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Nice Kicks: What influenced your style in terms of sneakers?
Roblé Ali: My main influence was not having them…my main influence was being broke. Once I started making a little money, I could finally start doing what I wanted to do when I was younger. As a teenager, of course, you want all the kicks, but not in my family. I had a lot of brothers and sisters. You got one pair of kicks, and you better stretch them out for the whole year. I always had a little hustle, though. I would mow some lawns, sell candy in school or whatever. So I always had some joints, but it was a case where I would wear them to school and that’s it. I’m not playing ball in them, and when I got home, I had a toothbrush and some Windex and I’m cleaning them down everyday!
Nice Kicks: You are based in New York, but you also consider Houston a second home. Can you compare and contrast the sneaker culture of each city?
Roblé Ali: There’s no comparison. I love Houston, but there’s just no comparison. It’s so spread out down there. Here in New York, you don’t even have to drive anywhere. I live in Brooklyn right now. I can leave my house, walk 15 minutes, and pass five or six sneaker shops. They are mom & pop stores too, so they have exclusives. I had one store that I can remember going to regularly in Houston. It’s just different out here.
Nice Kicks: With so many shops to choose from, which are your favorites?
Roblé Ali: If you go on the Fulton Mall in Brooklyn, there are probably five or six places. Just walk up and down the mall, and they are everywhere. For instance when the “Green Camo” Foamposite Pros came out, I wanted those sneakers. I couldn’t go get them because I was working, but I knew when I came back I could go to Fulton Mall and find a pair.
Nice Kicks: Are you into Foams, or did you just like that particular pair?
Roblé Ali: I never had a pair of Foams before. That was my first pair of Foams, but I love those sneakers. They are definitely one of my favorites. I wear them like crazy. Now I love Foams. They are just so comfortable.
Nice Kicks: Do you see yourself going to find some of the older releases now that you have a newfound love for them?
Roblé Ali: Oh yeah! Absolutely. I am going to buy some Foams now. I’m going to get a few pairs. I don’t want to dog these (“Green Camo” Foamposites) out because I love them too much. They are so comfortable.
Nice Kicks: I’m sure with your passion for food, you eat out quite frequently. Are there any high-end restaurants that are sneaker friendly?
Roblé Ali: Well, you have “high-end” restaurants, and you have white tablecloth restaurants. I don’t really go to white tablecloth restaurants. I rarely go to the really fancy, fine dining restaurants because it’s a different experience. For instance, if you go to LaBernadin, which is one of the nicest restaurants in the world, you’re not going to want to wear sneakers. Even if they let you in, you look like an idiot. You need to put a suit on. But nice restaurants, like Stanton Social or Beauty and Essex, you can definitely wear sneakers. I always wear sneakers.
