Ish has had it pretty good over the past year, because he wears the same shoe size as Beth, who's the only person in the home—and possibly the country—with a sneaker collection comparable to Chris's. But despite the Marni and Margiela galore, the kids are still, well, kids. They're sensitive and goofy and funny and normal. Which is impressive, considering that to a teenage boy, being the owner of Union is as good as playing in the NBA. “We don't take all this too seriously,” Beth said. “We like to look good and cool, but we teach them that style is what you make it.” When Solomon finally got to the age when he and his friends realized exactly what Union was, he started to ask why he was missing certain kicks. Beth's response: Well, you can't afford them. (She smiled with the joy only parents can get when they know they're knee-deep in some good parenting.)

The much coveted Union-designed Jordan sneakers. Shoes Jordan 1 Retro High Union Los Angeles Blue Toe.

Work by the Brooklyn-based artist Jayson Musson. A vintage flea-market find (artist unknown).

One of the main reasons why Union is so special is that it romanticizes clothes. No one can make a T-shirt seem more important. And that'd have to be because Chris himself is a romantic. “We met on the G train,” Beth said, starting a story familiar to the two of them. “On the train platform is where our eyes crossed for the first time,” Chris said, picking up the narrative. After they both got on the same train, got off at the same stop, helped the same old lady up the stairs and then to her doorway, they finally spoke. He didn't ask for her number at first, but they kept running into each other. “It was meant to be,” Beth said.

Coat by Raf Simons

Thirty years later (which in streetwear is basically 270 years), Union remains a place devoid of greedy commerce or pandering. And a place that's forever changing with the times, forever embracing the future—thanks in large part to Ish and Solomon. “Having young boys definitely keeps me closer to the trends and what's going on,” Chris admitted. “I actually enjoy doing ComplexCon. Some of those things that are a little bit annoying to my fellow old dudes there, I can appreciate because my kids are having a ball.”