Partner Article

Footwear firm taps up artistic talent

AN ONLINE footwear retailer has embarked on a national campaign to create new business and support emerging artists.

Specialist trainer retailer Sole Heaven - based in Tynemouth - has laid out plans for ongoing expansion having enjoyed record sales and grown an international reputation for exclusive footwear amongst celebrities.

Owner Dale Parr, is now looking to build on the company’s success and has penciled in a series of events across the UK to cement Sole Heaven’s brand image and raise the profile of street artists.

The North East entrepreneur launched an event in London this month called Kicks n Canvas, alongside Newcastle based gallery, Zero Cool, where they asked street artists to showcase their work on canvas, for inclusion on Sole Heaven trainers.

He explained: “1500 people came to the opening night of the show and over the course of the following seven days, a further 5,000 visitors came to the exhibition.

“We wanted to bring together street art and graffiti and ask artists to scale down their work from a concrete wall onto a pair of trainers.”

Sole Heaven will now sell the work the artists have produced on their website and will continue to work with the UK’s creatives to push their portfolio and the company to all corners of the globe.

He added: “The exhibition has definitely raised our profile nationally and also paved the way for further high quality art shows in return.

“We actually sold 25% of the artwork while the show was running. We’ll look to sell all of the remaining work over the next 8 weeks.”

Sole Heaven said it is looking forward to the Eurocultured street carnival in Manchester next month, which will feature an international break dancing competition.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .