DONAL GLOVER PRESENTS RC30

Like most sneaker companies these days, New Balance is no stranger to collaboration. But in recent years, it's refined a specific, charming collaborative spirit to help supercharge its offering. Over the last five years, the Boston-based brand has called upon brands (like Aimé Leon Dore, JJJJound, Todd Snyder, and Casablanca) and celebrities (like Jaden Smith, Jack Harlow, and Salehe Bembury) to help give their shoes a fresh spin. And to help debut their newest footwear offering, the RC30, they’ve enlisted the help of none other than Donald Glover.

In terms of style, the RC30 is not too far off from the brand's XC-72 and 327 sneakers, and cleverly reimagines the sleek performance style of vintage running shoes. The silhouette even borrows from the New Balance Trackstar, adding a subtle but dynamic curve to the vintage classic’s signature ripple sole. Two colorways kick off the shoe’s debut: “Golden Hour,” which comes with a mustard base and white branding, and “Sea Salt,” with a white base and blue branding.

New Balance’s Joe Grondin, who heads up the brand’s global collaborations, shared that the collab offers “no loud colours or branding, just classic, easy-to-wear colorways of a new silhouette that fit Donald’s style." 

BY ANISH PATEL FOR GQ

sea salt with macadamia nut and nb navy • golden hour with nb burgundy and sea salt

Donald Glover presents the RC30. This new silhouette is a streamlined take on the time-warped, classic inspiration meets modern execution concept, with a focus on distinctive features unique to competitive racing models of the ‘60s and ‘70s. The upper features classic nylon with suede accents, while reducing the overall number of panels. Curved edge ‘N’ branding inspired by pre-N logo overlay designs, and midsole stripe detail offer subtle callbacks to racing comp design elements. An exaggerated rippled design brings contemporary proportions to the defining feature of the historic, original Trackster, while a curved outsole and midfoot lift mimic the idiosyncrasies that occurred with ‘70s construction methods.

PLAYING WITH FIRE by KINI

WOODY ROCKWELL PRESENT…. PLAYING WITH FIRE

HUMAN TORCH ® KINI 2022

PLAYING WITH FIRE: JULY 8th - JULY 31st
Fire is, to me, a fitting metaphor for this thing we call life. Fire is wild; fire is beautiful; fire can both create and destroy in the same instance. I also believe passion is the human body’s way of mirroring fire in the natural world. There are limitless possibilities that stem from a human soul on fire. What we can and cannot do is ultimately in our own hands. How passionate are we? How does our perception of life and ourselves impact our world? The way we look at things can ultimately be our guide or be the catalyst for our own destruction. This series of paintings uses fire as a motif, reflecting the strong emotions we endure as human beings. Over recent years, a fiery rage has been growing in my heart, waiting to eradicate anything keeping me from experiencing my love for life and all it has to offer. I believe all old paradigms and abusive systems will eventually go up in smoke, but the fire never truly stops burning. - KINI

PIANO CRAFT GALLERY
793 TREMONT STREET
BOSTON MA, 02118
FRI 6p - 9pm • SAT 12p - 5pm • SUN 12pm -5pm

THIS EVENT IS SPONSORED & POWERED BY
BENT WATER BREWING CO • CRAV INDUSTRIES • KALIKO PRODUCTIONS
AFRODESIACOTY • SAVVOR LOUNGE & RESTAURANT • HAITIANS OF BOSTON • NICOLE’S PIZZA

BIRKENSTOCK’s 1774 COLLECTION

BIRKENSTOCK’s 1774 Collection is an exclusive luxury line far away from trends. With its new refined materials and execution the 1774 Collection presents an unprecedented craftmanship, that unites luxury and comfort in a novel way.

Evolving around BIRKENSTOCK’s three most classic styles ARIZONA, MILANO and SIENA, the sandals shine bright in specially developed, unique colors: Rich Dazzling Blue and Classic Green ground the wearer whereas the luminous Blazing Yellow emphasizes his confidence; monochrome Black and White highlight its unmistakable subtle elegance. With a footbed made entirely of premium leather the collection offers space for annually creative growth for more timeless design.

