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Where’d He Get Those?! Interview With Tye Engmann of @CuratedVan

Air Jordan 1

Where’d He Get Those?! Interview With Tye Engmann of @CuratedVan

How and why @curatedvan founder Tye Engmann collects his ultra-rare OG Air Jordan 1s and Nike Dunks.

Matt DeSciora

By every measure, the Air Jordan 1 is the greatest sneaker of all time. Originally released in 1985 by Nike and designed specifically for Michael Jordan, the Air Jordan 1 is a cultural icon on and off the basketball court, a shoe that you’ll just as likely to see on a skater shredding down the street as you will on someone in an office with a lax dress policy. New releases sell out almost instantly. Older releases, like pairs from the Air Jordan 1’s original 1980s production run, are the toast of the sneaker collecting hobby.

Consider Tye Engmann the authority in all matters related to the original Air Jordan 1 from 1985.

On social media, Engmann educates collectors on the specifics of the vintage Air Jordan 1s he sources and sells to them from his @curatedvan Instagram account. At only 20 years old, Engmann has cultivated a community of enthusiasts who wait for CuratedVan “drops” with baited breath. “Drops” mostly consist of the incredibly rare, original Air Jordan 1s that Engmann excavates from all over the world, but he’s been known to sprinkle in a Nike Dunk or three from the model’s ‘80s and ‘90s heyday, also.

Engmann’s clientele has grown rapidly since launching Curatedvan just under three years ago. Celebrities like ‘Lil Yachty and Takeoff are among the many who’ve reached out to him to get original Air Jordan 1s for music videos, photoshoots, and wherever else someone would want to stunt in vintage, iconic sneakers. So word about Engmann’s credibility is getting around.

We recently spoke with Engmann to get his perspective on how the original Air Jordan 1 compares to the modern incarnation of the shoe, his thoughts on nostalgia in sneaker culture and, yes, how to properly source a legitimate pair of Air Jordan 1s from 1985.

Check out our full interview with Tye Engmann, aka Curatedvan, below.

What’s up, Tye?

Nothing much, man. Relaxing. Happy to chop it up with you about OG Air Jordan 1s!

Before we dive in, please introduce yourself to our readers who may not be familiar with you and your completely healthy obsession with vintage, original Air Jordan 1s.

I curate and collect vintage, original Air Jordan 1s. My obsession with collecting original Air Jordan 1s began four to five years ago. I definitely wouldn’t label myself as an OG collector due to my age, but I’ve always had a passion for vintage shoes. I bought my first 1985 Air Jordan 1 back in 2016. The “Chicago” colorway. I was hooked on vintage Jordan 1s after copping that shoe, man. I eventually developed this platform to help others get their hands on original Air Jordan 1s.

Why vintage Jordan 1s and Nike Dunks?

Air Jordan 1s are globally recognized as part of basketball culture. I consider Nike Dunks and Nike SBs to be an iconic tribute to skateboarders and the community surrounding them, as well. My passion for these shoes lies in the story behind each colorway.

Did Nike really make a superior product back in the day or are you easily swayed by the winds of nostalgia?

The quality of original pairs, even some older pairs that aren’t necessarily “OG,” is far superior to any of the newer releases. I say this not because I sell older shoes, but because the quality of these OG shoes speak for themselves. The cut of leather that Nike used back in the day is night-and-day better than anything found on new shoes released by Nike. Listen, I know that due to age, the leather quality of vintage shoes exceeds that of newer releases due to the natural aging process. So having said that, the foam within the collar on OG Air Jordan 1s, for example, can harden, ultimately making the shoe uncomfortable. Even still, if you were to hold an original Air Jordan 1 from 1985 side-by-side next to a modern “retro” Air Jordan 1 High OG, you would be able to tell the difference. And that speaks for itself.

Where do you find all of these incredibly rare Nike artifacts?

To be honest, there isn’t one answer. I find my shoes literally all over the world. Asia, Canada, Europe, the United States. I know that’s vague, but once you know what to look for when buying a pair of vintage shoes, specifically the Air Jordan 1, then it really opens up a lot of possibilities.

Buying worn-to-hell sneakers from a stranger off the internet can be a scary proposition for someone just getting into vintage sneakers. What do you look for when sourcing kicks? What are some rudimentary rules one can follow if they’re new to the game?

Buying vintage shoes, especially shoes that are 36 years old can be scary as hell. For some a shoe having a previous owner adds value, to others I can see how it would bring doubt of wearability. If you are looking to purchase a 1985 Air Jordan 1, here are a few questions to ask the seller:

A) Are the collars soft or hard and crumbly? A soft collar means the foam hasn’t hardened and is far more comfortable than a hardened and crumbly collar. Collars harden due to age and, ultimately, how the shoe was stored. The durability of a 1985 Air Jordan 1 also depends on what factory they were made in.

