Issue 003

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EDITORS EDITORS

elliott

LETTER LETTER

FOOTWEAR

SUSTAINABLERECYCLEDVEGAN

elliottfootwear.com

After three months of crafting this magazine, it’s still so bizarre to me that I am introducing all you readers to the third issue of Sheaker Magazine. Since the last issue, I had admittedly put Sheaker Mag on the back burner for a while. Life’s commitments took all my free time and quite frankly, I didn’t have a second to catch up with the latest sneakers, designers and artists. But, like everyone else I reclaimed my free time as the pandemic made the world slow down. Lending more time to my passion project came without a doubt.

The past year, I’ve seen the women’s sneaker industry grow from strength to strength. Pioneers from the likes of Titi Finlay (see pg. 20) and _WomenInSneaker’s founder, Stephanie Hulbert Thomas (see pg. 32) pushed for recognition and representation in the industry, and spark questions on pressing issues women face. It’s this drive and spirit that embodies this issue. Pages filled with writing, artwork and other contributions from amazing women who share the same inclusive message.

With a big spotlight shining on women in the industry, we sat down (virtually) with three female footwear designers. Stella Harry Lee, Iga Weglinska and Helen Kirkum, who has made a splash with her repurposing design style. Read about how this year has shaken up their practise on pg. 56. And, though we are unable to travel, the female power has echoed right across the world. Meet two trailblazers on pg. 37 that have been a driving force behind India’s growing sneaker scene.

Lockdown in England has forced us to

stop, look around at our environment and the traces we leave. Consciousness and sustainability in footwear is becoming a must. We interviewed elliott footwear’s co-founder, Sam Carew on his brand’s mission. The Q&A features alongside imagery with Kitty Cowell, a longtime women’s footwear advocate. (see pg. 44)

From the mind to the body, self-care has also played a big part in this issue. Our full-length shoot on pg. 51 captures running group, Black Girls Do Run in their regular spot, Hyde Park London. Equipped with OnRunning’s lightweight and bouncy CloudFlyer, the girls give us much needed motivation to work out in the chiller months.

And finally, Fashion. Though it’s found itself in some sort of limbo, fashion has become incredibly enjoyable to read about. Fantasizing about outfits gives us much needed voyeurism into a world without COVID. Somehow planning gorgeous fits with our sneakers makes us feel hopeful that one day we can wear them and socialise as much as we desire. I hope this issue gives you all some form of escapism into a world of sneakers and culture.

IKECHI AMAECHI

RICKY RAI

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CONTRIBU TORS CONTRIBU TORS CONTRIBU TORS

S K T N O...

A H T Elliott Footwear

Brand and Partnershi ps @kech_kicks

Business Editor

On Running Foundation FM Titi Finlay

@slickrick_1

LOLITA PIERRE Cover

A SUPER , D N SPE C I AL

Kitty Cowell

@lolitapierre

Artist

Stella Harry Lee Helen Kirkum

KRISHMA CHOPRA

Illustrator @krishma.c_

Contributing Writer @luxy_t

Shopping Curator @_rhia

JESSIARA MARRIOTT

Contributing Editor Guest Editor

Bhavisha Dave

LUCY THORPE

WS RHIANNA MATTHEnna Matthews

STEPHANIE HULBERT-THOMAS

Iga Weglinska

Shivani Boruah Megan Carmichael

@stephanieht

Black Girls Do Run UK

@_womeninsneakers

Tracie Storey

@itscoveronline

Tara Collingwoode 7

Abdul Yusufu

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The Trend Forecaster .13 Get ahead of the trends with Good Product .18 How to take the perfect sneaker shot .20 The Who’s Who Streetwear Report .22

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_WomenInSneakers Thought Piece .32

Black Girls Do Run ft On Running .51

Sneaker-nomics .35

Lockdown Crafters .63

Postcards from India .37

Tracie’s Daily Rituals .71

Inside the Future of Footwear .40

Introducing Sheaker Sounds .72 Playlist .74

Q&A with elliott Footwear .44

Sheaker Selects Foundation FM .77

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fashion

What We Expect (and Hope)

The

Trend

Fore caster Words by Lucy Thorpe, with quotes from Rhianna Matthews and Titi Finlay

If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that we can’t predict a single thing, even sneakers. So many of the parameters that we rely on to estimate what we think will come next in the sneaker realm were disrupted – fashion weeks moved online, collections were delayed, drops were moved back, lining-up became obsolete, and retail launches that would normally bring together the community were canceled. For that reason, it feels like we need to approach 2021 with caution. However, the positive upshot of such an unexpected shakeup allows us to reflect on the status quo, and reconsider what we do next.

In

To See

2021

Looking back on 2020, there’s no doubt about it – it was the year of the Dunk. According to StockX, the top 10 sneakers with the highest premiums on its site were Dunks, all of which are reselling for quadruple figure prices. Then there was the continued reign of Jordan – particularly retro Air Jordan’s – most likely fuelled by The Last Dance.

The popularity of running and outdoor models from the likes of ASICS, Salomon, and Hoka One One, were buoyed further by the need for comfortable sneakers to take us on our daily walks or jogs around the park. And, from the confines of our homes, we discovered the practicality and comfort in slides, mules, and even crocs – the latter benefiting from collabs with Nicole McLaughlin, Justin Bieber, and BEAMs to name a few. Yeezy, too, came through with the Foam Runners just in time to coincide with our newfound love of slip-ons.

In 2021, industry heavyweights Nike and adidas will continue to dominate but, with the increasing movement to question what and who’s logos we wear, it’s likely that emerging players – especially brands that have fair and socially responsible business models – will increase their influence and that bigger brands will call on up-and-coming creators to keep them anchored.

So what’s next? We spoke to two women with their fingers on the pulse of sneakers – Tity Finlay, social media manager at LACEDHQ, and content curator and the founder of Good Product Rhianna Matthews. So, without further ado, here are the trends we expect (or hope) to see in 2021.

13 | Fashion

Th The Outdoors

Matthew

Williams

The Vintage Treatment

2020 was the year of the outdoors thanks to the fact we were deprived of it. Traditional outerwear and running brands found relevance among a more style-focused audience (think TNF x Gucci) and this will continue in 2021. It’s to thank for the rise in popularity of brands such as Hoka One One, ON Running, and Salomon, all of which have been more picked up by a niche audience but we expect to see become increasingly popular this year.

Zoom M

MW4

Futurism, Deconstruction, and Reconstruction Last year ended with two almost simultaneous drops that, in my opinion, sum up what we will see a lot more of this year: the Sacai’s Vaporwaffle and Matthew M. Williams' Zoom MMW 4. Sacai’s collab with Nike has been one of the best in recent years, the Vaporwaffle is the perfect example of retro made modern, a play on conventional materials such as suede and mesh, and details like a stitched on eyestay and simple EVA soles. It taps into the deconstructed look that designers seem to be leaning towards. Look out for the Sacai x Nike Blazer Low set to drop this year.

