In 1985, Rookie Michael Jordan released his first pair of sneakers, the Air Jordan 1s. For millions of
people, they became more than just shoes—they were a cultural phenomenon. College Counseling Administrative Assistant Carey Otto, at age five, was hooked.

“It was right when Nike was really starting to make their way into the shoe industry,” Otto said. “Michael Jordan was a rookie in the NBA, and at that impressionable age, I got captivated by shoes.”

His fascination grew as the NBA banned the Air Jordan 1s. “You find out that professional athletes
can’t wear a specific shoe or face a fine, and you get even more invested,” he said.

That curiosity soon evolved into a deeper appreciation not just for the sneakers themselves, but for the stories and design behind them.

Over time, this passion found an outlet in sneaker illustration, a niche within the culture where collectors and artists draw or paint sneakers, aiming to capture the intricate details of the shoe design and their value as more than just footwear.

Otto shared his love for sneakers and illustration with his best friend, “There’s something kind of magical about kids going home and taking this physical creation and then turning into a 2D image … I’ll never ever forget … the number of hours I just sat there looking at a new shoe and turning it around and drawing from every angle,” he said.

Otto’s first pair of sneakers were the infamous Air Jordan 1s. “That was the first pair where I would be like, ‘Yeah, I wanted to get it,’ and my mom and dad made me do some chores to get it,” he said.

Today, his collection is a testament to decades of sneaker culture. “I’ve got shoes that are 30-plus years old,” he said. “I’ve still got shoe boxes in storage … that have never been used or opened.”

Among them are rare finds, like Nikes from mid-1996, and one of his favorite Air Max 90 styles—up-dated with an Air Max 360 version released in 2002, which he ordered the day they dropped. However, he has stayed loyal to the Air Max 90s style throughout his love for sneakers.

When choosing brands, Otto has some favorites but doesn’t have ties to one brand. “I really like the Air Max 90s, I like retro Jordans and I enjoy the Jordan 1s,” Otto said.

When Otto looks for new additions to his collection, it’s not about chasing the rarest or most exclusive pairs, it’s simply about what he likes, admitting that his sneaker purchases aren’t exactly a necessity anymore, but more about finding what’s new and what will add to his collection. “I don’t really have a strong brand allegiance,” he said. “I grew up wearing Nike and Adidas, but it’s really about what catches my eye.”

He stores his collection in a large walk-in closet packed with sneakers. Some remain untouched in their original boxes, while others are out on display, waiting for the right moment to make an appearance.

For Otto, sneakers are more than just footwear; they’re memories and a childhood passion of a culture
that continues to evolve. “I think probably the most lasting impression that sneakers have had on my life is just like the joy that it brought to a couple of young kids that were just finding out about something that they really didn’t understand and could never forecast what the sneaker world was going to become,” he said.

What started as a five-year-old’s fascination with a pair of Jordans has since evolved into a lifelong passion, collecting, creating and deepening his interest in sneaker culture, with each new pair adding another story to his walk-in closet.