Sneakers within subcultures
We sat down to discuss the cultural impact of the Nike TN on Australia’s graffiti subculture. A quick Q and a with Riff and Seb.
Q: Where do you think Australia’s cult following of TNs comes from?
R: I’m going to say Sydney was definitely pivotal in pushing that style, for me anyway, and from my experiences. I first saw TNs from the Sydney lads, TNS TBK. Their crews rolled through Melbourne in the early 2000s. My mate Fatso was painting heaps with them, and I met them briefly at Mojo’s place, which was like the writers’ bench for who’s who in the south-east of Melbourne at the time. It was in Carrum, right near the old yard.
I remember Fatso saying, “They look like tennis players,” because of the way they dressed, and it stuck with me. To be honest, it was completely different to the boys I was painting with. Around then in Melbourne, Air Max shoes were very prevalent, but more your 90s and BWs. These guys were rocking TNs, Tailwinds and Shox. It was a whole new style and, in my opinion, it came flooding in.
Again, it depends on where you were or who you hung with, but that was my first exposure to it. The whole short shorts, TNs, polos and chinos… the dress style was mad, and not long after I copped my first pair of TNs.
S: Like Riff said, it was definitely that Sydney Adlay style which came through Melbourne in the early to mid 2000s. After that, it really became a part of the graffiti writer uniform, along with brands like Polo, Nautica and Sergio. Short shorts, stripey polos and lots of bubbles on your feet.
Q: What about the TN design appeals to graffiti writers?
R: For me, it’s gotta be the fades and then the veins, mixed with a runner aesthetic. Not to mention the seven bubbles. It’s just such an aggressive type of shoe, and the classic yellow logo is just ILL.
I reckon you can style them with most things, and not to mention they instantly give you some pep in your step. (Don’t say they don’t unless you’ve tried ’em.)
S: They are comfy, fast and just hectic aggressive-looking shoes. That kinda suits the energy that comes with that subculture. The generations of writers before us had their steez that matched the soundtrack and the vibes of the time. When we came up in the 2000s, the scene had a different feel—hardstyle, pingers and sharp letters. The TN, as a shoe, embodies that aesthetic like none other.
Q: Any recent releases that have caught your eye?
S: The Pink Foams are dope. The subtle pink fade, white veins, white midsole and white laces. Very fresh.
R: The Volts for sure. It’s a classic colourway with that green Swoosh. And the Pink Foams… seeing VHS rock ’em recently really gave them that classic feel.
Ask anyone that’s into TNs—they’re bringing back that subtleness with that hint of colour. And of course the Blue Crystals. They’re all dope colourways and easy to style with anything.
Q: What’s one of your favourite pairs?
S: I like the classics—OG Tigers or Caspers for me. Pairs that you can wear with anything.
R: I think the Kombats and the Hyper Blues.
The Kombats were passed down to me from CLICK, who is the seven-bubble king. Ask anyone from 2013–16—he had all the pairs. (He even colour-matched a T2B to the Tides.) So they hold a special place.
And the Hyper Blues, across all the versions… the colourway is just ILL. White and black sole mixed with the blue fade and yellow Swoosh. It’s just a classic.
TY — RIP Click, Fatso, and big love to all the crew.
