Archive for the ‘Blog’ Category

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Today we take a look at an upcoming “Christmas Pack” by Asics via the peeps at The Good Will Out (http://www.thegoodwillout.com). With the resurgence in popularity for the brand via several high profile collaborations the general release selections have been getting better with each season. This isn’t just the brand for those middle aged rainbow shoe wearing guys you see at the gym anymore! The pack consists of the brands 3 most popular retro running models the GL3, GT2, and Gel Saga. Each shoe gets a Christmas theme of its own with the first being the Gel Lyte III Santa. The 3 comes in a primarily red makeup with white hits via the stripes and toe box highlights making the inspiration pretty obvious. These are sure to be the fan favorite of the pack given the popularity of red in the sneaker community. The Gel Saga comes in a much more toned down makeup of a khaki like suede with a red sole. Dubbed the Rudolph its a cool effect the way the front of the red outsole plays up the red nose look of these kicks. The most intriguing of the pack to me is the GT2. At first glance these are just a basic green and white make up giving the Elf interpretation a basic tonal look. Upon further review I caught the all leather construction with different textures giving these a look rarely seen on the typically suede GT2. One can assume all three models with drop this winter in time for their inspired holiday. Will any of these be on your list to Santa? Let me know in your comments below!

 

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Tinker Hatfield. If you don’t know that name you probably don’t need to keep reading as you don’t care about kicks. Ok that’s harsh but Tinker Hatfield is pretty much the most influential and well known sneaker designer in history. Not only did he design the Air Jordan line for Nike from the historic III on, he is also the man responsible for Air Max technology. You know that little clear bubble you see in the midsoles of shoes across the planet? That pretty much wouldn’t be there without this man.  Two other things that wouldn’t be there without Tinker are the Air Max 90 Infrared and the Nike Air Trainer 1. Today we take a look at a perfect combination of the two set to drop in the coming months. The Nike Air Max 90 Infrared is arguably one of the most recognizable shoes in circles worldwide. Many say its a “must have” for any collection and I would agree. The infrared look has been tried on many different shoes from Nike and other brands but this Nike Air Trainer 1 is the best yet. The Air Trainer 1 is a 1987 design by Hatfield that had the purpose of weightlifting or other non-running forms of training. It has a higher cut and a midfoot strap for stability. The infrared inspired makeup stays true to the materials and original colorblocking of the classic. The multi-tone grey uppers, white mesh toe box, and infrared sole and tongue hits really give the feel of the original 90 on this model that otherwise doesn’t share much shape with its younger design mate. Take a look at the pics after the jump via mita sneakers and let me know if you are excited as I am about the release. These have already dropped in Japan and one can only hope a US release date is coming soon.

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Fall is here across the country and what better time to get back into this blog thing. Today we take a look at a great sneaker collaboration from the, relatively speaking, new to the scene shop Bait out in Diamond Bar, CA. I say relatively as the shop is the brick and mortar iteration of Eric Cheng owner of the popular web retailer PickYourShoes.com. Bait opened its doors in 2012 and hit the ground running with a multi-shoe Asics collaboration dubbed the “5 rings” pack. In my opinion the pack was a little all over the place and thus didn’t have the success typically seen with collaborative sneaker releases. In the past year Bait has collabed on several other shoes and brands(thankfully one at a time). The results proved much more successful and focused. For this go round they have chosen the Asics Gel Saga silhouette and named them the Phantom Lagoons. The Gel Saga is a model that isn’t quite as popular as its brand mates the GL3 or GT2 but when done right on materials and color blocking can be a stunner in its own right. The Phantom Lagoons definitely fall into that category for me featuring velvet suede and perforated nubuck uppers in a great mix of colors. Its tough to go wrong with purple and navy and Bait has done superbly sticking with the phantom theme dressing the suede in each of them. The perf nubuck is seen mostly in a teal blue hue that takes you straight to thoughts of tropical water and the additional white hit on the tongue is a nice touch. Laced up with two tone rope laces the shoes pop from top to bottom. The Asics Gel Saga Phantom Lagoons release today in store at Bait as well as on their website www.baitme.com at 12pm PST. Take a look at some additional shots via Sneakernews Select after the jump and let me know if you’ll be copping in the comments below!

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A Guide to New Balance Mathematics

I couldn’t go without reposting this great rundown of the various New Balance models from SneakerNews. Articles like this are what keep them one of my go-to sites for all things kicks. Take a look at the link and let me know which NB model is your favorite. Personally I like the 577s and MT580s but have to admit that Sneakers N Stuff and Burn Rubber played a big part in that for me.

Its not the first time we have seen the brogue treatment on a sneaker but to my memory its the first time we have seen it on a New Balance. Adding another shop to the mix of endless New Balance collaborators, Northridge’s INVINCIBLE gives it a go on the 1400 model that has been having a rebirth with J.Crew collabs of late. The shoe features a touch of a formal look with brogue detailing on the toe and heel cup punched into ultra premium navy suede. The premium materials continue with tonal leather laces and a white leather lining. All of this is sitting atop a white mid and outsole that gives the pair a clean look that’s sure to look great year round. The J.Crew 1400s I have are one of the most comfortable shoes I own so these are sure to have you riding on clouds while still snappin necks. These are set to DROP at INVINCIBLE May 18th with more shops to follow in late May and into June. The brogue look was a huge hit on Nike SBs Janoski Mid and I imagine the same will hold true with this nice makeup. Will you be classing up your New Balance collection with these 1400s? Take a look at a few more pics after the jump and let me know in the comments below.

