They put their best foot forward.

Sneakerheads flocked to St. John’s University Thursday night for a new exhibit celebrating New York City’s special relationship to custom-made kicks — including their influence on hip hop and the fashion world.

Dubbed “We Are Shoe York City,” the special event amounted to the Met Gala of sneakerdom — complete with rare and classic kicks on display in glass cases.

“It’s basically a way to express yourself, even though a lot of people have the same type of shoes at this point,” said Victoria Evans, 18, who attended the kick-off event. “It’s just, ‘If you know, you know’ here in New York.”