"When we say exclusive and limited we mean it"
- Sole Mate Sneaker Boutique Founder, Wilan Fung.
Sole Mate has always strived to deliver the goods in terms of hard-to-get exclusives and limited releases in an already flooded sneaker market, but that's not important...
It was you, our fellow customers, the community and our sneakerheads who we always wanted to share our passion to.
To celebrate we're giving you free nation wide shipping for purchases over $100 to celebrate our 4th birthday. Just use the code FREESHIPAUS.
We chat to Sole Mate Sneaker Boutique's founder, Wilan Fung, about history and the future.
Sole Mate has found its feet and moved from a traditional sneaker boutique to an outfit that listens to the community.
An example of this was in their charity work during the 2013 Blue Mountains bushfire.
"We weren't allowed into the bushfire site after it all settled, so we decided to donate 100 pairs of shoes to the local Blue Mountains area Salvos to help the community as well as help the local charity outlet".
The sneaker community has been blessed as well. We've seen historic sneakers pass through the Sole Mate shelves such as a 1996 original Jordan 12 Taxi or a 2006 Stussy x Nike Court Force XXV collaboration back from the good old days of fat and chunky basketball shoes.
"We provide some of the latest exclusive drops. When we say exclusive and limited, we mean it," says Wilan. "We've grown to carry 7 sneaker brands from barely carrying any sneakers in general but we're definitely looking forward to get more brands on the list to further support our local sneaker community".
Sole Mate used to be a humble pop-up on Pitt Street until moving to the cozy yet bustling Regent Place location on George Street. "We didn't expect much, but we stayed focused and kept true to ourselves and our individual flavour," Wilan says. "That's our aim from the very beginning where the meaning of Sole Mate comes from, and I doubt that'll change."
The Sole Mate crew also carry the mindset of a community focused service sharing their passion and knowledge for sneakers. "A crazy, energetic and crazy bunch; we're like family! And the sneaker knowledge they have is massive!" says Wilan.
We provide services no one else really provides such as consignment, legit checking (inspecting if a shoe a customer bought from somewhere else is fake or not), heat shrink wrapping shoes and even waterproofing your shoes for you.
"We also supply shoes no other retailer sells" Wilan says. Exclusives like the satin pack Nike TN's, Sock Darts and the Campfire pack are just a sample of what Sole Mate got their hands on in the past.
In the future, Sole Mate wants to be a major influencer in local sneaker culture. "By getting the brands and the shoes the people want, we'll get there." Wilan says.
Here are the top 4 birthday picks the team picked for the 4th anniversary: