Nike HTM Flyknit

Primarily I created this blog to showcase my love of trainers, I have over the last couple of years steered towards other areas of fashion and lifestyle. But I still have a continued love of the creative process and innovation of footwear so it is nice when I am pulled back into the field that brought me to this point in the first place. And the Nike HTM Flyknit collection is just the project to do it, heralding a collision of old and new. By taking processes garnered from knitwear and the continuing innovation of flywire material Nike have been able to create a material which is super lightweight, breathable, superbly well fitting and comfortable. They are calling it the perfect running shoe which is probably a bit premature but it easy to see why there is alot of buzz surrounding this product line. They are easily my favourite looking shoe since the free runs and I love how the Flyknit adds a depth of texture that mesh cannot match, I cannot wait to see how this will be used across the rest of the Nike ranges and to get a pair onto my feet and out on the running trail...

Cole Haan x Nike Lunargrand Wingtip

Hybrids have always been a somewhat contentious subject in the sneaker world often due to the dismantling of a fan favourite, but when it comes to the above I have to say im converted. After Nike designer Jarrett Reynolds blog revealed his pair of custom lunar saddle shoes in late 2010 it must have got the creative cogs turning in the design kitchen. If like me you are wondering how exactly this collaboration came to fruition the story goes something like this. Founded by Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan in Chicago, Illinois, back in 1928, Cole Haan quickly became renowned for making fine quality shoes for men. In 1988 the company was acquired by Nike and began integrating parts of Nikes innovative technology into their own footwear, so with this in mind the Lunargrand Wingtip seems the inevitable next step in a seemingly organic partnership. Bearing in mind that a wingtip and a lunar running shoe are virtually polar opposites in ever way apart from being worn on the feet this shoe does not look wrong at all on the contrary in fact they grow on me more after every viewing. I do think however leather would have been a more appropriate upper material but i'm sure this is not the last we will see of this specimen...

CLOT x Nike Tennis Classic

Off the back of their hugely popular Converse collaboration last year Hong Kong fashion brand CLOT bring a similar textural effort to the table for 2012. This time in the shape of a two-tone Nike Tennis Classic, with white suede making up the majority of the upper and premium red leather and red eyelet accenting the design is very simple but a great summer shoe and not sure if this is intentional but they do have a certain resemblance to the Marty McFly Bruins from Back to the Future which is never a bad thing...

Nike Sportswear Mayfly LT

Alas the Mayfly the insect with the shortest lifespan on earth seems to bear certain similarities to it's aptly named sneaker counterpart. As the new year approached we got the news to expect the release of the Mayfly LT a suped up version of the original Mayfly which was one of the best concept running shoes Nike ever produced. But the release has now been cut from UK release and looks to only see the light of day stateside if at all. It is such a shame to see Nike cutting really good releases based on commercial viability considering the size of their business model its hard to understand why they can't let something of such importance to lovers of trainers to slip through the net. Nevertheless this shoe is something special, keeping the insect wing patterning on the upper this time laser cut into a more premium upper than the paper thin originals, but in keeping with the first they still look fragile and are still one of the lightest and most comfortable models in existence getting your hands on these may be hard but will be worth it...

Air Jordan III 'Black Cement'

The Air Jordan III is what a would call a seminal sneaker, one of such brilliant aesthetics it is hard to describe it in mortal words. And this colorway is arguably the best in its long history. Although this is a retro release and thus it will be missing the original Nike Air rear logo which the Jumpman now adorns, it will be missing the superior leather and build quality of the originals. What they will not be missing is the nostalgia, the grey/black and red colorway with the iconic elephant print, the silhouette which helped Jordan to his 1988 Dunk Championship win and helped create the iconic Mars Blackmon. These shoes are without a doubt in my top 5 of all time and on release represented a new era in sneaker design and in recent times have remerged still as strong as they day they were first debuted. Make sure you don't miss out on these believe me you will end up wishing you hadn't...

Its so Yeezy...

Finally after various blurred, cropped and poor quality photos of the Air Yeezy 2 we finally get a decent look at the Black/Pink colorway. Although its not known wether these will be one of pairs released I think it is probably a good bet. Do you prefer these to the original Black colorway seen early this year? And what do you think the other colorways have in store?

Undercover x Nike Gyakusou AW11 Collection

The Undercover x Nike Gyakusou collection moves into its 3rd generation and with each iteration comes a new excitement such is the expectation of this collections quality. Thankfully the good news is the team have once again delivered a superb collection. It was hard see where improvements could be made to what was an almost perfect running collection both technically and aesthetically last time round and for the most part this collection is not as ground breaking as its predecessors but after raising the bar to such a great height it is not difficult to see why. With design centred around mobility and functionality, an interesting warm autumn colour palette including various beautiful shades of slate and fairly extensive assortment of pieces from headwear all the way down to footwear I cannot fault the collection overall and long may this collaboration continue because it really has brought out the best from both brands. Available now at 1948 and from tomorrow at all other UK stockists...

Nike MAG, its all over...

Well that's it till 2015 everyone, i'm going to start saving now, but here's a couple of videos about the project and design of the 2011 MAG's to keep you going till then...

