--News Direct--
BIRMINGHAM, AL – August 10, 2023, Hibbett, Inc. (NASDAQ:HIBB), an athletic-inspired fashion retailer with more than 1,140 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores nationwide, today announced the latest release of the exclusive Small-Town Sneakerhead (STSH) digital series, celebrating sneaker culture. This episode features Kijafa McKinzie, a 44 year-old sneaker collector, husband and father from Henrico, Virginia with a passion for sneakers that spans over 27 years.
“We have featured a dozen sneaker enthusiasts from small towns since we launched the Small-Town Sneakerhead project over three years ago,” said Sarah Sharp-Wangaard, VP Marketing, Hibbett. “What makes this series so great is that we spotlight diverse collectors from often unexpected towns all over the US and the feedback from the sneaker community has been tremendous.”
In the latest Small-Town Sneakerhead episode, viewers get acquainted with Kijafa McKinzie, a native of Hampton who attended Virginia State University and now resides in Henrico. McKinzie’s extensive sneaker collection boasts 300 pairs, a passion that began around the age of 18. “My inspiration for collecting was initially just wanting to look good and wear what the sports stars I looked up to were wearing. When looking for shoes I’m drawn to the nostalgic feel, where I was when the shoe was originally released and the colorway and silhouette. Being a sneakerhead means knowing the history, colorways and materials and how innovative the shoe is. I feel like I’m one of the more classic sneakerheads. For me it’s just a true love of kicks,” McKinzie expressed.
Interestingly, McKinzie’s 16 year-old daughter, Dylan is following in her father’s footsteps by building her own sneaker collection. “Ever since I can remember my Dad has been buying me sneakers. In the beginning, I wasn’t as interested in the sneakers and just wore them. However, after a while, I really started to get more into the different sneaker colorways and styles. Now I look for shoes that are comfortable, cute and complement my style,” said Dylan.
During their visit to Virginia, the STSH crew accompanied McKinzie to his home to see his “kicks closet” with approximately 300 pairs and visited some of his favorite spots in and around Henrico and nearby Richmond. “My hometown is special because of its rich history and culture. Some of my favorite places are the Hippodrome Theater, and southern food spots like Mama J’s Kitchen in the historic Jackson Ward. They also stopped to do some back to school shopping and Dylan had her eye on some new sneakers for the first day of school.
“Seeing her Mom and I on Saturday mornings trying to win sneaker raffles must have rubbed off on her. Dylan became more interested in sneakers when she got into high school and just witnessing her interest in any sneakers puts a smile on my face. We look online for new releases and discuss what she feels could work for her style. She is a simple kind of girl when it comes to sneaker’s, so she normally gravitates to styles like the Jordan 1’s, Dunks and Air Force 1’s. I’m more into OG classics and colorways. The older she gets, the more interest she has and the more I am loving it. Participating in Small-Town Sneakerhead has been a great way for us to showcase our love for sneakers,” McKinzie added.
"We had the pleasure of celebrating the generational passion for sneakers through the dynamic of Kijafa and Dylan, in the humble town of Henrico, VA. In honor of the AF1 and Back to School, it was seamless storytelling, representing everyone getting ready for school shopping and style this fall, regardless of their hometown,” said Matt Halfhill, Founder and CEO, Nice Kicks.
About Small-Town Sneakerhead
In 2020, Hibbett launched the Small-Town Sneakerhead project to provide sneakerheads from all walks of life the platform to share their personal sneaker narrative. Produced in partnership with Nike and Nice Kicks, the series highlights the evolving sneaker scene and enthusiasts from across the country. Hibbett has featured collectors from East Buffalo, NY, Cheyenne, WY, Hampton, VA, Cape Girardeau, MO, Murphy, TX, Hopkinsville, KY, Lafayette, LA, Crosby, TX, Sandy Springs, GA and St. George, UT and Anniston, AL with more exciting stories coming soon.
About Hibbett, Inc.
Hibbett, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer with 1143 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores, located in 36 states nationwide. Hibbett has a rich history of convenient locations, personalized customer service and access to coveted footwear, apparel and equipment from top brands like Nike, Jordan, and adidas. Consumers can browse styles, find new releases, shop looks and make purchases online or in their nearest store by visiting www.hibbett.com. Follow us @hibbettsports and @citygear on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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