Following part one in which we took a look at the DJs playing at Big Eyes, Little Soles’ 2nd birthday this Friday, we are now turning to take a look at the people behind it.
Big Eyes, Little Soles is a sneaker blog and European wide collective, dedicated to the female fiend. Since the site’s inception in 2010 the community has continued to grow exponentially. They have been voted one of the Top 5 sneaker blogs by Guardian Online as well as being featured by the likes of Vice and Mint Magazine. Below we catch up with some of the girls behind the blog to check in on them and their trainer collections, which you can also check out in our latest zine.
We are really happy to be teaming up with them to celebrate their 2nd birthday and pay homage to our joint love of UK Garage. Full details on the event can be found here and you can get limited £3 advance tickets here.
YANI
Describe Big Eyes, Little Soles in 3 words…
Best Thing Ever
Best sneaker experience?
Finally picking up the Black/Varsity red Jordan 6s through a friend who found them in the Footlocker stock room.
Worst sneaker experience?
Having size 3 feet!
What does Big Eyes, Little Soles mean to you?
A space where I can talk about one of my favourite things. It’s a platform that has allowed me to meet some of the best people I know and I’ve had some incredible experiences through it! Can’t believe it’s been 2 years.. My baby is growing up! HAPPY BDAY, BIG EYES!
LEI-MAI
Describe Big Eyes, Little Soles in 3 words…
Best sneaker blog
Best sneaker experience?
Finding Huarache in my size
Worst sneaker experience?
Spilling stuff on new sneaks, those wonky flags full of puddle, other people accidentally standing on your fresh sneaks, they are all on a rubbish level together.
What does Big Eyes, Little Soles mean to you?
Having watched Big Eyes grow from day one, it makes me proud to be a part of something that is so helpful to girls finding sneaks in their size and getting information aimed at them, there are so many blogs for guys, it’s nice to see Big Eyes’ success even though it’s based mainly on girls pick ups. I love that all the contributors are from far an wide and so completely rad in their/our own ways! Big Eyes means big things!!!
CHLOE
Describe Big Eyes, Little Soles in 3 words…
Big In The Game! (I cheated and used 4 words- woopsy!)
Best sneaker experience?
I’ve had a few really good sneaker experiences! I managed to pick up some 1991 Nike OG’s really cheap from eBay which was really lucky cause they’re in perfect condition and are actually worth much more than what I paid! Another great experience was a girl coming up to me and saying ‘Oh my god! You write for that trainer blog, I love it!’.
Worst sneaker experience?
Wearing a pair of black/pink safari AM1’s to a gig at Hyde Park and it rained all day and they were SO caked in mud you could hardly tell what they were. Thankfully I had another pair of them so I wasn’t too heartbroken about them being ruined.
What does Big Eyes, Little Soles mean to you?
Writing for BELS has been the perfect way for me to meet other like-minded girls who share my love for everything trainers. It’s a great outlet for us to share our knowledge and to keep the followers up to date with the latest going ons in the women’s trainer world and wider.
BEE
Describe Big Eyes, Little Soles in 3 words…
Sneakers x Girls = Rad
Best sneaker experience?
Arriving home from Outlook Festival to find my Nike Air Safari 87 iDs had been delivered! They were a gift from my boyfriend and it was genuinely like Christmas, I was mega excited opening the packaging. They are so much more beautiful than I’d imagined.
Worst sneaker experience?
My friend spilt orange spaghetti on a pair of my brand new Nike Air Max 1s, then managed to spill tea on them. The marks did wash out, but when I went to get my kicks off the radiator, one of them had disappeared. I found my dog Charlie with it in the garden. I have no idea how she didn’t ruin them, they were actually back to pristine condition after another wash!
What does Big Eyes, Little Soles mean to you?
Aww, I fully love the Big Eyes fam. It’s cool being able to share my love for kicks with other sneaker fiends, I’m glad there are so many others out there. Big love to all our readers, especially big up to the ladies and out to the boss, Yani, for adopting me into her tribe!
LEMON
Describe Big Eyes, Little Soles in 3 words…
Sneakers, style, sisterhood
Best sneaker experience?
Double page spread in Girls Got Kicks book.
Worst sneaker experience?
Climbing up a billboard (drunk) in my Jordan XI Concords, and waking up to the massacre the next day, bad times!
What does Big Eyes, Little Soles mean to you?
Big Eyes means family to me. A sisterhood of wonderful ladies from all different sides of the UK and Europe who have the same passion, sneakers! Providing a service for the smaller feet and ladies all over the world, our extended hashtag family makes me feel a part of something really special. Love you all!