Akron was on fire last weekend—and not because of the weather. Kicks Lounge flipped the switch and turned the city into the epicenter of sneaker heat with “Seoul, Soul, Sole,” a no-nonsense, sold-out experience that dropped the Air Jordan 3 “Seoul 2.0” straight into the hands of the culture.
Forget velvet ropes and polite fashion shows—this was gritty, loud, and unapologetically raw. Curated by Korean-American streetwear architect Thomas Kim, the event punched through the noise and brought something real to the table: a sneaker drop that actually meant something.
Held in a repurposed industrial warehouse, the space didn’t pretend to be polished. And that’s what made it dope. Neon-soaked Jumpman signs buzzed overhead, Korean flag visuals pulsed from corner to corner, and in the middle of it all stood a towering six-foot sculpture of the AJ3 “Seoul 2.0.” It wasn’t just about shoes—it was about claiming space, repping identity, and showing that the Midwest knows how to throw down.
“This was personal,” Kim said. “I wasn’t gonna let this be just another hype release. This is Akron. This is Seoul. This is mine.”
The vibe was hard from start to finish. DJ ESO, 100 Grand, and Pikachieu spun back-to-back sets that hit every frequency, from gritty boom bap to electric trap. Food trucks lined the space, serving bulgogi tacos, kimchi fries, and cold soju spritzers. The crowd came hungry—for kicks and culture—and left fed.
And the sneaker? Flames. The Air Jordan 3 “Seoul 2.0” dropped early at the event, with just a handful of pairs up for grabs. Clean white uppers. Black and red accents. And enough story packed into the silhouette to make even a casual head stop and ask questions. It’s a tribute to South Korea, but also a battle cry from the streets of Akron.
The event pulled faces from across the map. NFL hitters like Jerome Baker, Mohamed Sanu, and Justin Layne rolled through. Actress-singer Briannagh D brought the glam. YouTube baller Robert Fomby was in the mix too, shooting content and talking kicks with fans.
Raffles popped off. Exclusive giveaways kept the energy on edge. But more than that, it was a space where people could see what happens when you mix culture with confidence and history with hustle.
“This isn’t corporate,” Kim said. “This is built from the block up. It’s Seoul-born and Akron-bred. You feel me?”
“Seoul, Soul, Sole” wasn’t just a party—it was a statement. And Akron answered loud.