Meanwhile, Matthew M. Williams' take on the Zoom MMW 4 is a good example of the futuristic aesthetic that will stop the sneaker industry from becoming stale. This spans from the Prada-esque minimal look to Willam’s tank-like Zoom MMW 4 or the wild designs of Li-Ning – another brand we’ll be watching this year. While chunky sneakers are thankfully on the way out, these more futuristic designs play with exaggerated proportions in a more refined and original way.

On the futuristic side of things, Rhianna also predicts technology to play an increasingly important role: “I think things will continue to get a little more interactive, for example, Civilist’s Dunks that give you the ability to completely change the look of the product you’re wearing – a quick put in the microwave and you got a whole new look. Sneakers that are interchangeable and can be controlled somehow depending on variables would be my guess as to where this is all going.”

14 | Fashion

“futuristic

designs play with exaggerated proportions in a more refined and original way.

With one eye locked on social media, Titi Finlay has picked up on one unexpected hobby of sorts that she expects to feed into the mainstream. “Lockdown creativity birthed many things but my favorite was sneakers getting the vintage treatment (stained midsoles, aged laces, worn leather, etc). Right now, there are a few key creators responsible for the trend (@ cran, @foxtrott_uniform, and @phillllthy who just created some aged Jordans for Ronnie Fieg) but the trend is kicking off in a big way and I expect it won’t be long until brands start catching on.”

“Imagine taking a pair of sneakers which cost thousands and being like yeah imma just switch this up real quick and go ham with a knife and sand-paper? That is some next-level confidence and artistry in knowing your craft. Owning something that you know no one has a replica of or a product which has been created uniquely for you, in your size, and by an artist whose work you truly love is a next-level kind of product connection. More made-to-order sneaker customizations could be a big one for next year.”

The Good Ol’ Retros

New Balance 550 Aime Leon Dore

”

While futurism is pushing sneaker design into new territories, there will always be a demand for the classics which, it’s worth adding, are often much more affordable and accessible. Titi weighs in: “We’ve seen so many iconic pairs retro this year like the AM90 Infrared and the Jordan 4 Fire Red, not to mention all the Dunks and of course Aimé Leon Dore bringing back old New Balance silhouettes – even Yeezy re-released their Bred and Zebra 350s. I assume it came from The Last Dance but nostalgia in sneakers is big right now and I think we’ll see a lot more iconic pairs from the past resurface in 2021.”

15 | Fashion

We can’t keep turning a blind eye to what’s happening to our planet and brands are increasingly investing in more conscious products and manufacturing methods – even Gucci is becoming carbon neutral (read: spending millions on offsetting). Nike’s Space Hippie collection comprised its sneakers with the lowest carbon footprint yet – a turning point for the sneaker giant and the industry, as it proved just how great design and conscious materials can complement each other.

However, the point isn’t to have a single “sustainable” drop anymore but that sustainable thinking is woven into the overall business of sneaker making – especially for major brands that produce millions of pairs each year. adidas, for example, has reconfigured the Stan Smith to be made solely from eco-friendly materials.

Imagine the impact if Nike were to do the same with the Dunk?

While these moves are a step forward, those that are actually moving the needle when it comes to conscious sneakers are independent designers Helen Kirkum, Suzanne Hengel, and Ash Harper. These three women are using creative methods such as upcycling and knitting, experimenting with unconventional materials, and exploring new ways to construct a sneaker. Expect to see more from them this year.

“2020

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Women, Women

Women!

The women’s sneaker community is stronger and more vocal than ever and it feels like 2021 will be the year that we (finally) see a deserved amount of women-led designs and collaborations. “Perhaps more a hope than a prediction, but I have it on good authority that the big brands are in the process of completely overhauling the way they speak to their female consumer,” says Titi. “2020 sparked a movement with female sneakerheads demanding inclusive size runs and less of the ‘pink it and shrink it’ exclusives. In 2021 I hope we’ll see more female narratives, more female designers, and more inclusivity for female sneakerheads, both in the performance and lifestyle sectors.”

“This year has been pretty good with women sizes on many of our favorite drops, but it is still not to where it should be,” concludes Rhianna. “It’s amazing to see more and more female collaborations within the industry, however, I do think it can also be a bit of a miss, for example with collabs like GiGi Hadid for Reebok and Selena Gomez for Puma, (sorry girls) like it's cool but in my opinion, it’s not really relative and feels quite forced. I’d love to see something from the likes of Nike x Martine Ali or Anissa Kermiche for example, neither are sneaker designers, but both extremely talented women in our space who I think would kill it on a project like this. I think it’s also only a matter of time before Nicole gets her own Nike collection too, which we all know will be great.”

w w w . n 1 k e n a i l s . c o m n 1 k e b 4 b y @ g m a i l . c o m

Sustainability

BASED IN EAST LONDON

C u s t o m N i k e i n s p i r e d p r e s s o n n a i l s m a d e - t o - o r d e r.

Exte n s i ve s el e ct i o n o f n ail s ets a vail ab l e to choose from on our website E m ail fo r s pe ci fi cat i o n s

GET AHEAD OF THE TRENDS WITH...

Left to right : Marine Serre Recycled Jeans, Casablanca Skiing Cap, Asics Vivienne Westwood Gel Kayano, New Bal ance 992, MKI Padded Vest, Martine Ali Cage Ball Bag

18 | Fashion

Left to right : Saloman XT-6 ADV, Human Made Camera Case, Hidden Crew Socks, Bottega Veneta Mask Sunglasses, Nike Sacai Vaporwaffle, Nike Dunk High Sail

19 | Fashion

20 | Fashion

LOCATION IS KEY The best sneaker shots are taken against a clean background, so that the sneaker is the main focus. I’m a huge fan of shooting on a plain background, or with my sneaker shelves in the background (as long as they look tidy!) You want the sneaker to shine, so try not to have too much going on in the pic.

IT’S ALL IN THE EDIT I like to use the editing app VSCO Cam to make really subtle edits to the brightness and hue of the photo. Try not to over-edit or put a filter over it, and if you’re posting your shot on the ‘gram, always crop it to portrait size.

Remember, people want to see how the sneaker looks IRL, so don’t warp the colours or lighting too much!

[Words and Images by Titi Finlay]

NATURAL LIGHT Natural light is key to any good photo, but particularly important for highlighting the details in sneaker shots. I always shoot next to the window around 12pm when the light is brightest - it’s crazy how the time of day or the weather can be detrimental to getting the perfect shot, so pick the right moment to shoot!

IN HAND In-hand shots are a great way to show off a sneakers detailing.

