Chance to get your kicks at the big-brand sneaker exchange
WHETHER it’s a pair of Kanye West’s Adidas Yeezy Boost or the Vlone Nike Airforce 1, sneakers maketh the man or woman in 2017.
And with SA’s top celebrities in Durban this weekend for Metro FM Music Awards, some are bound to be spotted at the Sneaker Exchange event at Rivertown Beerhall today.
Event founder Zaid Osman, said on Wednesday that rap and hip-hop artist Cassper Nyovest would be on hand for a meet and greet, but the main attraction would be the possible bargains to be snatched up by die-hard sneaker fans.
Osman, who has a sneaker business in Cape Town, grew up in Richmond, Virginia, in the US, where the sneaker culture is huge thanks to their popularity among celebs.
“Growing up in the States, I saw guys trading sneakers all the time and I collected sneakers, I have a passion for them.
“When I came back to SA in 2008, everyone kept asking me where I got my shoes. I needed to make some money and realised I had a lot of sneakers, some of which I didn’t even wear. So, I decided to introduce the concept of an exchange event,” he said.
His first Sneaker Exchange (SXC) took place four years ago in a small coffee shop in Woodstock, Cape Town.
“About 80 people attended, which was far more than I thought would come.
“I got the shock of my life as one guy brought Puma Staple collaboration sneakers which are extremely rare. There are only 500 pairs worldwide and people in America go crazy for this shoe,” said Osman.
That particular pair were worth R7 000, but sold for R3 000.
He said the event gave sneaker aficionados the opportunity to bargain and trade.
“Trading sneakers was fairly unknown here, but it’s a common practice in America. During the SXC, people will come with limited-edition sneakers that have only been worn a couple of times. They may see another pair they really like and then it’s up to them to negotiate.
A-listers
“The sneaker culture is also really picking up among women. In the US it is huge and there have been a lot of female releases.
“Celebs such as Kanye West and Rihanna both have collaborations.”
Osman is quick to point out that it’s the collaboration of leading fashion designers and A-list celebs with elite shoe brands that sets the price of sneakers.
He said the Vlone Nike Airforce 1 was topping the charts as the most must-have pair.
Often referred to as “kicks”, many big-name design houses have formed collaborations, bringing their own sense of style. One of them is Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele, whose sneakers upped the game.
Nike Free Flyknit partnered with Maison Margiela, who dipped their “kicks” into paint to give them some shabby chic with the coolest edge, while Adidas has cosied up with White Mountaineering, a Japanese label, to release an outdoor version for adrenalin junkies.
As the sneaker trend has grown, so have Osman’s SXC events. He has teamed up with avid sneaker collector, Tebogo Mogola, who is in the entertainment industry.
Both are big supporters of local sneaker brands such as Butan and 2Bop.
Mogola said: “There’s no denying that big name and global brands will always hold a certain appeal, but it’s time South Africa rallied behind and supported local designers just as passionately.”
Sneakers are the shoe of choice for young professionals in the workplace.
Osman said the biggest no-no was to go fake.
“Rather buy a pair of Vans than fake Yeezys. Be authentic. Sneakers have that uniting factor, everyone wears them and we are looking forward to some great trading in Durban this weekend.”
The Sneaker Exchange will be open at Rivertown Beerhall, 102 Florence Nzama Street, from 11am to 7pm.
See sneaker customisation and enjoy a line-up of artists such as Nadia Naka and Frank Casino as well as popular DJs.