The event will feature the launch of the Sole Folks incubator lab, an immersive sneaker design experience with Union Los Angeles founder Chris Gibbs and candid panel discussions with a range of designers examining the collective power of the sneakerhead culture.
Sole Folks, a social enterprise incubator that empowers and supports entrepreneurs in South LA, comes together with Union Los Angeles to present a day of collaboration with the Sneaker Day LA event on Saturday, October 17, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. at Sole Folks located at 4317 Degnan Blvd. in Leimert Park Village.
Featured events include:
- Success Deconstructed Workshop lead by purveyor of streetwear fashion and
owner of Union Los Angeles, Chris Gibbs who will deconstruct the creative process involved in his Union X Air Jordan 4 collaboration and his success story in building Union Los Angeles.
- The launch of the Sole Folks Lab, an incubator program that will empower underserved creative entrepreneurs with brand-building curriculum, business resources, professional mentorship and start-up capital.
- The Fashionable Ideas for Change, an initiative designed to register voters with community partner, Color of Change and to combat the obstacles that block civic engagement throughout the sneakerhead community in arguably one of the most important elections in modern-day American history. The initiative looks to create open dialogue about social activism, encourage the sneakerhead culture to amplify their voice and make their vote count.
- An exclusive V.I.P. Experience and Fundraiser paired with the new drop from the Union x Air Jordan 4 collaboration and release to kick start the Chirs Union Start-up Scholarship to be presented to one creative entrepreneur per incubator class.
- A Sneaker Day Panel Discussion powered by TEC Leimert that’s titled, Trailblazers, will highlight the day’s events. The panel discussion is designed to unpack the digital business of the sneakerhead culture and determine how underserved communities can capitalize on the culture they have made mainstream and identify ways to benefit from the monetization of the industry
The discussion will include a candid conversation that examines the influence of the sneakerhead generation on culture, style and politics in 2020.
“I was blessed enough to have a front-row seat in the fashion industry and I want to share that knowledge and experience with young talent so they know how to navigate through the trenches, said Chris Gibbs, streetwear designer and founder of Union Los Angeles. “Sneaker Day LA is not only a celebration of the sneakerhead culture, but the streetwear culture that continues to set fashion industry trends.”
Discussion panelists include: Jeff Staple, Reed Art Department; Chris Gibbs, Union Los Angeles; Lorena Serrano, Footlocker; Tremaine Emory, Denim Tears and Taz Arnold, Co-founder, Sole Folks. Moderator for the conversation will be Akil West, Co-founder, Sole Folks.
Through curated discussions and mentorship opportunities to hands-on workshops and celebrating the culture, Sneaker Day Los Angeles creates a collaborative ecosystem of local fashion designers, entrepreneurs and technology & entertainment creatives from underserved talent communities throughout South Los Angeles. The event amplifies the collective voice of the young, thriving creative community of Leimert Park and offers an opportunity to mobilize, collaborate and create in 2020 and beyond.
“We have to do this ourselves, if we don’t, it won’t get done,” said Akil West, co-founder, Sole Folks. “We can’t sit back and hope that corporations, institutions, or our black celebrities come down here and save our causes. We have to donate, we have to volunteer and we have to support the black jewels of our communities.”
For more information or to register for the event, email [email protected] or call us at (323) 815-1155.
