Sneaker collections can take a good amount of somebody’s time (and money). But for others, it’s an integral part of their everyday lives. Kaisa Keranen, best known as KaisaFit, has built a fitness empire in tandem with her shoe game. From working out in OFF-WHITE x Nikes to tracking down her favorite Jordan from her past, KaisaFit isn’t afraid to flex.
We had the chance to talk with KaisaFit as she recently hit one million followers on Instagram. She discussed everything from her young sneakerhead days to what’s lacking for women’s footwear.
KaisaFit on her sneaker influence & how she combined her passions
Nice Kicks: Walk us through your journey in combing your passion for fitness and sneakers. What inspired you?
KaisaFit: The truth is, movement and shoes are the two main ways to describe me and have been my entire life. I say it all started when my mom entered me into a crawling race at Nordstrom in which I took first place and got a brand new pair of Nikes. I started my shoe collection at 1-years-old and the rest is history. Growing up shoes and sports were really the only two things I cared about. Every Christmas, my grandpa would take me shopping for a new pair of shoes and best believe I kept those bad boys fresh the entire year long.
From there, my collection just started to grow. By the time I got into high school a new pair of shoes once a year from grandpa wasn’t cutting it, so I stepped my game up and did extra chores whenever I could to save up for the next Jordan release.
By the time I got to college (I ran track at the University of Washington) my obsession hit a whole new level. I got a job at Niketown (the first job I ever had) so I could get the 40% off and continue building out the collection. The problem with shoes is you can never have enough. You obsess about one pair, but once it releases and you get it there are five others you have your eye on. Only lasted a few months at Niketown before I realized a job like that would never afford me the collection I was after, plus I fell in love with coaching movement and the two things came together like the perfect major.
I found a career that I loved and the icing on the cake was that sneakers were part of the uniform.
How KaisaFit stays active during a pandemic
Nice Kicks: A lot of people are stuck at home right now. With gyms being closed, what makes home workouts so important now more than ever?
KaisaFit: For me, movement is always important because it’s one of the best ways to connect and care for your body. Staying healthy is key during a time like this, but it’s also important to be aware of how we are feeling and handle the stress on a daily basis. Being in touch with yourself and knowing what you need, whether it’s a workout or a bubble bath, is vital to coming out of this as healthy as possible.
Nice Kicks: What tips do you recommend for people who are looking to find their rhythm from home during the quarantine/isolation period?
KaisaFit: #JustMove (my motto). But seriously, I think the most important thing for people to remember is that anything is better than nothing. Whether you decide to take a walk around the block or maybe just spend 15 minutes stretching on your mat, your body will feel so much better if you add a little movement into your day.
KaisaFit’s current rotation
Nice Kicks: Your collection is immense. What’s your favorite pair to workout in? What’s your go-to pair when getting groceries or going on walks? Is there a specific pair you’re still hunting down?
KaisaFit: Favorite pair to workout in hands down is the discontinued Nike Flyknit Zoom Agility Trainer. Why they decided to get rid of that shoe is beyond me and still irritates me to this day. I’ve tried to let Nike know that it was a mistake on many occasions.
Daily go-to pair is OFF-WHITE x Nike VaporMax. I have worn the shit out of those shoes, and they’re still my favorite all day every day. One of the most comfortable shoes ever made.
The crazy thing is that I have been waiting for the Air Jordan 11 “Bred” to come out for the longest time. They were the only “dream” pair I had since they were the first pair I really remember dreaming about and standing in line for when they released. So of course I had to grab those when they came in December.
KaisaFit’s thoughts on brands and their sneakers geared toward women
Nice Kicks: Brands have been more intentional in creating sneakers and collaborating with women for some great collections and stories. Is there a specific sneaker that’s your favorite? What more can brands do for women? Are there any talks about your own shoe or some type of collab?
KaisaFit: I think there have been some fun collaborations recently. But I have to be honest, I, unfortunately, think we still have a long way to go here. I rarely purchase a women’s shoe, but I did grab Olivia Kim’s and Melody Ehsani’s collab with Jordan when they released. Other than that, most women’s shoes are a hard pass for me. There always seems to be something off with them, but there are some fire female designers so I’m hopeful for what’s to come.
No talks currently about my own shoe or collab but if I could make any dream come true, a Nike collab would probably be it. Fingers always crossed. Until then I’ll keep rocking this shit out of the most important accessory there is.
Thanks to Kaisa herself and Bart for making this possible. Be sure to follow Kaisa on Instagram and her YouTube channel for more.
