Sneakers Summit about to kick off in Paris

The world of sneakers will be taking over the Paris Event Centre, right at the heart of the French capital, for the Sneakers Summit on January 25 and 26. The event, a celebration of sneaker culture organised by the Son of Sneakers association and Skoleom, is hoping to welcome up to 10,000 visitors. The Sneakers Summit, originally scheduled for last November, is still entitled "Les baskets, de la rue au grand écran” (Sneakers, from the street to the big screen). The programme is also confirmed, with a few additional surprises.

For Anna Events, founder of the association behind this project, the goal is to show sneaker enthusiasts that there is a specific raison d’être behind the iconic models they wear on a daily basis, and explain the meaning, both social and cultural, of sneakers - hence the theme chosen this year, of how the worlds of sneakers and cinema are linked. The event is held over an exhibition area of nearly 4,500 m2, where the organisers have recreated a life-sized city in order to pay tribute to the classic movies that allowed some sneaker models to become a feature of popular culture, from ‘Back to the Future’ to ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘Beverly Hills Cops’.

The first edition of the Sneakers Summit is sponsored by sport retailer Courir, by the French Basketball Federation and the Seine-Saint-Denis local authority, and features a first-rate programme, including conferences, panel discussions, screenings and other showcases. Some 50 exhibitors will be presenting a selection of rare sneakers. “The goal is also to boost the visibility of emerging designers who don’t have a chance to shine on the high street,” said Anna Events. Also on the programme, 3x3 basketball matches and slam dunk competitions.

Another potential big draw at the Sneakers Summit’s first edition is the exclusive presence of LA Gear. The US sneaker label, renowned in the 1990s as the footwear of choice of pop stars like Michael Jackson, of American football legend Joe Montana and star NBA player Abdul Hakeem Olajuwon, is ready to make a comeback. LA Gear is expected to present three new collections at the Sneakers Summit, the first step of its return centre-stage.

Sneakers Summit about to kick off in Paris

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