Sneakerhead Weekly

Exclusive Interview with Blerg, the Sneaker King of 1990s Grunge

Blerg, aka "The King of Grunge," is a Seattle-based sneaker collector with a reputation for his vast collection of rare 1990s Air Jordans. He's been featured in numerous publications, including Sneakerhead Weekly and Grunge Sneaker Magazine.

We sat down with Blerg at his prized sneaker shop, "Blerg's Bodega," to talk about his love of 90s Grunge and his top three favorite kicks.

What inspired your love of 1990s Grunge?

I was born and raised in Seattle, so I was basically raised on the sound of Nirvana and Pearl Jam. I mean, who wasn't, right? But seriously, there's something about the whole Grunge aesthetic that just clicked with me – the flannel shirts, the ripped jeans, the Doc Martens. It was like a movement, you know?

And how do you think the Grunge movement influenced your sneaker game?

For sure, it influenced my sneaker game in a big way. I mean, those dudes like Kurt and Krist and Dave were all about comfort and practicality, and that's exactly what I look for in a sneaker. I'm talking about kicks that can keep up with my active lifestyle, you know? Like, who needs all those flashy, blingy kicks when you can rock a pair of scuffed-up 1-4-1s and still look cool?

What's your top three favorite 90s Grunge-inspired kicks, and why?

Okay, so my top three are the Air Jordan 4 "Black/Cement," the Air Yeezy "Grunge" (a super-rare collaboration with Nike), and the Air Foamposite "Grunge" (another collab with Nike). I mean, have you seen these things? They're like, whoa.

We're proud to have had the chance to sit down with Blerg and chat about his love of 90s Grunge. If you're interested in seeing more of his incredible collection, be sure to check out Blerg's Bodega on 5th Avenue in downtown Seattle. And don't forget to follow us on Sneakerhead Weekly for more interviews like this one!