This time last year, I had just gotten back from my two-week trip to Sicily and Italy. Having reflected on the trip, I really enjoyed getting to know a sliver of Italy and its people. While I came back more exhausted than before, thanks to my aggressive adoption of Italian espresso culture, I was happy with the parts of the country I’d seen, all bar the flat experience near Napoli’s main train station.

The one place that stood out to me was Catania, a truly beautiful place with the looming presence of Mount Etna in the background. It was there that I stumbled across my first Mom & Pop’s sports shop. I’d heard of such independent sports shops through many a YouTube video, and while I didn’t find a basement full of retired Air Jordan models, the experience has stayed with me.

I noted the following as soon as I had left the shop:

“Thanks to a bit of serendipity, I ended up finding an old sports shop with retro Nike and adidas products. The gentleman said he and his wife had over 40 years’ experience in the sportswear industry, and that their shop was 20 years old. Not to mention their previous shop around the corner, a place which they had spent the best part 20 odd years running.

Save for a few of the older Nike products and accessories, such as the Brazil World Cup wristband, they had nothing in my size. However, I did end up coming away with an old adidas quarter zip, one with the Made in Italy label tucked inside. From what he mentioned, there were no old Nike or adidas catalogues behind the till, although I did spot an old Lacoste sportswear catalogue, which indicated otherwise. I’m assuming he didn’t keep the other older catalogues.

He said that many Nike products come from Napoli. As far as I know, that could also be the case for adidas product, especially considering the quarter-zip that I picked up had a ‘Made in Italy’ label.

His wife was less pleasant. I believe she called me an idiot because I was being a bit pedantic and asking if they had any bigger sizes in their stock room. But at least the gentleman was actually friendly and talkative, knowing that I was buying.

The couple were at least in their late 60s, both having spent their entire adult life in their sports shop on Via Etnea called Area Sport 405. They not only represent a bygone era of independent shops, but also a previous generation’s dedication to work. Perhaps a more traditional Sicilian approach to work, there is a beauty in sticking to what you know.

It was almost Japanese-like, although you might be hard-pressed to film a Jiro Dreams of Sushi-style documentary about the two. Or not, who knows how bustling the shop was in the 2000s. I’d have loved to have seen photos of Italian footballers who’d visited nailed to the notice board behind the counter, but alas, you can’t have everything.

A lot of the low-profile Nike silhouettes I’d spotted were exactly the type of shoe that would strike a chord with fashion-savvy girls today. The silver and gold models are akin to something you’d have seen in old iD and The Face magazines from 20 years ago.

The metallic upper and thin sole unit a perfect match for any girl who finds themselves using an Elaine the pain-adjacent lipstick. I’m sure there are better examples, but I was a big Tracy Beaker fan back in day.

I was tempted to grab a few of the older Cortez tracksuits, but I was concerned about taking on extra weight in my backpack. Rather than suddenly embracing the matching tracksuit aesthetic and risk looking like a total sausage, I settled for the adidas zip-up.

I even debated the Brazil 2006 World Cup wristband as a funky accessory, but after my Livestrong band has started giving me a rash on my wrist (likely due to the degrading plastic), I thought best not.

Big thanks to the married couple of Area Sport 405; here’s hoping their shop stays open for many more years to come! (although if they fancy entering retirement, then I am wishing you all the best in that chapter of life too!).