Four of Hong Kong’s most stylish sneakerheads walk Hong Kong Tatler through their spectacular collections. Next up is Ross Yip's concise but well-curated selection.

WHO Ross Yip has turned his passion for sneakers into a profession, advising multiple sneaker e-commerce websites and contributing to sneaker and streetwear publications such as Highsnobiety, Hypebeast and Business of Fashion.

FIRST LOVE “The first sneakers I bought were a pair of Nike Air Prestos, which I bought when I was in high school. The Presto design was really innovative and seemed so futuristic when it was released in 2000. Nike marketed them as ‘T-shirts for the foot’ and they actually came in sizes like S, M, L and XL rather than conventional numerical sizes.”

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Moses Ng/Hong Kong Tatler
Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Moses Ng/Hong Kong Tatler

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY “I try to keep a smaller collection, I’d say just under 30 pairs,” Ross says. “There’s a lot of movement in my collection. I often give sneakers to friends and sometimes sell them even if they haven’t appreciated in value. I try not to keep shoes I don’t wear.”

EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS “I wear my pair of Supreme x Andres Serrano Blood and Semen Old Skool Vans sneakers the most,” Ross says. “I rotate those with the latest Nike Epic React sneakers, an exciting new product that feels and looks good if you’re always on the move and live an active life.”

See also: HK Sneakerheads: Leo Chow Has Over 600 Pairs Of Nikes

COLLECTORS ITEM “I have a pair of Dior Homme sneakers designed by Hedi Slimane in 2006. It was a reinterpretation of the classic German army trainer and it was the pinnacle of luxury sneakers before lines began to blur between streetwear and high-end brands. The craftsmanship holds up for a shoe more than 10 years old, but I can’t say that they are that comfortable compared to new technology.”

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Moses Ng/Hong Kong Tatler

CURRENT FAVOURITES “Right now I’ve got to hand it to designer Virgil Abloh of Off-White,” Ross says. “The Off-White x Nike Presto is a deconstructed version of the Nike Presto, the first pair of sneakers I bought.”

MUST-HAVES Ross believes every sneaker collector should have a pair of Vans Old Skool. “It’s the original California-cool sneaker. They can be worn casually or dressed up.”

UP NEXT “I want to buy the new Yeezy Desert Rat 500 sneakers; they’re the new iconic ‘dad shoe’ and ‘ugly’ sneaker. They’re a deviation from the sleek sock-knit aesthetic that’s everywhere.”

Styling: Rosana Lai | Grooming: Jim Tse at A Ten Studio

Next: Take A Look Inside Ross Yip's Sneaker Collection

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