With its eye for refined materials and detail the exclusive 1774 Collection celebrates the essence of BIRKENSTOCK’s identity: the cork/latex footbed, entirely wrapped in premium leather, creates an unprecedented feel of luxury; the newly developed, ultra thin leather sole promises flexibility and longevity, while the uniquely patterned PU areas guarantee anti-slip. With its delicate details such as the minimized and color-coordinated buckle with a fabric feel coating, the sandal strikes with even more sophistication.

Collections reflecting new interpretations of BIRKENSTOCK iconic styles, designed by innovative fashion designers. Sign up to learn more about our exclusive collections and their creators.

THE NIKE SB DUNK HIGH “STRAWBERRY COUGH”

Originally intended to be Nike SB’s traditional April 20th release in 2020, the infamous “Strawberry Cough” release of the Dunk High had been indefinitely postponed since it first came to light early last year. And with 2021’s 420 holiday also come and gone, a release this year seemed rather unlikely. However, official images of the weed-inspired sneaker have surfaced, suggesting that a release for this mythical pair could be looming.

A quick refresher: the forefoot of the Dunk is colored in red, with the overlays and mid-panel dimpled with touches of yellow to mimic the exterior seeds of the fruit. The Swoosh, heel, and ankle are covered in the standard hairy green suede to replicate the texture and visuals of weed, while a mascot of a coughing strawberry is featured on the heel and on the insoles. A soft heel-tab is also added, presumably to represent the leafy part of the head.

The appearance of Nike official images is by no means a confirmation of a release, but this is the most favorable developments yet. See the official photos ahead and stay tuned for updates.

LOUIS VUITTON x OFF-WHITE x NIKE AIR FORCE 1

Since entering mainstream consciousness, Virgil Abloh has demonstrated that he’s never not working. The Illinois-native’s relentless drive has produced collections with IKEA, speakers with Ojas and most recently 21 pairs of the Louis Vuitton x Off-White x Nike Air Force 1.

Unveiled at the Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring 2022 runway show in Paris on June 24th, the collection of sneakers mark yet another expansive project from Abloh. Unlike “The 50,” however, the upcoming series of the Nike Sportswear classic in low and mid-top trims boasts an assortment of colors and patterns. Off-White’s signature “Canary Yellow” makes an appearance on a two-tone pair featuring “LV” monograms all across the premium leather and canvas upper; Louis Vuitton’s oft-imitated Damier pattern is superimposed with ostensibly skate-inspired prints; off-center, co-branded labels on the tongue, fluorescent green tabs on the lateral swoosh and Helvetica text on the medial mid-foot reprise their usual roles throughout the latest Off-White-backed Air Force 1s.

Although Abloh’s latest endeavor has quickly garnered much more excitement than the aforementioned Nike Dunk Low capsule, it’s already drawn comparisons to the cheap customs one would find on a sketchy website trying to pass replicas off as good deals on popular sneakers. The shoes will undoubtedly be of good quality given their association with LV, but their excessive branding and bold design surely comes off as gaudy to some – especially when compared to the Dior x Air Jordan 1, Off-White’s upcoming Air Force 1. Nevertheless, the “Amen Break” collection’s Nike shoes serve as yet more glimpses into the mind of one of the most sought-out designers of the last five years.

Enjoy images of of some of the upcoming pairs here below, as you wait for more details on what’s sure to be one of the most intricate roll outs in NIKE, Inc. history.

For more from under the NIKE, Inc. umbrella, check out all rumored and confirmed Jordan release dates for the remainder of 2021 and beyond.

CRAV* INDUSTRIES 2ND COLLECTION

CRAV* INDUSTRIES 2ND COLLECTION F/W21
Featured Products:

BURNING DESIRES* LONG SLEEVE TEE: As a spinoff of the “IT’S OK TO LOVE” Oversized Tee featured in last collection, this shirt symbolizes the passion our heart truly carries. Every person has a passion and a drive that forces them to be something greater than their current self. For CRAV*, our burning desire is change towards a more peaceful environment within our society.

TI:RED: OUR LAST BREATH HOODIE: We are tired of the constant injustice in our country, plain and simple. In this piece we honor the lives of those lost at the hands of systemic racism and oppression some live by everyday. Rest In Peace Kings and Queens.

