MY PASSION FOR JORDAN
Over the years I have deepened my passion until I turned it into a job...
THE ORIGIN
It all starts with a figurine, purchased in August 2012 on eBay.
I bought this sticker from the United States for $10, the card is from 1992 and features Jordan wearing the Dream Team uniform from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
This figurine sparked a deep interest in this player within me, to the point of turning it into an obsession. The people who knew me at the time know this very well, and I apologize to them if at times I was too focused only on that and on every thing or object that represented him.
cit. Excuse me :)
From a simple sticker I then began to create my collection, enriching it more and more with valuable, autographed pieces and limited edition sneakers, both vintage and recent.
I invested everything I earned selling flea market finds or sneakers for resale in my personal collection. I got to the point where I ran out of room and found myself sleeping in the basement.
My collection is constantly evolving and improving, now I'm really looking for pieces that can raise the bar or products that make me experience emotions like that figurine I bought in August 2012.
HOW DO YOU BECOME A COLLECTOR?
You become a collector over time, but the initial period is always the best, because you're constantly on the adrenaline rush and researching every object at any time of day. Before becoming a collector, you have to be passionate, and for me, that means investing time in continuous study and research to improve your knowledge and also avoid any unpleasant situations when purchasing merchandise.
What many people lack is the passion to become a true collector. It's not enough to have the money to buy, you need to know what you're buying, and from my point of view, it's more rewarding because you're getting your time and effort rewarded.
Anyone can become one, you just need to invest your time wisely. You don't need to have pieces worth thousands of euros to level up your level as a collector. What counts is the quality of the products and the knowledge you possess.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THE 2012 YOU RIGHT NOW?
I'd start by telling him, "Congratulations, you've come a long way!" Then I'd tell him that what he's done and continues to do has interested many people, and that some people even now appreciate him, compared to the early years when they called him a madman who bought worthless old stuff.
The secret formula for all this is to remain true to yourself and continue the passion that made you happy, even if one day all this might end and people might no longer care about you. You continue for yourself. After all, you started this way, so why not keep doing it?
THE MOST VALUABLE OR IMPORTANT PIECE IN YOUR COLLECTION?
The piece I'm definitely most attached to is the 1989 Jordan 4 Bred, because I completely restored the sole piece by piece with glue, a brush, and tweezers. It arrived cracked from shipping, and I was in tears that afternoon, but I wanted to save it and bring its glory back to light. It took me almost 15 hours of work to restore it.
The most valuable piece is definitely the 1992 playoff chair, where I have certificates of authenticity and stills of Jordan sitting in during the game. At the moment, I have no idea if other similar items can be found on the market.
I released a video interview about this item and others from my collection