13th edition Crepe City

An event that even defied weather forecasts of wind, rain and cold, the ladies stepped up their game tremendously at the first Crepe City event of 2015.

Check it.

Some people arrived as early as 8am to guarantee a standard ticket (£5) without having to wait at least a couple of hours in a sweltering hot queue. Those who were lucky enough to purchase a VIP ticket online prior to the event (£15) were guaranteed a queue jump and also re-entry. (Due to the immense demand and popularity, though, this didn’t mean that there wasn’t a queue).

Nonetheless, people, including myself, took this opportunity to take ‘OTF’ (on-the-foot) pictures and outfit shots, and to prepare ourselves physically and mentally for the boiler room that we were about to enter.

Ronnie Fieg x Puma Disc Blaze "Coats of Arms"

Concepts x New Balance 997 "Rosé"

Nike Air Max 90 "Moon Landing"

It was the first Crepe City event for Seyi Adejori, who was looking to find some fresh sneakers to add to her growing wardrobe.

“There’s not much heat in my size. It’s a shame that the guys get the cooler shoes in their sizes. Us girls kind of have to stick with whatever there is in our small sizes.”

Juicegee and SmallFeetBigKicks and hair braiding services were among the exclusive Crepe City Boutique

Aaron Hoang was walking around the venue and snapping OTF shots. He has UK 9 feet.

“Most girls have small feet, and smaller sizes are more rare. Since there are much fewer people wearing smaller sized trainers, they actually come much cheaper sometimes.”

While looking around the Small Feet Big Kicks stall, I noticed him picking up a pair of white and grey Nike Flyknit Chukka, in a UK 4, £80.

“I’ve wanted a pair of these for a while, but can’t justify spending over £120 on them from retailers or other sellers here. I’ve seen the same shoe at another stall in a size UK 8, and it was £170! That’s ridiculous. Sometimes I wish I had small girls’ feet.”

On entering a deeper segment of the basement, a lady was handing out free goodie tote bags exclusively for VIP ladies. A pack of Rope Laces worth £6, a pair of socks from Stance worth £8, and a mini pack of Jason Markk shoe cleaner usually worth £16 – of course, I had to grab one. One of the best goodie bags I’ve received in my life, unlike the ones with sweets and whistles I got when I was a kid, if you ask me.

Daisy Knights, Shade London, 54 Floral, Buddhist Punk and Helen Hale Art were a few of the debuting stalls at the exclusive Crepe City Boutique area, which offered the most cool and eccentric clothing and accessories. Probably the part of Crepe City that was most chilled out with unawkward buyer-seller conversations, upbeat yet mellow electronic music and space where you could actually swing your arms (if you wanted to), the Crepe City Boutique is definitely one to look out for in future events.

I bumped into Bryanna Matthews, the wife of a new friend I’d made a few months ago from the CC Facebook group.

“It was exciting to see a much stronger presence of female sneaker heads. I thought it was dope that there were women in charge of their own tables, selling merchandise, taking photos and even braiding hair! I think it’s important that sneaker events be more inclusive towards women because we do have a place in this community and enjoy it just as much as the next man. It definitely showed on Saturday.”

Nike Air Max 90 "Duck Camo"

Thousands of people gathered together in one place with a mutual appreciation – sneakers. I was happy to see the ladies being more recognized through more female catered stalls and products, and the few but increasing number of individuals like Seyi and Bryanna who wanted to make the female a staple character in the sneaker society. 

The fact that Crepe City has recognized a female movement and its potential and acted towards growing the female sneaker head community has my full and utmost respect. Sneakers are cool, but the community is cooler.

Crepe City 14, I'm ready for you!


Emily, LDN