Sole DXB brings out the urban side of Dubai

The fifth edition of the premier footwear, fashion and lifestyle fair brought some major names to Dubai this year.

Sneaker heads, hip-hop hipsters, music maniacs and urban aficionados gathered behind the Dubai Design District (d3) car park where a Sole city was built between November 20 -21. Sole DXB was where footwear, fashion and music took to the streets. Visitors were sporting their most prized sneakers and urban outfits to truly illustrate that what you stand on is what you stand for.
The fifth edition of the premier footwear, fashion and lifestyle fair brought some major names to Dubai this year. Music icons Darryl McDaniels of Run-D.M.C . and Mobb Deep to tennis and shoe legend Stan Smith, as well as local artists, designers, DJs and basketball talent. Visitors were able to interact with the guests through talks, performances and even sittings. UK-based illustrator Josh Parkin, who recently designed illustration for a new range of Adidas sneakers, was available to do live illustrations of visitors in the Adidas stand.
Containers, some set up like building blocks, housed the latest in street and Urban wear from giant brands like Adidas, Puma and Reebok as well as smaller, local urban designer brands who were equally busy with people looking for the latest, coolest piece to add to their street wear collection.
Surprisingly one of the most popular sections was the Sole Sneaker Swap. Absolutely packed with sneaker and footwear collectors, the Sole Sneaker Swap was a market where sneaker heads were buying, selling and trading their kicks to other serious collectors. We aren't talking about the sneakers you wear to the mall. These are serious collector items on a global scale. Think of them as rare and collectable pieces to invest your money in.
Shopping wasn't the only thing happening at Sole DXB. Break-dancers, basketball and barbers showcased their talents on the streets for the entertainment of visitors. The Sole Ball Above All Classic Tournament held in basketball courts was the home for 11 handpicked teams with a Dhs 10,000 prize for the winning team. The bleachers were filled with basketball fans and DJ Mo City mixing tracks adding to the intensity of the games.
Another element of the festival were talks held by iconic personalities and established experts in the urban and fashion industry. Some of the most interesting talks included street influencer, Chris Stamp who related how he evolved his line of contemporary luxury wear that embraces modern youth culture with a timeless appeal and his impressive collaboration with PUMA.
Equally as fascinating was the talk by New York photographer Lisa Leone who captured the birth of hip-hop through her lens. From Snoop Dogg in his first music video and Nas in the recording studio, Lisa shared her experiences recording iconic moments in music history.
Other than special appearances and cool installations by contributing brands, visitors were able to munch on a variety of foods set up for the event before gearing up to see two of the most exciting international acts like DMC of Run-D.M.C. and American hip hop duo Mobb Deep. With local and international DJ's on turn tables, street style lounging areas on top of containers, Dubai suited a more relaxed and enjoyable street buzz which is a welcome change for a city known for its glitz, glamour and sparkling malls.
maan@khaleejtimes.com