Conversations with Marcus “Gatsby” Edmonds

Written By Proper Spirit

“ My name is Marcus, I’m from Northern Virginia and much love to the entire DMV area. Currently, I live in NYC and I’ve been here for 8 years. I’m inspired by my family, friends, my surroundings, and my travels whether it’s across the street or across the globe.”

What was your upbringing like?
I’m thankful and blessed to say I was raised in and around love. My mother is from Coatesville, Pennsylvania, a small town an hour outside of Philly and my father is from East Baltimore. I'm definitely an east coast guy. After they met, they eventually moved to Northern VA and had me. As a young kid, I’d ride with my dad up to Bmore  to drop off my grandmother on the weekends. We’d always stop by my grandfather’s crib and he’d cut my hair. My grandfather owned a barbershop in East Bmore for over 50 years but closed it before I was born even though he would still cut me, my dad, my uncles, cousins, and everyone in the neighborhood's hair. It was dope seeing the community come through the back door in the basement to get fresh but what really stood out was the respect they had for him. During the summers, if it wasn’t basketball camp, I’d stay in Coatesville for several weeks and I’d spend time with my mom’s side of the family. I’d split time between my grandparents' crib, my uncle Woody's crib, and my aunt Lori’s crib. Life moved a bit slower in Coatesville for sure. I remember helping my grandfather get things together for the farmer’s market because he sold furniture and other goods there. I remember having to attend the Kingdom Hall on Sundays with my grandma because she was a devout Jehovah’s Witness. After that, I could go to my uncle Woody’s crib to hang with my cousins, run around, have my aunt Sylvia’s world famous bread pudding and act a fool! At aunt Lori’s, I could do whatever I wanted! She’d play 2Pac, Dr. Dre, SWV, and MC Eiht all day. We’d watch WWF, have our own Survivor Series matches on her front porch with people from her hood, etc. It was wild but fun for a young kid from Northern VA. It’s amazing to even recount those moments, wow.

Wearing Kapital Denim Old Man And The Sea Bucket Hat and Mitchell and Ness Washington Senators Ted Williams 1969 Manager Jersey.

Photo: Mitchell Louis

How has it been for you to transition from Northern Virginia to New York City?

To be honest, moving to NYC has been great for me. Every time I’ve moved to a new city, I’ve grown as a person. Transitioning from city to city is never easy, especially coming to NYC. There’s something special about being here…from the different boroughs and how the energy differs in each, to all the diverse and amazing cultures that shape the city. Things happen fast here, you have to move faster, you have to be more intentional here, your mind has to be sharper here or else you’ll get left behind. I love it.

How did you get into collecting sneakers? 

My passion for sneakers first started from me watching sports with my dad and then of course playing sports. When I was coming up, the athletes were the influencers. Whether it was watching MJ [Michael Jordan] win his first ring in the Jordan 6s, to idolizing the Georgetown Hoyas, watching Allen Iverson and Victor Page rocking the Concord 11s and wearing the legendary Gtown [Georgetown] uniforms with the Kente cloth designs. So my introduction was sports but also, my older cousin Nicole would eventually move in with us from East Baltimore. When she touched down, that’s when sneakers became special for me. She had a strong rotation where she had shoes like the grey New Balance 996s, Air Max 95 Slate, AF1s with the gum sole, Columbia 11s, triple white K-Swiss, butter Timbs, etc. My mind was blown! Not to mention, she was mixing all these kicks with Gap sweats, Nautica sweats, Tommy Hilfiger and/or Polo windbreakers, Karl Kani, Madness, etc. She put me on to the fly shit and I was hooked. I remember her taking me to World Foot Locker in Tysons Corner Mall after school so she could get pairs or just see what was coming out. This is pre-Internet, so you couldn’t go on IG and figure it out. You had to go into the shops, hopefully get cool with someone who worked there, and then you’d know what shoes were about to drop. Outside of that, it was Eastbay. Seeing all the jerseys, hats, and shoes at World Foot Locker was like walking through a museum to me haha! I wanted to be just like her. Another person who got me into sneakers was my cousin, Alef, rest in peace to him. I’d go over to my uncle Yogi’s crib in Baltimore, and Alef would always appear with something fresh on his feet. I remember one day, he came over while I was there and he was rocking some red/white Puma GVs with a red Texas Rangers snapback. He reached into this bag, handed me a Mecca long sleeve, a Madness keychain, and the It Was Written Nas cassette tape. He told me “don’t tell your pops you got this tape”, and went on about his business. I thought I had died and went to heaven! Shoutout to my cousins Alef and Nicole for getting me into this.

Pictured above: Edmonds’ collection of footwear.

Photo: Mitchell Louis, Jashawn Johnson

Can you tell us the significance behind your collection? How would you describe it? 

For sure. I’d say my collection is well balanced, diverse, rooted in my past, present, future and is wearable. Certain days, I’ll wake up feeling real nostalgic so I might wanna throw on some silver Tim Duncan’s [Nike Total Air Foamposite Max], Black Laser 4s, Air Pippen 1s, or some Air Griffey 1s. Other days, I might have some Peace Be The Journey Salehe [Bembury] NB 2002Rs or some DTLR NB 992 DC’s on. And then on another day, I’ll throw on something more futuristic that displays new tech like the ASICS Gel-Quantum Kinetic. I haven’t reached the point where I feel like I’m “too cool” for the older shoes, or that I don’t like anything trendy, or that I won’t embrace the “new”. I like to try new things while remaining loyal to what got me started with this sneaker shit. I’ll wear damn near any brand of shoe because coming up, I saw my friends and family rocking a little bit of everything. I’m loyal to myself and what I like and not one specific brand.

Pictured above: Air Jordan Laser 4s and a pile of New Balance Sneakers. All from Edmonds’ collection.

Photo: Mitchell Louis, Jashawn Johnson

What are some shoes or pieces you do not currently own but you wish you did?

Right now, I’m in the market for a pair of Nike Air Max Sensations, the black/varsity royal colorway, DS in a 10.5. Growing up in the DMV, this is a special shoe to me because I came up rooting for the Washington Bullets/Wizards and Chris Webber was their best player in the mid-90s after he was traded from the Golden State Warriors. The Air Max Sensation was Webber’s first and only signature shoe with Nike. When they initially dropped, it was called the Air Max CW with his jersey #2 on the back pull tab. Since he’s no longer a Nike athlete, it was changed to the Air Max Sensation. Outside of that pair, I could go for an OG pair of the Prada America Cups. The OG is important because I'm not a fan of the newer Prada Cups and the shape of them. Sometimes you gotta dig in the crates and really search for these shoes—But that’s what makes the shoe game fun to me. Long live the hunt! 

How would you describe your style?
I’d say my style is rooted in sports, me being from the DMV, the people I’ve met, and the places I’ve been. Style is a sport and it can be very competitive. With that being said, I’m always looking to incorporate new different brands into my style while still maintaining my ethos. For me, I’m always trying to find balance when I’m getting dressed. It’s also fun when you discover new and exciting brands. The discovery is an important element of style for me. Finding that brand that you like that no one else is up on yet feels amazing. It’s like if you were one of the early Kendrick Lamar fans back in 2009/2010 before he blew up and you knew his music was dope before the rest. Nowadays, people acquire these clothes from high-end, streetwear or heritage brands, and they literally throw it all on at once. Look, do what works for you. For me, it’s important to have intention when you get dressed. You could have all the “in” brands but how you put it together is the most important thing to me. That is style. There’s people who mix everyday wear, thrift pieces, along with high-end pieces and make it work. Others might subscribe to the “throw that shit on” theory with a bunch of big brand pieces to be noticed. Some people dress more low-key but their outfit is still highly sophisticated. Then you have people who like having more of a uniform day in and day out. I think it’s important to understand your style, what works for YOU, and go with that.

Wearing Comme Des Garçons Homme Plus Blazer, Engineered Garments Dress Shirt and Comme Des Garçons Homme Plus Pants. Edmonds took us to Fyahbun Cafe, one of his favorite restaurants in Midtown East serving Jamaican food.

Pictured above: Nike in Collaboration with Dover Street Market 5th Year Anniversary Air Force 1.

Photo: Jashawn Johnson

As an avid collector, what do you think about the resale market when it comes to sneakers?

I’m really happy that you asked me this question. I think the resale market is a vital part of the sneaker game. For anyone who’s a passionate collector, you can’t tell me they haven’t copped at least a few pairs on the resale, via a friend, eBay or meet-up. The resale community is much more than folks buying bots to get a size run off a SNKRS drop. It’s almost impossible to know every shoe that’s ever come out. People get into the sneaker game at different stages in their life, learn about some older models like a Laser 4, and they want in. How else are they going to acquire a shoe like that? Shout out to the reseller communities for having these rare shoes available in your size, DS [deadstock], properly taken care of for all these years, and ready to be worn. Anyone who’s sold a pair of shoes they're done wearing is a reseller, straight up. Have I sold some shoes from my collection in the past? Absolutely, which makes me a small part of the reseller community. I get it, it’s hard to acquire the latest drops week to week and I do sympathize with people who can’t get what they want. However, we’re getting upset at the wrong people. If these brands wanted everyone to have a pair,  maybe they could adjust things to make that a reality but historically, they haven’t until now. I’m seeing more restocks these days which I think is healthy and necessary for the game. Why not take the brands to task?—Then I see people blaming the sneaker stores for the reselling that goes on. Most have no clue on the shop/brand relationship and how shops end up taking the blame for “lack of pairs.” I get it, I’m rambling but I needed to get this off my chest. I’m not mad at people who resell shoes to make a living. Plus, there’s plenty of folks who get into the shoe game these days, and you can tell they’re doing this purely for clout and not for their actual passion for kicks. They want the shoes now, until they’re told they can’t get them, and suddenly, they disappear and find a new hobby. At this stage of the game, there’s shoes coming out everyday. Some are hyped releases, some go way under the radar, and some collect dust until they go on a super sale. That means if you miss out on something, there’s always something else coming out that you can easily acquire without having to pay “the high” for a shoe.

