Starting on Sunday, the sneaker world will converge on Portland, Oregon for Sneaker Week PDX, a week-long celebration of kicks, design, art, music and culture.
Created to be an annual event, Sneaker Week PDX’s goal is to “connect the multibillion-dollar footwear industry with the community and culture that created it.” In order to achieve such an ambitious goal, Sneaker Week PDX will tackle all aspects of sneaker culture through various kicks-themed events like classes with footwear industry experts, live podcasts, film screenings, meetups and a trade show. Upping the ante even more, cultural heavyweights like Bobbito Garcia and DJ Clark Kent..
Check out the complete Sneaker Week PDX calendar for a thorough breakdown of events and parties (the majority of which are free). But to make things easy for attendees, here is a breakdown of can’t miss events.
SOLE SESSIONS
If you have dreams and aspirations of breaking into the sneaker industry, then SOLE SESSIONS needs to be a necessity in your life. The five day course is being led by PENSOLE instructors and will focus on different aspects of the sneaker industry like design and branding.
Monday (Sept 18) – Friday (Sept 22) – 9am to 2pm @ PENSOLE Academy
KICKS FLICKS
From Monday through Wednesday of Portland Sneaker Week, there will be viewing sessions for SNKR INC, Doin’ It In The Park and a special preview of Laced, a Project Runway-styled sneaker reality show. Bobitto Garcia will take part in a short question and answer session after the showing of Doin’ It In The Park.
Monday, Sept 18 – SNKR INC – 5pm – 8pm @ Star Theater
Tuesday, Sept 19 – Doin’ It In the Park- 5pm – 8pm @ Century Bar
Wednesday, Sept 20 5pm – 8pm – Laced – @ PENSOLE Academy
“The Common Thread” Art show
The Portland-based creative group Aesthete Society has put together the perfect visual representation of sneaker culture with a kicks-themed art show that will feature photographs and art from notable cultural artists like Chelsey Boehnke.
Tuesday, Sept 19 6:30pm – 9:30pm @ PENSOLE Academy
De:Constructed – The Intersection of Coffee and Sneakers
Coffee and sneakers are not usually used in the same sentence but Deadstock Coffee’s Ian Williams will be teaming up with baristas and roasters to talk about their intersection of the two cultures.
Wednesday, Sept 20 6pm-8pm @ Deadstock Coffee
Index Sneaker Social
Perhaps Portland’s premier sneaker shop, Index PDX will be hosting a low-key meetup for passionate sneakerheads. This won’t be a stuffy network mixer though as Sneaker Week’s theme of promoting culture will be on full display here by bringing everyone together in one central place to talk all about kicks.
