ComplexCon Los Angeles Archive

Ten years on, ComplexCon LA remains a meeting point for fashion, sport, music and the people moving culture forward. Held October 3-4, the anniversary edition tapped into the internet’s obsession with 2016 nostalgia while spotlighting a new generation of designers, tastemakers and industry leaders.

For Track+Fits, the weekend was more than a front-row view of the culture. Between conversations with Rich Paul, Lil Yachty, Jerry Lorenzo and some of the industry's most influential creatives, the team was on a mission to bring the insights, ideas and energy back to its community of athletes navigating life beyond sport.

From music artists to streetwear designers, these were the conversations and cultural moments that stayed with us.

Leaf: The Internet Is the New Runway

At 13, designer Leaf (@designsbyleaf) is already fluent in the language of digital culture. Speaking with Track+Fits, the young creative shared his perspective on building visibility in an industry where a single post can shift the trajectory of a brand.

“Right now the main way to go viral and all that stuff is by social media, and it’s kinda like the easiest thing right now”, he explained.

For a generation raised online, social media is more than a promotional tool. It’s a portfolio, a platform and, increasingly, a direct route to opportunity.

At Track+Fits, we’ve heard athletes speak candidly about feeling awkward or cringe when putting themselves out there online. Hearing a young designer speak so confidently about digital visibility was a reminder that self-promotion is a skill - and one worth developing. In a culture where attention can translate into access, putting your work out there is part of the process.

Clint + Corteiz: Authenticity Always Cuts Through

Corteiz founder Clint (@clint419) has built a brand that operates on its own terms. From guerrilla marketing to cultivating a fiercely loyal community, his approach has consistently challenged the conventional fashion playbook.

His advice to anyone looking to follow a similar path was refreshingly direct: stay passionate, stay authentic and trust what makes you different.

“If you’re real and honest, boom, you’re cutting through.”

At ComplexCon personal style is practically a competitive sport, the pressure to get the fit right - or replicate whatever is trending - can be hard to ignore. But Clint’s philosophy speaks to something bigger than fashion. You don’t have to imitate what’s already working to make your mark.

That message sits at the heart of Track+Fits’ approach to athlete development: build on what makes you different rather than trying to fit someone else’s mould. The strongest personal brand is one that actually feels like you.

Jerry Lorenzo: Reinvention Is Part of the Blueprint

Few designers embody the crossover between sport, fashion and culture quite like Fear of God founder Jerry Lorenzo. In conversation with Maya, Lorenzo discussed his Marathon collaboration with Fear of God and reflected on his earlier experience as a promoter.

That background, he explained, gave him an understanding of how to move people and influence culture.

It’s a reminder that the path to success rarely follows a straight line. Skills developed in one industry can become an advantage in another - sometimes in ways you don’t recognize until much later.

At Track+Fits, career transition is central to the conversation. Athletes spend years building discipline, resilience, leadership and the ability to perform under pressure. The challenge is recognizing how those qualities translate beyond competition. Lorenzo’s journey offers a compelling example of how experience in one field can become the foundation for something entirely different.

Sport Meets Streetwear

On the convention floor, the clothes were speaking just as loudly as the conversations.

Lil Yachty brought a hit of yellow to his Nike Pawn Shop booth, while Russell Westbrook’s Honor the Gift continued to explore the intersection of basketball and streetwear - a crossover that feels particularly close to home for Track+Fits.

Represent x PUMA took performance aesthetics into lifestyle territory, with treadmill-inspired styling adding another dimension to the ongoing conversation around sportswear and fashion.

Across the floor, the familiar boundaries between athlete, designer, musician and tastemaker continued to blur. The result? A reminder that some of the most interesting ideas in fashion emerge when different worlds collide.

Collabs, Collectibles and Cultural Crossovers

The second day kept the momentum going, with Kai Cenat’s Vivet label, Trapstar London’s collaboration with Marvel and Playboi Carti making an entrance alongside Ye among the moments generating attention.

Sneaker culture had its own talking points, too. The NIGO x Nike Air Force 1 Low collaboration drew attention, although it didn’t land as a universal crowd favorite.

If there was a defining theme across the weekend, it was the power of collaboration. From entertainment and comic-book universes to sportswear and independent labels, brands are increasingly building relevance by crossing into new cultural territories.

Beyond the Hype

ComplexCon has always been about more than what’s trending. It’s a snapshot of where culture is heading - who is shaping it, how they’re building their audiences and what the next generation can learn from those already making moves.

For Track+Fits, those conversations matter because the future of sport extends far beyond the stadium. The creativity, influence and entrepreneurial instinct athletes bring to their sport can translate into opportunities across fashion, media, technology and business.

The next generation isn’t waiting for permission to enter the conversation. They’re building platforms, developing brands and creating their own routes into the industry.

And that’s the energy we’re bringing back to our community.

Follow @trackandfits on Instagram for more conversations with the creatives, founders and cultural voices shaping what comes next.

Article by Millie Connors