The biannual H-Town Sneaker Summit event continues to evolve with every passing event. Just yesterday, we gave you the official details regarding the H-Town Sneaker Summit Winter 2011 which will be held in the Toyota Center (home of the Houston Rockets NBA Franchise) this Sunday, January 23, 2011, from 2PM-8PM.<\/p>\n
In anticipation of this groundbreaking event, we sat down with H-Town Sneaker Summit’s Kadoma to talk about additional details of the H-Town Sneaker Summit Winter 2011, the origin of this biannual event and his standout memories of past Sneaker Summit events. View our two-page, in-depth interview with H-Town Sneaker Summit’s Kadoma below.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: This H-Town Sneaker Summit marks seven years. Some of the attendees didn’t even know all the state capitols back then. Did you ever think what you organized many years back would be where it is today? Kadoma: Yea, it’s pretty crazy to look back on 7 years. I thought about it and realized that if a kid went to their 1st H-Town Summit when they were 13, they have basically grown up with the Summit their entire teenage life into adult hood. We are definitely starting to see that next generation sneaker enthusiast becoming more and more prevalent at the event. We’ve made every effort to accommodate them and take them under our wing to steer them in the right direction toward what we feel is true and best for sneaker culture, and away from the bs and hype that infiltrated the culture since it hit the mainstream. I never really envisioned this future for the Summit. Like most heads my age I’ve already been into kicks a long time and never really see myself getting out of them. Even when times are hard I still admire sneakers and fashion to the point where it consumes a lot of my life. When we first started doing the Summit it crazy exponential growth the first couple of years. I always told myself as long as it was successful we would continue to push it to be bigger and better, but I never really thought it would get his far. After a while it just began to take a life of it’s own and become somewhat of a monster.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: Tell me, how did the first one start? Kadoma: The first Summit actually started on a popular shoe forum. It was back in late 2003, and a bunch of local folks on that forum wanted to get together and show what they had in their collections, meet each other, and kind of put a face to a name. At first there was a bunch of talk but no one really stepped up to the plate to make it happen. Finally some folks put their foot down and posted a date, place, and time, The first couple of events only very few people would actually bring sneakers to show. Most would just be happy to show off what they were wearing and talk and meet people with the same common interest. Most purchases or exchanges were done literally right off someones foot. Since I was still one of the older guys at the time I just took it as my duty to keep the Summit consistent, making sure we met back up every Summer and Winter when everyone was on break from school or work.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: Houston and the Texas market has only recently gotten on the map of sneakers. What does it feel like to know you have had a helping hand in bringing together sneaker enthusiasts for a major community event? Kadoma: I think Houston has always been on the map of sneakers. Ask the brands and they will tell you that. There is a lot of loyal buying power down here and I know that we are among the top markets for many brands. I just think that Houston and the Southwest in general has never had a face or an outlet to express that buying power other than just being numbers on a sheet somewhere. One of the goals of this event was to do that. To make some noise and let people know that we are here and just as passionate about sneakers as the fashion capitols that brands so easily get stuck on. The main goal of our event has always been to build upon the community while giving back to it and it is very fulfilling to see that community grow and mature. In the beginning it may have been more about the Southwest community, but now its about evolving the culture as a whole. I’d say holding the first sneaker event in a premier sports and entertainment complex is a pretty big deal, and not only does it represent our community well, but it also elevates sneaker culture world wide by putting it on such a grand stage.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: What was a defining moment for you when you realized that the Sneaker Summit was much more than just a gathering of close friends? Kadoma: One of my first memorable moments was when the playground legend, Rafer Alston came to check out our event a few years back. This was when it was still in a local sports bar and only a couple of dozen people. Then Bun B of UGK came through to one of the next events with a little display of his own. It’s always cool seeing Athletes and Entertainers being at the event and sharing their like passion for sneakers with the kid next door displaying their closet collection. Now people will go hunt for shoes, buy an outfit, ask a date, maybe even start up a business just for the event! It’s pretty crazy.<\/p>\n \n Snkrs Day: Something that is always interesting is the list of high profile people who have stopped by the H-Town Sneaker Summit. That’s one of the biggest surprises each show. <\/strong><\/p>\n Kadoma: Yea, we have made every effort to keep the door open and not corner our self into being only a hardcore sneaker head show. I realize there are a lot of different people into sneakers who may have found that passion through a different avenue, whether it be music, fashion, skateboarding, dancing, athletics, whatever. We try to make sure that everyone feels welcomed and uniquely represented at the event. It is kind of crazy that some of those people just happen to be professional athletes and entertainers who want to check out what we got going on and share their passion for sneakers.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: What do you think kids think when they see people that they watch on TV or listen to on the radio are just as into sneakers as they are? <\/strong><\/p>\n Kadoma: Hopefully, it gives them a sense of reality that most celebrities are just regular people who work hard at their craft or talent, and enjoy the same things that other folks do. I hope that it gives them the feeling that these celebrities are just regular people who are working toward and accomplishing their goals, and that if they put their mind to it they can do the same.