Event Recap: All-Women's Atlanta Streetwear Market
Our purpose is to always recognize and celebrate everything about women in the streetwear and sneaker community. So, when we heard there was going to be an all-women’s streetwear market event in Atlanta, we had to make sure we were in the building. Everyone knows Atlanta, GA for its own unique culture—from Trap Music to the Hot Wings with Lemon Pepper sprinkles. However, the streetwear scene hasn’t always been front and center when you think of the city, but it shouldn’t be counted out. The streetwear and sneaker market in Atlanta has been growing and gaining a lot more attention over the last few years. From legendary sneaker stores like Walter’s and Wish ATL to fundraisers like Sneaker Ball ATL, the city definitely has the community. It's exciting to see new faces and new events come up for the newer generation to be a part of as well.
Chris Peeples, Founder of the Atlanta Streetwear Market, sat down with us to talk about the event, why it was important to have an all-women-owned business market and the future of streetwear in Atlanta.
Image: @essence.ransome
“The ultimate goal is to push independent talent to the next level. Breaking barriers and walls down, and doing something other than traditional retail. I want the event to be the epicenter for streetwear.”
This particular event was different from his regular markets. Chris and his team dedicated the second summer 2021 Atlanta Streetwear Market to women. Over 80+ streetwear and lifestyle brands, owned by women, gathered for the two-day event on August 14th and 15th. Whether you’re an OG to the sneaker and streetwear game or a newcomer, it’s known that women do not have a lot of platforms or places of their own in this space. This raises more questions of why. Why aren’t there a lot more women-exclusive sneaker drops like there are in men's sizes? Why do most of the sneaker stores only have men associates? Why isn’t there more inclusivity in the sneaker and streetwear community in general? We can go on and on. Yes, there are a lot more spaces for women today that are acknowledging and celebrating the women in this community, but there should be more. Chris understood the assignment and recognized the lack of space for women as well.
Images by Jamal Hendrix, @hendrixvisionjoint
“I wanted to highlight the independent women and brand owners in Atlanta. I understand that it’s an underserved area and no one is really doing [an all-women’s streetwear] event, so we wanted to take a stab at it. We plan to continue it—keep working with them and keep putting them on our platform. We’ll continue to be a vessel for the designers, the brands, and their work.”
The vibe of the event was warm, welcoming, and exciting as everyone walked around, met new people, and shopped. The deejays (also all women) of the event kept it upbeat throughout the day. Inside the market, you found anything from handmade handbags made from cigar boxes, swimwear, and apparel, to branding and marketing agencies for creatives and entrepreneurs. The event also included an immersive panel called “Cloth Talk”, which featured six women speaking on the business of fashion, entrepreneurship, and how to successfully navigate as a creative.
The BLK Originals, image by Jamal Hendrix, @hendrixvisionjoint
It’s safe to say that the All-Women’s Market was a hit and much appreciated. Events like these are needed more than ever to continue opening more doors and opportunities for women in the sneaker and streetwear community. There are designers, business owners, and collectors who have the knowledge and creativity to be alongside the men in the community as well, and they deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated.
Whenever you’re in the Atlanta area, visit more of the Atlanta Streetwear Market events and stay up-to-date on their socials.
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