SUPPORTED BY JD SPORTS

Despite the dip in temperature leading up to Christmas, the cool and fashionable of the UK’s creative scene braved the elements and descended upon London last week to celebrate the partnership between Salomon and JD, which is now the home for the former’s latest sneaker, the ACS + CSWP silhouette.

Running high on vibes, the event was soundtracked by live performances by South London rapper Sam Wise—who fronts the new sneaker—and NW crooner cityboymoe, as well as red-hot DJ sets by Rachel Anson, EllaDH and Keyrah, a true representation of the UK’s current musical and cultural vibrance.

Bringing together sneaker heads and music fans alike, a winter theme surrounded Shoreditch’s DIJONNS where the showcase was held.

Looking like the North Pole on arrival with projections of icy weather across the walls, guests were treated to an exclusive look at the ACS + CSWPs enshrined in snow, as well as free food, drinks and gifts from the JD and Salomon crews.

The sneaker pays homage to Salomon’s rich heritage of providing comfort for all kinds of weather, borrowing from it’s own library to decorate the ACS + CSWPs with waterproof materials to compliment and blend into your fits for winter. The result is an intricately constructed sneaker sporting a Softshell fabric upper blended with an Agile Chassis system for a professional finish adept to the toughest terrains.

How appropriate, then, that the ACS + CSWPs informed the night’s flavour. Visitors included artists such as ayrtn and Zino Vinci, presenter David Vujanic, sneaker influencer Hella Creps and Love Island star Zachariah Noble, making for a night steeped in style and finesse from start to finish. Between an eclectic mix of rap, bashment, amapiano and UKG provided by the DJs, the night left enough room for its live performers to shine brightly. Rising star cityboymoe made a serious impression with his live performance. Running through tracks from his most recent project, NO BALL GAMES, he turned many into fans by the end of his run, showing the crowd what the future of UK soul looks like one song at a time.

The stage was set for Sam Wise, fresh off the recent release of his joint project with Kadiata, 360, as he cranked the energy up to 11 with a natural charisma that melted the event’s glacial motif. Performing a number of unreleased tracks in his own pair of ACS + CSWPs, it took little time for the audience to get in the mood, feeding off his presence even when he climbed up an upper platform and rapped like it didn’t faze him.

By the night’s conclusion, attendees were surely satisfied with a showcase of Salomon ascending to new levels of acclaim, JD continuing to retain its place at the forefront of culture and UK Black music thriving in the present day. By acknowledging its past, Salomon is moving toward the future, with JD standing right beside the hallowed brand in a new and exciting venture.

Cop your pair of the ACS+ CSWP over on JD's website.