SOLE STORIES: ICONS DEFINING SNEAKER CULTURE

Words by Jamal Grootboom | Images: Khotso Makhothi / Videos: Rage Inc.

Sneaker culture is at an all-time high in Mzansi, intersecting with fashion and hip hop to create a unique subculture. In celebration of this vibrant community, we’re highlighting iconic sneaker brands and tastemakers with Sneaker Fest The Icon Edition.

During Sole Stories we sat Karabo Poppy, Nadia Nakai and Fhatuwani Mukheli down with content creator and media personality Okay Wasabi as the host to the iconic figures.

This series highlights their contribution to sneaker culture, what it means to them, what makes them an icon and showcases how they style a pair of the dopest kicks.

One of South Africa’s premier illustrators, Karabo Poppy has carved a unique lane for herself.

Putting her take on African aesthetics at the forefront, Karabo has taken her art internationally. In her sit down with Wasabi she shares about her career, what goes into designing a sick pair of kicks and her go-to sneaker silhouette.

WATCH SNEAKER FEST THE ICON EDITION: Sole Stories - Karabo Poppy Below

Nadia Nakai has cemented herself as one of the continent's biggest rappers, and that goes for style too. Not only does she make bonafide hits such as “Bragga”, she’s also graced the cover of Glamour SA and Cosmopolitan SA. She also starred on Netflix’s “Young, Famous and African”. In her sit down she shares about her hip hop journey, the impact of hip hop in Mzansi, her fave kicks and which poppin’ rapper’s collection of sneakers she would cop.

WATCH SNEAKER FEST THE ICON EDITION: Sole Stories - Nadia Nakai Below

Local artist Fhatuwani Mukheli specialises in many artistic fields and has left his mark in all of them. Hailing from Soweto, the multidisciplinary artist has used his upbringing to find creative solutions for problems that inform how he approaches his art now. In his sit down with Wasabi, Fhatuwani shares how his love for art and sneakers intersect, the excitement of getting a new pair of kicks and which iconic pair of sneakers he’d cop.

WATCH SNEAKER FEST THE ICON EDITION: Sole Stories - Fhatuwani Mukheli Below