The Windy City is definitely making musical waves, and Mano is among the leaders of the new wave coming from the CHI. And like so many other great DJs, he’s also an informed and opinionated sneaker fiend. Check his words here, sure, but do yourself a favor and listen to his tracks at myspace.com/milliondollamano. —PJC

What’s the most you’ve paid, and what was it for?
Nike Sabotage SB low—$500.

Is the object just to collect?
The object is to get what I think is cool. I don’t care if there are only three pairs in the world—if it’s wack I won’t care.

Do you collect anything but Nikes?
Mainly Nikes. I’m from Chicago, so mos’ def’ Jordans and a couple of dope adidas Attitudes.

What’s your favorite shoe, and why?
The Nike SB De La Soul Hi and Lucky 7 Hi, ’cause the materials used and the colorways are incredible.

eBay: did they create this market, or ruin it?
Run it. The sneaker craze has been around before it was started in Tokyo. Like I said, growing up in Chicago there was always hype around sneakers because of Michael Jordan. When I was in grade school I knew kids’ parents hitting the mall in the morning to get them new Jordans by lunchtime.

What are your everyday go-to sneakers?
All of them. Wear your sneakers.

Since you collect some originals, how do you feel when companies reissue some of the most rare styles?
I hate reissued Jordans, only ’cause they have to alter them just a li’l so they won’t be like the original.

You travel a lot, but what are the stores you have to visit along the way?
In Chicago, it’s St. Alfred’s, Leaders, Uprise, and Hot Spot. In LA and NYC, Flight Club and Supreme; Goods in Seattle.

Being that the sneaker culture is so massive right now, do you ever feel like just selling off?
Nah. But I would like to sell shoes that are whatever to me now. I just want heat. Quality over quantity.

Who are some sneaker heads that keep it rilla?
The skate twins Anthony and Anton, Melo from Hot Spot, Vic “Fashion King” Lloyd at LDRS, DJ Timbuk2, DJ Word, Hollywood Holt, Krabby at St. Alfred, Tyjuan at LDRS, Dave Jeff and Punch at PHLI. Those are all my big bros and they go HARD!

Retro models are the most popular shoes right now; does this say something about modern sneaker design?
Yeah, they suck! I don’t buy any new Jordans, but I like from 1 to 11. The older SBs are way cooler, too. But SB tends to surprise me here and there. Like all the new basketball shoes—Lebrons, Kobes? You can have those, I’m straight.

How much does nostalgia have to do with your taste in shoes?
A lot. Sneakers mean a lot to me. I wasn’t privileged with material things when I was a kid. I only had one pair of Jordans. The rest of my sneakers were borderline cool, Fila, British Knights and LA Gears. That’s why I get so many retros now. It kinda brings me back what I didn’t have then.

Is the shoe game evolving? Or do you think the whole game has hit a wall?
I can’t call it. I just know it’s not a good idea to beat a dead horse. Not saying sneakers are dead. But it mos’ def’ needs to finds its exclusive factor again. Too many kids aren’t educated about why it is what it is, and they’re buying sneakers for all the wrong reasons. Buy what you like. Wear what makes you feel good or confident.

Photos by Tony Dang and Chris Ho