I always make sure I moisturise and have nice nails before taking the shot (sounds vain, but it makes a difference!) I always take in-hand shots as soon as I unbox a fresh pair, before trying them on, to make sure they look as fresh as possible in the photo.

5 Tips To The Perfect

Sneaker

S h o t

ON FOOT If you’re shooting your sneaker on foot, there’s a couple of things to bear in mind. Angles are everything, so be prepared to get into some weird positions to get the right shot! One of my favourite poses is stepping my foot out to the side in a sort of lunge, so I can get a proper side profile shot of the sneaker. Other solid poses are propping your foot up on some white bedsheets or laying a pillowcase on the ground (this format typically gets all the likes on IG!).

Whatever pose you choose, make sure you really show off the side profile of the sneaker!

The Who’s Who

Streetwear Report.

In association with Words by Cover editor, Jessiara Marriott Where has fashion gone this year?

Behind closed doors, fashion shows have taken place with no guests, just cameras. New collections have been hidden under plastic sleeves, not models. Fashion feels undeniably out of reach. So, how have fashion insiders been accessing and keeping up to date on this world of fashion?

Well, just like everything else this year, fashion has gone fully virtual. Live streams have connected people to the runway and instagram has taken over footage behind the scenes.

22 | Fashion

We caught up with the editor of Cover Online, Jessiara Marriott for her lowdown on the hottest collections this season. She compiles an edit of designers that have heavily influenced streetwear with their great ability to set moods and storytell in collections.

“A-COLD-WALL designer Samuel Ross and his SS21 collection titled ‘my brothers keeper’ is a beautifully constructed Shakespearean like play, split up into 3 acts the poem by wilson oryema highlights the interlinking and connection of two individuals. The collection itself previews fine cut silhouettes, suit vests and windbreaker material jackets. As it moves into acts 2 and 3 we see bright yellow shirts, paint splattered distressed denim jackets and the classic streetwear puffer jacket and coat. Samuel ross’ take on modern streetwear has evolved over the years since his emergence in 2015, we commend the poetic take on fashion in such a busy climate.”

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“Bianca Saunders, a new favourite that caught our attention during this year's fashion week, her collection ‘the ideal man’ highlighted the exploration of character in clothing, blurring the lines of masculinity and questioning “what makes the ideal man”. We love how she goes about representing black men beyond a stereotype or archetypal character, creating garments that make them feel empowered and confident regardless.”

“Jacquemus ss21 collection highlights the new age of minimalist fashion, everything from the show location to the garments itself the overall aesthetic of the show was pleasing to the eye.

With form flattering dresses in all shades of nude to stand out tailored asymmetric shirts and printed suits. We’re looking forward for the collection release in December.”

28 | Fashion

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follow @sheakermag o

Thought Piece

Thought Piece

Changing the way we talk about

Graphic from Lorenz Duberry x _WomenInSneakers collaboration

“

run would be a colossal victory for the female consumer, and alongside this having women at the forefront of decision making, innovation and creativity within a brand’s ecosystem can only be beneficial to the overall sneaker and streetwear scene.

The Sneaker Community was once a subculture, but has now become mainstream. For me, women having a space within the community is important, not only to diversify but also to help the space stay relevant. If you only have a one-sided perspective of an industry, how can people expect it to grow? It will inevitably become stagnant. Perspective is key here, as in the past being a ‘sneakerhead’ was about knowledge, the community (ie. your mates) and, most importantly, dope product. Naturally, social media has played its part in the shift of sneaker enthusiasts and how brands personify their product launches and the ‘stories’ that accompany them. Using social media as a tool to tell the female narrative within sneaker culture without it being a branded exercise, or brand incentivised, is important to ensure honest anecdotes.

...having women at the forefront

of decision making, innovation and creativity within a brand’s ecosystem can

be beneficial to the overall sneaker and streetwear scene.

Having worked in the sneaker industry for a number of years, it was clear to me that the way in which Women were represented was seriously skewed and failed to represent me and my experiences. In all honesty, I felt that female sneakerheads had become an archetype and as a result pigeonholed into being presented in a certain way. Not only was there a lack of representation, but a lack of visibility and storytelling of Women behind the scenes. I personally had the pleasure of working with some incredible Women from all walks of life, but their successes were rarely made visible to those on the outside.

32 | Industry

Over the past few months I have interviewed some amazing women: Asheeba, the creative mind behind some of Footpatrol’s greatest collaborations, Titi and Emma, Nike

By You designers, Ikechi, the product manager behind the Puma Cali Sport franchise and Audrey, managing editor of Sneakerfreaker mag, to name but a few. The knowledge and experiences that they have shared via @_womeninsneakers has received such a positive reaction. People are connecting, learning and building their own space within the industry. I wanted to ensure that all the knowledge they were sharing was accessible to everyone, so made the leap and turned the Q&As into a podcast. Eventually I want the platform to become not just a resource for individuals wanting to get into the sneaker industry, but a resource for brands too. There are so many talented people engaged with the _Women In Sneakers platform: my hope is to connect and work with them on a collaborative project for a brand campaign, offering a fresh view on the way in which we talk to the female sneaker community.

33 | Industry

”

t ha expect W o t enInSne fr a m

rs om ke

_Women In Sneakers is a platform created to champion Women working behind the scenes in the sneaker industry, celebrating their contributions and providing an opportunity for them to voice their experiences and help educate those wanting to get into the world of kicks.

My career, and the experiences that came with it, spurred me on to create the platform. I won’t go into the age-old conversation of systematic gender inequalities, but I will use it to contextualise why it’s taken so long for the sneaker industry to put some respect on its female community. In short, the lifestyle sneaker industry we know today grew from sports footwear merging with the cultural mainstream. Sport in general is infamous for discriminating against Women: it’s hard to believe that it was only 50 years ago that Women's football was made legal in England again (initially banned because football “damaged women’s bodies”) with the establishment of the Women’s FA, and the Women’s NBA in the US was only founded in 1996, 50 years after its male counterpart - and don’t get me started on pay inequality! With all of this in mind, it’s easy to understand why the sneaker industry has traditionally been dominated by men. Although there has been a shift in recent years, with female-focussed launches, collaborations and designers, there are still small but important steps that could make a huge difference; both from a consumer perspective and from an industry perspective. Having sneakers in a full size

W o

Words by Stephanie Hulbert Thomas, Founder of _WomenInSneakers

only

Unique candles handcrafted in London, UK

2020 was a year of uncertainty and has created volatility within market spaces- none more so than the sneaker resell market. On a whole, the athletic footwear market is expected to reach a market value of $95.14 Billion by 2025 (GrandViewResearch, 2018). It highlights how the industry is of one significant value, with room for further growth, including the market for resellers. It has come to no surprise that sneakers have become increasingly sought after. So much so, it has become accepted that end users are likely to pay resale prices, now that buying sneakers at retail is close to impossible.

However, the unexpectedness of the year just gone, has thrown some shade on the matter, proving difficulties and volatility will affect how the market reacts and approaches situations going forward.

As national lockdowns swept the globe back in early 2020, it was evident that the go to sneaker resale stores such as; Flight Club, Stadium Goods and Presented By, may struggle to survive this harsh economic climate, unless some diversification or innova tion is implemented. The natural consequence of the store closures brought about a form of scarcity within the marketplace. In turn, this should have driven the average resale price upwards, however the devastating effects of the pandemic have actually caused a general decrease in resell prices. This was mainly down to the fact that the uncertainty of the future and the effect on job security, meant collectors and resellers alike began to sell for lower prices to generate a quicker sale. A prime example of this was the Jordan 1 Retro High Travis Scott, which released back in May 2019 for £165. As soon as the sneaker dropped it sold out instantly, and resale prices rose to a staggering £1,600, however fast forward to March 2020 and resale prices dropped to an almost all time low of £900 (StockX.com, 2020).

With stores closed and street sellers in decline, attention turned to online reselling platforms such as; StockX, GOAT, Grailed, Klekt. Sites and applications which allow users to buy or sell sneakers has revolutionised the market.

These platforms act agent, allowing buyers to gain peace of mind from sneaker authentication initiatives implemented on

most sites, whilst allowing sellers to receive funds promptly and efficiently. Presence online and utilising social media, has opened up the marketplace allowing for more people to gain interest in the sneaker industry, as well as provide a place to purchase some exclusive heat. All be it for generally higher prices but the products in effect become more accessible. All in all, it has shown how vital and important these online platforms are, and that they are one of the main reasons the industry is expanding at an exponential rate.

The use of social media, by influencers and celebrities alike, has proven to surge interest for a sneaker, if endorsed by one. For example, when Kylie Jenner posts a picture on Instagram of a deadstock sneaker (Nike SB Freddy Krueger), the value of this sneaker on the reselling marketspaces started to skyrocket and

important to people around the globe, and now for all to enjoy, drifting away from the orthodox approach of sneakers being a sport shoe predominantly made for men.

One major issue the sneaker industry has faced is releases. Long gone are the days of camp outs and queuing in person.

Retailers and brands have resulted to using more widespread tactics, to ensure all entrants try and obtain a fair and equal chance in coping the must-have sneakers. How well this has been implemented, is hard to say, as it has been apparent that “fairness”, in terms of releases, is still difficult to achieve.

Recently we saw an OG release from Nike, the Air Max 95 - Neon. This infamous GR sneaker is one of mass cultural importance, none more so than in the UK. Famously dubbed the "110", referring to its £110 RRP back in the 90' and early 2000's, this colourway can be seen on street corners and the playgrounds of many all around the UK. However this year’s re-release saw a new era of release implemented. A raffle scheme from retailers, resulted in many OG lovers not getting Words by Ricky Rai their hands on pairs, instead, has not retracted since. This is a form of the coveted sneakers fell into the hands of certification for the mass public, as the resellers and prices hiked upwards in order sneaker/design is one of value and if in- for 3rd party profits to be made. It must also fluencers are purchasing them, then they be noted that sneaker retailers, have cotare more sought after. Same goes for mu- toned onto the advantages of raffles. Rather sic artists, whom seem to have had an in- than sit on stock and wait for a sneaker to creasing impact on sneakers and the con- naturally sell out, stores are turning more cept of hype for the past few years now. and more to raffles.

Drake and Travis Scott are just some of It allows for the retailer to deplete its enthe names that have also embraced this. tire stock of a certain release, allowing for Either through wearing hyped sneakers, or maximum sales. Thus proving, that retailers dropping their own exclusive releases, that may be fuelling the resale market, by trying all seem to generate astronomical hype. to generate the most advantageous position

In extension of this, we have for their own business. seen more and more females now start to In a world of uncertainty, we quesmake an impact on this side of the indus- tion, is this the way the industry desires to go, try. Brands have started to acknowledge or is it being forced into a restricted market, that females deserve the attention that the of which loses its core values. It's fair to say male sneaker collaborations seem to au- that the industry as a whole has experienced tomatically generate. Collaborations from a cultural shift, from a small niche sub culture major sneaker brands with superstars, for enthusiasts, to now evolving into a mainsuch as Beyoncé and Cardi B, as well as stream market for the masses, whilst still key designs from Yoon Ambush and Aleali trying to encompass exclusivity. Strict short May, have propelled the sneaker industry supply, met with exponential levels of deinto a new dimension. While there is still mand only allows for the inevitable to occur a way to go, this highlights just one of the and that is what we seem to be witnessing advancements the industry is making as now. Will it ever change for the better? a whole. Proving that sneakers really are

sneaker-nomics

SHOP ONLINE AT CENTLDN.COM

35 | Industry

POSTCARDS FROM

SS HH EE AA KK EE RR

India

With international travel off the cards for now, many of us have been left with a sort of, unshakeable itch to explore.

Aiming to pacify this aching wanderlust, we present to you, Postcards from India. A snapshot of India’s proliferate sneaker and streetwear scene. We chat to two of India’s most prominent females in the sneaker scene, who give their account of what India has to offer for modern day sneakerheads and why it’s becoming a ex37 | Industry citing hotbed for new ideas and possibilities.

Many sneakers are still inaccessible in India as we don’t have all the releases in the country. A lot of sneakerheads used to buy their sneakers from abroad but with the hike in the customs duty this year, it’s become difficult. Same is the case with streetwear brands but we have Capsul, India’s first multi-brand streetwear store. Also, a lot of Indian streetwear brands have emerged, especially in the last two years and I am excited to see what they have in store for us.

A few of the Indian streetwear brands make apparel inspired by India’s culture and I find that really interesting. Brands such as @mae.co.in - they take Indian sarees and make hoodies out of them and @delhiwear - they put a modern spin on the kurta which is an Indian traditional garment, are some of my favourites.

There is a lot of craze around Hype Culture and a lot of people are diverting from the OG street/ sneaker culture and getting into hyped sneakers only. I think in the next few years, although there will be many new faces in the Indian scene, there might also be people for whom it’ll come to a point of saturation. I hope in the coming years people discover what they really like - beyond the HYPE. Hoping to see more Indian streetwear brands emerge, make it big and put India on the global map.

38 | Industry

[Head of Content at VegNonVeg & Style Blogger/YouTuber]

It is nascent but very passionate.

Over the last 2 years, we have had an unprecedented number of Jordan and Yeezy releases. We run a biweekly highlight ‘VNVBeauty’ at VegNonVeg where we feature female streetwear and sneaker enthusiasts and there are always new faces.

