Being an expert means having mastery and a complete understanding of something, and attaining that status usually takes years of hard work. Sneakerhead, influencer and entrepreneur DJ Willingham has shown his mastery of the sneakers industry, and his uncommon feats as a sneakerhead speak for him.
DJ Willingham has grown into a dominant force in the sneakers business, providing recommendations, sharing tips and how-tos, organizing giveaways and teaching people how to become successful in the sneakers business. Despite all these, there’s another remarkable side to him, which is his rare collection of legendary basketball star Kobe Bryant’s sneakers, Kobes. Apart from the colorful Kobe Sneakers that he has in his closet, his ability to forecast trends and stay ahead of releases has further put him up there as a sneaker influencer worth following, watching and learning from.
DJ Willingham’s love for Kobe Sneakers dates back to the Kobe 1, which he got right after they were released. “I was at Nike and saw them and wanted to try them, so I purchased a pair. Next thing, within the same year, I had three different colorways in my collection. Since then, I have grown my collection and have some of the rarest and original Kobes. I’ve also been privileged to have some unreleased samples and Kobes that Kobe himself wore,” he shared.
Acknowledging that the value and appreciation of Kobes have gone up since Kobe Bryant passed away, DJ Willingham still maintains his supreme love for the sneakers and says his support will never waver. His favorite Kobe is the Grinch Kobe 6, which he once slept out in the cold to get, yet he could not get his size. He found a size 15 that he couldn’t wear but still bought regardless and kept it until he was able to exchange it with someone who needed the same size, and then he went to get a pair in his size.
The numerous stories of DJ Willingham going all out to get his favorite sneakers brands and collecting them have made him a rich source of information and industry trends. He has seen it all as a fan, an influencer and an entrepreneur. “I have always thought it was essential to have my favorite Kobe, LeBron and KD’s in my collection. Anyone that was collecting around that 2010-2015 era will know how great of a time it was to be a collector,” DJ Willingham said.
Over the years, DJ Willingham has built a brand on his ability to foresee trends and has been called on to offer his input to major releases. He helped set the trend for the Grinch Kobe 6 when it was released for a second time, and he released a video on his YouTube shoes before they got released. These moves and many others have earned DJ Willingham the massive followership he has as a sneakers influencer. “It is so cool to see things come full circle from trying to get the shoes and striking out to then having them gifted to me, and I get to tell the world about the upcoming release. This shows a lot when it comes to sticking with your passions and continuing to trust the process,” he said.
With his years of experience as a sneakerhead who has created tons of content promoting sneakers and educating the world about them, DJ Willingham is a name no one can overlook in the digital space. He has also committed himself to helping other people build their brands too, which he does through his learning platform, DJ Sneakerhead Academy. He offers an exclusive community for dedicated entrepreneurs and sneakerheads.
