In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, Alyx sits down with Sal Amezcua (@kickstradomis), one of the most well-known sneaker customizers in the world whose work has been worn by NBA players on the court, and the founder of Kicksverse, a platform merging sneaker culture, art, and collectibles.

Kicks is an artist who’s built a brand at the highest level of culture. From designing custom sneakers for athletes and celebrities to expanding into trading cards and art, he’s carved out a lane that blends creativity, community, and commerce.

Alyx and Kicks explore the crossover between sneaker culture and the modern hobby—two worlds driven by passion, scarcity, and hype, but also increasingly shaped by scale and pressure. They also discuss intentional collecting, staying connected to passion as the hobby becomes more transactional ...