Chloe MooreChloe Moore sat down with Saint Street Sneakers, the Dublin-based store that sits somewhere between a sneaker shop, a community hub, and a living archive of the city’s underground culture, quietly becoming one of Dublin’s most important creative spaces.
What started as a retail concept has evolved into something far bigger- a meeting point where fashion, music, trading-card culture and independent creativity collide under one roof.
In a city where genuinely grassroots spaces rarely survive long enough to grow into themselves, Saint Street has managed to build a loyal community around authenticity rather than hype.
Through their in-store events, Pokémon card shows and the ever-expanding Saint Street Sessions platform, which has become a vital spotlight for emerging Irish artists, the team have created something that feels increasingly rare in Dublin: a space people actually want to spend time in.
We caught up with the Saint Street crew to talk about building community in Dublin, documenting the city’s underground music scene, the crossover between sneakers and nostalgia, and why the best things usually happen organically.
Was Saint Street always intended to be more than just a sneaker shop, or did the community’s influence naturally lead it in that direction?
Honestly, from the start we never really wanted it to feel like a traditional retail space. Obviously sneakers and clothing were the foundation, but we always saw the shop as somewhere people could spend time, meet people, or just hang out without pressure to buy something. A lot of the best things that happened came naturally through the community around it, though. People started treating it like a meeting point, and we just leaned further into that.
Dublin has loads of places to buy clothes or sneakers, but not many places where people actually hang around. Why do you think people want that now?
Everything is so online now that people genuinely value physical spaces again. We’re a store where people can come in and actually see, feel and try on things they’ve only seen online. A lot of shopping happens through a screen these days, so being able to chat to someone, get a second opinion, and experience products in person is something people appreciate more than ever.
Beyond that, people want spaces that feel authentic. A lot of retail can feel purely transactional, but the best shops become places where people return because of the atmosphere and the community around them. Dublin is missing a lot of those spaces, especially for younger people, so when somewhere feels open and genuinely community-driven, people naturally want to spend time there.
There’s a real crossover between sneaker culture, underground music, and trading-card culture at the moment. What do all those worlds have in common to you?
I think they all come from the same place creatively. They’re built around discovery, collecting, individuality and community. Whether it’s music, sneakers or trading cards, people become passionate about them because there’s usually a story attached to them.
A lot of it is nostalgia too. It could be the pair of Jordans you remember your favourite artist wearing when you were growing up, or the Pokémon cards you collected as a kid that you traded away and now want back. People connect memories to these things, which is what makes them so much more than just products.
A lot of independent spaces in Dublin disappear before they really get a chance to build community. How difficult is it to keep something grassroots alive in the city right now?
It’s definitely difficult. The cost of doing business in Dublin makes it hard for independent spaces to survive long enough to grow organically. A lot of good ideas need time before people fully understand what they’re about, and unfortunately not everyone gets that time.
We’ve been lucky to build a community that genuinely supports what we do. A big part of that comes from being connected to the city itself. A lot of our customers, collaborators and affiliates are people we’ve met through Dublin’s creative, music, fashion and collector communities, and all of our staff are involved in those scenes in their own way.
The card shows are such an interesting addition because they attract a completely different crowd. How did that idea first happen?
The Pokémon card scene has exploded over the last few years, and a lot of the people involved were already connected to sneaker and streetwear culture. We noticed there wasn’t really a casual space in Dublin where people could trade, meet up and enjoy the hobby, so bringing it into the shop felt like a natural fit.
It also wasn’t something we forced. The owners and members of staff already had their own personal collections and were involved in the hobby themselves, so it grew organically from genuine interest rather than being something we introduced just because it was popular.
What’s been really cool is seeing completely different communities mix through these events. You might have someone coming in for the card show who ends up discovering sneakers or clothing they never would have looked at before, or vice versa. We’ve also seen brothers, sisters and parents come along with someone who’s into Pokémon and end up finding their own interests in the shop. It creates a really unique atmosphere where different generations and communities can connect under one roof.
Saint Street Sessions feels more like a document of Dublin’s underground scene than branded content. Was that intentional from the start, or did it evolve naturally?
