They put their finest foot ahead.
Sneakerheads flocked to St. John’s College Thursday night time for a brand new exhibit celebrating New York Metropolis’s particular relationship to custom-made kicks — together with their affect on hip hop and the style world.
Dubbed “We Are Shoe York Metropolis,” the particular occasion amounted to the Met Gala of sneakerdom — full with uncommon and basic kicks on show in glass circumstances.
“It’s mainly a method to categorical your self, despite the fact that lots of people have the identical sort of footwear at this level,” mentioned Victoria Evans, 18, who attended the kick-off occasion. “It’s simply, ‘If you understand, you know’ right here in New York.”
Evans mentioned she has plunked down $500 for a pair of uncommon sneakers partially as a result of “shoe tradition truly is a type of hip hop.”
The exhibit goals to “inform the story of sneakers in New York,” that includes 5 circumstances — one for every of town’s boroughs, mentioned Emily Keller, an assistant professor of sport administration on the college, who co-curated the show.
“There’s all these totally different communities which were constructed round sneakers — from folks which can be going out and looking for these actually uncommon sneakers, to people who are actually customizing,” she mentioned. “It’s only a actually cool method, I feel, to specific your self via your outfit.”
Sneakers on show embrace a pair of Adidas Superstars, like those worn by RUN-DMC, to symbolize Queens together with Nike Dunk Excessive “Wu Tangs” devoted to Staten Island.
A pair of Puma x Dapper Dans represents Manhattan whereas the New York Liberty Mascot Ellie the Elephant Sabrina 2 sneaker is a nod to Brooklyn.
A pair of Nike Air Power 1 lows ‘50 Years of Hip-Hop’ sneakers can be devoted to the Bronx.
“The uncooked individuality that New York has…simply totally comes out with sneakers,” mentioned Danny Lee, 35, who co-founded the sneakers customization firm NRS.
“Persons are taking far more dangers in relation to sneakers. And I really feel like that’s New York at its core,” mentioned Lee, who attended the occasion Thursday.
New York’s distinctive love of basketball can be tightly linked to shoe tradition. And, among the many shows was a brand new shoe by Lee’s firm made to honor St. John’s legendary hoops coach Lou Carnesecca.
“To pay homage to St. John’s and its function in basketball and sneaker historical past, NRS Customs constructed their very own {custom} ‘Looie’ shoe . . . incorporating the standard purple and white SJU colorway with coach’s love of the ugly sweater,” mentioned Keller.
The “We Are Shoe York Metropolis” exhibit is open day by day open day by day from 10am-5pm till the tip of Might
that includes {custom} and uncommon sneakers together with artwork installations.
The opening occasion Thursday additionally featured panelists discussing the shoe business and profession paths within the design enterprise.
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