The Sneaker Shack, South Africa’s largest footwear laundry announced today the launch of Solemate, a new sneaker resale platform, in partnership with Hey Solemate, a technology company with a focus on the future of sneaker and streetwear digital commerce.
Hey Solemate connects buyers and resellers of premium sneakers, making sneaker culture more accessible to the local market. The partnership with Sneaker Shack, who processes over 60 000 sneakers per year across its 10 stores, is part of the bigger strategy to have an impact on footwear and environmental sustainability, by providing a trusted sneaker maintenance service to lovers of footwear and fashion.
“By launching Solemate, we will be able to deepen our connection with our already loyal customers and play an integral role from the purchasing experience, through to our trusted sneaker laundry services. We are always seeking to collaborate with partners who share our commitment to the vision and impact we make, and we’re thrilled to work with Solemate on this, our first retail initiative,” says Lolo Ndlovu, Co-Founder of The Sneaker Shack.
“Taking inspiration from platforms like StockX, GOAT, and others, Solemate is looking to build for the nuances of Africa, emphasising it’s focus on transparency, payment and physical safety through its ESCROW and logistics functionality and its omni-Channel roll-out,” emphasised Vuyo Pakade, co-founder of Solemate.
South Africa has seen a surge in sneaker uptake over the past few years, amplified by the evolution of working attire required by corporates.
With the rise in sneaker popularity, Solemate is well positioned to provide customers with a solution to their growing appetite, complimented by a trusted sneaker laundry service to help maintain that fresh look.
For Hey Solemate Group, fellow co-founder and CEO Josh Dunn shared, “This is a perfect partnership. The Sneaker Shack provides us with access to a growing sneaker-loving community, and a complimentary value adding ecosystem, through its brand and stores. Our immediate goal is to become the no.1 store for premium sneaker resales, and after this, we’re excited to go global.”
Solemate can be found online at www.heysolemate.com, with limited edition stock available, both virtually and in the Rosebank Sneaker Shack concept store in Johannesburg, and will be looking to expand to other parts of South Africa in early 2023, leveraging The Sneaker Shack footprint. A streetwear range will be added in time.
Visit www.thesneakershack.co.za or follow @thesneakershackSA and @hey.solemate on Instagram and find the Solemate pop up store at The Sneaker Shack in Rosebank at 33 Baker Street.