Also, last month we had the very first Women’s Air Jordan 1 launch in Indiathe Women’s Air Jordan 1 High ‘Lucky Green’. VegNonVeg did a Women’s only raffle for the launch- which was a first in the country, and all the pairs sold out!

SHIVANI BORUAH

I think in India the Youth culture is really strong. Social media has played a huge role in this. People here are aware of the trends going on across the world and they want to try and adopt new things & express themselves through new ways of art and fashion.

Bhavisha Dave [Co-founder of Capsul]

Stores are relatively new to India, even the Middle East and South East Asia. But the adoption has been really fast. Pre 2010, people collected sneakers but the way people collect sneakers here isn’t the same as it is in other places. People collect sneakers without caring too much about the value, the resell value. 2015 is when the floodgates opened and it became similar to what it is globally. The first Yeezy drop happened. It was the inflection point of sorts, to bring this culture into India for more than a handful of people. Now it’s insane, we have more than 500 resellers in this country.

There are only 2 main sneaker stores in India, VegNonVeg opened in 2016 and the other, SuperKicks India came up in 2018. Now both operate online and have 3 stores in Bombay, Dehli and Bangalore. That’s what the landscape is like currently. Besides sneakers, Capsul, is the only streetwear account in the country. So we are a webstore and have 1 small store in Bangalore. I’m so excited, rarely you get to be the first and only to do something. Me and my business partner Meenakshi started the business together, I was in Istanbul and she was in St Petersburg. We saw the whole streetwear and sneaker scene there. People in India were talking about the streetwear brands that were out there but it would be hard to get with customs etc. So, we thought, ‘maybe there’s a gap here. ‘ The consumer today knows everything about everything so all we are doing is fulfilling a desire and breeding a community. Some people would say we are appropriating sneaker culture but I disagree. Sneaker culture is so intrinsic to youth culture. The way it’s spreading everywhere in India. It transcends culture.

It’ll be interesting to see how subcultures will develop. One thing I have seen is, during Indian festivals, people into sneakers are now will style sneakers with Indian ethnic clothing. It’s an interesting mash up to see. Or wearing a choli with a cool t shirt.

In the next 10 years, mine and meenakshi’s vision, we would love to see an Indian city become part of global culture. A fashion capital of the world. In India there is such beautiful colour, craftsmanship, products. There are brands out there that look to different cultures for different inspiration. Streetwear is a great way to explore different cultures and people look to India to depict in their products.

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It felt like everything just came to a standstill. We were right at the final stage, our most crucial few weeks of university, and then everything just stopped. I think the most difficult thing was having to adjust and change the direction of my project since I wasn’t able to do some of the things that I had originally planned to do. One positive that came from this situation was being able to have so much time to work on my final project. There was nothing else to do and no other distractions so I was able to focus solely on “I my work.

What was the impetus behind the project? Did you have a fascination with the future?

demands.

Inside the Future of Footwear with Graduate, Megan Carmichael

Fashion Communication graduate, Megan Carmichael tells about the crucial last months of her degree and how the global pandemic impacted her final major project. Though its far from what she expected, she reveals howit gave her first hand perspective on designing footwear for the future, human evolution and societal 40 | Industry

How was studying during COVID 19?

How did it affect your final year?

I would say the most interesting thing that I learned was how trends are formed from different events in society. I love the idea of how our lives are shaped from these changing shifts, and how they can affect our behaviour, opinions and outlooks. It felt surreal to be working on a project that was so future focused at a time when the Covid-19 outbreak was starting to really take over and change our lives. I knew, when working on my 2120 trend report, that this would be an event that would change society in so many ways. It was intriguing to predict in my own way how I thought we could possibly be when affected from this in the my 2120 near and far future.

knew, working on trend report, that this would be an event that would change society in so many ways.”

Trend was something that I found most interesting to learn about throughout my university experience so it felt only right to make it the focus of my final project. I personally love how forecasting the future can’t be wrong as no one knows what is going to happen.

Researching thoroughly into trend forecasting throughout this project made me feel inspired to approach my future predictions with such an elaborate and open mindset. I also loved that in this project I was able to look to the past and observe how much had changed throughout history. I think this really helped me when creating my future report as I was able to take inspiration from past events and see how they had an effect on society into the future.

What did you learn about the process of trend forecasting in this project?

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Give us a general idea of what you think footwear will be like in the 22nd Century.

I think that the main focus and purpose of footwear will be about foot health. Throughout my research I was able to see the effects of footwear and the different ways in which our form has changed throughout history.

I think that foot health will become more and more important in the future as people will be more aware of the effects of footwear. As a species we are constantly striving to improve and better ourselves so why are we not conscious of what we are putting on our feet? I feel like this is a really important aspect that you don’t really tend to think about when choosing footwear - the lasting effects that they have on our form. However I do think that personal style will always be important in our footwear choices. This is something I believe will be next level in

cdotarthur the future, personalisation will be at our fingertips thanks to developments in technology such as 3D printing. We will have the opportunity to create completely unique and personal designs at our fingertips.

When you laid out a map of footwear from now to 2120, you purposely included the relationship with technology. Do you think technology will be the biggest driver of what the future holds?

“...personalisation will be at our fingertips thanks to developments in technology such as 3D printing.”

I believe so yeah, technology is what moves us forward and allows us to evolve as a species and a society. I think that technology will continue to give footwear the push to transform what we wear on our feet.

This is why I believe there will be such a focus on foot health and the use of footwear to benefit the wearer’s unique needs and preferences.

I feel like this is apparent already with brands such as Nike creating footwear like the Vaporfly running shoe that broke records within the running community. Or companies like Vivobarefoot, who approach footwear in a more minimalist and natural way, creating footwear that molds to the wearer’s feet. I like that we are seeing brands work in such specialist approaches towards footwear.

Tell us about your bubble sneaker concept and how it fits that.

For my 2120 future forecast report, I created a trainer that reflected what I believed would be the trainer of the moment. I made a mock up collage which featured different futuristic aspects. Some of these included augmented reality projections, health tracking panels, climate controlled fabric, gps tracking and removable soles. All of these features came from my research into the future and its possibilities. It was really fun to look at footwear in such an exaggerated way, thinking about how much could change in the far future when paired with the possible developments in technology.

Given your research, do you think the future is daunting or exciting?

I find this question really interesting as I believe that my answer would have been completely different at the start of this project compared to now. Before this project my outlook on the future did feel daunting but I think after all of this research my feelings have changed. The future now really interests me and in a way feels quite exciting. When creating my future focused report I was able to be really creative in my predictions and shape the future in my own way. Obviously there are aspects to the future such as climate change which feel really bleak but it will be interesting to see how we tackle these issues as a society using factors such as technology to transform our lives.

non-lovers advisory of content. www.cdotarthur.com

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@cdotarthur

Q& With

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elliott footwear

Sustainable Segment

Elliott footwear is blueprint for a radically sustainable company.

