The Commonwealth Sneaker Showcase was held on Sunday, April 13th, and was a prodigious success. The Gillespie held nearly 1,300 men and women with one interest: a love for sneakers. Whether you were there to buy, sell, trade, or just simply admire the shoes, you were not disappointed. It was a beautiful day outside and even more beautiful inside The Gillespie where hundreds of shoes were on display.
Local sneaker enthusiasts were waiting outside before the doors opened at noon to get inside to check out the displays. If there is one thing that sneaker fans are used to, it's waiting in line.
Sneaker Dave next to his sneaker display. Sneaker Dave is a well-known collector with one of the largest Penny Hardaway collections
Table upon tables were lined up and filled to capacity on the first and second floor of the Gillespie. Spectators could see sneakers nearly 20 years old alongside sneakers that may have just released. There were many brands, including: Nike, Jordan, Asics, New Balance, Saucony, The variety of sneakers and the diversity of colors and styles really portrayed the community of sneaker enthusiasts.
A table set up by collectors Derek and Corey
There were many men and women, young and old, in attendance carrying shoe boxes to the point they couldn’t see in hopes of coming across a good pick up. For sneaker lovers, walking in the Gillespie was a dream come true. Whether you were there with the intentions to buy, sell or trade, or just wanted to check out the variety of product, there was something for everyone
Vendors from out of state included: Sneaker Dave, Jumpman Bostic, Sneaker Street and many more. Local sponsors included: Premium Company, Native Louisivlle, Established Boutique, City Gear, Shaheens, and Cosmic Skate Shop.
A table of sneakers for purchase by SNO
Louisville’s own DJ Z-Nyce provided music for the event and local clothing brands and the men who brought you the showcase, Native Louisville and Premium Co., were available to purchase clothing and accessories.
This event brought local and out-of-town vendors and spectators to check out the sneaker collections and network. I want to thank Joe Homeister, Tyler Hundley, and Binh Nguyen for allowing me to be apart of this experience that allowed sneaker enthusiasts to collaborate in one room and is likely to bring the sneaker community in Louisville to great heights.
Photos by Alexis Messmer and courtesy of Commonwealth Sneaker Showcase Instagram
