SOLE PREDICTIONS: TUSA MAMBA

Words: Nhlanhla Masemola | Images: Instagram

The turn of 2020 marked a new year and decade, promising fresh sneaker drops that will undoubtedly shape sneaker culture to come. We may not have a crystal ball here at Superbalist HQ, but what we do have are a few in-the-know folks from whom we can get a glimpse of what's coming up in the world of sneakers. In this edition of Sole Predictions, we chat to Tusa Mamba, who was kind enough to take a few minutes out of his day to guide us. At the age of 23, Mamba left his studies to pursue his passion for streetwear and opened DIPSTREET, an ultra-cool streetwear and sneaker store. Read on for what the influential store owner and sneakerhead had to say.

What single sneaker do you own that you’re loving right now?

50/50 between my Nike Air Force 1s and my ASICS Gel-Lyte IIIs.

And what do you look for in a sneaker? How many pairs do you own?

Colours, textures and silhouette. I’m a UK 11, so not every silhouette looks good on me. I stopped counting [how many pairs I own] a while back, but it should be around 250. I got rid of a lot of shoes last year.

What do you believe makes a classic sneaker a classic?

Timelessness and that it works with everything, regardless of style and trends.

Sneaker culture has come a long way... What is your opinion on the state of it in the last five years?

It was a very niche market before. I feel like it’s hit a plateau, because everyone is a “sneakerhead” now and it’s driven by hype and reckless spending instead of individual taste.

And what about the nature of hype? Is it the same as it’s always been?

It’s crazy now. I’d hate to have a teenage child in this climate. It’s all about who can pay the most or what will get the most likes. So you get a lot of really dope general releases or collab sneakers that aren’t as hyped that are missed.

The fashion industry is at a crossroads between streetwear, sneaker culture and luxury fashion. Do you think these spheres will ever separate again?

I think people are only noticing the crossroads now because sneaker culture has always been slept on. I mean, what is streetwear? There are different types and I feel like people like to box people into a specific style or category. Personally, I’ve always liked everyday clothing and shoes. In general, the only thing that has changed is the budget. Most sneaker lovers I know have always been into luxury fashion.

What do you think sneakers will look like for the rest of the year? Do you think there’s a general trend that will dominate? Will tastes change dramatically post-COVID-19?

I don’t think tastes will change because of the virus, just spending, because a lot of people are losing income during this time. There will be a lot of drops, because most got postponed due to the virus. In terms of style, I think [sneakers will become] less chunky – back to old-school runner and flat classics.

How is business under these new circumstances?

There’s basically no business and that sucks. We’re definitely one of the least essential segments of the industry, but I’m using the time to plan new collections and fine-tune the business model and supply chain.

Finally, what’s one thing you think people get wrong about sneakers?

That other people's opinions matter. If you’re buying fakes, then you should be worried, but generally, people should embrace individuality more. Buy what you like.