Kickin’ It Since 1970

Photo by Toby Moore, Illustration by Indianna Williams

Hot off the heels of the ‘Save our Scene’ events orchestrated by Kickers towards the end of last year. Wordplay decided to continue this message alongside the brand into 2025 (the 50th anniversary of the Kick Hi boot). So alongside photographer Toby Moore, and illustrator Indianna Williams we created these images with Sleep’s Cousin and Lieu.

Save Our Scene Stomping Grounds saw musicians such as Hak Baker take to the streets performing on an open top bus around central London. The message was clear and it was great to see from a brand rooted in the culture of British music.

Since 1975, Kickers’ iconic Kick Hi silhouette has played a huge role in British music culture, worn by icons from David Bowie and the Stone Roses in the 70s to Miss Dynamite and So Solid Crew and Hacienda DJs in the 90s. Today, leading musicians including, Hak Baker, Skepta and Eliza Rose continue to style the Kick Hi, reaffirming the brand's deep-rooted connection to the music scene. 

Recent statistics reveal that 37% of clubs have closed in the past 4 years (NTIA), with the past 12 months being the worst on record with 125 spaces having closed or stopped hosting events (MVT) - a trend that risks the future of live music. Given the urgent need for action, Kickers has joined forces with Save our Scene to host a series of events across the UK, to raise awareness of the current crisis and encourage more support for the scene that has fostered creativity and self-expression for decades.