Meet the Creator Behind the Women's-Only Instagram Sneaker Resource, "If I Can't Wear SNKRS"
Read our exclusive interview with founder Christina Kenan.
Meet Christina Kenan, the curator behind If I Can’t Wear SNKRS, an Instagram resource helping women navigate the sneaker space.
From raffle information to restocks, Kenan’s private IG page is invaluable to anyone looking for sneaker deets, specifically anyone intimidated by buying shoes and avoiding resell scams.
For this special edition of Baes with Kicks, we’re chatting with Christina on her platform and the state of women’s sneakers at large.
For those who have yet to follow your Instagram, can you give us a rundown of your platform and why you chose to create it?
Sure, If I Can’t Wear SNKRS is a private Instagram page/online platform and community for women dedicated to providing exclusive sneaker release information on a global scale. I’m proud to say that If I Can’t Wear SNKRS provides a safe space for women to thrive in the sneaker and streetwear community.
I chose to create this platform after receiving a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase the Jordan OG Melody Ehsani. Melody’s initial release of her Jordan OGs on her official website was unfortunately ruined because bots took over her website and purchased most of the inventory. The Melody Ehsani Team quickly canceled orders and throughout the next few days, I would stay glued to their social media platforms to see how they would rerelease the shoe. I ended up sharing this fast-changing information with another woman online and entered the raffle myself. I woke up the next morning to a message from the Melody Ehsani Team including a screenshot of the interaction between the young woman and me and gave us both the opportunity to purchase the Jordan OG Melody Ehsani.
That release highlighted the challenges that women faced when trying to purchase sneakers. They had the interest, passion, and budget to purchase sneakers, but unfortunately did not have the ever-changing information as to when, where, and how to purchase them. I wanted to change that by bridging the information gap.
Christina Kenan
What has been the greatest challenge in fulfilling the platform’s mission?
My greatest challenge in fulfilling the platform’s mission is quite honestly keeping up to date with so many releases. There are so many releases that women are excited about from so many brands and it’s my job to research each of these releases and provide as much information as I can on my platform. My way of thinking is the more resources I provide, the more likely women can purchase these sought-after sneakers for retail instead of having to pay for resale.
You connect with a lot of women interested in the sneaker space from all over the world, what’s a common issue we’re all facing?
The most common issue women are facing in the sneaker space worldwide is still size inclusivity. The lack of inclusive sizing is has always been a major problem. On one side of the spectrum, some women wear shoe sizes smaller than a size 6 and do not want to purchase sneakers in big kids sizing. On the opposite side of the spectrum, some women wear larger than a 12 and cannot purchase a women’s exclusive shoe because it does not come in their size. That’s why there needs to be inclusive sizing in sneakers.
Do you feel any real progress is being made for women in sneakers? How does the future of the space look to you?
I do feel like real progress is being made for women in sneakers. More brands are rethinking their footwear designs when it comes to “shrink it and pink it” even though a few questionable colorways slip through the cracks. We are seeing more women’s stories being highlighted within the sneaker community and more amazing collaborations. More women’s voices are being amplified especially for Black and Brown women and I love to see it.
In my opinion, the future of the sneaker space looks like more storytelling from women and more women collaborations. More safe spaces for women to find their communities virtually. More safe spaces for women include in-person shopping experiences, events, and networking.
Whats the one thing sneaker brands could do better?
One thing sneaker brands could do better is continue creating and embracing genderless sneakers (in both sizing and product design). Genderless fashion is the future and inclusive sneaker sizing would solve a lot of issues many consumers face especially women.
