For fledging Japanese brand Cactus, since they’re inception they’ve received ample amounts of exposure with various collaborations. Previously releasing both a hiker style Carphill boot and eyewear with Ubiq, the two have once again teamed up to create the Ilis. Three colors involve familiar hiking boot lace loops on a high top format with rubber toebox.
For fledging Japanese brand Cactus, since they’re inception they’ve received ample amounts of exposure with various collaborations. Previously releasing both a hiker style Carphill boot and eyewear with Ubiq, the two have once again teamed up to create the Ilis. Three colors involve familiar hiking boot lace loops on a high top format with rubber toebox.
Skateboard brand enjoi has had eco-friendliness on the mind often donating 55% of its money to Enviromental Protection Agency. The panda logo totting brand has enjoyed success on both the product front and video front with their debut video Bag of Suck taking home Transworld Skateboarding’s 2006 video of the year. Teaming up with G-Shock, they have released their own version of the popular and durable style in a cream/green colorway. Available now at STLESS.
With a strong foundation in Japan due to the roots laid close to 60 years ago, Asics has all but maintained a strong presence in its country of birth. Here’s a look into their latest collection of footwear including the classic Pro Court models in its variants and the Top Seven. Seen within the collection are Nextide releases, something that was originally conceived to offer an alternative method of enclosure for sneakers and provide an easier way of life to those unable to deal with conventional forms of enclosure like laces. Available now at Flauge.
Paying homage to imagery originally seen within the pages of a Keith Haring book, A.IN.T embodies a theme of Art in Transit. The name references the transitive qualities of art, something they feel represents their brand. With Maharishi at the production helm, A.IN.T has set forth to reinterpret the t-shirt by ways of incorporating their British roots and large graphics and carefully chosen colorways. Look for A.IN.T at fifteen of the top doors in the UK including London’s DPMHI Store.
Despite a wealth of co-branded releases that have released through the Gectic stable over the years, the popular Japanese brand has gone solo in their most recent footwear project, the Pile. With warm summer colors in mind, the classic court shoe profile is done up in terry cloth uppers. The heel features the tag “Yop’s” in reference to hectic founder Yoshifumi Egawa’s nickname. Available now at eproze.
Following up on the well received original Maharishi x Destructo collection featuring Warholian inspired camo print originally seen in 1986 comes a new updated collection. Various colored trucks as well as skate decks produced in conjunction with [PRODUCT] will be available at select retailers in limited quantities. Despite the passing of famed pop artist Andy Warhol, his memory has been long be revisited in various projects.
Just ask any aspiring southern MC (as well as other parts of the country and world for that matter) who inspired them to rhyme and watch their eyes illuminate like Christmas trees as they mention UGK at the top of the list. For years the Port Arthur, Texas duo combined Bun B’s growling yet smooth baritone with pin point precise lyricism and Pimp C’s unmistakable country twang spiced with biting wit. Pimp C constructed tracks drenched in woozy gospel organs and classic hip hop 808 drum kit all seemingly slowed up on prescription cough medicine. Since the mid 90s the group dropped classic albums (Riding Dirty), classic guest appearances (Bun B’s verse on Ludacris’ “Stick em up”) and became a chest thumping source of pride and counter attack for southern hip hop fanatics against the constant barrage of unfair criticism against southern lyricists. Unexpectedly and tragically last year Pimp C passed away at a moment in UGK’s career that just seemed to be on its way into the consciousness of the mainstream.
With the loss of a friend and a rhyming partner, determined to carry UGK’s legacy on his back Bun B defiantly pulls his H-town fitted down low and goes in alone on his second fourth coming solo album “II Trill”. One thing is for certain after listening to the opening bars on Bun B’s first single “That’s Gangsta” is that Bun has not changed up his perfected formula at all. He immediately smashes the listener in the face with brutal braggadocios lyrics over melodic abrasive drum stabs. Even Sean Kingston’s Jamaican tinged crooning over the chorus appears to be more emphatic then usual when placed in the middle of Bun’s authentic narratives. With all of its gangsta posturing and scathing attacks on fake thugs the song comes to a close by Bun giving a shout out to his fallen friend.
Japanese fashion label Neighborhood has once again looked to Japanese magazine Men’s Non-No to produce a special t-shirt. Playing to the theme of Neighborhood and various motor influences, the design features a pin-up girl print. The t-shirt is among a handful of other participating brands that have teamed up with Men’s Non-No including SOPHNET., Fred Perry and Burton.
Source: Secret Base
We’re about to roll out to China’s capital Beijing, a city bustling with close to 20 million people and the site for this years well documented Summer Olympics. Nike has put the wheels in motion as they initiate a new direction with the creation of Nike Sportswear which in our eyes is the evolution of Nike’s recent innovative Tech Pack which yielded great success for Nike as once again rules were broken and reinvented. Check back for updates regarding various events that will take place over the next four days.
Beyond the huge success artist Kaws has developed culminating in worldwide popularity and one of the most sought after brands around, JET-SET GRAFFITI provides a look into Kaws roots putting his mark on bus stops in New York and Tokyo. Kaws gives a run down on how he goes about changing up posters with commentary provided by acclaimed artist Ron English.
Source: Slam X Hype, Wooster Collective
As we slowly approach the months of Summer, brands are starting to release their items made for the warmer weather. This includes the Japanese exclusive line, Levi’s FLU, which recently showcased their latest 2008 Spring/Summer collection on the site, Honeyee. The latest products which remain sporty but fashionable includes Polos, Shirts, Tees, CoolMax Denim Shorts as well as a couple pair of Denim Jeans. If you can read Japanese, you can head over to Honeyee to read the interview with the creative directors behind Levi’s FLU, Takihiro Okazawa (CYCLE, CLS) and Ewan Rey (Playford).
