4 More Sneaker Documentaries You Need to See!
Already burned through the reels of sneaker footage from our ? Never fear, we’ve got four more classic sneaker documentaries to sink your teeth (and toes) into!
Bringing you on an inspiring flight across the globe, these four slick documentaries examine sneaker culture in Buenos Aires, New York City, and London, as well as featuring cameos from some genuine pioneers of contemporary sneaker culture.
From Tinker Hatfield’s phenomenal episode in Abstract: The Art of Design, to Gary Aspden’s rousing flight to South America in Sole Searching, these sneaker documentaries spread their wings while we wait to unfurl ours.
Abstract: The Art of Design
Showcasing the work of sneaker godfather Tinker Hatfield, episode 2 of Abstract: The Art of Design revisits some of the watershed moments that changed the sneaker game forever.
Illuminating Tinker Hatfield’s background in architecture, the 42-minute vignette takes a deep dive behind Tinker's career with (beginning in 1981), and his legendary work with the
Revealing the inspiration behind hallmark moments like the and the self-lacing Adapt BB, this The Art of Design episode is an absolute must for anyone remotely interested in sneakers, design, and the creative process.
Sole Searching in South America
Travelling alongside sneaker royalty, and Three Stripes fanboy Gary Aspden, Sole Searching takes you all the way down to Buenos Aires. After receiving a tipoff, Aspden and fellow fanatics Ian Brown, Robert Brooks, and Mike Chetcuti take flight to Argentina, unboxing thousands of vintage runners in a quest to inspire their next SPZL catalogue. Directed by Greg Bond and photographer Neil Bedford, the team meet Carlos Ruiz in Argentina, the owner of mountains of adidas deadstock.
An unparalleled look into adi’s rich history in South America, Sole Searching certainly captures the thrill of the hunt, and is the perfect antidote to a solitary life in lockdown.
Soleseekers
Charting the rise of the UK sneaker scene, Emil Socialize’s Soleseekers is the world’s first feature-length documentary devoted to sneaker culture across the pond.
Broadening the lens on the sometimes US-centric sneakersphere, Soleseekers is an important investigation into what drives the zeitgeist in the UK. Debuting in 2018, the documentary illuminates subjects like the business of reselling, the roots of our sneaker addictions, and the general sneaker culture flowering from the UK.
Don’t sleep on Soleseekers!
Sole Origins
Complex’s Sole Origins tour-de-force docu-series investigates the deep cultural connections that certain sneakers forge with different cities.
Zooming in on cities like NYC, Tokyo, Paris, and Los Angeles, Sole Origins is one of the slickest docos out there, featuring the likes of Nike collaborator Don C, rapper Dizzee Rascal, and adidas’ Global Creative Director, Paul Gaudio.
Episode 1 looks at New York City’s most influential sneakers, taking a deep dive behind iconic sneakers like the Air Max 1 ‘Bacon’, and the ‘Pigeon’. Sneaker aficionados DJ Clark Kent, Joe La Puma and Jeff Staple all help articulate the narrative arc.