The best sneaker shops in Sydney

If we could nominate one store in the world to turn human so that we could marry it, it would be Sydney’s newest sneaker store, Butter. Butter is a fried chicken and tofu; champagne; and limited edition trainer store. The chicken is amazing — the perfect combination of crunchy and juicy — and the sneakers are rarer than Javan rhinos (that’s really rare!). In fact, you’re not going to find the same styles anywhere else in Australia. Butter prides themselves on selling ‘dead stock’: rare sneaker styles that are no longer available in other stores from brands like Nike,Adidas, ASICS, and Yeezy. To find out exactly what they’ve got in store, you’ll need to book an appointment in advance to drop by. Call them on (02) 8283 9146. Surry Hills.

Culture Kings is perhaps Australia’s best destination for sneakers and streetwear, stocking an absolutely enormous array of trainers from brands like Nike, Adidas, Puma, Gravis, Reebok, Vans and New Era. They also carry serious cultural cool points for being the store of choice for visiting musical heavyweights, with past customers including A$AP Rocky, Snoop Dogg, Tyga, and Tyler, the Creator. Culture Kings is also home to an excellent barbershop that’s looked after Big Sean, Tyga and Fabolous. Sydney.

The sneakers available at Subtype are always on point, with a carefully curated selection of styles (including limited edition pieces) from Nike, Adidas, Asics, Reebok, Puma, Vans, ETQ Amsterdam, Filling Pieces, Rains, ZANEROBE and Lapse. Their criteria for choosing which sneakers make it into store is based on “exclusivity, creativity and innovation.” The dedicated sneakerphile can follow their instagram (@subtypestore) to keep abreast of the latest additions to their collection. Sydney.

Not just a sneaker destination, Supply supplies Sydney with all manner of menswear and men’s accessories. It’s the destination for Sydney’s most avid footwear and menswear collectors. They boast an incredible range of the world’s most subversive streetwear and high-end labels, including Bianca Chandon, Comme Des Garcons Homme, Fucking Awesome, Junya Watanabe MAN, Palace, PARADI$3, and Richardson, to name a few, plus well-known brands like Nike, Carhartt WIP, Adidas, Stussy, and Reebok. Darlinghurst.

Conveniently located on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst, Above The Clouds has a great little range of sneakers and streetwear. Those adverse to intense shopping experiences may appreciate the simplicity of the store’s design — one can peruse all their options in minutes — and the tightly edited selection of sneakers (from labels such as Asics, Brooks Heritage, Diadora, and Lacoste), streetwear, and accessories. This is the place one can pop into to restock on the basics: a pair of Reebok trainers, a North Face jacket, and plain branded tees, for example. Darlinghurst.

Another location for menswear essentials, Capsule Store on Pitt Street is home to a tight edit of shoes, from Redwing leather boots and Oxford shoes to Nike Air Maxs and Adidas Superstars. Menswear lovers may also like to check out their ‘Stylistics’ blog on the Capsule website, which provides inspiration in the form of street style photos of Sydney locals wearing the sneakers and garments currently in stock. Sydney.