B) Are the bottoms soft or hardened? If the bottom has hardened on the shoe, it will not flex, which means the shoe is no longer wearable and in need of a sole swap. A soft bottom means the shoe is still flexible and can be worn without any issues.

These two questions can determine whether the shoe is wearable or not. A 1985 Air Jordan 1 can be worn with hard collars and soft bottoms. Collars aren’t the issue, the bottoms are. Hardened collars just means the shoe will be less comfortable.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to wear vintage sneakers? What is the proper way to care for a shoe that, in many cases, is over 30 years old?

To own vintage sneakers means to love them. Wear them consistently or at least once and a while. If a shoe just sits and isn’t stored in the proper room with correct lighting and/or room temperature, the shoe can harden and oxidize. However, if you wear the shoe, the constant movement that naturally causes flexing of the shoe will keep the shoe pliable and wearable. I also treat all my shoes with Angelus mink oil. The oil does a great job of keeping the leather plush.

Lil Yachty gave you a shout out on part 2 of his episode of Complex Closets with Joe La Puma earlier this year. How did you connect with Yachty? I can imagine “Boat” isn’t the only celebrity sliding into the Curatedvan DMs for vintage Air Jordan 1s. Who else are you putting on?

Yachty and I connected a little over a year ago. I actually came across a pair of Ari Menthol 10s and knew “Boat” was looking for them. Zack Bia connected me to Yachty because of the Menthols. Although the Menthols didn’t turn out to be his size, we developed a relationship and I began sourcing shoes for him. Yachty is super cool to work with because he has a passion for the shoes he collects and buys. It’s a novelty thing for him. He’s very knowledgeable. I’ve also supplied some original Air Jordan’s to Kevin Hart and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

You’re probably more knowledgeable on this subject than anyone I know, so I feel 100% confident that you have the correct answer to this question: How many original Air Jordan 1s did Nike produce in 1985?

The million-dollar question. If we are not including the Air Jordan 1 KO (released by Nike in 1986) there are 18 original Air Jordan 1s. If we were to include the AJKO’s, there are at least 20 original pairs. However, there are rumors about “White/Red,” “White/Grey,” and “White/Blue” Air Jordan 1 KOs. Whether they actually released or not is unknown, though. There are also quite a few rumored samples of the original Air Jordan 1, so it’s hard to pinpoint an exact number if all the samples were accounted for.

What are your thoughts on present day Air Jordan 1s and Nike Dunks? Are Jordan and Nike doing too much or not enough in terms of honoring the legacy of either shoe?

I believe that Nike is doing too much in regards to the Air Jordan 1s and Nike Dunks. When it comes to good shoes, less is more, and I stand by that. There are just too many colorways being pumped out today, which in my opinion, takes away from a shoe’s legacy. I find it cool that they are retroing some of the original colorways however, at the same time I think it would be also dope if some weren’t ever brought back. There are definitely two ways of looking at Nike and Jordan’s approach to releasing all these shoes. So, yeah, for people like me it takes away some of the legacy, but for others, all of these new releases can only serve to introduce the hobby of sneaker collecting to a wider audience. I see both sides of the spectrum—respectfully so.

Is there any shoe still in the wild that you’d like to own or have you touched all of your “grails?”

Yes. 100%. There is always a shoe that seems untouchable, but that’s part of the thrill that comes with the hobby that never gets old. I’m on the hunt to complete the original 1985 Air Jordan 1 set. The “Metallics” are becoming nearly impossible to find. Like, I shake my head thinking about some of the opportunities I had to own some of the original “Metallic” Air Jordan 1s that I passed up on. In many instances, prices have doubled, tripled or even quadrupled on those rare “Metallic” colorways. As of now, the four pairs that I am after are the 1985 Air Jordan 1 “Metallic Orange,” “Metallic Green,” “Metallic Black,” and “Metallic Purple.” After obtaining these four, I should be able to complete the set fairly easily. Also, a goal of mine is to complete the Nike SB Dunk “City Pack” collection.

What’s next for Curatedvan?

Just as it was in the past, the present and the future of my business is and is going to be centered around sharing my passion for sneakers. I’m beyond excited to travel and meet fellow sneaker collectors in the very near future and I want to continue to build relationships with like-minded people. I get asked a lot whether or not I’d like to open a brick-and-mortar retail store or host pop-ups, so I’ll address that here by saying that I’m not sure I will be opening one just yet, but it’s definitely something that could happen in the future.

You can follow Tye at @curatedvan on Instagram