Their mission for consciousness in the market sizzles right down to setting an example in the products they make and how they as a brand operate behind the scenes. As I caught up with co-founder Sam Carew, I quickly found out this wasn’t a simple mantra but a constant challenge in innovation, design and competition.

With aligned values on sustainability and the environment, Elliott Footwear teams up with vegan Blogger and Stylist, Kitty Cowell. For the feature, Kitty styles the Recyled Canvas High-top. Available to buy on elliottfootwear.com from sizes EU 36-46.

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Sustainable Segment Tell us a bit about your brand.

forth wouldn’t make sense.

Elliott started as an idea in 2018.

We realised the idea of being climate positive, only ever using recycled or sustainable materials. Thankfully a lot of people are starting to think along these lines. We felt like we were in a unique position to come out to market and create a brand that stood for sustainability straight from the get-go. It’s not an after-thought, it’s at the heart and the DNA of the company.

On your website you have used those sustainable buzzwords like “Vegan”, “Reversing carbon footprint”, “Offsetting CO2”, what does it actually mean to have a vegan sneaker?

Featuring Kitty Cowell, wearing the Recycled Canvas High Top

Fundamentally, Elliott is striving to be completely transparent in the way we operate, our focus is climate positivity and the idea of being able to allow customers to make an informed choice about what they put on their feet. But also, how each purchase has an impact on the world we live in.

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Brand transparency is a huge topic right now- but how important is it for a sustainable brand to practice actually this?

For our brand, transparency is important. Transparency is a hard thing to do in business because in essence, businesses are sustained by economics. However, we tried to make it a relatively open playing field in terms of what Elliott is, we invite people to ask questions, and the team we are building to do the same.

So, “why are we making this decision instead of this decision?” The one thing we all have, is the goal to be friendly.

The company has been running since 2018, and we have only met once in person, the majority of our communications are on the phone or zoom.

Half the team are based in Denmark so it’s a conscious decision not to fly and meet the team. We are trying to be climate positive and jumping on flights we’re not sticking to the goal. The shoes are designed and conceptualised in Denmark and developed in Spain. So, going back and

That’s the challenging thing, the first iteration of shoes, Vegan Leather pair and Vegan Suede pair, were made from a polymer. However, the next iteration of Elliott’s we will be removing plastic entirely.

So, in terms of getting to the market in the timelines that we wanted, we made the decision to create them in Vegan leather. With every brand there is an initial trade off, but the idea is that we keep iterating.

We are looking at seaweed as an option for gen 2’s and, apple leather too. This is what takes time, the research, development then working with suppliers who get our vision of not harming the planet. We would love in the future generations of Elliott, instead of sending your sneakers back to recycle, just pop them in the compost. It sounds ludicrous but that’s what our future looks like. Products we use don’t have to lay around forever.

It sounds like research is a big part of your company, how do you value this process?

You are right. We like to work in cycles, we tend not to work along the same life cycle of brands. We don’t create shoes then create the next batch. We made a very conscious decision to innovate and create, sell and then go back to innovating. That means we aren’t creating hundreds of thousands of shoes, but relatively small batches per sizing.

With big brands like Nike and Adidas, who are constantly selling new shoes, how do you feel as a smaller brand, cutting through the noise? Do you think people have become receptive to your brand?

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Sustainable Segment

The audience we have are looking for Elliott’s. They may not know what they are prior, but they are looking for that sustainable shoe. This was initially stemmed from Toms.

There is an opportunity to do good with a purchase and brands like Toms have helped people to change their way of thinking. Big corporations have to keep continually re-innovating. They could make smaller batches, like hype-runs, but they don’t. But then again, big brands like that have different challenges to us.

Touching on hype, what is your perspective on that? Hype encourages people to consume and if not that particular sneaker, the next best thing…

I would like to see smaller runs. I am conscious on my spending and conscious on what I consume. I think there’s huge creativity, you will that in Elliott gen 2 and on our concept page @elliott.concepts, it gathers up and coming designers, that are under-represented. But you can see the amount of creativity available. So, what I would love to see in hype, is smaller runs and people being more conscious on the value placed on a shoe- financially, creatively and environmentally.

Featuring Kitty Cowell, wearing the Recycled Canvas High Top

I guess the framework for hype, i.e. taking a sneaker, releasing it in a small batch in a limited amount of time, could be seen as sustainable, but it does encourage behaviour where we still want to consume to satisfy our needs.

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As humans we won’t ever stop consuming, it’s just about being conscious on how much we are consuming.

One thing we haven’t talked about yet is the design and aesthetics of your sneakers. Take us through this, and why did you go for such a simplistic design?

I guess it comes down to reach. From a financial point of view, you are better off going for a simpler design if you want to sell more. It also means, the more sales we have, the more good we are going to do. One of the things we are going to try to do in the next batch, would be to make one in the collection more bold, and out there. And to see how the sustainable market deals with this. I’d like to think that within the sustainable sneaker market/ bandwidth, that there is opportunity for something crazy.

So, there is a lot more to look forward to from Elliott. Thank you for chatting to us. Are there any final thoughts that you would like to share with our readers?

I wanted to add that greenhouse gases that we emit as a planet, we have a far ranging environmental and health defects. My son has got asthma and it’s something we are very cautious of. So, every pair of Elliott’s combats these carbon emissions, and each person has the opportunity to make climate change.

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Photographer: Tara Collingwoode, Words by Ikechi Amaechi

n UK

tanced of course, and feel a part of something in such isolating times. Running collectives and groups are needed more than ever and are now becoming even more popular.

Black Girls Do Run UK (BGDR.UK), was one of these collectives that in a year of much social awareness and racial awakening, created a space for everyday women of colour to run in a safe, encouraging and non-judgmental space.

Partnering up with BGDR.UK for this feature are ON Running. A newer running brand, that really took off in 2020, and are set to be even bigger and more impactful in 2021.

The Swiss company set to change the sensation of running with trainers that are engineered with a technical aptitude which is light as a feather and soft as clouds to support any runner, and any running goal.

We caught up with the collective, and chatted to the founder as they took the ON Running’s ‘Cloudflyer’ trainers for a run, and as suggested, these “actually feel like your running on clouds, they’re so soft”.

Ru

New Year, New Me, New Fitness Regime. Haven’t we all said this come a New Year? However this year, for sure will be a little different to most.

