Culture of Pop

ComplexCon 2021: Merch Drops, Celebs, & Kicks for Days

ComplexCon – Photo by Mike Bitanga

After being sidelined last year, ComplexCon is back on as an in-person event. If you haven’t heard of ComplexCon, think Comic-Con but for merch drops and hypebeast lifestyle. The festival focuses on drop-shopping for shoes, apparel, collectibles, and even food. These past two days were filled with merch exclusives, panels, and performances from the likes of A-Track, Little Yachty, and A$AP Rocky. 

ComplexCon – Photo by Mike Bitanga

Taking the escalator down to the convention floor, you’re greeted by the thumping beats and bars of hip hop’s most hype artists. The floor is filled with booths from unique brands and ones that are familiar, such as Netflix and Lego. Walking the floor was both overwhelming and exhilarating. From brands like Emotionally Unavailable dropping a Squid Game capsule to Vandy setting up an In-N-Out-inspired booth, there was a variety of merch to feast your eyes (and your wallets) on. 

ComplexCon – Photo by Mike Bitanga

Perhaps the best thing about ComplexCon was the shoe drops and showcase of sneakers on the floor. According to a Deadstock booth operator, two pairs of kicks, the Paris Nike Dunks and the Freddy Krueger Nike SB Dunks, sold for a total of $135,000. People don’t play around with their footwear at ComplexCon. 

ComplexCon – Photo by Mike Bitanga

Three-time NBA champion and future hall-of-famer Dwyane Wade was in attendance, dropping new Li-Ning styles. A shoe raffle was held, along with a meet-and-greet with one of the NBA’s greatest shooting guards of all time. Fans surrounded the Li-Ning booth trying to get a glimpse of The Flash. 

ComplexCon – Photo by Mike Bitanga

The weekend ended with A$AP Rocky firing up the stage and the crowd. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of his 2011 mixtape Live. Love. ASAP, the rapper closed the event with a bang, sending people off with stories to tell in the office Monday morning. Also making an appearance–in support of A$AP–was none other than Rihanna herself. Riri, one of the best R&B artists to ever bless a mic with their voice, was as stunning as ever. 

Until next time, ComplexCon. 

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