That was definitely intentional. We never wanted Saint Street Sessions to feel over-produced or corporate. The goal was to create a platform where artists could perform in a real environment and to document what’s actually happening in Dublin’s music scene right now. A huge part of making that possible has been the support from Monster Energy. They’ve backed the vision from the beginning and understood what we’re trying to achieve.
A lot of music media can feel quite polished or industry-driven, but these sessions feel community-first. Do artists respond differently when the environment is more casual?
Definitely. When artists feel comfortable and not overly managed, you get something way more genuine out of them. A lot of people who come through the shop already know each other or know the space, so it doesn’t feel intimidating or forced. The energy becomes way more natural and collaborative.
There’s so much talent in the city that deserves to be seen and heard, and we wanted the sessions to feel accessible and community-led rather than like traditional promotional content. The response from both artists and audiences has shown us that people really connect with that approach.
What makes a good in-store session? Is it the crowd, the artist, the atmosphere, or the chaos?
Probably all of it together. The best sessions usually have a bit of unpredictability to them. Obviously the artist matters, but atmosphere is everything.
For us, a lot of it starts before the cameras are even rolling. When an artist comes in, is picking out their fit, settling into the space and warming up, you can usually tell when they’re comfortable and feeling themselves. Once they’re happy and relaxed, you know it’s going to be a good session. The crowd, the energy in the room and the artist all feed off each other. The best moments are usually the ones you can’t plan for.
Have there been any Saint Street Sessions where you felt: “Okay, this is becoming something bigger than we expected”?
Yeah, definitely. There have been a few moments where the energy in the room felt bigger than just a shop event. One of the biggest signs for us has been seeing artists, DJs and creatives actively reaching out because they want to be part of the platform.
That was always the goal, to build something that could genuinely showcase the talent coming out of Ireland and give artists another space to be seen and heard. When people start approaching you because they believe in what you’re building, that’s when you realise it’s becoming something bigger than you first imagined.
It’s also really rewarding to see artists using the content from the sessions on their own platforms. Watching the clips help them make noise, reach new audiences and bring more attention to their work is exactly what we hoped for. If the sessions can help shine a light on both the artists and the wider community around the store, then we’re doing what we set out to do.
What artists from Dublin are exciting you right now?
There’s honestly so much happening right now across different scenes in Dublin. We’re especially excited by artists who are building things independently and creating their own sound and identity rather than chasing trends.
Earfzilla is someone we’re rooting for. He worked with us for a while and is fully focused on his music now. He’s a good kid and it’s great seeing him put the work in and back himself.
DJ C3ddar Bob is another one. He’s always holding it down on the decks, whether that’s in the store or at events around the city.
Overall every artist that has been a part of the sessions, Dublin’s music scene feels really healthy creatively at the moment. There’s a lot of talent, a lot of different sounds, and people are starting to build their own lanes. One thing we’d love to see more of, though, is rappers putting out full bodies of work. There are plenty of people who can drop a great single or freestyle, but we’d love to see more artists putting together projects that tell a bigger story and really showcase who they are.
What does Dublin need more of right now?
More independent businesses, more genuinely creative businesses, and probably a few less vape shops if we’re being honest.
Dublin has so much talent and creativity, but we’d love to see more businesses and spaces that actually contribute to the city’s culture and character rather than just filling empty units. The places people remember are the ones that give something back to the community and create experiences, not just transactions.
What’s next: more music, more fashion, more events, or something nobody’s expecting?
Probably a mix of all of it. We want to keep evolving naturally without boxing ourselves into one thing.
There will definitely be more sessions. We want to continue giving both upcoming and established artists a platform because they both play an important role in strengthening the Irish music scene. The goal has always been to showcase talent, create opportunities and help connect different parts of the culture.
Fashion is something we’re excited about too. We’ve released merch in the past, but we feel there’s still room for something different in Ireland. There are already some great brands representing the country, but we think we can bring our own flavour and perspective to it, drawing from everything we’ve built through the shop, the events and the community around us.
More than anything, the goal is to keep building something that feels authentic to Dublin and the people around it. Whether that’s through music, fashion, events or something completely unexpected, we’ll keep following what feels natural.