With Covid-19 running amuck most of 2020, (A worldwide health pandemic, national lockdowns, Black Lives Matter once again having to fight for justice & equality, the loss of famous, influential and everyday loved ones in extreme numbers, and so on) health and fitness has become a heightened aspect of our lives to cherish, nourish and be grateful for. With gyms closed for most of 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions, many of us found ourselves trying to find different and new ways to keep fit and active. And running, unsurprisingly, became hugely popular. However the stereotypical faces, body shapes and brands we once equated with this have very much changed.

Running is being used as a stress buster from continuous bad news, a way to burn off the home cooking and baking weight and a way to meet up with people, socially dis-

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featuring The Cloudflyer

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Q: How did BGDR.UK come about?

A: Having followed the BGDR U.S account for years, and then facing some very blatant prejudice whilst running a long distance race, the need for a UK version seemed vital.

Q: What is the idea around the collective?

A: The idea was to create an Instagram account that represented similar black women to myself, showcasing the everyday woman/ runner, highlight my running journey, races and events that could be fun to enter, and meet similar black women. Since starting in April 2019 however, BGDR.UK has just grown and grown. We do weekly runs now and even have a WhatsApp group of about 60 members.

Q: What is BGDR.UK’s goal?

A: Challenging and changing the narratives of what we think a ‘runner’ should be or look like. “If you can run, then you’re a runner”.

“We can’t all be fast, but we can all try”.

Consistency, confidence and a running community will help you become an even better runner. “I’m consistent and that’s my thing.

I run about 4 times a week and I run a few miles each time, no records beaten lol, just consistent running”.

Q: Where are BGDR.UK based, and when/ where do you meet?

A: We are London based. The group normally meets up weekly and we’ll do 5K or 10K runs, depending on whose attending and where we are running. Hyde Park and Kennington Gardens are normally our meeting spots as they are central points for most people in London.

Q: What has been some highlights/ milestone for the collective so far?

A: Being featured in Women’s Health magazine, creating an amazing committee of fellow everyday black female runners which has helped massively as we become affili-

ated with England Athletics, and creating a space where first timers, re-starters, or solo runners have felt welcomed to pick up running collectively and achieve personal goals.

Q: What has been some challenges for the collective so far?

A: The Covid-19 pandemic initially made our group runs difficult to organise due to the unprecedented and uncertain nature of it all, but being able to adapt and think outside the box really helped. We actually gained more followers and interest due to the lockdown and people taking up running, we put more focus on growing BGDR.UK, and came up with some cool solo and socially distanced safe running initiatives via our socials.

Q: As everyday runners, how have you found the ON Running Cloudflyer?

A: These are a dream! We had all heard of the brand and really wanted to try out the shoes technology, fit and running feel. The colours and designs are great! It’s nice to not have boring black all the time, plus the wide toe box is really great for a wider foot and they are very comfortable. The CloudTec® and Helion™ superfoam make the shoes feel amazing! It’s like walking on a cloud, pardon the pun. And certainly a brand which we’d endorse to any new, regular or ardent runner.

Q: Lastly, what can we expect from BGDR. UK in the near future?

A: More online running initiatives and challenges to keep up all going through the current uncertainty and winter months. And our two year anniversary approaches soon which we hope will be celebrated with a big community event to give thanks and give back. More running. More inclusivity, diversity and representation to show that Black Girls Do and Can Run.

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This lockdown, arts and crafts have been a saviour in times of absolute boredom. Learning new things has helped maintain a good mental health. Upcycling has seen our homes transformed for a fraction of the price. And, across Instagram crafters have shared their new creations for all to see. But how has this lockdown affected those who work with design day-in, day-out?

We caught up with 3 fashion and footwear designers, Stella Harry Lee, Helen Kirkum and Iga Weglinska, to see what the past year has meant for them. Reflecting on the world around them, they all seemed to harness their extensive skillset to bring about new ideas From Helen Kirkum’s and processes in their de‘Sneaker Sculptures’ sign. While they all work IGTV in 3 totally different disciplines, the overriding driver of their work came from waste. Cutting down waste, utilising waste and regenerat-ing it for new purposes.

CRAF

Find out how these 3 designers have crafted with the planet in mind.

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“

At the height of the pandemic, the idea of fragility and decay became undeniably apparent to Stella. As she was processing everything, her immediate reaction as a creative was to release the tension of helplessness through the act of art. In the confines of the home she was stuck in, she was forced to look around her surroundings for materials to work with, such as trash and recyclable materials piled up from online deliveries. Stella knew she wanted to make shoes, so she started building with these materials. She wanted to build these shoes light-heartedly, but a big part of her felt like she was

creating them just to see them end up back in the trash again. She faced constant emotional battles to detach herself from these shoes in order to avoid the despair that came with realizing the fragility of her own creations.

Once she was able to push aside the insecurities, Stella saw how much creat-

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ing helped h e r get through this “ S t e l l a year. It was only then that finally came to Stell a f i n a l l y terms with the c a m e to terms p a r a l l e l wl iet lh the paralof o f n a r r a t i v e narrative fragility f r a g i l i t y ” a n d decay by d e constructi n g these shoes m y self—and then framing the pieces as a reminder. She intends to close out the Recycled Object series by framing and preserving the good memories brought by each of the sixteen shoes.

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HELEN KIRKUM

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Helen Kirkum is known for her recognisable sneaker reconstruction and pioneering the new-wave of upcycled footwear in 2016. During Lockdown, Helen hosted ‘Sneaker Sculptures IGTV’, an Instagram Live version of her creative and hands-on workshop, exploring her approach to design through 3D collage using household recycling. Through finding new value in the waste and reimagining the graphic, shape and style of the packaging to construct a sneaker mock-up from home, was with the intention to exercise a spontaneous and free spirited design method through making.

”

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“exploring her approach to design through 3D collage using household recycling.”

“

For a long time Iga thought about creating a design piece which can be easily transported without leaving a carbon footprint. The pandemic and the lockdown led to developing an idea of a short design series to be made at home. She is a fashion-tech designer so she wanted to use a little bit of tech in the designs, and that’s how the Open Design series was born. It includes Shifted Shoes, 3D printed Naked Ring and Glowing Jacket.

“She wanted to use a little bit of tech in the designs, and that’s how the Open Design series was born.”

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All pieces were created as a free open source designs (on Creative Commons license) to be made self assembled at homes. Each piece has a different type of difficulty of execution, using different techniques – from hand sewing using patterns printed on home ink printed, to machine sewing and 3D printing.

According to your skills, the Shifted Shoes can be made from a good quality leather and rubber, or for example – a foam mat for babies and a piece of felt. The assembly instruction includes a shoe and a sole pattern which can be printed or even traced on paper sheet from your computer screen.

It has marked spots for needle holes – all calculated to avoid mistakes while assembling. The maker have a choice of what colors and type of materials he/she want to use.

”

The all-new Cloudflyer featuring Helion™ superfoam.

Run on clouds.

Tracie’ s

No matter what position the last year has put you in, the changes to life and routine have been all-round staggering. Being cooped up for, what feels like forever now, has had a grating effect on mental health. We’ve been left feeling a little out of depths with our situation, not knowing when this will end and how we can manage our lives. With all this uncertainty in the air, I have been seeking out ways to improve mental health from home. Taking up yoga, gathering crystals, using essential oils are just few things I’ve tried out – but I found out it doesn’t have to be this complicated. I caught up with Tracie Storey- Sound Therapist and Founder of Elemental Resonance, who shone light on some simple practices. She says, “These are tips that I incorporate into my DAILY life and are super crucial to keeping me sane”. We hope they help anyone who reads this piece, and if you are after more advice, check out Tracie’s website: www.elementalresonance.com

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Rituals

GROUNDING

Either go and find yourself a rock, a tree or some grass to stand on. Lean up against the TREE, stand on the GRASS or sit on a ROCK. We are vibrational beings with a toroidal field of energy around us….basically an electromagnetic field just standing, sitting or leaning on an object in nature can change our vibrational field. Literally connecting with a field connected with nature firstly, takes us out of our head (a good thing!!) and into our bodies, allowing us to ground and feel more connected.

Take a few moments to do some ‘belly breathing’ - belly rises on the inhale and lowers on the exhale. Sounds simple? It is!

Just place your hand on your belly so you can feel the belly rising on the inbreath and lower on the outbreath. Whilst you do this imagine the ocean in your mind so when you breathe in the water comes up to shore and as you breathe out the water goes back out into the deep ocean….now, we’ll take this one stage further. Imagine that with each in breath you’re bringing in fresh energy as that water comes in and as you breathe out, old, stagnant thoughts and energy are being taken back into the ocean to be recycled, diluted and cleansed. This is one of my GO TO exercises and I use it at the beginning of all my meditations, it’s a SUPER USEFUL exercise. I won’t get into the science of it now but deepening the breath has a physiological effect on your physical body and leads to less stress and tension. Try it - it really works!!

B R E AT H I N G

The third and final tip in this trio is to MOVE! Water gets stagnant if it has no flow or movement to it and so does your body.

So with this exercise we’re moving the body, using a toning sound and clearing the lungs….no it’s not as complex as it sounds BUT it is super good for clearing you energy field. Stand feet apart - more than hip width. Start swinging your arms round from left to right (as if you have ropes coming out of your fingers swaying in the wind). Gently hit your kidneys on the back as you swing from left to right. Be sure to lift up your heels as you swing from side to side. Introduce the sound ’SSSSSSSSS’ into the mix and you’re on! Keep doing it for about 3 mins or longer if you’re enjoying it. The toning sound helps to clear the lungs, the kidneys get activated and you are getting Qi/Chi moving around your body.

MOVEMENT

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he euphoria of electronic music and life of clubs is something that has always been at the heart of Sheaker. For the past couple of years, we have been regular goers to some of the best scenes in the UK and fortunately been able to report on this in the magazine. Coming into 2020, the electronic music industry has seen the biggest blow it could’ve expected. The dormancy of clubs has meant that the electronic music that filled its walls is increasingly out of reach.

It has always been my intention as editor to bring more of this music to our platform in some way. This being said, we introduce to you- Sheaker Sounds. A space where we will share our favourite sounds from a selection of female DJ’s, producers and tastemakers.

The impetus to start this project and platform stemmed from a need for more female exposure in the industry. But now it’s vital that we lift the female talent in this industry given the strains that they are now faced with.

So, you may be asking yourself- what can I expect from Sheaker Sounds? Well, the team at Sheaker have a wide-ranging library of musical tastes. While some get hedonistic to Jungle and the old tracks of noughties Garage, others bring Deep House, DnB and Bass to the table. All of these electronic genres sizzled down into weekly roundups of mixes, new releases and remixes on our Soundcloud page.

We are constantly on a music exploration, seeking out new sounds to share with likeminded people. Recently, new forms of music have started to come out of the industry, including a come up of Jazz. Ambient has been given a rethink. And, music suitable for more ‘civilised’ viewing has taken the reigns of events.

Music experimentation has never been so ample and, there just may be a silver lining to this devastation.

We are always looking for something a little outside the ordinary. We invite female DJ’s, no matter how crazy your sound, to share their music with us. Occasionally, we will attempt to put together new compilations on our Soundcloud page and we would love to showcase a mix of established DJ’s as well as those starting out in the industry.

For us, sharing music, means sharing good vibes. So, to welcome you to the imprint of Sheaker Sounds, we present our Good Morning Playlist. A sortof enlightenment to female produced sounds from our favourite DJ’s. Our tracklist is based on hazy mornings, spring awakenings and of course, pure good vibes. Check it out on the next page (for optimal listening we recommend whacking this on from 6am-10am, it really is the best start to any day).

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Access the full playlist on the next page

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sheaker selects on

sheaker selects on [NEW] The Specialists + Vanessa Maria Vanessa Maria is a DJ, Broadcaster and Digital Marketer at Sony based in between Bristol and London. From Baile Funk to UK Drill join Vanessa Maria every month for the freshest blends of global club music and UK Rap. Expect to hear the clurrb from your bedroom and beyond, interspersed with guest interviews and mixes.

FOUNDATION FM ARTICLE

‘DJ and radio host Freshta is known for her selection in 140bpm, leftfield bass and beyond.

Her foundation fm show plans to get to know artists she rates and showcase their talent.

She’ll also be carrying on the series she created last year of placing legendary mcs with new-gen mcs together for a radio set. As well as guest mixes from other DJs on her radar.’

The catch up + queer island discs w/ zooey Zooey Gleaves is a DJ, Broadcaster, Performer and Creative Director, also known as Lagoon Femshayma. He hosts Queer Island Discs on Foundation FM, a show that sets to music the life and work of Queer Creatives

Weekend brunch + Kennedy Taylor Kennedy Taylor is a DJ from Manchester specialising in Rap. During The Weekend Brunch show she wants you to discover a new artist or a new song you LOVE! She pushes undiscovered artists and gives a platform to musicians and producers outside of the capital during her Regional Round Up feature.

Expect Rap, RnB, future beats, Afro Beats

The mix hour + music 4cast w/ Rosie Vacci B

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sheaker selects

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on

Music4cast is a platform dedicated to highlighting the very best in the UK’s Black Music scenes. Each month it’s creator, presenter/DJ Rosie Vacci B, will be on Foundation FM bringing you an hourly show; running down the hottest releases, tomorrow’s stars and the music being produced outside the capital. Lock in for mixes, interviews and lots of new tunes!

sheaker selects

SPRING BULLETIN

sheaker selects on

[NEW] The Specialists + Freshta