Does a pair of box fresh kicks set your pulse racing faster than Road Runner at boot camp? Do you break into a sweat at the sight of a micro-smudge on your pearly Reebok Exofit hi tops? Then Laces Out! should fit you better than the latest Nike diffusion line. Sneaker freaks, pay attention, this is one of the biggest and best Trainer festivals around, with hundreds of buyers, sellers, traders and collectors descending on Liverpool’s vast Camp & Furnace warehouse space for a day to celebrate all things trainer.
No longer confined to the realm of sweat, mud and tears, trainers have – alongside other fashion items transplanted from the urban American experience, such as baseball caps and basketball jerseys – become symbols of wealth, individuality and style. Some can cost the same as the deposit on your first home. Kanye’s Y2s, Dior’s embroidered sneaker, Raf Simons’ for Adidas, as well as the most collectable Airs and Jordans have all revolutionised the way most of us have come to see trainers. Of course, there are no prizes for guessing why; sneakers are comfortable, practical, versatile…and, as it turns out, very covetable.
With an unmissable line-up of speakers, DJs, live music, Q&As, curated sneaker culture activities and brand demonstrations, Laces Out is far more than a specialised marketplace. That said, if you’re going solely for the foot candy, you’re in luck; you can expect thousands of vintage, rare, brand new and deadstock sneakers to buy, swap or just lust after.
Tickets £8. Saturday 5th March. To find out more about Laces Out, visit the website.
Words: Sabina Dewfield