The Royal Garden. - InHerSoles.
- Smoove The Source.
- May 24, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: May 24, 2022
THE ROYAL GARDEN.
Thursday, April 28th was definitely the day to be 1- a woman 2- who loves sneakers 3- in Harlem(PeriodT)! InHerSoles Collective partnered with Atmos NYC to provide women who love sneakers a serene space to celebrate the release of the Jordan 11 Low “Pure Violet” while getting some gardening lessons and taking some amazing portraits. The experience was called “The Royal Garden”. ATMOS NYC has a long term presence shaping the sneaker culture in NYC and proved to still have the mecca of sportswear and sneakers on lock.
InHerSoles Collective (IHS) educates, inspires and has a goal for leaving a legacy for future sneaker and streetwear aficionados by creating transcending spaces, both physical and digital. IHS was founded by @kixiejixie and @ogyaya on IG, 2 respected OGs in the Sneaker Industry.
At my first (IHS) event, I didn't know what to expect, especially being in a community garden in Harlem. Touching down in Harlem, I could already feel the excitement and smell the lavender. Arriving at “The Royal Garden '', I was welcomed by staff and given a name tag. I was able to decorate my name tag with pastel markers, then I was walked over to a custom bouquet making gazebo.
Bouquet Making.
First station at the community garden was this beautiful spread of flowers so we can make our bouquets. At the table, we were presented with custom flower wrapping designed by Shema. (@shemalove). We were able to color and customize our floral wrap and finish it off with a shoe lace tie. The cutest touch ever!
I absolutely loved the overall concept of the garden. Being a Capricorn (Heavy on the Earth Sign), I absolutely LOVE the garden. Feeding our inner child by coloring, picking flowers, and bonding with other women felt like we were playing in the garden. It was a peaceful event and the vibes of the woman there were so positive. It was a space to make friends, breathe and let go, while chopping it up about the next few releases. I was legit smiling all day. The sun was out to see us and welcome us to Harlem with open arms. (You just had to be there!)
After the bouquets, we were guided through the plant beds which beautifully displayed the Jordan 11 low, "Pure Violet" which was released the same day. The display has museum cards talking about the history of the color purple in Jordan Brand, women's Jordan fun facts and some 11 low history. I was seeded a pair of 11 lows from IHS and Atmos NYC and what I love is the white box we received with these. I love the translucent soles on the lows and of course the violet laces!
Gardening Workshop
Arriving at the table that was prepped for two groups of women to garden, I was given customized mercado bags filled with lavender seeds, a disposable pot, a trowel and gardening gloves.
Electric Ladybug Garden hosted the event and the gardening workshop. Educating us on plants, how to pot, history of the garden and how to maintain our house plants. The instructors were kind enough to pull some plants so we can see and smell the herbs we consume. Emphasizing on the facts we, as women, can heal and elevate ourselves and our legacy with certain herbs.
Planting the lavender and learning how to take care of it in our own care was cool. I learned what a trowel was. (lol). Learning that we need to give the lavender at least 2 weeks to start blooming. Biggest reminder was that we can always try again when it comes to our plants.
Portraits.
I didn't get to take any photos in the garden with the photographer, @rosalia. Seeing the photos of the girls in the garden from InHerSoles Instagram feed, they all look beautiful. Rosalia is a Latin, sneaker loving photographer from the Lower East Side.
After marinating in this experience at “The Royal Garden”, Stephani and I headed over to the ATMOS store on 125th to end our day in Harlem with a panel. Her IMPACT panel was a discussion centered around women's impact & presence in today's sneaker and streetwear world. Now the heat they have on the selves in that store is absolutely insane. An engaging and conversation that held so much value to those who were in attendance.
It was thee day to be in the Heart of Harlem.
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