Sneakerhead spotlight: Adyre aka @chefadyre
Question 1: What’s in your current sneaker rotation?
Adyre: Well as a lot of people know I just scaled my business from a small delivery service into a quick service cafe so these days it’s primarily about comfort. My favorite pairs to wear that get me through the day are my Space Hippie 01’s (in Wheat White) and the React Vision (in Photon Dust).
Question 2: What's the last pair you UNDS'd?
Adyre: The Space Hippie 01 in Black Volt
Question 3: What is your fave sneaker you currently own?
Adyre: Definitely the React Vision in Photon Dust. I wanted the sneaker so bad and missed out on it on SNKRS. Because I was saving up to open my cafe I tried not to splurge too often last year on things I didn’t have to have but I kept the sneaker in my favorites and I was determined to get it at some point. By the end of the year - I literally said I wanted the shoe before the year ended so I was going to make it happen lol- I was just about to go for it on Goat when I received them as a Christmas gift! So not only are they special because they were a gift but also because they are just as amazing in person as I thought they’d be. I just really love the colorway and it’s a bonus that they’re super comfortable too!
Question 4: What is your must-have grail?
Adyre: The sneaker fam that already knows me knows I’m a self-proclaimed “baby sneaker head” lol because I haven’t really been into sneakers that long. Up until four years ago I worked in the corporate world and I dressed up everyday so I always cared more about designer heels than sneakers, I’d just pick up something here and there to run errands in. And growing up, I lived in a single parent household where I only got sneakers a couple times a year and that was whatever was 2 for $89 at Footlocker lol- dassit!! I just had to like something that was affordable and go with that. So because of that history I dare not water down the term “grail” by just mentioning something random because of how much that means to the sneaker community. BUT, I will mention a particular shoe that I guess would be the most comparable to a grail for me. The Aleali May Jordan IV Millennial Pink was one of the first sneakers I really, really liked so much that I saved it in hopes of a restock (which I still didn’t hit on when it did happen lol) and I was lowkey jealous of anyone I saw with them on social lol! So it’s actually still saved in my favorites on SNKRS and I definitely wouldn’t mind having a pair one day.
Question 5: What got you started in the sneaker game?
Adyre: Not what but who! As I mentioned before, I didn’t have the luxury of really being into sneakers growing up so they were an after thought as an adult. But as my lifestyle and career changed about four years ago, I also had to change my attire and footwear. That’s how I started initially paying a little more attention to what I was buying. But it was SneakerPhetish who was the first sneaker YouTuber I ever watched and he really opened my eyes to the world of sneakers. I didn’t realize so many of them told stories, that so much care was put into the choice and combination of materials, that there was even this serious community of people who followed the sneaker game like they do- I was totally ignorant to it all. But his videos were so easy to watch, he broke things down, and I joke with him that because of him I know which side is the lateral side of the shoe 😂 It was also great to “reconnect” with him as we went to the same college but never really knew each other, so that was cool! Last year while all of us were at home more I started becoming more integrated into Sneaker Twitter and have made some great connections because of SneakerPhetish. So many people from the sneaker fam are special to me, have encouraged me and cheered me on when I desperately needed it, and I seriously can’t wait to meet as many of them as possible!!!
Question 6: What's something that most people don't know about you?
Adyre: I was valedictorian of my high school class. At the time there hadn’t been a black valedictorian in our school system in about 20 years so it was kind of a big deal!
Question 7 (optional): What do you do for a living?
Adyre: I’m an engineer turned chef and owner of a vegan food business called The Veggie. I have a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Systems Engineering but as the years went by I didn’t love it. I’d toyed around with the idea of quitting my job to do something with food one day but never thought I would create the opportunity for myself. When my mom passed away suddenly in 2017 it was a kick in the pants to stop being afraid because you never know what can happen. So I invested in myself and started my business with my own money and just grinded it out. I literally started it out of my home and over time grew into what is now a 3,200 square foot cafe space. It’s really crazy to have employees and keys to a place that people come to and like, actually buy my food lol. I’m sure any other fellow creators can just relate to that feeling of “wow, people really like what I’m doing enough to pay for it.” Even after being in business for a few years now it still blows my mind that I’m here! I wish my mom was here to see it and be a part of it but I feel the next best thing to that is honoring her memory by building something special, I think I’m doing that.
Question 8: where can people follow you on social media? YT, Snapchat, IG etc
Adyre: I’m on Twitter more than anything @chefadyre but that’s also my IG handle. Also appreciate love for my business as well! On Twitter we’re @eattheveggie and on IG @theveggiehsv.