Kickin' it at Sneaker Exchange 2016

Sneakers or takkies as we traditionally call them here in Africa's dirty south, are more than mere shoes covering your feet, or just fancy accessories people wear to look suave or hip, their more than a fashion statement defining you from everyone else, their more than a fashion trend which comes and goes with each hot new design. Hell to the no! Sneakers are a lifestyle. Businesses, careers, livelihoods can all be successfully funded by living, breathing and eating the sneaker hustle, sneakers aren't just for kids but for serious grown ups in  business suits too who run serious companies with serious board members. SNEAKERS ARE SERIOUS BUSINESS!  This was clearly demonstrated at Sneaker Exchange 2016 at the posh Sands nightclub in snooty Sandton, Johannesburg last Saturday...

...Sneaker Exchange is an annual event that takes place in Joburg and Cape Town respectively, allowing sneaker connoisseurs to buy sell and even exchange sneakers which hopefully aren't infected with athletes foot. Admittedly, it also introduced me to a local sub-culture I really under-estimated, not only were sneakers on sale but i was really impressed by the entrepreneurs who set up sneaker cleaning stands where they literally scrubbed and wiped dirty takkies until they were fresh enough to look as though they just came out the shoe box. Tattoo and graffiti artists were also present, mashing their respective sub-culture with sneaker culture, because at the end of the day these respective sub-cultures sync up like Voltron to give us this alternative lifestyle the mainstream is always trying to control. Ok, before I go into a rant,  here are some of my favourite pics I snapped at the event...

Do you think Sneaker Exchange has ascended South Africa's sneaker culture up a notch?

What do you think of the event?

Please let me know in the comments section.

Twitter: @SXC_ZA
Facebook: Sneaker Exchange

Photos originally published as Sneaker Exchange @ The Sands by JHBLIVE