Goldn, as his crew calls him, selected lanvin‘s chunky, skate-inspired curb as the centerpiece of his interview, and he came prepared: he’s lugging a silver rimowasuitcase stuffed with a half dozen pairs. Though he’s a freshly-minted gen z superstar who won’t turn 21 until this fall (his birthday is november 13, 2000), he’s also a certified footwear aficionado. His love for sneakers began in middle school when a classmate’s air jordan 11s caught his eye and expanded through watching youtubevideos, learning more about sneaker culture through various sites and taking trips to sneaker stores.

Though he grew up loving jordan brand‘s air jordan line and various nike signature basketball models, sneakers eventually became a creative outlet for him. They provided him with his first business opportunity, introduced him to one of his earliest mentors, and even played a part in the genesis of his rap career: his first real song was recorded in the back of a sneaker shop. Today goldn has a #1 record — 2020’s “mood” — under his belt and a bright career ahead of him, but his passion for footwear is still palpable. Read on to learn about 24kgoldn’s sneaker origin story, his shifting tastes and his current love for lanvin’s high-priced curb.