Sneaker culture is definitive in Braam; look down when you meet someone in the neighbourhood because it's how you can identify street-style royalty. So it's no surprise that in this entrepreneurial neighbourhood, new business opportunities have evolved to service the love of sneakers.

Cue Offbeat, a specialist in-store sneaker cleaning and repair service. Here you'll meet sneaker cleaning technicians Sibangani Ncube, Joel Masobe, and Mpho Marena who are waiting to take care of your sneaker needs. Prices vary depending on the material of your kicks. 

We loved hearing about how this team runs a charity drive called Kicks for Change whereby they collect sneakers to be distributed throughout the area to people in need. The aim is to provide shoes to those who will wear them (trying as much as possible to give them to people that will use them rather than sell them.) You can support this initiative by dropping off sneakers at the collection point at Braamfontein's The Playground Market every Saturday and at the Offbeat store during the week. You'll find Offbeat underneath JFF Rooftop Farm,