Free film screening
On opening night on December 7, organisers have teamed up with community cinema platform Cinema Akil for My Mic Sounds Nice: The Truth About Women In Hip Hop at 6.30pm. Directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Ava DuVernay and featuring everyone from Missy Elliot to Salt ’N’ Peppa, the screening will be followed by the exclusive international premiere of Word is Bond, the latest documentary by award-winning director Sacha Jenkins, which examines the transformative power of lyrics in the world of hip-hop, exploring the many dimensions of poetics from Nas to Rapsody to Tech9.
Previewing ahead of both films will be an exclusive screening by director Amirah Tajdin of Taga Rito — An Exercise in Three Acts — an homage to the Filipino community of Dubai and the city’s street culture of which they are a key element and always have been.
Musical performances
Artists confirmed to perform include award-winning musician Kano, G.O.O.D Music President and rapper Pusha T, American silk-soul rapper Goldlink, German rapper Serious Klein, singer Teyana and Manchester urban jazz singer IAMDDB, hailed as one of the breakout stars of 2017. There will also be after-parties, with DJs Stretch Armstrong, Shortkut, Tom Crane, Dave Lubin and Andy Baxter among the line-up.
The talks
Friday, December 8 will feature a series of cultural talks featuring conversations with some of the biggest names in design, fashion and music. These include headlining musician Pusha T; Fragment Design founder Hiroshi Fujiwara; designer and style icon Jeff Staple of Staple Design; Peter Bittenbender, CEO of New York-based media company/record label Mass Appeal (of which hip-hop legend Nas is a partner); founder of global alternative culture platform Highsnobiety, jewellery designer Melody Ehsani; and Peter Jansson and Mubi Ali — founder and head buyer respectively of Sweden-born retailer Sneakersnstuff.
Shoes
Dior Homme and Kenzo will preview their latest collections and retail never-before-seen items, each individually housed in bespoke units taking design cues from the finesse of Tokyo architecture. Besides this, Asics, Nike, Puma and Reebok will participate. Japanese designers will showcase some of the most highly-sought-after and hard-to-find products over the weekend, from brands including Neighborhood, Visvim, Wacko Maria, Undercover, Non-Native, and White Mountaineering.
Exhibitions
The Andy Warhol Museum will bring its final exhibition of Letters to Andy Warhol at the event, which offers a rare glimpse into Warhol’s private correspondence and reveals the spirit of an American icon — a multi-faceted, sensitive and ambitious artist. The Modern & Street Art Exhibition will bring together some of the most highly sought-after items from the worlds of not just modern and street art, but street culture too — from Be@rbrick x Chanel, to A Bathing Ape Camo design, and even Supreme x Louis Vuitton.
Hiroshi Fujiwara Talk
On Saturday, December 9, Japanese streetwear royalty Hiroshi Fujiwara will deliver a talk. Founder of esteemed label Fragment Design, Fujiwara’s 30-year career has seen him work with everyone from Visvim and Neighbourhood to Clarks, Carhartt, Nike and Levi’s. The talk will be moderated by streetwear icon, Jeff Staple.
Play with Sprayground
Edgy New York backpack and accessories brand Sprayground, which recently launched in the UAE, will announce its collaboration with Instagram-famous Emirati teen Rashid Belhasa of Money Kicks fame as well as vlogger Mo Vlogs. The fashion and street-art brand is known for its collaborations with musicians and artists around the world. Founder and designer David Ben-David will also be there, along with Belhasa and Mo Vlogs on Saturday night from 6 to 8pm.
___
Don’t miss it
Sole Dxb is on at the Dubai Design District (d3) from December 7 to 9. Tickets, starting at Dh125 per day, are sold online.
