The past few years have been absolutely fantastic for the Canadian sneaker community. We have seen amazing collaborative projects with Canadian retailers, and we have also seen an exponential growth of the community in all different parts throughout the nation.
As the community continues to grow, we have seen some individuals stand out from the bunch and truly make their presence known in the community. They have done this by creating some killer original content or simply showing their true love and passion for sneakers.
These are some amazing Canadians that you should be following on Instagram:
Anna Bediones, @atothebed
From being one of the faces of Nike Toronto to being an absolute beast in the social media world, Anna is the true definition of an influencer. In addition to her own website, www.annabediones.com, she has made contributions to the likes of Complex and Finish Line. If you were lucky enough to attend Nike’s SneakEasy this Air Max Day, you were able to see the amazing Air Max 90-influenced installation by Anna (on HypeBae for those who missed it).
Tristan Banning, @tristanbanning
Tristan is the co-founder of Sidewalk Hustle and a true OG Toronto sneakerhead. Whether you’ve seen Tristan doing the Grammy pre-show on CityTV or on social media platforms sharing his stories, one thing is for certain: regardless of where you may have seen him, he’s got a fresh pair of kicks on (and probably a hat from The Legends League). From the latest collaborative projects from Nike to a classic pair of PUMAs, his footwear selection always compliments his outfit and the outfit is always on point.
Sean Go, @sgo8
Sean is the man behind the lens for some of the cleanest product shots out of Toronto that you probably have seen on Instagram and Twitter. He also has a growing YouTube channel where he reviews his latest footwear pickups, as well as recaps of some amazing events. His photography skills are top notch and his Instagram page speaks for itself, from the notorious floating sneaker shots to glamorous on-feet shots.
Meredydd Hardie, @hardie_girl
If you saw Meredydd out on the street, you may not immediately recognize her affection for sneakers, until you look down and notice which pair of shoes she has on. Meredydd’s collection runs deep from some of the best Nike Air Maxes, such as the atmos collaborations, to something more discrete such as the BAPE x PUMA Disc Blaze. You may be able to spot her on the streets of Toronto getting her sneakers photographed by her trusted shooter Laize!
Lawrence Hopkins, @ldoggystyles
Lawrence, better known as LDoggy in the social media realm, is one of the four members of CanadaGotSole and a long time member of the Toronto sneaker community. He helped launch www.CanadaGotSole.ca this past February, and they have been putting out some amazing content with the help of all four of their contributors. If you check out Lawrence’s Instagram, you will see that the man does not discriminate and can be seen wearing everything from classic Nike SB Dunks to a classic pair of Converse Chuck Taylors.
Chris Chiu, @christopher.chiu
If you were a member of SoleCollector and NikeTalk forums from back in the day, you may be familiar with Chris and his work. Formerly known as @FreakyFirstStep, Chris is the founder of www.TheBragAffair.com and also one of the co-founders of The Sneaker Podcast. He has made great contributions to the Canadian sneaker community by bringing together people from all throughout the country and forming relationships with every one of them.
Cherry Grewal, @cherry.grewal
From Toronto to Montreal, Cherry has made her mark in these communities with her bright personality and true passion for sneakers. If you have visited a House of Hoops location in Mississauga at Square One or in Montreal on Sainte-Catherine, chances are that you may have seen her around. Cherry not only puts in work for Foot Locker Canada as a store manager, she also recently joined The Sneaker Podcast team for their weekly podcasts. As you’ll see on her Instagram, you can find her in anything from a pair of classic Uptempos or a pair of Ultra Boosts.
Alex Des Roches, @sugycyphersons
I once spoke of Alex in a meeting with an industry executive before the return of the adidas EQT line, calling him an “EQT-head”, and the executive did not believe that this person existed. Well Alex, the store manager of Montreal’s adidas Originals Concept store, does exist and he is one of the most passionate and knowledgeable individuals about adidas that you will ever meet. From classic silhouettes to the newest models with Boost technology, he will be able to give you the pros and cons of each design while giving you a history lesson behind the product.
What other accounts should Canadian sneakerheads be following? Sound off in the comment section!
Featured Image: Instagram/@sugycyphersons
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