Pictured above: A pile of New Balance Sneakers. All from Edmonds’ collection.

In your opinion, how do you think we can be more inclusive when it comes to fashion?

Well, I think we as consumers have plenty to do with this. I think we need to continue to embrace up and coming brands that are created by people who come from diverse backgrounds. We set the trends and communicate what’s hot, not the brands. Most times, these brands are playing catch up to what’s really going on outside. As a consumer, your spending power is everything. What if folks decided to not invest in certain brands that don’t give anything to us? What if we started spending that money within our communities and showing love to designers who look like us a bit more? These brands will take notice. I’m not hating on people who shop designer brands because I enjoy them too! I’m just saying we have the ability to give other people a shot which can turn into bigger looks for those diverse brands on a larger stage in the future.

Pictured above: Objects and headwear all from Edmonds’ collection.

Photo: Mitchell Louis

You and your business partner Sean “OSD” Williams run a podcast titled Critical Lace Theory, can you tell us about this and how far do you want to take this? andCritical Lace Theory is a podcast that Sean and I created and we’re excited to bring it to the people. You see how critical race theory is unfortunately being banned in multiple states right? If that keeps happening, we’re going to have a nation of misinformed people who don’t know the whole truth about our country. It’s the same thing with the sneaker and fashion game. Instead of this notion that we should continue to consume, let’s go over the history of this industry, highlight the true innovators, heroes, and pioneers who’ve laid down the foundation to allow us to be where we are today.  We’ll be interviewing designers, artists and tastemakers from the industry through a critical lens. The whole idea is for creators behind these amazing products to authentically tell their story on their contributions and more importantly how they got into the game. If Beyonce drops a new single, you immediately know who produced the song. How come when you see a dope shoe or garment, you rarely know who created that product? A lot of times, the creators are people who look like us! So, we need to ensure people know the real engines behind these brands. This show isn’t going to be another platform where we discuss the latest sneakers dropping each week. I enjoy those shows, but we wanted to take a different approach. Just like anything else, this takes time, and we’re getting it ready.

Wearing Supreme in collaboration with Comme Des Garçons Shirt Zip Shirt from FW18 and Supreme Wool Trouser Shorts.

Part of Edmonds’ jewelry collection consists of bracelets and rings.

Photo: Jashawn Johnson

Are there any coveted footwear in your collection that pay homage to your hometown?
Oh absolutely. Last year, during the 40th anniversary of the Air Force 1, you could go create your own AF1 [Air Force 1] via Nike By You. I cooked up a Home and Away AF1 that has the 703 area code embroidered on one side along with “DMV” embroidered on the other side of the shoe. A lot of people don’t acknowledge or know that Baltimore, along with the rest of the DMV had a lot to do with the survival of the AF1 in the 80. So, I thought it was fitting to do an AF1 saluting my region during the 40th anniversary. Any Foamposite, Total Air Foamposite, Flightposite, etc in my collection reminds me of home. I’d say another standout from my collection are the New Balance “DC” 992s which were designed by June Sanders via DTLR. I think that shoe was really well done and had a great impact when it dropped in 2021. That shoe uses the colors found on the DC flag along with elements of grey and black. The grey is important because folks from back home always have a fresh pair of grey NBs [New Balances] on their feet. In fact, that shoe served as inspiration to the AF1s that I previously mentioned. I used the DC flag colors of red and white, then added black and grey to complete everything. No matter what part of the DMV you claim, you know DC is the glue that holds the entire area together. I’m so proud to be where I’m from. I’ve traveled to some nice places, learned a lot, and I look forward to learning more and traveling more in the future. But at the end of the day, I know where home is and where my heart is.

Nike By You “Home and Away” Air Force 1s by Marcus Edmonds.

Photo: Mitchell Louis

What is a day to day operation like for you?

I mean, everyday is different right? I try to get up by 6:30am and knock out a workout. Sometimes the workout is an hour, sometimes it’s 30 minutes. When I workout in the morning, I can handle more random adversity and stress that naturally comes with the day. The day is even better when I can make a smoothie with some kale, pineapple, banana, cucumber, and sea moss after the workout. Then after that, it’s go mode to get work accomplished and complete tasks on a daily basis.

Wearing Washington Senators x Hat Heaven, SOMEWHERE Marion Barry tee and Just Don Hardwood Classics x Mitchell and Ness Washington Bullets Shorts.

Photo: Mitchell Louis

Apart from where you have gotten a chance to reside, what are some cities across the globe that you have gotten a chance to visit and how did they impact you?

Traveling gets you out of your comfort zone and you get to see life from a different perspective. Some of my favorite places to visit are Paris, London, South of France, and Tokyo. Actually, I just visited Tokyo with my brother, Elliott in August and it was an amazing experience. Aside from the top notch food, fashion, culture, and architecture, I appreciated how much self respect people have for themselves, one another, and even strangers. Since coming back to NYC, I’m working to ensure I put this type of energy out there and within my daily practice.

Wearing Comme Des Garçons Homme Plus Blazer and Engineered Garments Dress Shirt.

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