<\/p>\n To read page 2 of the interview click here.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: The move from the Meridian to the Toyota Center is a very big difference this year. How much of an impact do you think this move has on the Sneaker Summit event? Kadoma: The Summit pretty much doubled in size with every event. We have grown from malls and internet cafes, to sports bars, to night clubs, to concert venues, and now we are at Houston’s premier sports and entertainment facility, the Toyota Center, also known as the home of the Houston Rockets NBA Franchise. I’ve started joking with people telling them we are going to keep doing it until we are on a space ship. But in all seriousness, I think the Toyota Center is the perfect fit for our event. Let’s face it, a lot of the sneakers attendees will be buying, selling, displaying, or discussing during the day are basketball or basketball inspired kicks. Like I mentioned before, we have always tried to keep the door open to let the culture’s different influences be uniquely represented at the event. Basketball has a HUGE influence on sneakers, and I’m glad we will finally have Snkrs Day: I have heard some saying they are not sure if they want to go to the show because it’s also Championship Sunday. Will the game be able to be watched at the event anywhere? Kadoma: Actually, the games were a huge factor into the date and time we picked for the event. We planned for the Summit to be held on Championship Sunday, and are even opening doors one hour earlier from our traditional time, just in time for Kick Off. Our event has always been more of a mixer than a spectator event, and I thought it would be cool to have the games on at our event. Sports and sneakers have always gone hand in hand, and I think it gives people more of a chance to break the ice and talk about the games, whether it’s that hot girl cheering for Chicago, or the guy you are dying to ask, “Where did you get those?”<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: Ok, so sneaker enthusiasts can hang out together at the show AND watch the big games. Kadoma: Yes, the games will be on more plasma televisions than I can count. We will also be showing the game and game re-caps at our Official After Show featuring The Cool Kids at Warehouse Live. You could literally probably leave the Summit to head to the After Show during a commercial break and not miss a down of football.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: What are you looking forward to the most this show? <\/strong><\/p>\n Kadoma: I’m looking forward to see how our event fits in the Toyota Center. I’m looking forward to meeting all the new faces, as well as seeing the old ones, and especially catching up with out of town friends that I don’t get to see too often. I’m also excited about have Crooks & Castles as our featured guest and holding an exclusive brand showcase including their new footwear collection. We have had many special guests in the past; Clark Kent, Bobbito, DJ Greg Street, Levi Maestro, Nick Diamond, and Dante Ross just to name a few. We really strive to involve all the tangible aspects of sneakers into our show when we invite our special guests, whether it be design, marketing, blogging, music, athletics, etc. But we have never really had a major brand come out and give the people an exclusive showcase before. I know most brands do this all the time at trade shows, but it’s never really done for the real buyers, the consumers. I think everyone is really going to enjoy that. We also have a couple of surprises up our sleeves that I am looking forward to. But unfortunately I can’t talk about them right now as we like to save a little something for the people attending the event, although I’m sure you may be seeing a couple of pictures next week.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: There could be many finite metrics of a successful show, but its pretty clear that this show isn’t done for the money but rather the love of kicks. How do you define a successful show? <\/strong><\/p>\n Kadoma: I see a successful show as taking things to the next level. We always try to build upon past accomplishments and make each show better than the last. Basically success to me means elevating the culture, and educating the younger generation. Showing everyone a good time, and making sure everyone feels included.<\/p>\n Snkrs Day: Thanks for taking the time to speak with us during such a busy time. Best of luck Sunday. I’ll leave you with the final word. Kadoma: I just want to take a second to personally invite everyone out to our event at Toyota Center this Sunday. We have worked long and hard on this event to make sure that it is the very best it can possibly be. If you love sneakers, fashion, and the culture that is built around it, this event is for you.<\/p>\n The biannual H-Town Sneaker Summit event continues to evolve with every passing event. Just yesterday, we gave you the official…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":149,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[618,51],"tags":[1203613,199],"cultivate_rss":[],"class_list":{"2":"type-post"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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\n <\/span><\/p>\n “The main goal of our event has always been to build upon the community while giving back to it, and it is very fulfilling to see that community grow and mature.”<\/h1>\n
– Kadoma<\/h1>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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\nthe chance to have it make a bigger impression on the event.<\/p>\n
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\n <\/span><\/p>\n “Sports and sneakers have always gone hand in hand, and I think it gives people more of a chance to break the ice and talk about the games, whether it’s that hot girl cheering for Chicago or the guy you were dying to ask, “Where did you get those shoes?”<\/h1>\n
– Kadoma<\/h1>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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