The bigger imprint of Sole Superior, the Street Superior Festival, was introduced to us last year at Pasir Panjang Power Station (we especially liked the sneaker supermarket and the random KTV at the back), where sneaker culture and other closely linked sub-cultures collided epicly in a massive disused industrial space.
For Street Superior Festival 2019 happening Nov 2-3, be prepared for a different tone (with aircon this time) as the event invades downtown Orchard Road, taking over five floors of *Scape for a festival that’s bigger than ever. “Customisation” is the theme this year, with custom sneaker artists like Chase Shiel, TK Collective and Hypethetic showcasing their best, alongside Fogaat, known for his ways of deconstructing then upcycling kicks into headgear.
Meanwhile, toy convention Big Big Con, the brainchild of creative studio Flabslab, is making its debut in tandem with the festival. By collectors for collectors, you won’t find any of the usual commercial offerings here. Check out works by homegrown artists Pobber Toys and Whale Rabbit, as well as those by regional creatives Wetworks, Good Guys Never Win and Robin Tang.
Also new this year is a yo-yo live performance (and product showcase) by legend Hiroyuki Suzuki. And if you’re into Supreme skate decks, you’ll want to make a beeline for the largest private collection ever to be exhibited to the public. A blockchain showcase, which debuted last year, will be back too, this time, showing us how the technology can not just authenticate genuine high-value sneakers, but toys and other prized, valuable collectibles too.
And let’s not forget about the marketplace, the beating heart of the festival, where the sneaker community will undoubtedly gather to buy and sell. This year, regional sneakerheads from Indonesia and Australia will be strutting their stuff, so look out for it.
If this all sounds like there’s a lot happening, it is. Brands like Copper Dog Whisky, Under Armour, Basheer Graphic Books, Popcorn Pop-up Cinema and even Marquee (yes, the nightclub at Marina Bay Sands) will be onsite too, so there’s something for people of any inclination. Time to dust off your best kicks.
Street Superior Festival 2019 takes place 12-10pm, Nov 2-3 at *Scape. Tickets $15 for one-day and $20 for two-day pass.
