@mercurialkicks | UNLACED

UNLACED is a written interview series by PUSHAS deep diving into the personal journeys and lifestyles of sneakerheads across Australia and the world. It's not just their love of sneakers — it's the stories behind every step.

Our first UNLACED interview is a PUSHAS ambassador @mercurialkicks. Jake is one of the top sneaker instagram accounts in Australia and the world. He's also one of the top PUSHAS ambassadors so it's very fitting that Jake is the maiden UNLACED interview.

1. Name: Jake Mercieca
2. IG / TikTok Handle: @mercurialkicks
3. What do you love to do in your spare time? Other than collecting sneakers, I absolutely love watching AFL as I am a massive Carlton Blues supporter.
4. What's important to you and what drives you? Improvement each day is what drives me as I feel bettering yourself each day is the most empowering thing.
5. What do you believe that most people don't? LeBron is the greatest all-round basketball player to ever play the game, and Jordan has the greatest achievements.
6. Every person has a moment or encounter that significantly shaped their relationship with sneakers. What was yours, which sneaker was it, and what emotions and memories do they evoke? The first ever order my mother made for me from Eastbay when I was a kid. I believe they were a pair of Jordan 1 mid sonics, CP3s and Melos. 
7. In your collection, which sneaker stands out as holding the most personal value or story and why? Definitely would be the Lost and Found 1s as I never thought I would own a Chicago High.
8. Can you tell us about a bond or interaction, sparked by sneakers, that you cherish? Meeting the legends from PUSHAS! Was an awesome day where we got to interview people in Melbourne city.
9. What's an unpopular sneaker opinion that you have? A person buying a pair only because it is ‘HYPED’ is worse than someone (who is new to the sneaker game) buying a pair of Panda Dunks.