We chat with the CEO of Royal Sporting House (which owns new sneaker store The Social Foot at Orchard Central) on new sneaker releases, the rising atheleisure trend and classic sneakers to own
Calling all sneakerheads! Looking for your perfect pair of kicks just got a whole lot easier. The Social Foot is the new player on the scene, and it looks set to delight sneaker curators with its multi-label lineup and gorgeous sleek space. But what truly sets The Social Foot (TSF) apart from its competitors? We had a chat with David Westhead (the CEO of Royal Sporting House, which owns the store) and picked his brains on must-own kicks, Singapore’s sneaker community and TSF’s exclusive releases.
Hi David! Could you tell us about the idea behind The Social Foot?
The Social Foot is very much about keeping shoppers engaged through social media – the store has a Gifster machine, so customers can immediately share their pictures on their feeds when visiting our store. Aside from that, the name is derived from sneakers as being a great conversation piece in today’s social age.
Describe The Social Foot’s role in the sneaker scene.
We built TSF with the idea of it serving as a platform for future events. Interior fixtures in the store are modular in design, and can be transformed into an intimate event space or a pop-up installation in a heartbeat. We’ve also got plans in the works for preview launches, sneaker customisation and talks with big players in the sneaker industry.
Sneaker releases unique to TSF include…
PRO-Keds. We’ve currently got the Royal series in both Hi and Lo cut versions. These were originally made in 1949; the enhanced version today is constructed with a durable canvas material, and features contrast stitching, and the iconic red and blue Powerstripe on an off-white midsole with classic gum outsole.
Also making its exclusive debut here at our store is the Saucony Shadow 5000’s limited edition collab with LA-based label The Quiet Life. These space-themed kicks feature a constellation sprint on its body and accents of light teal and black suede.
The hottest sneakers of the moment?
Definitely the Adidas Stan Smith – it’s a regular purchase over at our store. Reebok’s Pump Fury comes in at a close second.
Singapore’s sneaker community…
includes educated collectors, but also consists of new sneakerheads. Unlike long-time and devoted sneaker communities abroad, the scene here is mostly trend-driven by the Western, Korean and Japanese sneaker communities who kicked off the obsession a long time ago. We hope to collaborate with these collectors and be an avenue to educate, introduce brands and create discussion.
What makes a sneaker so covetable?
Well, it’s entirely up to the individual. Plenty of sneakerheads collect them only to keep them in mint condition. Also, aesthetics aside, everyone loves a great design story. The limited edition Reebok’s Alien Stompers were inspired by the Alien movies and modelled after the pair worn by Sigourney Weaver’s iconic character, Ripley.
A newbie should start off with…
Something timeless, like Reebok’s Classic Leather Shoes.
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Your three all time fave sneakers?
Lacoste L.12.12 white leather sneakers, Adidas Stan Smith and the Reebok Pump Fury.
In the near future, TSF will be…
bringing in new brands for sneakerheads to discover. We’re also planning to open more doors here.
The Social Foot, Orchard Central,#01-19/20, 181 Orchard Road, Singapore 238896.