grab? The next shoe I plan to grab is the LeBron VII “Dunkman.” It is just so classic and the color scheme is right.
What is your favorite sneaker in your closet? My favorite sneaker in my closet right now? I would have to say my CARMINES. I just love looking at them. I get lost LOL.
If you had to pick one shoe to represent your military branch, what would it be and why?
The shoe i would pick would be my Tuskegee Air Force 1’s. I would pick them because through adversity anything is possible.
What is the worst part of trying to collect shoes and serve at the same time? When the Air Yeezys dropped I was in Iraq, and by the time I found out it was to late to get a pair.
Do you ever try to work sneakers into your military-assigned attire? I have a premium AF 2 but that is probably the only one.
Do you own a lot of blue/yellow sneakers since you’re in the Air Force? If so, what’s your favorite navy sneaker? I would have to say my Blue and Yellow Huarache trainers.
What is the best part of being in the armed forces? The best part to me is helping others that are not in the armed forces it gives them a chance to see that we are people just like them and we have struggles also.
Since you’ve been all around the world, what’s your favorite sneaker store? My favorite sneaker store would have to be Flight Club.
If you could design an Armed Forces sneaker, what shoe would you use and how would you create it (colors, materials)? If i could create a sneaker for the Armed Forces I would definitely use the AF1 because it is a very classic sneaker. The color scheme would have to be olive green, black and tan.
Any good shoe-related stories? I remember the first time I saw Jordans. I was hooked. I was in the 8th grade and I asked my mom to buy me some and she said no. So the entire summer I did odd jobs to make money (cut grass, take out trash); you name it, I did it. I wanted those Jordans so bad. I saved up enough money to buy them, and now I can’t stop buying them.
