From Restoration to Retail: The Evolution of Singapore’s SneakersClinic with Benjamin Lim

12th June 2025 EDT FEATURES

From Restoration to Retail: The Evolution of Singapore’s SneakersClinic with Benjamin Lim

Discover how SneakersClinic became Singapore's go-to for rare kicks and expert restoration.

From Restoration to Retail: The Evolution of Singapore’s SneakersClinic with Benjamin Lim

SneakersClinic, a key consignment partner of SNKRDUNK, has rapidly become a highly trusted hub for sneakers, streetwear, and collectibles across Singapore and the broader region. Beyond offering highly sought-after and everyday footwear, they set themselves apart with expert cleaning, restoration, and customization services. Over time, SneakersClinic has expanded its offerings to include collectible toys and trading cards, transforming its retail space into a vibrant collaborative destination.

Throughout its expansion, SneakersClinic has remained committed to its core principles: delivering an exceptional consumer and consignment experience by curating a diverse selection of products from around the globe. Recently, we sat down with SneakersClinic founder, Benjamin Lim, to find out more.

SneakersClinic has evolved into a trusted destination for sneakers, streetwear, and collectables in Singapore and the region. Could you share your understanding of SneakersClinic’s history, mission, and how its evolution shapes the way you contribute to the culture and serve your customers?

SneakersClinic was founded in early 2017, born out of a personal interest in sneakers. I had a bunch of older sneakers I wasn’t wearing, so I began cleaning and restoring them myself before offering the same service to customers.

We focused on services first—cleaning and restoration—before we ever sold products. From there, we began sourcing sneakers overseas, catering to a niche audience in Singapore that couldn’t access certain silhouettes locally. Over time, we expanded into apparel, accessories, and collectibles—especially after the pandemic, around 3–4 years ago.

Can you share a few examples of niche products you’ve sourced for your customers over the years?

Back in 2014–2016, certain Air Jordans were highly sought after but not always available in Singapore. Shipping wasn’t as accessible, and U.S. retailers didn’t ship internationally. So we’d use third-party services to bring in U.S. exclusives like Air Jordan 4s and Japan-exclusive Air Maxes.

Personally, I gravitate toward older Nike SB Dunks from the early 2000s to the 2010s. Meanwhile, Singaporeans usually go for Jordans or niche New Balance pairs, so we cater to that too.

SneakersClinic offers a wide range of materials and services. Could you elaborate on your cleaning and restoration techniques and tools?

We’ve tested cleaning products from various brands and countries. For delicate materials like suede or nubuck, we’re especially careful—conditioning is crucial. Many shoes degrade because they’re not conditioned properly. I watch videos and use trial-and-error to refine techniques. Humidity in Singapore is a challenge, so we tailor our approach to local conditions using imported materials and tools.

What if a vintage or heavily damaged pair requires a custom approach?

For rare or vintage pairs, we often encounter midsole crumbling or sole separation. Our approach is to restore it to its original look, not modify it. We’ll color-match as closely as possible, do midsole swaps, stitching, etc. We test paint mixes on other pairs before applying to the real thing to avoid risk.

How do you manage mold or humidity-related degradation?

Regular cleaning and conditioning are key. For suede or nubuck, we recommend mink oil and water-repellent coatings. We also advise customers on storage—using silica gel packs, rotating stock, and climate considerations like avoiding storerooms. We tailor our advice depending on where and how the customer stores their shoes.

With the rise in counterfeits, how do you verify authenticity before selling or consigning items?

We authenticate in-house, starting with retail pairs to learn the minute details—size tags, fonts, materials. We compare these with consigned items. For customers, we often start with obvious things like the box tags, but we also cross-reference stitching, smell, insole graphics, and even midsole prints. If both fake and real pairs look similar, we rely on accumulated knowledge across multiple data points.

Have you encountered any restoration challenges that required a creative fix?

Yes. For example, some rare Jordans require unique midsole colors, so we mix paints from scratch and test them before applying. We always aim for 99% accuracy, but we are upfront with our customers about possible differences due to aging or material changes.

How do you communicate limitations to customers and keep them coming back?

Transparency. We don’t push expensive products for commission. We advise based on foot shape, preferences, and suitability. Some shoes aren’t ideal for wide feet, for example, and we’ll recommend alternatives or upcoming drops. That honest service builds trust.

How do you handle similar scenarios for streetwear and collectibles?

We talk about resale value and longevity. Some apparel and cards appreciate over time. If someone wants to spend a lot, we discuss whether it’s a good investment or more a matter of personal preference. But ultimately, we advise them to buy what they genuinely like, not just for the hype or value.

During high-traffic launches or busy seasons, how do you manage operations?

Honestly, sometimes it just means working longer hours. But we also shift focus—during slow periods, we prioritize services; during launches, we scale back services slightly to focus on sales. We’ll still take in service requests as long as customers are okay to wait. Balancing both is key.

How do you stay on top of trends, materials, and authentication techniques?

I read, watch videos, and explore global perspectives—not just U.S. creators. Trends in Southeast Asia can differ a lot from U.S. or Europe, so I check Taiwanese, Chinese, and other Asian sources too. Trends are cyclical. We look at archives as well as new releases to predict comebacks. Books like Supreme retrospectives are useful, too.

Any favorite YouTube channels or resources you would like to share about?

For performance shoes, I’ve followed WearTesters for over 10 years. But I also watch random YouTube content from Taiwan, China, wherever. It’s about getting varied perspectives. Not everything from the U.S. applies to our market.

How do you see yourself contributing to SneakersClinic’s innovation and evolution?

We bring in new brands, especially those not available locally. But it has to make sense—some level of demand or hype is needed. On the services side, we explore new cleaning products to improve efficiency. We’re also improving digital navigation and using AI in small ways.

SneakersClinic often works with other brands. How do you contribute to creating engaging community spaces?

Depends on the collaborator. Some give us creative freedom to suggest improvements, like better visual merchandising, curation, or customer experience design. For example, on Resorts World Cruise, we tailored stock for different guest demographics. With SNKRDUNK, we work with staff to curate brands and styles that their audience prefers.

Looking ahead, where do you see SneakersClinic in the next five years?

Sneaker restoration is still small, but we’re expanding our reach—not just locally, but across the region and globally, including Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and the U.S. Locally, we’ll keep doing pop-ups and introduce lesser-known brands to the Singapore market.

What brands are you looking to bring in?

Palace Skateboards is one. It’s not available locally, but people ask for it. Another is Human Made—it’s more accessible now via Japan’s global shipping. We’re also exploring newer brands from Taiwan and China, but we assess demand first before committing.

What new ventures or offerings do you see on the horizon?

We’re evolving from sneakers-only to a more comprehensive curation space. We now include apparel, accessories, toys, and trading cards. Eventually, we want SneakersClinic to be recognized not just for cleaning shoes, but for curating the entire collectible lifestyle.

Address:
SneakersClinic
1 Irving Pl
#08-04 The Commerze @ Irving
Singapore 369546

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