Sneakerhead Spotlight: Ivan aka @Flivanlie

Question 1: What’s in your current sneaker rotation?

Ivan: Currently I'm shooting for comfort when I'm home. I spend too much time in work boots so anything Boost, React or my Cloudfoam slides. My go to sneakers have been Nike 270 React, Waverunners, Nite Joggers and 350s. 

Question 2: What's the last pair you UNDS'd?

Ivan: The last pair I UNDS'd was my Jordan DMP 6s. I usually don't rock a pair soon after release but these were nostalgic to me I couldn't wait. I like to wait a few months before I break something out so I'm not at the Mall with 10 other people wearing the same pair.

Question 3: What is your fave sneaker you currently own?

Ivan: I have a fairly decent collection of kicks, certainly stuff people would love to have but my favorite of them all is a pair people drag all the time. It's a pair of Jordan Team II in the white and navy Colorway. Those have deep meaning to me and always will.

Question 4: What is your must-have grail?

Ivan: I have so many pairs that I want badly but the problem is that they're all over 10 years old. If I had to pick one that I want the most it's the Jordan 23 Finale. It's such a beautiful shoe, one of those that you can look at all day. Quality was so good back then and these are proof!

Question 5: What got you started in the sneaker game?

Ivan: My uncle was the one that got me into Sneakers. He was always my father figure and I remember as a kid he would take me to World Footlocker and lace me up. He went away for a while when I was in Kindergarten so that left my grandma in charge. She raised me on her own and busted her ass to take care of me but she couldn't afford to get me the things I wanted. Once I got working and was able to afford the Sneakers that I wanted I went crazy!

Question 6: What's something that most people don't know about you?

Ivan: I'm an open book, when you get to know me you'll find out quick that I have no filter. I don't hold back and the me you see is the me you get, nothing fake. The one thing that people don't see is that I love to listen. I like to hear people out and give advice, I've been through so much in my 30 years that I can look back on and use to help the next person.

Question 7 (optional): What do you do for a living?

Ivan: I'm a Highschool dropout (not a good thing, stay in school) so I've always stuck to the trades. I'm a Union Laborer and I've been doing it for 8 years now. Paver Work is what I do specifically, we do Streetscapes, Parking Lots, Sidewalks and all that good stuff. It's a back breaking job but given the life that I lived I'm grateful and extremely blessed that I'm able to give my family what I never had because of it.

Question 8: where can people follow you on social media? YT, Snapchat, IG etc

Ivan: Twitter is my main account, it's where I spend most of my time. I don't use any other platforms, it's toxic enough here lol. Give me a follow and I'll follow back.