Celebrating Fashion at ComplexCon

Monica Gallardo

Thousands of fashion enthusiasts packed the Long Beach Convention Center Nov. 4-5 for the second annual ComplexCon festival.

Hundreds of attendees set up camp outside the venue a night before its doors opened in order to get priority on exclusive products that the music, fashion and arts festival had to offer.

Jonathan Tovar, 25, from Azusa, said, “A lot of big brands like Adidas and Nike are going to be selling new sneakers and previewing next year’s line, so I’m looking forward to that. I’m trying to spend no more than $350 but if I see something I really like then I might have to go a little over my budget.”

Tovar wasn’t the only one ready to spend money on materialistic products as attendees quickly lined up at the Nike booth for new sneakers, forming a line with an estimated wait time of two hours before reaching the front.

Attendees also rushed to the “Sneaker of the Year” panel where sneakerheads like Los Angeles Lakers player Lonzo Ball, rapper Wale and Colombian artist J Balvin discussed a top 10 list of sneakers of the year, with number one to be publically announced next year.

Hundreds of fans gathered around the panel stage and loudly cheered or groaned as the top 10 list was unveiled. Martin Franco, 32, of Arizona, said, “A lot of the brands here today create shoes that bring together elements from the 80s or 90s and combine them with new fashion. Sneakers are a mix of culture and nostalgia and I think that’s why people are so passionate about them.”

Adidas also had its own treat for fans as Darryl McDaniels of rap group Run-DMC teased a new collaboration with the brand. Members of hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest stood at their own booth, performing snippets of various songs and meeting fans while promoting their new merchandise inspired by ATCQ member Phife Dawg who died in 2016.

Artists such as Pharrell Williams, Big Sean, Kendrick Lamar and retired NBA player Kobe Bryant were seen exploring the various booths and speaking to attendees.

Monae Clarks, 22, of Los Angeles, said, “This is my first time at an event like this and I think it’s cool because it’s not just about fashion. You have all these big designer brands and famous people walking around and they’re all educating each other on fashion, history, music, art. It’s cool.”

Various intellectual panels took place throughout the two-day festival where prominent figures discussed topics such as the rise of people of color in Hollywood blockbusters, the merge of different cultures, how to become established in a demanding entertainment industry and the evolution of the financial industry.

Twenty-nine year-old Long Beach resident Tyler Chann said, “I would like to see ComplexCon come back to Long Beach. It’s a dope place for everyone to just come and have a good time. You see cool fashion and you learn about new things. It’s fun.”

monica@beachcomber.news

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