Simply Obsessed with Sauconys
by Liz - 11/24/09
We love our fans who love our shoes, so it goes without saying that we think Christian Huelsman is one cool dude. He not only manages the Flickr group “Simply in Sauconys” – home to 141 sweet Saucony O’s photos from 57 members — he also owns 25 total pairs of Sauconys and somehow manages to cram them all into his closet! We asked Christian about his love for Saucony O’s, his dream colorway, and about living in harmony with nature (another topic he’s obsessed with).
Team Saucony: What got you started collecting Sauconys?
Christian Huelsman: The relatively simple color ways of the Saucony Jazz Original pulled me and kept me wanting more. I was visiting the Bay Area for the first time, in the summer of 2003, and the old Subterranean Shoe Room on Valencia blew me away with the selection of brands and varieties in store. I became acquainted with one of the girls working one shift, who owned a pair of mustard + navy and of green + orange. I suppose she was my first introduction to Sauconys, as I bought my own pair soon after.
TS: What is your personal favorite pair of Sauconys?
CH: I absolutely love my pair of blue + silver Jazz Original Plus that I obtained through auction, several years ago. The mesh and inner lining resemble the Jazz AC line, but the pair features the classic thick Jazz Original sole. Brilliant. My other favorite is actually my newest pair–my silver and black Saucony Jazz Duct Tape, thanks to Shoe Biz. I would love to see more limited color combos in the Duct Tape line!
TS: Where do you find your more rare and limited edition sneakers?
CH: Online auctions helped me to obtain many other color combos that predated my entrance into the wonderful world of Sauconys…and usually in pre-worn condition. Call me a simpleton, but I’ve largely been loyal to the Jazz Original line. Many limited edition Sauconys of late fall outside that line, such as the still brilliant Shadow 3000 and Courageous models. I’d love to find more see more reissues of obsolete color combos. I barely remember them anymore as it is, so surely they’d be new to many other fans!
TS: You write a blog about urban life and green exploration. How do you see the two intersecting?
CH: Well, I love cities, always have lived in cities, and always will. The concentration of culture, society, and ideas that are inherent in cities–those qualities have allowed us as a people to evolve and innovate. I think that the experiences that come with living in the city are extremely valuable. They encourage greater tolerance and acceptance. If your city doesn’t necessarily have cool shows, local gatherings, places, and products, there’s always untapped potential to make it so.
How do I see that intersecting with environmental responsibility? Well, as we enhance our cities to provide us with exciting things do to with our time and money, there is great potential to change the way we invest in our urban environments. Not just our homes, our rooms, or our personal appearances. When we plan for truly greater urban environments for future generations and for all walks of life, we look at the inherent characteristics of cities as destinations with material waste reduction and reuse, cleaner air, and greater harmony with nature. Environmentalism should not be seen as exclusive to nature but applicable to all our living environments, including our great cities.
That’s the short answer! Haha.
TS: If you could pitch a new color combo or new style of Saucony, what would it be?
CH: I suppose I have three answers. First, I’d love to get a pair of Jazz Originals in the simple combo of navy + turquoise. As you know from shoe nuts, subtle features make a huge difference. I’m still crossing my fingers for a reissue of that color combo, which hasn’t been produced in almost 15 years.
Second, I’d like to see more issues from the Jazz Originals Duct Tape line. Blues, purples, and greens. I think it would make it look even less utilitarian, but it would also seem more “in your face”. Maybe even some color alteration of the white siding when it seems appropriate for the overall look of the shoe. I see many exciting opportunities through use of materials and colors with this line.I’d also like to see reissue of both the Jazz Original Plus and Hornet lines. The latter had ridge sole, a solid nylon upper, and has some interesting color options for both men and women.
Agreeing with my fellow Saucony-wearing peers, a greater emphasis on vibrant color combos would get me excited. I love my classic black + silver Sauconys (I’m on my third pair actually), but I also love complementary color combos that please the eye.
TS: Finally, where do you store all your shoes?!
CH: The closet, of course! But, as you can see, there isn’t much room left on the shelf. It certainly helps that I’ve kept most of the original boxes, so they’re set up like a shoe store stock shelf. Having so many, and having them in boxes helps to keep them in good shape more many years to come. Hey–when you find what you like, especially when it comes to shoes, you want to stick with it for the long haul. So, I guess that means I move on to the closet floor.
