It is said time and time again, and it may almost sound like a stuck record, but it’s true, Crepe City is continually growing with each one being even bigger than the one before. The 11th instalment was no different, and with a new room in the Truman Brewery, located just off Brick Lane, the 22,000 sq ft room was packed to the brim with trainers, streetwear, accessories, vintage clothing, customisers and much much more. With almost 5000 people passing through the doors, whether you were looking to buy, to sell, or simply just to drop by and have a look, then this was the place to be!
It’s not often that we complain about heat in the UK, but in both the true meaning of the word and also the adopted version to describe footwear, Crepe City felt like a giant greenhouse awash with thousands of pairs of trainers. Luckily, there were plenty of flyers advertising the next event (Crepe City 12) on hand, which turned out to be very effective fans to keep heads cool, but wrists sore.
With the vast new space all on one floor and in one room, this seemed to finally give the event a proper convention feel, and was preferred by many. The room was lined with tables parallel to one another from one end of the room to the other, and the space filled quickly with punters trying to locate the best bargains available.
Over the years, Crepe City have grown to become the biggest and best trainer event in the UK, and this shows with the large amount of new and old sellers that they attract. Sellers travel from both the UK and abroad, as well as named brands such as Puma, and stores such as Wellgosh who also regularly make the effort to sell stock at reduced prices, or even display current and upcoming releases.
Dutch heavyweights Prime also visited for the second time in a row, bringing their amazing collection of Nike Air Max, along with everyone’s favourite releases from other brands, which meant their stall was the busiest throughout the day.
On the subject of reoccurring sellers, the UK’s own Ropes Laces were on hand to sell their vast catalogue of rope laces, as well as their recent collection of flat laces, including some very tasty 3M offerings. With the exception of that one day, the UK experiences some shocking weather for the most part, so taking care of your trainers is imperative, and the likes of Jason Markk, Liquiproof and Sneaky Brand were there to demonstrate and sell their product.
Trainer art has always been there or thereabouts, but over the last year or so, it has become increasingly more popular, so it’s always good to see what the UK has to offer. The extremely talented Steph Morris was at the event for the first time showcasing her exceptional pencil sketches, along with Filfury and his iconic abstract work.
Bar and catering services were upgraded for this event, and both were jam packed throughout the day, with various great food offerings, and of course, plenty of Red Stripe to go around. The small courtyard served well for somewhere to chill, grab a bite to eat, a drink and escape the sweltering heat of the venue. The Drop Date were also sneakily positioned in the courtyard grabbing on-foot shot of those who passed through to feature on their site.
As always, these events would not be possible without the work of the Crepe City team, and all the sellers, caterers, and everyone else involved in making the event run smoothly, so a huge thanks goes out to all of them!
See you all at the next Crepe City on the 8th of November!
thomaslindie 