Following the success of toy figures and Supreme products in recent sales, the auction world is now welcoming fashion. Phillips auction is currently hosting an exhibition titled ‘Tongue + Chic’ in London to showcase more than 20 pairs of sneakers designed by leading artists. It is certainly a paradise for sneaker fans.
We have chosen three pairs to introduce to you in this article.
KAWS is a highly sought-after American designer and artist
KAWS began his career as a street artist, and later moved from the streets to exhibitions and auctions. He quickly rose to prominence after becoming a designer. His works are highly sought-after and many of them are sold for thousands of dollars. The price of this pair of KAWS x Air Jordan 4 Retro was set at around HK$3,000 (US$382; £294). Yet, after its debut early this year, the price instantly skyrocketed to over HK$20,000 (US$2,548; £1,957), making the collaboration a huge success.
Kehinde Wiley (left) has painted the official portrait of Obama (right), the former President of the United States
The Puma v1.10 i FG features the UNI technology while the PUMA Aptolast technology provides a better fit, optimal flexibility and reactivity, especially in the forefoot area. It was designed in collaboration with Kehinde Wiley, the African-American artist who painted Obama’s official portrait. This pair of sneakers is one of the highlighhts from the exhibition
The LeBron 15 Zip was on the instagram of ‘kingjames’ with over 360,000 likes
The LeBron 15 Zip was released by Kith, New York City’s mecca for sneakers, in collaboration with Nike. This pair of floral sneakers became popular after LeBron James revealed them on his Instagram before its official release. The shoe is entirely white, embroidered baroque flourishes, intertwining roses and calligraphic Ks. When you undo the golden zipper, you will see the phrase ‘Long Live the King’.
Another one-and-only pair of sneakers is also in the exhibition and will soon be up for auction at Phillips. Stay tuned for more details.
Highlights of the Exhibition
TONGUE + CHIC Sneakers X Artists Exhibition
Location: Phillips New York
Address: 450 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022
Exhibition period: 16th July 2018 - 31st August 2018
Admission: Free