Steven Julien on London's Best Trainer Shops

Steven Julien on London's Best Sneakers Shops
Steven Julien by Alexander Fjodorov

Steven Julien on London's Best Trainer Shops

Steven Julien by Alexander Fjodorov
Steven Julien

Steven Julien is a towering presence on London's dance scene, known for combining deep boogie rhythms with cutting house beats. Previously called Funkineven, Julien's 2024 album DJ-Kicks is an eclectic journey that journeys from the throbbing heat of the dance floor to the calm haze of morning.

London's Black music culture soundtracked the barbershops that Steven worked in as a teenager, an experience he pays tribute to in DJ Kicks. Yet the city's sneaker shops likewise play an important backdrop to music subculture, with trainers playing an integral part in the London's urban grime aesthetic.

Steven blends grime, jungle, boogie, r&b into his sonic palette and is known for his fashion flair as well as his mixing prowess.

Below is his guide to No.1 stops for sneakers in London.

Footpatrol

    Footpatrol

    Og status! They been in the game for a min, I’ve been going there since they had their lil shop on St Annes Court Soho, with the sliding glass doors and shoes in metal cages. Sometimes I pop in the current location to check what’s new!

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    DSM London

    A more refined selection of shoes, limited or sometimes hard-to-get sneakers, especially collabs, but overall a chill shopping experience and very well curated.

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    Patta Soho

      Patta Soho

      Family Patta, big the crew up. I was honoured to score for their Nike campaign for the “air max 1 waves”. Great shoe, I got all the colours except one, anyway nice lil shop to cop sneakers.

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      Size?

        size? Carnaby Street

        I’ve been going there for timeeeeee! I even paid my lil bro to queue there for a limited shoe—some MTV Raps Puma Clyde’s—think only 200 and odd pairs made! Fatima, who I collab with even worked in there years ago, as well as some other friends. It's good to see it’s still there, I occasionally pop in to see whats up.

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        Sports Direct Stoke Newington

          Sports Direct Stoke Newington

          Lil cheeky Sports Direct comes in handy now and then! Getta quick fix on some all black or white air max 95s, no frills, straight to the point pit stop when wanting new simple shoes.

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