A summit celebrating sneaker and streetwear culture is being put on in Milwaukee this fall. Here's what to know.
Sneakerheads and clothes horses, listen up.
A regional "Sneaker & Streetwear Summit" is being put on by Milwaukee Film in Cream City this fall. It'll be a part of the organization's 2023 Cultures & Communities Festival.
"Culture By Design: Sneaker & Streetwear Summit," described as "a celebration of sneaker and streetwear culture," will feature a marketplace with a mix of local and big-name vendors, renowned speakers, activities, auctions and more, according to a news release.
Izzy Lugo III, a local Lantine entrepreneur and founder of the "Strange on Purpose" podcast, is helping organize the summit.
“I'm excited to help create this event as a resource for creatives in Milwaukee and the region," Lugo said in the release. “I've been to similar events elsewhere, but witnessing the different cultural pillars come together throughout the day will be distinctive in a way I haven’t experienced yet locally."
Here's what to know about "Culture By Design," including where it's being held, what you can do at it and how to get tickets:
Where and when 'Culture By Design: Sneaker & Streetwear Summit' is being held
"Culture By Design: Sneaker & Streetwear Summit" is being held at the Baird Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, from noon to 7 p.m. on Oct. 7.
What the 'Sneaker & Streetwear Summit' aims to do
The event aims to bring together a "vast cross-cultural and intergenerational community of 'sneakerheads' and streetwear aficionados for a multifaceted exhibition featuring prominent national fashion designers and content creators," the news release said.
Things to do at the 'Sneaker & Streetwear Summit'
The "Sneaker & Streetwear Summit" Marketplace, located in the center's Grand Ballroom, will feature pop-up exhibition spaces and immersive activations, including family-friendly activities, the news release said.
There will also be mixed-media displays curated by "prominent brands," including Reebok and the Milwaukee Brewers, as well as more than 50 other local and national vendors. The full lineup of vendors will be revealed on Aug. 28, the event's website said.
According to the release, the event will include live and silent auctions, where attendees can bid on "unique" autographed sneakers and "rare" memorabilia.
There will also be free and low-cost chances to win prize packages and other rewards via raffles and competitions, including sneaker trivia.
Who will be speaking at the 'Sneaker & Streetwear Summit'
Industry experts, artists and business leaders will be leading panels, conversations and workshops during the event, the news release said.
Alexander-John, designer and creative director for LA Gear, and Beija Marie Velez, a multifaceted creative and model, will give keynote presentations.
There will also be meet-and-greet sessions with national sneaker entrepreneurs and influencers.
The summit's participants will be announced Aug. 28, per the event's website.
How to get tickets to the 'Sneaker & Streetwear Summit'
Tickets cost $25 for those over age 12 and $10 for those under 12. They can be purchased at mkefilm.org/events/culture-by-design-a-sneaker-streetwear-summit.
Supporters of the 'Sneaker & Streetwear Summit'
The event is being made possible by sponsorship and support from Sneex, the Westown Association and the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club, the news release said.
Where to find more info on 'Culture By Design: Sneaker & Streetwear Summit'
For more information on "Culture By Design: Sneaker & Streetwear Summit," visit mkefilm.org/events/culture-by-design-a-sneaker-streetwear-summit.
About the 'Cultures & Communities Festival,' which the 'Sneaker & Streetwear Summit' is a part of
Launched in 2019 as the Milwaukee Minority Health Film Festival, Milwaukee Film's "Cultures & Communities Festival" has evolved into a mix of movies, public forums, speaker events and in-person performances designed to reflect and celebrate diverse voices and issues.
This year's event runs Oct. 5-12. Headliners will include comedian Janelle James, who will be bringing her standup tour to the Pabst Theater Oct. 8. A Q&A session will follow her set.
For an opening-night party on Oct. 5, the fest is bringing in DJ Spinderella, best known as one-third of the hip-hop trio Salt-N-Pepa, for a performance with a lineup of local DJs at The Cooperage.
Comedian and actress Aida Rodriguez and Latinx comedians from around the Midwest will be bringing the “Don’t @ Me Tour” to Milwaukee Improv on Oct. 10.
Other events will include a "Battle of the Chefs," a poetry showcase and a closing night party.
For more info on the festival or to purchase tickets to its shows, visit mkefilm.org/ccf-(1)/cff2023.
Chris Foran of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Film doing Culture By Design: Sneaker & Streetwear Summit
