For all you Hitop and Skate gear folks in Los Angeles, get yourselves down to 413 on Fairfax this weekend. This Warehouse sale will be of the last season’s kicks and threads, with sneakers from $25 it’s worth dropping in. From 12pm onwards today and tomorrow.
FACTORY 413 I 413 S. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Modeled on an actual worn pair of Nike Dunks, these sneakers are actually sculptures. Haroshi has famously been making wooden art out of old skate decks for a few years now. The Nike connection goes deeper, as these were carved and shaped from the decks of the Nike SB skate team, skaters like P-Rod, Eric Koston, Lance Mountain, Cory Kennedy to name a few. The good news to appreciators, is that Nike ‘hope’ to put a real wearable version on the shelves possibly this year or in 2012 – flashes of the Nike Macaroon Pack here.
Price and pairs made will most likely be for the fortunate few.
As part of the natural buzz and conceptual encouragement around LA’s Museum of Contemporoary Art’s ‘Art In The Street’ street art showing, Nike jumped at the chance to collaborate with Geoff McFetridge who created these so rare it’s not worth trying Paper Dunks. Only 24 pairs have been made, which each have partially cup from original McFetridge illustrations – thusly made up of unfamiliar footwear materials. These über desirable collection pieces are only available by auction on the West Coast – with all proceeds going to the MOCA Foundation. This is all part of Nike’s marketing skate campaign featuring design work from Futura, Lace Mountain, Neckface and CR Stecyk III.
This latest Dunk Hi collaboration, with famed textile designers Maharam, are the second creations to come from Nike & Maharam – with an emphasis on quality. NYC based Maharam have specialised in high end fabrics for over a century – these Dunk Hi Skinny’s are exclusively for those in the know. Available at UK retailer Size? for a limited time, and for £80 is a less expensive alternative to the other limited edition ranges of 2010.
Founded in August 2002 by San Francisco based Keith Hufnagel – HUF was originally a skate shop specialising in the rarer items. Since then Hufnagel has opened a new store a year, and 8 years on has crafted his own branded footwear. The HUF collection is by no means exclusively hitop, and already with a collaborative project with the Converse Skidgrip Hi (HUF X 1HUND(RED)) (see image). Whilst the brand grows pairs will become more readily available, HitopHeaven will give updates of availability when possible.
The HUF collection includes the Hupper Hi Star – a canvas skate model with a leather panelling and a tonal leather brand badge sewn onto the side. Also woven brand tab sewn onto the tongue and further branding on the heel. The Converse collaboration with the AIDS charity RED was designed by Keith Hufnagel and Hanni El Khatib, who stated: “We wanted to reference the skate and surf vibe of the 1980s and the Skidgrip was a great, authentic foundation.” Available from 3rd October with money to charity from each purchase.
With the huge success and popularity of the Star Wars Vs Adidas range from nearly a year ago – Adidas has announced a Round 2 of model styles, with new themes and imagery. Adidas will have given their designers more freedom with this Star Wars Round 2 campaign, with great news for hitoppers that the Jabba the Hut themed hitops are a real gem in the pack. The entire range will be available at all good Adidas retailers worldwide – consider reserving a pair as this range will get snapped up by sneaker freakers and Star Wars nuts alike!
Available now on eBay UK are these collectors items, Size? X Reebok Pump 20’s in a size 20 (US). Click here. At £380 they’re not cheap – but if you’re looking for a sneaker to put in a glass case this is it!
Japanese designers Mastermind have collaborated with Adidas Originals, based on the Hardland model. Mastermind have taken this basketball era Adidas shape, and branded their signature skull logo. Earliest release June 16.
Out this weekend at all Factory 413 and select Supra stores worldwide, but in limited stock, are these “SupraWood” Vaiders. These are a collaborative effort from Factory 413 X Supra Vaider – and have already received much positive reaction on both the Supra and Factory 413 Blogs – so act fast to get yours.
UK retailer Size? is this year celebrating their 10th year on the streets, and to celebrate have and are still releasing collaborations with various brands, so far just Nike and Adidas, however there are many to kep your eyes open for over the next few months. Click here to see which have been released so far.
CONVERSE X ROBERT INDIANA / ROBERT INDIANA X CONVERSE
These Chuck Taylor All Star’s have been given the go over with Robert Indiana’s iconic ‘LOVE’, an instantly recognisable motif of its’ time. These are exclusively available at Converse Australia, in extremely limited stock of a dozen for each colourway.
Out today at Adidas Consortium retailers are these Unforseen X Adidas – Non-Dyed Pack. This special edition uses premium grade leather which is both supportive and comfortable on rubber soles. Available in the colourways seen here – University Red, Uniform Blue & Black. These are a limited edition but not of limited supply.
