eBay x Alhan Gençay: The Ultimate Clash of Sneakers and Gaming

On June 11th, a ground-breaking event merged the worlds of sneakers and gaming. Hosted by UK presenter, gamer, and entrepreneur Alhan Gençay. This live event was part of eBay’s “In Session With” series, which was launched alongside the acclaimed artist Slawn last year.

Alhan, known for his passion for collecting and gaming, orchestrated this unique clash, celebrating the convergence of these vibrant communities. Attendees were given the opportunity to compete against Alhan to win exclusive sneakers from eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee service, creating an electrifying atmosphere of anticipation and competition.

The event took place at BRIX, London, transforming the venue into an immersive playground for sneakerheads and gamers alike. Fans faced off in a high-stakes knock-out gaming tournament, with Alhan standing as the formidable final boss. Victors walked away with rare sneakers or eBay vouchers, all while indulging in the lively camaraderie of like-minded enthusiasts.

The synergy between sneaker culture and gaming has catalysed many notable collaborations over the years. Iconic partnerships like Nike with Playstation, Puma with Tetris, and Adidas with Xbox exemplify this intersection. eBay has been at the heart of these trends, witnessing a surge in searches for coveted models such as 'Nike Air Force PlayStation' and 'Puma Tetris.'

The event highlighted the shared passions within the sneaker and gaming communities. Alhan reflected on the similarities, noting, "Both communities are full of enthusiasts who geek out over the details, whether it's the intricate design of sneakers or the nuances of a video game. This event brought those worlds together in a unique way."

Streaming has revolutionized the entertainment industry, offering a dynamic, interactive experience. "Streaming is raw and unpredictable, which makes it captivating. It allows viewers to feel connected to their favourite content creators in a way that's unmatched by traditional media," Alhan explained.

This collaboration between Alhan and eBay UK not only celebrates the intersection of sneaker and gaming cultures but also aims to inspire and give back to the community. Whether it's through winning exclusive sneakers or kickstarting a streaming career, the event left a lasting impact.

NW: To start could you tell us a little bit about this collaboration and what it means to you?

Alhan: eBay has these sessions called 'In Session Live,' where they gave me creative freedom to do a live stream on Twitch. It was an exciting opportunity because it was tailored to me and allowed me to connect with my community. We hosted giveaways, including my favourite shoes and a streaming setup, giving back to the fans in a meaningful way. The intimate event in London a few weeks ago was a lot of fun. We ran several competitions that night, bringing together sneaker enthusiasts and gamers. This partnership with eBay has been lovely, allowing me to showcase my passions and engage with my community.

NW: There is a focus on inspiring the next generation of streamers. Could touch on what streaming has done for your life and how you feel it could benefit others?

Alhan: Definitely. Streaming is just one part of it, but content creation as a whole has opened many doors. Luckily, it's become my full-time job, allowing me to meet great people and travel to amazing places. The main goal is to inspire, as many people today aspire to be content creators. Not everyone can afford a streaming setup, so I wanted to give them a leg up. This partnership with eBay, a household name we've grown up with, is inspiring. If a brand like eBay can support me in this venture, it shows that anyone can achieve their dreams. This is all about giving back and showing that it's possible for anyone to do this.

NW: This collaboration is also centred around the shared interests of the sneaker and gaming communities. In your opinion what are the main points of connection/similarities between these two groups?

Alhan: I've always noticed that the main similarity between both worlds is the presence of passionate enthusiasts, or 'nerds,' in a positive sense. I mentioned this at the event as well. In both communities, whether it's sneakers or video games, people really geek out over the details. Sneakerheads discuss every aspect of their shoes, from the midsoles and laces to the stitching and limited editions. They know everything about their shoes, even obscure models from Japan in the '90s. It's the same with video games, where there's a big retro aspect and a love for nostalgia. People enjoy getting nerdy, one-upping each other, and showing off their collections. Whether it's traveling or spending a lot of money, the dedication is similar in both worlds. It’s about the social aspect and the shared passion. I know people who travel to Japan for both sneakers and gaming, showcasing just how intertwined these interests can be.

NW:What games do you feel have the best fashion? Have you ever made any fashion choices inspired by a game?

Alhan: Definitely GTA, hands down. It's probably the most creative game when it comes to outfits and style. I spend a lot of my GTA Online hours just in the clothing shops, making sure my character looks the part. Another game that stands out is RuneScape. Back in the day, it was a huge online PC game where style was a big deal. You could get capes that showed your level in a particular skill, and people loved showing them off. Style in games has always been important to me, but GTA and RuneScape really nailed it.

NW: Streaming is a market that has been around for a while but is really on the rise at the moment. It feels like streaming represents the future for the entertainment industry, what do you think it is that sets it apart from other industries (TV/Youtube/Tiktok etc.)? What is drawing people to streaming over these different forms of content?

