In pictures: Sneakerness Amsterdam celebrates customization in 2018

Sneakerness, Europe’s biggest event dedicated to sneakers, returned to Amsterdam for the eighth time on the weekend of May 19 and 20. Not even a public holiday has stopped 7500 sneakerheads from attending the event in the hopes of scoring rare, vintage or brand new sneaker models. In total, 100 private vendors and 25 brands participated in this year's Sneakerness. In fact, the Netherlands are such a good location for the event that organizers decided to take it to Rotterdam as well. Sneakerness Rotterdam is set to happen on November 17-18.

Named “1 of 1”, this year’s event was dedicated to the culture of customization and personalization and sneakers. Besides offering visitors the chance to buy their own pair of bespoke sneakers, Sneakerness Amsterdam 2018 featured an exhibition with 20 pairs of bespokes that have never been on display before.

In addition, Parisian artist Tyrsamisu was invited to display a series of drawings inspired by sneaker culture.

This year’s Sneakerness Amsterdam also promoted the crossing of sneaker culture and art by featuring a tattoo parlour in the middle of the event, where aficionados could mark their love for sneakers on their skin.

One of the most sought-after models in the event was Asics’ Gel-Lyte V “Passport”. Inspired by the cover of European passports, these burgundy sneakers were designed exclusively for last year’s Sneakerness in Paris, and only 100 units have been made. A few of them were reserved to be sold on this year’s Amsterdam event.

Crowds also gathered around the booths selling Nike’s Animal Pack 2.0. Released in March to celebrate Air Max Day, the collection features two sneakers with a combination of leopard, tiger and zebra prints, designed in collaboration with Japanese label Atmos. While the pairs originally retailed for 131 euro (115 pounds), at Sneakerness Amsterdam collectors were selling it for at least 300 euro.

Those who found the sneakers available at the event too pricey could take the chance of scoring one for free in a claw crane machine provided by international sneaker marketplace Presented By.

The first Sneakerness was held in Zurich in 2008 by a few sneaker aficionados. The event has grown to be the biggest in Europe, with annual editions in several cities. It is set to hit London, Berlin, Paris, Warsaw, Milan and Cologne in the upcoming months.

Images by: FashionUnited