Inspired by her sister, Brighton-based neonatal nurse Abbie kickstarted her Nike obsession as a jobless student pining for the Nike x Liberty London Air Max 1. Her story as a female within the culture and a nurse is a unique and fascinating one to tell. Her colleagues are often shocked by her style change outside of work. The switch up from scrubs and Crocs to a Nuptse & Wotherspoons is a story we’ve loved to share.

What is your first memory of Air Max?

“My first memory of Air Max is when the Nike x Liberty London collection came out in 2014. I was only 17 at the time, a student and jobless, so I wasn’t able to get them. But I was OBSESSED, I had a photo of them saved on my phone determined to get them when I got a job. Obviously, they weren’t for sale anymore, I didn’t understand what limited trainers were at this point!

“It wasn’t until 2018 that I finally got a pair, deadstock and for retail. Literally the happiest girl, my obsession with shoes kind of started there, I started wearing trainers more and more, collecting, and changing my style.”

What’s your main passion outside of the sneaker culture?

“As sad as it sounds, my main passion is my job. I work as a Neonatal Staff Nurse, in the neonatal intensive care unit in Brighton. My job is so unique and so special. I’ve seen miracles you could only dream of. In the NICU, we see the highest highs and the lowest lows. But I’m so lucky to work for such an amazing cause, caring for sick and premature babies. They are the strongest little things, and they are my inspiration and motivation every single day. I couldn’t love it more.”

Can you give us a short overview of your day-to-day?

“On a working day, I’m up at 6am to get to work, where I start at 07:30 and finish at 20:00, 12.5 long and tiring hours. So naturally, on a day off you’ll catch me walking my dog with my partner, or in my pyjamas on the sofa, probably watching Harry Potter.”

Explain the difference between your work attire and personal fashion sense?

“Unfortunately, I don’t get to express my style at work. I have to wear scrubs and crocs… so there is a huge contrast. I wish I could flex some trainers, but to be honest I don’t think the babies would be bothered by my shoes.”

How is your fashion sense perceived by your colleagues?

“My colleagues are normally shocked by the different shoes I come to work in every day, I’ll get ‘bloody hell Abb, how many shoes do you have?!’ They think I’m weird and unique; it’s probably what they love about me. You won’t catch any of the other nurses rocking up to work in a full tracksuit or Carhartt dungarees.”

Keep checking back on the size blog for more Air Max fan stories!