Q&A Session with Matt Scronce

Q&A Session: With Matt Scronce

Racking up an impressive 67,000 followers in less than a year on his Instagram account, Call of Duty Game Designer Matt Scronce’s collection is as vast as his knowledge of sneakers, with his eclectic assemble portrayed through carefully curated images on his Instagram page @mattks.

We had the pleasure of catching up with Matt to find out more about his three big passions, fashion, video games and sneakers!

Matt, can you please tell our readers where you’re from and a little bit about yourself?

Hi! I’m originally from North Carolina, but have been in sunny Los Angeles for the past 7 years. I’m a Game Designer who has been working on the Call of Duty franchise since 2010. Some of my big passions are fashion with a focus in streetwear, video games, and shoes shoes shoes!

What are your favourite sneaker brands?

I don’t really have a certain favorite. If I find a shoe that I really dig, I do what I can to get it. As many others have, I’ve been on a big Adidas kick lately. Once they introduced the Boost a few years back and I saw how comfortable that technology was, I couldn’t get enough.

Aside from Adidas, I’m also a big fan of the work Fear of God has been doing with their shoe silhouettes on the Military Sneaker. One of my recent pick-ups are a pair of Saint Laurent Skate Sneakers, which will be in heavy rotation for the summer season. I still love Asics, and own way too many pairs of Gel Lytes (big fan of the GLV), but I’ve admittedly been neglecting those pairs as of late….I should change that!

So when did your fascination with sneakers start?

Definitely when I was younger, and mainly due to playing basketball. I was never a great ball player, usually shorter and slower than everyone else. Since that was the case, I at least had to have the freshest shoes on the court. The first shoe that I remember saving up my allowance for was the Air Max Penny 1 in the mid-90’s.

When did you start collecting, and how many pairs do you currently own?

I never really meant to be a “collector” and still don’t really consider myself that. I see a collector as someone who has their shoes in glass cases on display. I buy all of my shoes with the intention of wearing them. I do have a collection though, so I guess that makes me a collector. I’d guess I have around 100 pairs of sneakers at the moment, ranging from what I call “beaters” to some of my more prized pairs like the original Yeezy Boost 750.

What is the missing piece from your ‘collection?’

Ya know, I’ve been wanting a pair of Hender Scheme sneakers, specifically the ones modelled after the Jordan 4. I love the idea that a shoe can change with you as you wear them. That’s another reason for my love of Maison Margiela’s work with his painted Converse, where the paint will wear away with time, revealing more of the base color underneath the paint. That’s a really neat concept, and leaves you with a sneaker that really is your own and unlike any other pair.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to secure a pair of sneakers?

I try not to get too crazy. I guess staying up all night with multiple monitors, laptops, and mobile phones at the ready waiting on a Yeezy drop would be the craziest. I’m not a big fan of lining up for releases, as I’ve had some bad experiences with sneaker shops that I’m sure many of your readers have heard of.

What is the rarest pair of sneakers you own?

Hmm, I’d probably guess the OG Yeezy 750. I don’t see those too often, at least not authentic pairs. I have a few pairs of fairly rare Asics that I just can’t let go of, but I’m not sure of the number of pairs released compared to the Yeezy’s.

What made you start posting your photographs to Instagram?

Seeing the VP of Global Entertainment and Influencer Marketing post a link to an @outfitgrid on Twitter. It was the first time I had seen that concept of an outfit arranged in a grid/flatlay style, and thought it was a really neat way to showcase an outfit. I signed up for Instagram on that day, and just started posting away.

Did you anticipate the amount of followers that you now have when you first joined Instagram?

Not at all! Heck, I’ve been on Twitter since 2009 and have around 15k, so I definitely didn’t expect to hit over 60K in less than a year on Instagram. That said, I’m super grateful for the community on Instagram always showing support, and I’ve had the chance to meet some really great people over there. It may be just another small slice of the internet tucked away in another social media app, but it’s a small slice that I really appreciate and support.

What sneakers are you hoping to get your hands on this season?

I’ve seen some shots of an Adidas Ultra Boost ATR Mid in a burgundy colorway that I really like! I’m hoping those drop soon! And of course, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to what Kanye will be dropping throughout the year. How about a 750 v2?!

Do you have any personal projects that you are currently working on?

Nothing that I can really talk about. My life is centered around my job, and we’re currently working on our next project. I love what I do, and am thankful every day for that.

Finally, can you give us the top three in your collection and what it is about them that you like so much?

1) Turtle Dove Yeezy Boost 350

It’s the shoe that really set it off for Adidas with regards to Kanye. It’s also a bit more of a rare shoe compared to all of the v2s that are dropping, and rarity is always something that adds a little bit to how I feel about a sneaker.

2) Fear of God Gumsole

I mean, technically it’s a sneaker boot, but it’s a pair that I’ve been wanting for a long time. I saved up my lunch money and just recently found them for a good deal from a super nice dude in Singapore. The quality on those shoes are insane!

3) Adidas Stan Smith (Raf Simons)

No, the Stan Smith isn’t super rare. It’s not super expensive. It’s none of the things you’d expect from a “collector”. The Stan Smith is a super clean and simple shoe that can be worn well with so many outfits, and it’s a must-have for anybody out there looking to get into the shoe game!

Want to see more of Matt’s collection? You can get regular updates on his Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mattks/

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