Released tomorrow at Boston sneaker store Bodega, are a fantastic collaboration between the Bodega store and the Converse Poorman Weapon’s released on a few months ago. They have used deerskin leather, waxed canvas, both familiar materials to motorcycle gloves. They also come in a custom nylon lined case with an engraved hip flask (only for those over 21).
Only 100 have been made and amazingly are going for as little as $120 – if you are in Boston get yourself there tomorrow!
On Saturday May 1 is the 5th Annual Sneaker Freinds Event, this year at The Compound, Atlanta GA.
“sat may 1st in atlanta is the 5th annual sneaker friends. this year will be epic for the sneaker lovers, heads, collectors, web sites, magazines, boutiques, brands, etc. we are going in. stay logge… “
Just when you thought that Jeremy Scott had topped the last year’s collaborative designs, these Mickey Mouse Adidas El Dorado’s arrive exclusively at South Korean retailer Kasina. The giant Mickey Mouse tongues are sure to be a huge hit, let’s just hope the West gets a taste of some Disney iconography on their feet. Based upon the Adidas El Dorado basketball boot model, these JS Mickey Hi’s retail at around £115 – it would help if you had friends on Korea but they are available online at kasina.co.kr.
Adidas in the past 6 months has been host to many collections and collaborations, however this month Adidas Originals launch their very own collection, the A.039 Blue Label Collection.The official Press Release from Adidas about the new collection is below their promotional video – stylistically worked with UK print title Volt, photographer Joost Vanderbrug and stylist Cynthia Lawrence-John.
As a key highlight for the spring/summer 2010 season, adidas Originals introduces its new blue label collection named “Originals A.039”. The label will be an integral part of the overall adidas Originals line, but is differentiated by its “A.039” branding, which is the internal code for the Originals blue colour. Built to offer an outfit-driven concept, the “Originals A.039” blue label collection presents entire looks from head to toe, for men and women. Led by apparel and completed by footwear, it reflects the incomparable values of originality, quality and authenticity that the Trefoil brand stands for – in a fresh way and with special attention to detail.
The new collection is based on adidas Originals’ strong roots, iconic styles and wellestablished 3-Stripes mark in combination with contemporary design presented by quarterly offers in spring/summer 2010. Its first quarter offer is characterized by subtle colours and sophisticated looks and cut lines. Highlights are the “Oversized Fabric Mix Tee” with an archive-inspired triangle insert in the front for women or the “Crew Argyle Sweater” in fine gauge cotton knit for men.
Products in the second quarter have a more collegiate approach with brighter colours, colour block and collegiate graphic elements brought to life on styles such as the archive-inspired “Hooded Cape” for women, an ultra-light nylon hooded windbreaker for women in a fashionable cape, or the “Notebook Check Short” for men with its unique notebook-inspired printed poplin.
The colour blue, the Trefoil logo and the 3-Stripes have always marked the identity of the Originals brand and provide the ideal communication sign-off for this new blue label collection that brings back the linear adidas logo in combination with the call-out of “Originals A.039” on product labels and packaging. The linear adidas logo was frequently used in the 1980s, featuring the regular adidas font and the Trefoil next to each other in one line.
The “Originals A.039” collection will be on sale from January 2010 at adidas Originals stores and at selected partners in the adidas fashion distribution channel. Prices for apparel range from EUR/US$ 30 for classic tees and tops up to EUR/US$ 450 for statement pieces like a leather jacket. Footwear styles start at EUR/US$ 45 for canvas espadrilles and go up to EUR/US$ 120 for hi-cut silhouettes.
Kazuki X Adidas Originals – Gipfel Hitop 2010 range
Japanese designer Kazuki Kuraishi has put his eye into these two Adidas Originals Gipfel hitops colourways. With the familiar sole from the hard to find Adidas Torsions of january 2009. This collaboration goes hand in hand with the Kazuki designed apparel for Adidas Originals, and the whole range is currently available online at Size? UK – in stores and online.
Kazuki X Adidas Originals – Gipfel Hitop 2010 range
Even though these two colourways look simple at first, in true Japanese style Kazuki has brought a real attention to detail with this season’s collaboration, as you can see alone from the label on the tongue.
Kazuki X Adidas Originals – Gipfel Hitop 2010 range
This collaboration should be available from all good sneaker stockers internationally, but for now check out Size? UK for further pictures, or just to get your hands on them ASAP!
This is not the first time that French graffiti artist Fafi has worked with Adidas Originals, and the whole range which includes low’s and apparel also can be seen at the official Adidas site. Fafi has said that “I really wanted to be involved in graphic design as well as styling, all the pieces are inspired by my own closet, stuff I found in vintage stores or during my trips.” This Fafi range jasd some great details, and will predominantly be in womens’ sizes, and will be available internationally from all good Adidas stockists in the next month or so.
