ComplexCon 2022 edition opens this weekend in Long Beach

By

Chenu Alexis

Published
Nov 18, 2022

Organized by Complex, an online magazine and media company that covers pop culture, music, sports and sneaker culture, the new edition of its event ComplexCon, known as "the festival of future" will take place on November 19 and 20 at the Long Beach Convention Center. To animate the event, the Japanese designer Verdy was chosen as host.

Thought of as a mix between a cutting-edge mall and a hip-hop festival, ComplexCon is "where people come to find what's next in fashion", says the event team. A dozen pop-up stores will offer their latest products with brands such as Clarks, Converse, New Balance, Crocs. Streetwear brands like Billionaire Boys Club, the Pharell Williams's brand, Union, Awake NY, Undercover, Brain Dead, Girls who dress like boys, Honor the Gift, Maybe Tomorrow and Pacsun. And sports brands such as the Paris Saint Germain, Jordan and Nike FC.
 
The festival ComplexCon is usually also the opportunity to unveil new collaborations, like the one between Edison Chen and Honor the Gift, who will present their capsule around T-shirts and hoodies at the event. Other collab' include special drops of Titan and Nike, Icecream and Nerd, Maybe Tomorrow and Saucony and Born x Raised and Very around a special bike collaboration. While at the Future Market, podcaster and sneaker enthusiast, Bimma Williams, will be bringing the energy as the MC at the Ebay booth and retail pop up shop.

The festival will also host several LGBTQ+ brands gathered around "The District" corner which will offer a line of bags signed by Brandon Blackwood, a collection by Willy Chavarria, the recent National Design Award winner for Fashion Design, and the brand Barragan.

Debates will also take place at the Sneaker of the Year panel on Saturday, when sneaker heads like DJ Clark Kent, along with rappers Jadakiss and Jim Jones, will discuss their choices for the best sneaker of 2022.
 
The festival will close on Sunday with a concert by Japanese artist and stylist Nigo who will be performing his studio album "I Know Nigo". The album is filled with collaborations and his performance is scheduled to feature several guests including Pusha T, Teriyaki Boys and Kodak Black. 
 
First launched in Long Beach in 2016, the event returned to an in-person experience last year after hosting a virtual ComplexCon in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.