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BOSTON PRIDE

Posted: April 18, 2013 in Blog

Mega shoutout to Packer Shoes for doing what they can in a time of tragedy. (DropDSM)

PACKER

CENTERED-2

Boston, MA — There is not a company in our industry that does not have some connection to this great city.  From the retailers and creative minds who push the envelope of creativity daily and the companies and agencies that are in the surrounding towns and communities, the collection of talent up the i-95 corridor is one with vast history, integrity and embodies the true American spirit.  Through the years we have been in business we have been fortunate enough to have relationships with great partners who have not only been wonderful to work with on the business and creative side but relationships that over time have turned into genuine friendships built from mutual respect and admiration.

What happened Monday afternoon in the midst of what should have been a celebration of this incredible spirit is something that will never be forgotten and unfortunately has left an indelible mark on…

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Ronnie Fieg is arguably the most famous name in sneaker designs that isn’t an athlete. There is a good reason for that. His designs with brands like Asics have brought them into the spot light with popping colors and premium materials. He has been hinting his next project for weeks with the hashtag #ECP or East Coast Project. The full details haven’t been released but it appears to be focused on the opening of his popular Kith retail concept in Miami. There are said to be 30 products dropping in the collection with the most hyped being the above pair of Asics GL3s with pretty obvious inspiration. The first of the duo is a Dolphins color make up of similar blue to the Mint Leafs but with those famous orange highlights. The second is a plush suede royal and orange colorway that seems to be a Knicks inspiration. Being the hypemaster he is Ronnie has also posted a picture of some no show, Kith branded, Stance socks that pair up with the Dolphins colorway. One can assume there will also be a pair to match the Knicks colorway. A Just Us beach towel is also in the mix adding to that beach theme. If I were guessing I would say a line of crews, tshirts, hats, and jackets will release alongside each shoe. I could also see the Miami iterations being a Miami exclusive but again no official word is known. Are you excited for this collection? Take a look at a few more pics after the jump and comment below!

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I love these more every time I wear them. When combined with a pair of Stance socks the comfort level is just unmatchable. The premium suede cranberry color always turns heads too. I can honestly say I am a fan of nearly every New Balance in the J.Crew line. Let me know what you think and grab your own pair HERE.

If you follow sneakers at all you know that Nike’s Roshe Run was the surprise hit of 2012 with tons of colors and styles selling out worldwide. Continuing on that model of low price point and extreme comfort Nike is pumping out the Solarsoft line at record pace this year. So far we have seen the standard moccasin and woven moccasin in a variety of colors and materials and that doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon. Featuring the super comfortable solarsoft outsole these are a perfect summer shoe for whatever you may get yourself into. The uppers are of varying material as the standard has a light weight mesh upper while the wovens feature suede or leather uppers giving a more refined look. I have a few pairs and have noticed that the insole is almost identical to the Roshe Run but is sewn in vs easily removable like in the Roshe. Either way the no sock gang can rest easy as these are perfect for letting your feet breathe. I personally like the woven look the best and have picked up the navy suede colorway as well as the limited Year of the Snake makeup. Given that the shoe was designed by the same designer as the Yeezy 2 its no surprise these are a hit with sneaker fans of all shapes and sizes. Plenty of sizes & styles are available from Nike right HERE. Do you plan to pick up a few pairs? Check out some other examples after the jump and let us know in the comments below!

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Its worlds colliding for this writer. The Hundreds and The Grateful Dead collaborating on a collection together? I mean am I dreaming? I have loved the jam music scene for years and spent many of them traveling around seeing bands like Phish and STS9. I was never fortunate enough to see the Grateful Dead with Jerry but have seen iterations of them over the years. Now add to that one of my favorite labels in streetwear? Seriously grate stuff! This is a collection that kind of came out of nowhere as not many people would put streetwear and The Grateful Dead in the same discussion but Bobby Hundreds did a great job describing it on their blog so I will let his words speak for themselves:

A timeless American brand, rife with legacy and cultural history, amassing a devout niche following by encouraging grassroots awareness and community. We could be talking about The Hundreds, but we could also be referencing the Grateful Dead.

In 1965, the Northern California rock band set off on a long, strange trip, infusing psychadelia, space rock, jazz, and blues into a hypnotic concoction of music that converted followers around the world. A large part of this cult fandom was by way of the Grateful Dead’s mailing list, by which the band maintained direct communication with their base, disseminating tour information, band happenings, and release dates (not unlike how The Hundreds utilizes the web to speak to our customer); the Grateful Dead were social networkers before the technology or ideology was even imaginable.

Furthermore, the band not only embraced, but supported the live taping of their shows, prompting a subculture to foment around the procurement and trade of this underground music network––Just as, you may think, The Hundreds fans value the brand’s exclusive offerings. The Hundreds partners up with the Grateful Dead in a perhaps unexpected and unpredictable collaboration range of apparel this Spring, but it’s also not hard to see how similarly both creative projects are composed. As with the Grateful Dead, The Hundreds puts the people before the product, drawing our own lines, and pioneering our own subcultural marketplace beyond the traditional path.

Sounds good to me Bobby! This collection has a little something for everyone with both loud tie dye items and more toned down colors with the focus on graphics like the Hundreds has become known for over the years. Some of my personal favorites from the preview are the black dancing bears T with a TH twist (reminiscent of their take on Disney’s The Lost Boys) and the Steal Your Face/Adam Bomb tanks. Take a look at the preview of the items below and look for these to release in the Hundreds retail locations on 4/20 and their online store 4/22. Will you be grabbing anything from the collection? Let me know in the comments below.

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