My name is Lisa Martinoni, and I’m from Dongo, a small village on Lake Como in Italy. I work in an office, but my real passion has always been sneakers.
I started getting more and more into sneakers in 2018, when Virgil Abloh announced the Nike x Off-White ‘The Ten’ collection. I was immediately fascinated by the concept, the design and the whole culture around it, and that’s really where my passion started to grow.
Can you tell us your personal top 3 favourite pairs in your collection?
My number one would have to be the Nike x Sean Wotherspoon Air Max 97/1. It was also the first raffle I ever won, so it has a special meaning for me beyond the shoe itself.
Second would be the Nike SB x Futura Dunk. I absolutely love the colourway, and I think the design is incredible.
And third, the Air Max 1 'Elephant' by atmos. I don’t actually own a pair yet, but I’m sure that one day I will. It’s definitely one of my grails.
Which pair was the hardest to get your hands on?
The hardest one to get was probably my first Offspring raffle win for the Air Jordan 1 'UNC'. I remember that I lived in a small village in Italy, quite far from the airport, and at the time I was working and only had one day off a week. So I woke up very early, drove to Milan airport, flew to London, picked up the sneakers at Offspring, and then flew back home all in the same day.
It sounds a little crazy now, but I’m really happy I did it. That pair will always be very special to me because of the story behind it.
You said you first got into sneakers in 2018. What’s it like being invested in the hobby for nearly a decade? Also, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned about sneaker culture?
My relationship with sneakers has definitely changed in a positive way since 2018. I’m still just as passionate about them, but I think I understand and appreciate them on a much deeper level now.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that sneaker culture is about much more than hype or owning the rarest pairs. It’s about the stories, the people you meet, the creativity behind the shoes and, most importantly, having a genuine connection with what you wear.
Over the years, I’ve learned that you shouldn’t buy a sneaker just because everyone else wants it. If you really love a pair, that’s what makes it valuable to you.
What would you say has been your most memorable experience connected to sneakers?
One of my most memorable experiences was being invited to an Offspring London x adidas event in 2019 for one of their collaborations. It was an amazing event, with such a great atmosphere and fantastic people. I would definitely love to experience more events like that in the future.
Another really special memory is Sneakerness in Milan. I met so many people I already knew from the community, as well as new people who shared the same passions and interests that I do. I’m really grateful that sneakers have allowed me to meet so many people.
Has your collection changed over the years?
Definitely. I think both my collection and my approach to sneakers have changed a lot.
I’ve become much more selective with what I buy. In the beginning, I sometimes bought sneakers simply because they were hyped, even if I didn’t genuinely like them.
Over time, I realised that didn’t make sense for me, so I ended up selling some pairs that I had bought purely because of the hype. Now I only want to add sneakers to my collection that I genuinely love and that I can see myself keeping for a long time.
This may be a bit controversial, but do you have a Bottom 3?
Definitely! My Bottom 3 would probably be:
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Nike x Travis Scott Air Trainer 1 SP
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Nike x sacai Blazer
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Air Jordan 1 ‘Fearless’
They’re all important or interesting sneakers in their own way, but looking back, they’re probably the three pairs I regret picking up the most.
Is there a pair you regret missing out on?
The Air Max 1 'Elephant' by atmos, without a doubt.
As I mentioned before, it’s my ultimate grail. I don’t own a pair yet, but I’m sure that one day I’ll have them in my collection.
Is there a shoe you love that you think is underrated?
I would say the PEACEMINUSONE x Nike Air Force 1. I think they’re really underrated. The design is incredible, and I love all the details that make them different from a standard Air Force 1. I feel like they deserve much more appreciation.
What’s your most anticipated drop of the year?
The adidas Jellyfish is probably the release that has surprised me the most this year. It was a really nice discovery for me, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more of it.
Finally, do you have a hot take on sneakers?
My hot take is that I think sneaker culture has become a little too focused on hype, resale value and numbers.
There are so many amazing sneakers that don’t get enough attention simply because they aren’t the “hottest” release of the moment. I think sometimes we forget why we started loving sneakers in the first place.
For me, the best part of collecting is finding a pair that genuinely speaks to you, regardless of whether everyone else wants it. A sneaker doesn’t have to be rare or expensive to be special.
