Kickslove (CLOSED)

Deptford is looking pretty plush these days: even its railway arches, which were once air raid shelters – now cute cocktail bar Little Nan’s and pleasantly rustic restaurant Dirty Apron – are the actual bomb (apologies). But while Deptford’s belly is well catered for, its feet have been neglected – something that new girls-only sneaker store Kickslove aims to remedy. This is the fully realised dream of committed sneakerhead Lisa Barlow (who earned her stripes at Size? and Nike). She had a clear aim: to set up a sneaker destination for likeminded girls to nerd out in. Mission accomplished. The space is slick, with a brilliant gilded floor courtesy of Deptford graffiti artist Insa and a dedicated trainer literature corner complete with back copies of Sneaker Freaker. Yet despite being aimed squarely at sneakerheads, it’s a welcoming little spot, even in-store rottweiler Rocky is incredibly friendly, so you won’t feel intimidated even if you’ve only just dipped a toe in the trainer world. With a select yet comprehensive stock and plenty of exclusives coming this year, this is a shop that could run and run.