Class is in Session

by Miguel M. Escobar on November 29, 2011

Photo by Christella D. Soriano

Preconceptions about the voracious love for footwear make it out to be more of a feminine fixation. But these days, more guys are putting a lot of attention on what they wear on their feet, perhaps even giving the female shoe shopaholic a run for their money. This growing population of sneaker heads, willing to take crazy (and in some occasions, violent) measures to hunt down the best kicks has emerged both worldwide and, more recently, in Manila.

A couple of years back, fewer guys rocked the good shoes and coveted special edition sneakers would have sat on the shelves of your local sports outlet for weeks. With the slow but steady resurgence of hip-hop culture, sneakers have now become a bona fide facet that draws crowds and long lines at major Nike flagships and specialty boutiques.

Given its rising popularity, especially among the young and style-conscious, it is only natural for Katipunan to become a hot spot for sneaker culture. That’s where Sole Academy kicks in, a store that by name and nature is the student’s sneaker boutique.

“Sole Academy is a multi-brand sports and lifestyle concept store,” said store owner Carlo Trillo. Back in the height of the UAAP season, Trillo planned a mad sneaker scavenger hunt to hype up the official opening of the store.

Students who were fortunate enough to follow Sole Academy on Twitter before its official opening would come across clues on locations that free shoes were given out. Pairs of shoes were hidden in Rizal Library and in SEC Walk. They even went as far as hiding them under the seats of Kiefer Ravena and Maxene Magalona during a UAAP game. Two weeks later, they opened the store for business, now it is fully operational in front of Bat Cave and KFC.

Sole Academy is two floors dressed with pristine wooden flooring, lined with brick walls dramatically lit with displays of all their kicks. Carrying Nike Sportswear, Vans, Puma, Adidas, and Converse, plus some Meister watches and WIP caps—basic staples for street urban style—Sole Academy is also the first among the big sneaker stores in Manila to have the Asics Gel Lyte III’s.

But Carlo Trillo says, “There’s [still] a lot to be excited about.” When asked about the new stocks coming in for the holiday season, he answered with a facial expression that tells you it’s not just a sales pitch.

“We will be carrying a few more items from the Jordan brand– as well as exclusives from Asics, Puma and other brands to come,” he says. The next couple of months can only see more fresh drops for Sole Academy. He also mentioned that “there’s a lot to look forward to” for the next month.

This youth-centric altruism extends their hospitality to the customers (apparently, you can drop by anytime with some friends and some snacks, and play NBA2K12), support of the Ateneo in their glorious 4-peat basketball UAAP victory and a scholarship program that’s currently in the works.

Though primarily a shoe boutique, it’s not all about the shoes – Sole Academy was envisioned to be more than that. “We didn’t want it to be just a store. We wanted to connect to the youth [and] the people,” says Trillo.

Things are looking up for this brand new hotspot, as it is a vibrant addition to the growth of the sneaker-oriented culture it embodies.