Community Collections celebrates 4th of July weekend with a bang, shining the spotlight on a truly electric kick collection. Swinging up to the state where Nike was founded, this week’s subject owns a room full of Swoosh Samples and PEs. Jack Willis keeps his stock of shoes in his hometown of Portland, where he has compiled a stash of silhouettes and style codes that casual fans might not have even known existed. Originally hooked on the Nike Air Force 1 and later hanging out at its endorser Rasheed Wallace’s house, Willis is the owner of everything, from an array of LeBron James samples to an Air Jordan 4 cleat that was only given to a high school baseball team. With a story for every single pair, we scratch the surface of this stellar sneaker stock with a special 10-category Community Collections with personal commentary from the composer himself.
Work your way through the following pages to see and read about Jay’s sneaker stash, including his his Most Rare Pair and Most Frequent Wear. Drop a line on what you think of his collection in the comment section at the bottom of the page, and keep Nice Kicks bookmarked for everything sneakers.
Profile:
Name: Jack Willis
Instagram: @shoeless_jack
City: Portland, OR
Size: 12
Collection Summary:
“My shoe obsession first started in third grade. I was going shopping with my grandma for hiking shoes for an upcoming field trip, when I saw a pair of shoes that I had never seen before. When I walked into Nordstrom’s there they were, a pair of Nike Air Force 1 Mids Black/Red. My jaw dropped, and I was in awe of this shoe. I always had been a fan of the Bulls, so I wasn’t surprised that my first big shoe would be black and red. I got them and everywhere I went I took those with me. I still have them, and finally found a pair in a size 12 not too long ago. Born and raised in Portland, you are brought up in the game. It’s always a part of you, you just have to find that spark. Nike is the Northwest too, so that helps a lot. I got my first pair of samples as a gift for my 11th birthday, and then it just became an addiction. I have never been into hype and just always got what I wanted, whether it be ultra-rare or not, I just buy what I like. As an 18-year-old, I really had no clue that I would love sneakers so much. My parents used to have their own antique store and were always on the hunt for certain pieces. I guess collecting is just in my blood, and we all know the hunt is the best part.”
