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The sneaker community no longer is a male-exclusive club, with women now claiming their time in the sun. Somewhere between fashion influencers and emerging hypebeasts, we find female sneakerheads carving their own niche in the industry.
While sneaker culture grows in number and influence, it’s heartening to see women claiming their space. Whether it be exclusive Nikes or underrated sneaker collabs, here’s an insight into the female sneaker whizzes creating a wave.
MANPREET KAUR
A fashion stylist and art director by profession, Manpreet Kaur finds her passion to be her profession and isn’t shy to admit the struggle of being an aspiring creative. Talking about her journey as a sneakerhead, Manpreet reveals that is all kicked off upon delving into the nitty-gritty of understanding her personal style better. Finding the right balance between functionality and aesthetic is a key element of Manpreet’s fashion fervour.
With enthusiastic research and drawing heavy inspiration from her boyfriend’s closet, the young stylist found her footing in the sneaker scene.
‘The first pair that got me in was Adidas originals, and it’s as basic as it can get- it’s a Stan Smith. Buy one, beat them up and buy them again. I still always carry them with me when I’m travelling for work/home and I know I have no time to assess what I want to wear that day. Clean and classic, goes with everything.’
— Manpreet Kaur
Describing the sneaker scene in India, Manpreet confidently admits that the sneaker fever is bigger and better than ever. From sneaker content dominating explore feeds to the amount of versatility showcased in terms of styling kicks- there is an undeniable pressure to keep up with the growing community.
In terms of female representation in the community, Manpreet remains optimistic as she believes we’ve come a long way from the ‘boys only’ mentality. Hopeful of an increasingly inclusive market that caters to diverse silhouettes for its female fanbase as well, Manpreet claims that at the core of it, we as a community need to take female sneakerheads more seriously!
Check out her Instagram here.
ELINA BANERJEE
True to the cultural advent of sneaker culture, Elina found her love for kicks as a young kid shooting hoops. Going beyond her courtside gusto and delving into the fashionable aspect of the sport as well, Elina developed an immense passion for sneakers.
An avid follower of the latest drops and silhouettes, it’s clear that the lawyer-cum-fashionista belongs to the OG homegrown sneaker community!
‘When I realized I could finally get my own sneakers, I was the most interested in copping the Puma Rhude (Alteration) Collaboration. It was my sheer luck that the collaboration was sold out on most of the websites and was heavily priced on international websites. So I decided to get Adidas Ozweegoes, which in itself is a beautiful pair with the beautiful colourway and the well-crafted outsoles. That was just the beginning of my collection.’
— Elina Banerjee
Affirming the steady growth of awareness and interest in sole searching (pun intended), Elina draws focus to the diverse facets of the sneaker community in India. Going beyond the background noise and digging deeper into the conceptual richness and ideation behind a sneaker is Elina Banerjee’s big take on fashion.
Check out her Instagram here.
‘The idea that the sneaker industry is more of a community rather than a hierarchical and commercially fuelled scene is what aligns with me the most. However, I feel the individuals viewing my style and my art would be the best judge if the same is reflective of my expression. I am just being authentic to what I feel my expression through fashion is, and trying not to fit the monotony in some ways.
— Elina Banerjee
AAHANA SHARMA
A business graduate with a major in marketing, Aahana is definitely the reigning ‘it girl’ of the sneaker culture in India. Along with sneakers and streetwear, the young creative dabbles in a diverse range of artistic pursuits such as digital abstract art, water colour painting, and baking.
Diving into the creator industry helped Aahana piece two and two together, which helped her realize that a decent pair of kicks elevates an outfit like no other! The young sneaker fiend has come a long way from her Tumblr reblogging days to championing a digital presence that resonates with sneakerheads all over the country.
‘I have been obsessed with the colour purple all my life, when I came across AJ1 Court Purples Highs, I was in love! I wanted it to be my first high I got but it took me about 5 months to cop it. I must’ve talked to over 15 resellers about them and there were 2 failed deals in that duration. Dark Mochas released in the waiting process and I could not resist, but Court Purples will always be my first love and my most cherished pair.’
— Aahana Sharma
A staunch advocate vouching for more female representation in the streetwear and sneaker community, the young style whizz talks about the obvious lack of brand appeal for women and overall inclusiveness in the kicks community. Aahana believes that it’s high time brands step up to diversify their silhouettes and sizes to increase parity in the sneaker world.
Check out her Instagram here.
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