“CALL IT WHAT IT IS" HODDIE: In August of 2019, Donald Trump called two US mass shootings that had taken place in a time span of 13 hours cases of “mental illness.” Even though they both could have easily been considered racially profiled, they were labelled as results of mental instability. However, when a group of black kids allegedly assault a white woman, they are labelled as “thugs.” Let’s stop sugarcoating and start calling what these racial attacks really are.

Nike VP Resigns

Nike VP Resigns After Family Tie to Sneaker Reseller Uncovered.

Ann Hebert, a Nike employee of 25 years who most recently served as a VP overseeing its North America business, left the company on Monday, according to an internal email viewed by Complex.

“Ann Hebert, VP/GM, North America geography has decided to step down from Nike, effectively immediately,” the email reads. “We thank Ann for her more than 25 years with Nike and wish her well.”

Nike also put out a press release this afternoon publicly announcing the end of her tenure and confirmed the move in a statement to Complex.

“Ann Hebert made the decision to resign from Nike,” the brand said.

Hebert’s leaving Nike comes days after the publication of a Bloomberg piece focused on her son, a 19-year-old sneaker reseller named Joe. The piece mentions a credit card Joe used for his reselling business, West Coast Streetwear, that was registered in Ann’s name. The reseller insisted to the story’s author that his personal connection to a Nike exec not be written about in the piece and cut off communication after it was brought up.

Joe Hebert, reached via a third party, did not respond to a request for comment on this story.

Nike does not permit its employees to participate in sneaker reselling, and the practice of buying shoes at their retail price only to sell them at a higher price is still taboo to many collectors. A Nike spokesperson told Bloomberg that Ann had disclosed information about the business to her employer in 2018 and there was “no violation of company policy.”

The Bloomberg story sparked outrage online, where commenters questioned whether the younger Hebert was gaining unfair access to limited-edition sneakers with the help of his mother. Some brought up the six pairs of rare Nike Mags, which sell for over $12,000 each, that he said he’d randomly discovered in a storage unit in January 2020, speculating they were obtained through more nefarious means. One source claims that Joe would buy pairs in large quantities from Nike outlets using his mother’s discount and resell them later.

Ann Hebert’s purview at Nike included its SNKRS app, a destination for coveted product where shoes regularly sell out immediately, only to be resold on secondary markets. The brand spends a good amount of energy and money trying to protect the platform from bots that can help resellersbuy out stock faster than any human. Bloomberg’s piece on Joe Hebert’s business describes him using bots to compromise online launches, mentioning that he rang up $132,000 in one morning for a launch of Kanye West sneakers on the artist’s Yeezy Supply website. That same card, a corporate American Express, was registered in his mother’s name.

BYBRENDAN DUNNE

AIRPODMAX

AirPods Max.

Exhilarating high-fidelity audio and the effortless magic of AirPods. Introducing AirPods Max — designed to fully immerse you in rich, deep bass, accurate mids, and crisp, clean highs. All delivered with ultra‑low distortion across the audible range. The ultimate personal listening experience is here.

Introducing AirPods Max, a perfect balance of exhilarating high-fidelity audio and the effortless magic of AirPods. The ultimate personal listening experience is here.

A radically original composition. The over-ear headphone has been completely reimagined. From cushion to canopy, AirPods Max are designed for an uncompromising fit that creates the optimal acoustic seal for many different head shapes — fully immersing you in every sound.
• The canopy spanning the headband is made from a breathable knit mesh, distributing weight to reduce on‑head pressure.
• The stainless steel frame is wrapped with a soft-to-the-touch material for a remarkable combination of strength, flexibility, and comfort.
• Telescoping arms smoothly extend and stay where you set them, for a consistent fit and seal.
• The beautifully anodized aluminum cupsfeature a revolutionary mechanism that allows each cup to rotate independently and balance pressure.
• Crafted with acoustically engineered memory foam, the ear cushions gently create an immersive seal that is the foundation of incredible sound.
• Five colors. Anything but monotone.

Audio quality. Sounds like an epiphany.
AirPods Max combine high-fidelity audio with industry-leading Active Noise Cancellation to deliver an unparalleled listening experience. Each part of their custom-built driver works to produce sound with ultra-low distortion across the audible range. From deep, rich bass to accurate mids and crisp, clean highs, you’ll hear every note with a new sense of clarity.

