Sneakerheads, creators and vendors from across the region filled the Agricenter Saturday for the 19th edition of SneakFest, Memphis’ premier sneaker and streetwear convention.
With music bumping, rare kicks on full display and vibrant local brands lining the walls, the resale marketplace celebrated Memphis culture, creativity and community.
One standout element of the day was a live tie-dye station led by Luke Cowan, a first-time SneakFest collaborator and Memphis native.
“I’ve been tie-dying for six years — started during the pandemic,” Cowan said as he dipped a shirt into a swirl of color. “I’m also here selling trading cards — basketball, football and baseball. That love for sneakers and cards? It all started with Penny Hardaway. To me, he was our hometown hero.”
Cowan sees SneakFest as a cultural reset. “This brings positive attention to sneaker culture. It’s not what people always hear about Memphis in the news. SneakFest shows we have a thriving creative community,” he said.
Also representing the 901 was Brannon Hobbs, founder of M-Town Merch, whose booth showcased retro-inspired sportswear and Memphis-branded apparel.
“I started the brand five years ago, right around COVID,” Hobbs shared. “I was in Nashville and just didn’t see cool Memphis merch I’d actually wear, so I made my own.”
Now based back in Memphis, Hobbs said the city has embraced his vintage-flavored vision. “I try to give a classic feel, like the old jerseys from the ’60s to ’80s or the Starter jackets from the ’90s. This is my second time selling at SneakFest, and I love how it uplifts the sneaker culture and gives space to brands like mine.”
Sherman Harper Jr., one of SneakFest’s founding members, reflected on the event’s growth. “This marks SneakFest 19. We started March 8, 2014, and we’ve done two a year ever since,” Harper said. “We were supposed to have this one back in March, but we pushed it back to make sure it was done right.”
The Memphis event is now a staple in the national sneaker scene. “We originally reached out to another sneaker convention to collaborate, but they kind of brushed us off like we weren’t capable. So we came together and built our own lane,” Harper said.
Now, more than a decade later, he said the focus has shifted beyond just resale. “Our goal is for SneakFest to become a true sneaker convention, where major brands like Nike, Adidas and Puma bring their unreleased merch and showcase what’s next.”
As Harper looked around at familiar faces and new brands, he smiled. “We’ve watched kids grow into adults, start their own brands and come back to vend with us. It’s all love. No violence, just positive energy and good times.”
With local heavy hitters such as Memphis Meeks, BeU Clothing Company, Cool Quarter Million, Ten Toes, Unlaced and Hype 901 filling the room, SneakFest continues to be a cornerstone for Memphis’ creative economy where sneakers are the foundation, but community is the real flex.
The next SneakFest is already in the works, and if Saturday’s assemblage is any indication, the Bluff City can expect another sold-out celebration later this year.