 

Nike 'Marty Mcfly' MAG teaser

Yes yes, by now everyone on the planet has watched this video by now, but for those who haven't peeped the news. Nike have leaked a teaser of what is certain to be one of the most anticipated releases of all time. The Nike MAG of 'Back To The Future' fame is for some the reason that they love trainers for others a distant dream from your childhood. No matter how many previous incarnations and copies we have seen it all comes back to this shoe. I do feel however that the circus surrounding this release and with the technology involved it could all end up being a bit over indulgent. The fact remains I have wanted those shoes since I watched in awe as Mr J Fox pulled them on and they laced themselves but will they actually be wearable or just an expensive trip down memory lane. Lets just see how this pans out...

Nike SB Janoksi Mid Oil Green

The Janoski SB was from the outset a brilliant design no doubt but I was apprehensive when I saw the Mid silhouette for the first time. Luckily just as the original it has borred a whole in my heart with both simplicity and wearability, no matter wether it be on the board or sitting in a cafe with a rolled chino these look so eloquent and for this reason it is becoming the adonis of the SB family, I have to say I can see this being the shoe that represents the Nike SB brand more that any other, sorry P-Rod...

Nike x Tiger Woods Free

The Nike Innovation Kitchen, the stuff of dream but alas the place where some thought things had gone stale. I must admit given the huge resurrection of much 'lesser brands' it was easy to say Nike has fallen off the the radar somewhat in the sneaker market. But I think what has happened is probably almost the opposite. By taking a step back from the continually saturating market I feel Nike has once again risen to the top because not because of extra money but because of experience. Given the rate of current releases by competing brands it seems Nike has taken the foot off the accelerator to concentrate on what in most cases is the most important thing the quality of the product. Yes they are still continually dipping into the archives and dishing out what the general populous are feeding on and why not. But they are also taking the initiative and creating the future of footwear. Take the Nike x Tiger Woods Free shoe, taking a concept from a running shoe and pitching it into a new environment (no pun intended). I really wholeheartedly love this shoe, I think it looks crazy but in a good way and more importantly is pushing the boundaries of footwear design...

 

Fragment Design x Nike AW11 All Court 2's

Fragment Design are set to bring a selection of collaborative efforts with Nike to the table this year starting with this selection of 6. The All Court 1 which brought so much success in 2010 is out and the more slimline All Court 2 silhouette has been brought in. You will probably notice they have a much slimmer outsole and smaller rubber toe caps. Sticking to a simple formula of de swooshing the shoe and keeping it super simple with 3 singular colorways all with white stitching. The only branding to be seen small FRGMNT tab, on the inner eyestay, as you can see there will be hi and lo top options available and they are guaranteed to go with everything in your wardrode...

Nike Dunk AC Premium TZ AW11

If your starting to think a running theme of tan leather is from my recent posts, this is not a conscious decision to promote this material but more of a trend that seems to be from a whole host of brands for the upcoming months. I had no choice but to post these because I have an always will be a massive fan of the Dunk AC since its release, the don't mess with a classic mentality has no place in my agenda, I have a rather simple like it or don't like it policy. This AW11 model seems more refined than previous attempts, the outsole is pure white with no accented outline and it seems they have taken away the texturing on the toe also. With an all leather tan upper and black laces this is the cleanest looking Dunk I have seen, they are also available in black but in my opinion the tan colorway is far superior...

Nike Sportswear VT Premium Pack

Nikes VT (Vac Tech) technology is definately pushing the boundaries of footwear design and production. This pack which contains the AM90, Dunk and also AF1 (not pictured) is dubbed the Wheat Pack given its earthy monotone colour scheme. The AM90's are often considered to be 'chav' wear here in England but more and more I have been seduced by them, this pair being the pinnacle of my fascination and im definitely considering adding these to my collection, I think the 1 colour gives you a chance to appreciate what a great looking shoe it is without having your retinas burnt by overcomplicated colorways, these are going to fly believe me...

Nike Vintage Autumn Blazers

Having just purchased the yellow pair from the last drop I feel I can pretty much fully endorse this selection of Blazers. The silhouette is a classic, the selection of colours here is great for Autumn but they are also available in stacks of other colours. They look great with a pair of jeans or shorts or chinos for that matter and they can either accent a monotone outfit or be part of a grander color scheme, available now...

Nike Vintage Oregon Waffle Pack

Vintage Oregon Waffle's need I say more. Whenever I see these it gives me a nostalgic feeling and I start spouting phrases like 'they don't make em like they used to'. With 3 simple colorways in nylon and furry suede these look the bees knees, also the white leather lining makes all the difference on comfort around the ankle. Perfect for summer sports in the park...

Nike Air Yeezy 2

Some of you may have heard whispers, hold on let me back up a second. All of you will now have heard the Nike Air Yeezy 2 has been spotted on the feet of their proprietor Mr Kanye West here, there and everywhere. Gaining infinitely more hype with every step this is no doubt the start of another furious fight for the prize. There has already been alot of talk on the design/look of the shoe so here is my two pennys; Overall I think this a much more grown up shoe, it reflects Kanyes own growth as an artist and I really do like them more than the originals. I will reserve judgement until we get the inevitable retail versions, but enjoy these for now...

Nike Free Run+2 City Pack

London
The aesthetics of the Nike Free Run over its evolution have gone from strength to strength and in my opinion it is one of the best looking performance trainers out there. The Nike Free Run+2 City Pack takes the latest incarnation around the world with 5 colorways each associated with a major city. I think they are all great, the pastel colours are a perfect match for the hazy summer days in the city.


New York

Rio de Janeiro

Tokyo

Shanghai