Culture
SneakersbeShops TALKS WITH MIKE SKINNER & MATT WILKINSON @ SneakersbeShops LONDON
25 April 2024To mark the first instalment of SneakersbeShops Talks for 2024, and to celebrate the release of the Reebok x The Streets Presented by SneakersbeShops Classic Leather sneakers, we invited the music legend Mike Skinner to sit down with Matt Wilkinson for an in-depth discussion at SneakersbeShops’s London store.
Meandering through the streets of London on a characteristically balmy spring evening in April, it seemed pertinent to reflect on The Streets’ signature depiction of classic British nightlife as post-work pubgoers and midweek warriors spill out of Soho’s iconic pubs onto the side streets of the City’s fashion hub, pint in hand and aromas of the area’s many restaurants mingling in the air. Renowned for their encapsulation of the Great British Night Out, Mike Skinner’s The Streets has spent the past two decades soundtracking late nights and early mornings, delivering the perspective of the everyman in an entirely relatable and, ultimately, iconic way.
Celebrating the launch of the Reebok x The Streets Presented by SneakersbeShops Classic Leather sneaker pack, Mike Skinner ventured into Soho, offering an insight into his debut film, the history of the Streets, and his multi-facetted creative approach. Hosted by Apple Music’s Matt Wilkinson at SneakersbeShops’s statement store in the heart of Soho, the evening saw the musical icon discuss his debut full length film, The Darker the Shadow, The Brighter the Light, with Mike reflecting on the hardships of film direction, alongside the creative process and experience. Turning the conversation towards his relationship with and penchant for Reebok, Mike offered up a plethora of humorous anecdotes detailing his first encounters with the brand to his weekly delivery of box fresh Classics, before moving onto how his collaboration with Reebok and SneakersbeShops came about.
As Matt turned to the audience for questions, we were all met with a surprise appearance by the “shoe girl” from the viral video of Mike getting his shoe stolen during a live performance earlier in the year. Taking to the mic, she offered up her apologies and made her peace with Mike before he signed her – rightfully won – pair of Classics. Finishing off the night with Mike signing fans’ sneakers and record sleeves, Star.One soundtracked the proceedings as attendees enjoyed a final drink or two.
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