First choice: New Balance 550 likes Leon Dore | $ 312 | StockX

Have you ever seen something on a TV show, music video, or commercial and thought, man, I should pick this up? Have you ever been frustrated that you couldn’t just push a button and have it delivered to your door? Welcome to DroppTVA retail platform that I am personally grateful for did not exist as a child, for fear of the difficulties I would have had with my parents if I had overused them. Focused on sneakers and streetwear, DroppTV broadcasts an ever-changing selection of music videos and custom video content. See a jacket you dig? Do you notice that your favorite rapper is rocking a few kicks that you suddenly need to have for yourself? No problem. With just a few clicks, DroppTV can make it yours.

It’s difficult for a new brand to secure a place in the sneaker market these days. Gimmicks will only get you so far and the dominant names (StockX, GOAT, etc.) have a bit of a stranglehold on things, as it often seems. DroppTV’s platform might sound a little crazy, but it makes an impact – and it works. The user interface is seamless and the range of products is pretty mind-blowing. It’s what you would expect from Mastermind Gurps Singh Rai, one of the minds behind the service. We met Gurps to talk about Grails, his latest pickups, and the sneakers he’s been shooting lately.

My last pick up: New Balance 550 likes Leon Dore

Illustration for article titled The Essential Sneakerhead Starter Pack, according to DroppTV's Gurps Singh RaiGraphic: Tres Dean

“I literally just got a delivery! I love New Balances, the classic stuff, and what came out today is that Dear Leon Dore. ”

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My shopping habits

“I love to buy things that have a connection to hip hop and culture and have character. When I buy something, I want to know the story behind it. I want this brand that is unknown but has a story behind it. I’m a big fan of Willie Esco, one of the godfathers of streetwear. He bought this brand name Jaclar When I found out about the brand, I fell in love with it and supported it. I bought a lot of their stuff, from them, but also from Dropp and eBay. I found sneakers from the 70s, stuff like that, a piece of history that will be forgotten if you don’t talk about it. “

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My go-to rackets: Jaclar intimidator

Illustration for article titled The Essential Sneakerhead Starter Pack, according to DroppTV's Gurps Singh RaiGraphic: Tres Dean

“Man, I love that Jaclar intimidator. They’re like a hybrid of the Jordan 1 with better ankle support. Since I first met them in 2018, I’ve always bought them like I had a pair to wear and one in case the company goes out of business or they stop making them. “

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My favorite resale platform | Stadium goods

“Yes, the thing is this: on all other platforms I get a lot of counterfeits when I buy from them. With Stadium goodsI’ve never had this problem before. I don’t know if they have lower sales volume or whatever, but I get a lot of fakes. I saw my nephew in London a year ago and he just had a lot of fakes. He’d got them all from other platforms. And they have stationary locations, you know? You can put a face to whoever you are dealing with. If I buy something and it’s a little nervous, at least I can talk to them about it. “

What I like to wear: Yeezy 350 V2

Illustration for article titled The Essential Sneakerhead Starter Pack, according to DroppTV's Gurps Singh RaiGraphic: Tres Dean

“It depends on the day, man. I’m in Toronto right now so it always snows. I don’t want to screw up anything nice. It really depends on the city that I am in. When I’m in LA I wear something that better suits the climate and mood. When I’m in New York I like to wear darker pairs because it can be a bit rougher outside, especially in winter. “

“That means when I’m in Dubai, I like to wear Yeezy 350s. They let your feet breathe. “

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My 2020 sneaker of the year: Air Jordan 1 Dior

Illustration for article titled The Essential Sneakerhead Starter Pack, according to DroppTV's Gurps Singh RaiGraphic: Tres Dean

“I would say the Diors. I know they’re ridiculously expensive, but it’s wild when you look at the entire marketing campaign and how it puts it together. And the actual shoe, when you get it, you can tell that it is handmade. I like the vibe, the collectibility of them. There are roughly 10 million people trying to buy 10,000 shoes. And they look great, they really combine the luxurious end of fashion with the casual. I will remove that. As soon as life has returned to normal, I will remove this. “

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My Grail | The original

Illustration for article titled The Essential Sneakerhead Starter Pack, according to DroppTV's Gurps Singh RaiGraphic: Tres Dean

“I have all the couples I really want, you know? I have the magazines, I have the red October. I think where I am now I want to the original, You know? I want the shoe that was released in the 80s. I like creating this challenge for myself and making people dig into boxes and so on. “

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