The local event brings together attendees sole-ly through their love for sneakers
By Nageen Riaz
Toronto’s annual Ultimate Sneaker Show, hosted by Solo Exchange Canada, was the place to be for all the ‘sneakerheads’. This year, the show was held on Nov. 11 at the Sheraton Centre and featured dozens of vendors selling and trading every sneaker imaginable
From old-school kicks to the latest runway pair, this show catered to every style possible and the vendors were happy to embrace the sneaker community’s needs.
“Whether you’re new to the game or a long-time collector, there is always something for everyone at these shows,” said vendor O’Shea Stewart. “I feel like everyone is into sneakers right now and you can really see how much the community has grown these last few years.”
Sneaker culture has been on the rise recently and has no plans on stopping anytime soon. In fact, sneaker shows have become so popular, many “sneakerheads” — an endearing term for sneaker lovers, fly in from all over to attend these events. Adam Edmunds, a vendor and long-time sneaker collector travelled from Ottawa to Toronto especially for the show. “I have always been into sneakers since I was a kid and now I’ve managed to turn it into a full-time business. It’s been great being able to come out to these shows and share my love for sneakers with all these other collectors,” Edmunds said.
Many of the attendees were seen leaving with carts full of sneakers. According to vendor Joel Evangelista, a big part of sneaker culture is making it accessible for everyone. “There has been so much involvement in the sneaker world and I think, with the rise of Panda Dunks and Filas, people began to realize how diverse and accessible sneakers are,” he said.
Whether you’re styling a casual outfit or rocking suits and formal wear, sneakers have become a statement piece that works with every look. “I think sneakers were the first introduction to the world of what streetwear fashion can be,” Evangelista said. “There is just something about this subculture that brings the artistic and creative side of each person out and I think people are really starting to embrace that.”
Events like The Ultimate Sneaker Show bring together the sneaker community and allow for a space where sneakerheads can share their passion while also seeking out the best deals. For most vendors, these shows are a highly anticipated occurrence that they look forward to every year. “This is my 20th show or so,” Stewart said. “I always love coming out here and meeting different people and hearing how they got involved with the sneaker world. It’s always such an amazing experience and I would always tell people that shows like these are the place to be.”