Alhan: Absolutely. If we look at online media, the reason people are glued to their screens is that they get to choose what they watch. Over the past decade, we've seen a massive decline in TV viewership. TV is pretty much a non-existent market now, especially for brands targeting younger audiences. Everyone decides what they want to watch and when, whether it's during dinner or hanging out with friends. This control has led to a boom in online content.

When it comes to streaming, the unknown is a major draw. With pre-recorded content like Sidemen or MrBeast videos, you kind of know what to expect. But with live streams, anything can happen. We've seen streamers like IShowSpeed or Kai Cenat experience wild, unexpected moments live, from public confrontations to crazy events at home. This unpredictability is exciting.

There's also a fear of missing out (FOMO). Streamers attract tens of thousands of live viewers, and you don't want to be left out. If something big happens and everyone’s talking about it on Twitter, you’ll want to tune in next time to stay in the loop.

Most importantly, streaming is raw and intimate. Many streamers just have a webcam in their bedroom, offering an unfiltered connection with their audience. It feels like being in a chat room with them, much more personal than seeing them in polished magazine interviews or TV shows. This rawness is highly appealing, especially as a lot of online content becomes more TV-like. So, the FOMO and raw authenticity are key.

NW: As a fashion magazine we are really excited about the sneaker side of this collaboration. It feels like this project is very personal (eg. giving away your favourite shoe). Is fashion something that is important to you? And how has your relationship with fashion evolved since you entered the entertainment industry?

Alhan: Absolutely. I've definitely had more access to stuff as I've made more money. When I was a kid, I always had a sense of style, but just less access. Now that I'm in the industry, I've become my own boss and have my own money to spend. I've definitely gone a bit wild with it. I think I have a collection of over 250 pairs of shoes. Even though I always end up going out in Crocs, I like having things just to have them. If I see something cool in a shop, I buy it even if I don't know when I'll wear it. At least I have it now, sitting on my shelf.

It's not that I've become more conscious of how I dress; it's just that I have more disposable income, so I buy nicer things. As a kid, I had maybe three pairs of shoes from Sports Direct, usually a pair of big Airwalk skate shoes. I don't even know if they make those anymore. Funny enough, the shoes I wore as a kid, which might have been deemed uncool, are probably some of the most stylish now.

NW: As someone with a fairly limited knowledge of the streaming world, I view it as something that is very much focused on gaming. But I realise that is very much just the tip of the iceberg. Do you feel there are ways that streaming could be used to improve the fashion world? To make it more personal? To expand its reach to new audiences? Or are there ways that it already is?

Alhan: Honestly, it's hard to draw a direct line from streaming to fashion. I don't really know of any streamers who focus specifically on fashion. However, online content in general has seen a massive rise in "Get Ready With Me" videos. This trend started with girls on TikTok doing makeup videos and has now expanded to guys as well. Fashion and content creation have merged because everyone wants to be stylish and everyone wants to be a content creator, making it easy and engaging content to produce.

I enjoy watching "Get Ready With Me" videos, and they've definitely become more popular recently, though I'm not sure why. Live streaming and fashion intersect more with fashion shows. Many brands have started live streaming their fashion shows to get people talking and to make these traditionally invite-only events more accessible. For example, Louis Vuitton was one of the first to do an IG Live for their fashion shows.

So, while there's not a huge overlap between live streaming and fashion, the live element has certainly made an impact on how fashion shows are presented and consumed.

NW: It's sort of like what you were saying about how streaming is very sort of raw and personal. And that's something that the fashion industry is obviously still lacking quite a lot.

Alhan: High-end fashion brands are definitely embracing creativity, but it's the younger fashion brands that are really pushing boundaries. For instance, Jacquemus has a wild Instagram campaign right now with some impressive 3D rendering work. They're doing incredible things with their content, and it will be interesting to see how live streaming could further influence the fashion game.

Also, online content platforms like Complex often feature musicians and artists in shoe-focused segments. This trend shows how intertwined fashion and online content have become, with shoes frequently being the centrepiece of these creative endeavours. Let's see how live streaming continues to shape this landscape.

NW: To finish, what do you hope people take from this collaboration? Beyond the potential a pair of 95s and some top of the line streaming equipment.

Alhan: I hope whoever wins the streaming setup becomes a massive success and doesn't forget about me – maybe even sends a commission my way for all their amazing achievements! Seriously though, I really hope this kickstarts the career of a future streamer or content creator. And for those who won the sneakers, it's great to keep their style fresh for the summer.

For me, collaborating with eBay has been a fantastic way to give back to my community. The feel-good element of this project has been incredibly rewarding.