ComplexCon: Chicago The Future Made Physical

Stacey Nova
Jun 16, 2020
4 min read

For the love of all things complex. ComplexCon Chicago 2019 was nothing short of Nivarana for any streetwear enthusiast, sneakerhead, creative, curator, or gamer from around the world. The magazine managed to once again cultivate a space where the “in touch and curious” could collide.

Heading into the weekend I had high expectations. I spent the weeks leading up researching the shops, exhibitions, panelist, and headliners. I didn’t want a single moment to go over my head. I wanted the inside scoop on what to do first, which shops to attend, how to make sure I didn’t miss a panel, and everything in between. While searching, I found an article by Forbes interviewing Complex Magazine Founder Marc Ecko. This man had a vision. He wanted ComplexCon to feel like a festival where the strange meets disparates. The exhibition was to bring what we obsess over from a far together. The fresh and organic nature of the weekend was designed to spark surprises every step of the way and that’s exactly what I lived.

Complex didn’t just come to Chicago for a change of location then pack up shop to head back to Long Beach. They left something. Leading up to ComplexCon weekend the brand lined up a week long event list for its Complex Community launch. The week was kicked off with an event by Champion x Complex Community. All event proceeds were donated to Social Works- an organization founded by Chance The Rapper. The organization is dedicated to empowering the youth of Chicago through arts, education, and civic engagement. Other events such as Youth Chicago Authors’ Word Play Takeover, Soup Kitchen Takeover, Streetwear.edu panel discussion and product designing workshop, We All Live Here- Community Art Mural Project, as well as Kicks for The City Sneaker Drive, which encouraged the donation of new and used sneakers in exchange for exclusive giveaways and all things kicks, will leave a mark on the city forever.

Now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for: ComplexCon Day 1. As you walk through security and across a long skydeck, the anticipation builds until the moment you bend the corner and are illuminated by the one and only ComplexCon billboard. You instantly come alive and know you made the right decision. The space welcomed creativity and oozed with potential. Day 1 was about shopping and discovery. Puma hosted a dunk contest along with collabing with Dreamville for a listening booth experience, Toyota offered a 180 degree photo op exhibition, and the NBA 2k experience was in full effect.

At one point, I questioned whether the two-day pass was a smart investment. I just had to show up Day 2 to find out. I thought I had seen all the weekend had to offer but man, was I wrong. The second day for me was about meet and greets, panels and FOOD! I completely missed out on the amazing food vendors and outdoor patio experience Day 1. Uber eats was the official food sponsor of the weekend and nailed it! The DJ kept the vibe going outside while guests were able to sample food from restaurants such as Seoul Taco, Harold’s Chicken, and Rakki Cafe.

My top exhibitions and shops of the weekend include the Reebok: Eric Emanuel x Allen Iverson collab, Basketcase, Converse’s Store Front: Vides Paint Supply, Chinatown Market U.V. laboratory and Cash 4 Chuck$, All Star Press Chicago, Joe Freshgoods, Chinatown Market, KNC Beauty with Garrett Popcorn, Puma, MCA Chicago x Takashi Murakami, Half Evil, Fried Rice, and All Gone to name a few. They each offered latest releases and exclusive drops plus brand interactions that drove participants wild.

This highly anticipated event also pulled in its fair share of celebs from Gunna, Trinidad James, and Waka Flocka to Aleali May, Allen Iverson, and Jerry Lorenzo who came through with a surprise Nike Air Fear of God 1 Yellow release. It also consisted of some of the top up and coming and seasoned entrepreneurs and artists in music right now. Through the ComplexCon app you could track showtimes for each panelist and performer to ensure you never missed your favorite artist or speaker. From Ella Mai, Schoolboy Q, Saweetie, Lucki, to Siobhan the weekend never lacked entertainment at any moment.

One of my most memorable moments of ComplexCon was an interaction while visiting the All Gone photography exhibition.

All Gone is a book series by Michael Dupouy that has documented the most sought after street culture items every year since 2006. While taking in the wall-to-wall life size pages right out of the All Gone collection, I met a member of the team from Paris by the name of Pascal. As we came together for a photo, he asked where I was from. When he heard Detroit, he lost it.

We spoke about many things from his love of fashion to the diversity of the streetwear market but nothing made him light up more than talking about Detroit and the time he had spent there.

Out of all the places in the world, he said Detroit was by far his favorite and he proved it by rolling up his sleeves to reveal two tattoos: one of the Motown Records logo and the other of the iconic Old English D. Meeting someone with so much power and influence internationally that has that much love and respect for Detroit will be an experience I will never forget.

ComplexCon Chicago provided endless opportunity and discovery for everyone involved. No one knew what this weekend would hold and essentially that was the beauty of it. Every conversation, interaction, and experience left you more than who you were initially. The weekend gave you assurance that there is room for us all to be exactly who we want and how we should use that drive for the betterment of anything we pursue.

What I Wore

(Day 1 Look)

Dress via Boutique in Oakland Mall

Bag: Paper Tote via Zara.com

Sneakers: CPFM VaporMax via StockX.com

(Day 2 Look)

Grey Co Ord via missguidedus.com

Sneakers: Raf Simmons via StockX.com

Bag: Vintage Dooney & Burke