March 9, 2022 |
Next up in our Ten On Feet series is Aman Tak. He is the British footwear designer and buyer behind UK sneaker giant Offspring. Marking his 17th year in the field, Tak has been instrumental in shaping the British sneaker scene of today.
Tak has been into sneakers since he received his first pair of Nikes as a young kid. He ended up with a part-time job at shoe retailer Offspring whilst at university, going on to join the buying team thereafter. “After graduating, an opportunity came up at the head office in the buying team in 2005. I applied, the guys took a chance on me and I’ve been here ever since. Over the years I’ve been responsible for our previous concessions in Harvey Nichols, buying brands such as Balenciaga, Margiela and of course our popular Selfridges concessions you see today,” he says.
Originally founded in 1996, Offspring has played a large part in forming the supportive community of footwear fanatics in Britain. “Offspring acted as a hub where you could buy sports and designer footwear in one place with a fashion mindset behind the curation of the product,” Tak says. The shop was the first of its kind and was accessed by major brands to spearhead innovative concept projects such as Y-3 and Nike’s Alpha Project.
Offspring aims to give its community a real chance to cop rare gems and the most innovative kicks out there. From what was once just a small community of sneakerheads, the trainer industry has has grown into an international phenomenon on a global scale. Subsequently, this has made it harder for fans to nab sought after sneakers for themselves. “The consumer wanted to be heard and spoken to in a way that they understood. It was about acknowledgment, hearing them and most importantly giving them the hope that there was actually a chance to get their hands on product, so that’s what we aimed to do,” he says. Offspring’s London Selfridges location has become the meeting point for a growing community space that brings together like-minded collectors no matter their age, gender or status. “This way, we were able to bring the OG’s and the new guys together under one roof.”
When taking part in collaborations with major players in the field, Tak often looks to his community for design inspiration. As for his favourite creation so far, the Offspring Community Converse hits the spot. “The two Chuck ’70s I designed had Velcro patches on the side, these were interchangeable, so the idea was to put out a call to action and run a competition through our social channels for three lucky winners to have their patches produced and sold on the shoe.” Marked as a shoe made “for the community, by the community”, the competition brought together Offspring’s devoted fanbase.
With plenty of electrifying projects in the works, the year will be filled with a multitude of trainers coming from all directions and Aman Tak is here to set the tone.
When did you start admiring sneakers?
“I think in 1991 or ’92. My mum tells a story of her finding me staring into the air bubble of a pair of Nike’s I had. I was fascinated.”
What is your favourite sneaker in your collection?
“There are so many but for me, the one that really captured my attention was the Nike Air Max Woven.”
What’s the best sneaker silhouette?
“That’s a hard one but it would have to be the Air Force 1 or Dunk. Both are timeless and still relevant today.”
How many sneakers do you have in your collection?
“Probably enough to wear a different pair for two years.”
What sneaker reminds you of your childhood?
“The Air Max 180. The bold colours and the huge air unit that had nothing holding it to the sole was mind-blowing to me.”
What’s your dream sneaker purchase?
“Right now, I’d say the Tom Sachs Mars Yard.”
Photography courtesy of Offspring.
