Hannah Storm on the Sneakerhead Lessons in “Grails”

Former Jordan Brand name Footwear VP Gentry Humphrey and director Hannah Storm. Graphic Resource: ABC Information Studios/Hulu

True sneakerheads know that the intersection of athletics and manner is the holy grail. Seem no more than “Grails: When Sneakers Modify the Sport,” a new docuseries from director and producer Hannah Storm.

The six-element collection charts the rise of Eastside Golfing, a way of life model began by two former Morehouse golf champions, Earl Cooper and Olajuwon Ajanaku. It gets into the duo’s expertise as Black adult males in a white-dominated activity — and it delves into what takes place when they safe a game-changing partnership with Jordan Brand name.

Of study course, it’s also a lesson in sneaker lifestyle. It options quite a few large-profile names in the sporting activities, fashion, and entertainment worlds, which includes Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, and Marissa Hill. Focusing on this certain intersection of tradition was to some degree of a departure for Storm, a revolutionary ESPN anchor who has directed numerous sporting activities-centered films, which include a single about NASCAR legend Danica Patrick.

“I was not a sneakerhead ahead of now,” she tells POPSUGAR. “Now, I literally appear at people’s feet to see what they have on.”

Even now, the collection is related to her other projects in the feeling that it looks previous just the superficial to talk about representation in sports activities and how style can adjust our thoughts of who belongs.

And, sneakerhead or not, your eyesight of sneaker tradition will shift immediately after seeing the collection — just like Storm’s did in building it. “If you’re a sneakerhead, you can love it, simply because there is certainly terrific eye candy,” she says. “But . . . I desired this to be an inclusive series in the sense that you did not just have to fully grasp sporting activities, you didn’t just have to understand sneakers.”

We spoke with Storm about what she discovered as she adopted Cooper and Ajanaku’s journey, what her most loved types are suitable now (hint: she’s into the classics as perfectly as unpredicted collabs), and why women deserve additional of a voice in this room.

The Most Crucial Lesson About Sneakers, In accordance to the Professionals

Hannah Storm: I used some time with Body fat Joe and Mayor, and Mayor is a incredibly nicely-acknowledged sneakerhead, very properly-respected, as is Extra fat Joe. What I figured out was: what is a great sneaker is in essence whatever you feel is cool. It can be not automatically that the sneaker is selling for this quantity or that sum. And I learned this from the largest sneakerheads. What resonates with you? What story are you drawn to with these sneakers? Probably it can be the colorway, or possibly you sense a specific way when you use this, or another person who you admire wears it, or you like the model. Actually, what’s “cool” is private. You shouldn’t be worried — “Oh, I can not don Mids” or “I can’t do this” — you should never feel that way. You must put on whichever you like, regardless of what you sense very good in, no matter what speaks to you.

And by the way, do not put it on a shelf. Wear it. . . . It’s going to sit in a box and disintegrate. So make sure you put on it at the very least the moment.

The other issue I uncovered is dressing from the feet up — how exciting that is and how demanding that is. And, in a feeling, it adds a full new ingredient to your design if you gown from the toes up.

Storm’s Beloved Sneakers of 2022

HS: I just think the classics for the last year have been the [Nike] Pandas. I have a couple of pairs. Also, I’m way into the New Stability 550s. They’re just so snug.

I like vivid colorways but I also like neutral, simply because it is really quick. I get up super early for work, and it really is straightforward for me to set on anything like the Jacquemus collab with Nike, which has gorgeous tones, a minimal bit of brown. Which is a single of my favourite pairs as well.

Obviously I have a number of pairs of the [Air Jordan 5s]. I will not have the AJ 4s mainly because they ended up also hard to get and no a single has them, but I have a pair in the new selection.

https://www.youtube.com/enjoy?v=dFsZ1pek7CU

On Styling Sneakers For the Wintertime

HS: I like the winter season with sneakers. We live in the Northeast, so it will get pretty cold below, so of course the duration of whatsoever you might be donning definitely plays in. . . . Just since of exactly where I stay, I am a enormous socks human being. And I consider half the enjoyable of sneakers with socks is put some wild, super-entertaining combination together. I would say that my sneaker recreation has upped my sock recreation, as well. My massive tip is invest in your sock sport, also, due to the fact you might be heading to have to have it right here, you just want it for heat. . . . It genuinely does have to get the job done with each other, but it does have to be practical.

Fulfill the Women of all ages Shaping the Athletics Manner World

HS: It was actually significant for me, simply because the society is so male-dominated, to put woman voices in the movie. It was pretty intentional. So we determined a YouTuber named Marissa Hill. I satisfied her, and I am like, I enjoy her. She has a good persona, she will work like crazy. She unboxed something like 300 pairs of sneakers in the past year, like no a single does that. She’s a previous college or university athlete. So I’ve figured out a lot from her — just about hustling in the organization, how tough she is effective, I see that, also how unbelievably well-informed she is, also with a qualifications as an athlete, and she’s also a model. I learned a lot from her. It was incredibly, really intentional for me to set her in there as a girl in a pretty male-dominated subject. Christyna Pourhabib is an author and qualified, and I considered it was essential to have her as well.

But it was a obstacle, to be genuine, because I experienced to be super intentional about it. There are designers out there — Mimi Plange arrives to head, I assume her stuff is attractive. But if I were to do “Grails” element two, it would be female-centric, because the girls in that business need to have to be highlighted, and their struggles have to have to be highlighted.

All of my movies and this docuseries, they all relate in some way to battle, they all relate in some way to breaking down a barrier of some form — that is my skilled lifetime, I lived that. And it was not simple, but you uncover a way.

I realize the idea of pushing forward and the idea of believing in on your own and relocating earlier discouragement and disappointment. And I understand investing in your self. So all of these matters at a essential degree I imagine make me seriously admire Earl and O all that significantly far more and make me considerably passionate to share their story.

“Grails: When Sneakers Modify the Match” is now streaming on Hulu.