Immersive listening.
To cancel unwanted external sound, AirPods Max use a total of six outward-facing microphones to detect noise in your environment, and two inward-facing microphones to measure what you’re hearing. Beamforming microphones help isolate your voice on phone calls, so it’s heard clearly — even in windy situations.

Immersive listening

To cancel unwanted external sound, AirPods Max use a total of six outward-facing microphones to detect noise in your environment, and two inward-facing microphones to measure what you’re hearing. Beamforming microphones help isolate your voice on phone calls, so it’s heard clearly — even in windy situations.

Hear every detail.
The Apple-designed dynamic driver produces a wide frequency range that uncovers the rich details of every sound — delivering your favorite songs with previously unheard texture and accuracy.

Distortionless playback.
Modeled after those in high-end floor-standing speakers, the driver’s dual-neodymium ring magnet motor minimizes total harmonic distortion across the entire audible range. The result is consistently clear playback, even at full volume.

Computational audio. Key to performance.
With a powerful Apple‑designed H1 chip in each cup, our custom acoustic design, and advanced software, AirPods Max use computational audio to create a breakthrough listening experience. By tapping into each chip’s 10 audio cores, computational audio helps block outside noise, adapts audio to the fit and seal of your ear cushions, and makes movie scenes sound like they’re happening all around you.

Industry‑leading Active Noise Cancellation counters external sound with equal anti‑noise, allowing you to immerse yourself in what you’re listening to.

Press the noise control button to switch to Transparency mode, which lets outside sound in so you can interact naturally with your surroundings.

Adaptive EQ tailors sound to the bespoke fit and seal created by the ear cushions. Inward-facing microphones measure what you’re hearing, then adjust the frequencies of your music to deliver a rich, consistent experience that faithfully reproduces every note.

Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking gives you a theater‑like experience for movies and shows, with sound that surrounds you. Using built-in gyroscopes and accelerometers, AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad track the subtle motion of your head, anchoring sounds to your device.

Magical experience. Elaborately simple. AirPods Max inherit all of the wireless, effortless magic of the AirPods family. From setup to Siri commands, they make the listening experience completely fluid — day to day, device to device.

One-tap setup. AirPods Max connect immediately to your iPhone or iPad. To pair, simply place AirPods Max near your device and tap Connect on your screen.

Seamless switching. Seamlessly move between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you’re playing music on your Mac and take a call on your iPhone, AirPods Max will automatically switch over.

Audio Sharing. Easily share an audio stream between two sets of AirPods on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple TV. Bring any AirPods near the device you’re listening to and connect in a tap.

On-head detection. AirPods Max pause audio when you take them off, and resume playback when you put them back on. So you never miss a beat.

Announce Messages. Let Siri speak incoming messages as they arrive with Announce Messages. You can even tell Siri to respond — no hands required.

Always-on Siri. Get directions, check the weather, schedule a meeting, and more with a simple “Hey Siri.” With an expansive set of commands, your favorite personal assistant is more helpful than ever.

A case with staying power. When stored in their soft, slim Smart Case, AirPods Max enter an ultra‑low‑power state that preserves charge.

A battery that keeps stayin’ alive. 20hours of listening, movie watching, or talk time — with Active Noise Cancellation and spatial audio enabled. Simply charge via Lightning connector. A quick 5‑minute charge delivering 1.5 hours of listening.

Buy AirPods Max At Apple $91.50/Month or $549.00

Writing the Future: Basquiat and the Hip-Hop Generation

The post-graffiti moment in 1980s New York City marked the transition of street art from city walls and subway trains onto canvas and into the art world. Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988) became the galvanizing, iconic frontrunner of this transformational and insurgent movement in contemporary American art, which resulted in an unprecedented fusion of creative energies that defied longstanding racial divisions. This exhibition features his works in painting, sculpture, drawing, video, music, and fashion, alongside works by his contemporaries—and sometimes collaborators—A-One, ERO, Fab 5 Freddy, Futura, Keith Haring, Kool Koor, LA2, Lady Pink, Lee Quiñones, Rammellzee, and Toxic. Throughout the 1980s, these artists fueled new directions in fine art, design, and music, driving the now-global popularity of hip-hop culture.

