Collaborator Profile: This Is Ronnie Fieg, New York’s Sneaker God

There is a place in NoHo, Manhattan, that serves as the nexus for sneakerhead culture in New York City. It’s a store to be exact, nestled in a two room space behind the high-end apparel store Atrium. And as yourUnlike in sports, the world of sneakers doesn’t have statisticians, but even without a record keeper it’s easy to tell that Ronnie is the collaboration equivalent of a Michael Jordan feet carry you over the threshold from the high-ceilinged walls of Atrium into the dimly lit confines of this store you find yourself transported into a world of sneakers, boots, brogues and nearly every other kind of footwear imaginable. This store is called Kith NYC and the man behind Kith NYC is Ronnie Fieg, NYC’s sneaker god, if ever there’s been such a thing.

Mr. Fieg’s story begins over 16-years-ago when the Queens native started in the sneaker world. It was as a 15-year-old stock boy for a footwear chain owned by a man named David Z. From there it was salesperson to manager to buyer to head buyer, until Ronnie got his break doing what he’s now built his name on: collaborating with ASICS on a set of designs for their Gel Lyte IIIs. That was 2007, and Ronnie’s shoes were such an instant hit that they landed themselves on the cover of that famous sneaker news publication the Wall Street Journal and the rest, as they say, was history.

Ronnie Fieg X David Z X Asics Gel Lyte III

That’s not to say that Mr. Fieg hasn’t worked hard for his success. His work ethic is reportedly unparalleled and, as you scroll through his Instagram, there is an endless stream of photographs from of his travels and meetings. He appears to be in constant motion, tirelessly designing, selling and promoting his creations.

The story of Ronnie Fieg entered a new chapter in 2011 with the opening of his first retail space, his Manhattan Kith location (the one described so mythically above). Kith is as much a monument to Ronnie’s prolificacy as a store where his designs and collaborations are sold. On its shelves you’ll find the pinnacle of shoe design and into its confines you’ll see march an endless stream of customers as diverse as its offerings.

Kith NYC

Unlike in sports, the world of sneakers doesn’t have statisticians, but even without a record keeper it’s easy to tell that Ronnie is the collaboration equivalent of a Michael Jordan: he’s reportedly done over 100 collaborative footwear pieces and apparel, working continually with a laundry list of brands from ASICS, adidas, Chippewa, Clarks, and Converse to Jon Buscemi, PUMA, Red Wings, Saucony, Sebago, Timberland and more.

As successful as Mr. Fieg is, his best years are undoubtedly in front of him. There’s no telling who he’ll bring into the Kith fold next, but waiting for that mystery to unfold is why streetwear is so exciting; you never know what you’re going to get next. So, upon your next visit to Kith NYC, it’s sister store in Brooklyn or one of Ronnie’s pop-ups (like the most recent #CoatOfArms event in Paris), take a second, close your eyes, and know you’re at the center of the sneaker universe.

RELATED: THE 13 BEST RONNIE FIEG COLLABORATIONS OF 2013

[Photos via Ronnie Fieg]

Ronnie Fieg

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