“Writing the Future: Basquiat and the Hip-Hop Generation” illuminates how this group’s subversive abstractions of both visual and verbal language—including neo-expressionism, freestyle sampling, and wildstyle lettering—rocketed their creative voices onto the main stages of international art and music. It is the first major exhibition to contextualize Basquiat’s work in relation to hip-hop and marks the first time his extensive, robust, and reflective portraiture of his Black and Latinx friends and fellow artists has been given prominence in scholarship on his oeuvre. Notable among those works is the much-revered painting Hollywood Africans, which lionizes Toxic and Rammellzee, the legendary artist/philosopher who is also represented with multiple works in “Writing the Future,” and with whom Basquiat created the prophetic, influential, and talismanic rap song “Beat Bop.”

Learn more about Basquiat, his peers, and New York’s post-graffiti era.

October 18, 2020–May 16, 2021
Ann and Graham Gund Gallery (Gallery LG31)

BEAUTIFUL GENIUS

BEAUTIFUL GENIUS : JORDAN PIANTEDOSI

Jordan Piantedosi is an interdisciplinary maximalist based in Boston.  She is energized by genre-blending & subverting the expectations of a medium - the design of bizarre textiles, (the feminine gaze, the subversive domestic, repetition and tessellation) and comics, (literary, narrative-driven, cinematic, humorous), and oil painting, (sensuality, mythology, grandiosity, symbolism, historically elevated.)  The spirit of simultaneity and proximity in the digital age invites comparison between these disparate sets of expectations, their varying levels of formality, where they are located in a cultural hierarchy, whether they contain a linear sense of time, and how they interact with oppositional forces.  Who do we identify as a protagonist?  An honest painter must admit that the act of painting, in all of its hilarious physicality, is the dragging of hairs through slime.  One could say “painting is dead,” or “take a picture, it’ll last longer,” but in the activated state of observation, the eyes become two ants, and they devour a desire very slowly - the labor of artwork is a desire that cannibalizes itself.  Simultaneously, at the atomic level, the trajectory of a particle in motion will be influenced by the expectations and desires of the scientist who bears witness to it.  As the artist misrepresents the muse, the art lover projects herself into the artwork's window of negative space - a sensual hologram.  The eyes drink color as if it were wine.  When we become bashful from so much looking, we hide behind the artwork to feel seen.  In this way, the artist makes herself useful.  

JORDAN PIANTEDOSI: BEAUTIFUL GENIUS
In 2016 I designed textiles and hand-painted leather for about one-third of the pieces in Erin Robertson's winning collection at NYC Fashion Week for Project Runway. I attended the taping of the final episode & you bet I DID get kisses from Heidi Klum.

NIKE AIR RAID "URBAN JUNGLE"

The Nike Air Raid “Urban Jungle Gym” From 1993 Is Returning Again

Throughout 2020, various classics from Nike Basketball’s 1990s roster have either been retroed or teased for a reissue. The original Nike Air Raid is rumored to return before the year ends, but now its louder “Urban Jungle Gym” colorway from 1993 is beloved to return, too. 

Launched alongside Spike Lee’s “Live Together, Play Together” campaign, the Air Raid animates its predominant greyscale palette with colorful patterns across the tongue, heel, and midsole. Signature double-straps on the upper feature a multi-color peace symbol at the midfoot, which evokes the message of unity Lee expresses in the aforementioned 1992 commercial. Although last seen in 2014, the Air Raid “Urban Jungle Gym” is poised to follow its original color scheme and construction much closer than its last retro, as a first-look at the pair reveals true “Dark Grey” overlays. While word has yet to emerge, the release’s accompanying Nike Sportswear models (i.e. Air Force 1, Air Max 1) may also retro in the ’90s theme.

Enjoy a first look at this Air Raid retro below, as you wait for official Nike SNKRS release details to emerge. by Jovani Hernandez for SneakerNews.

Why Is Fashion So Obsessed with Jean-Michel Basquiat?

An interview with Micaiah Carter, who photographed Coach's latest collaboration with the artist.

Why is the fashion world still so fixated on Jean-Michel Basquiat? How does an artist, 30-some years after his death, continue to be such a constant collaborator? In part, it is the fact that his estate has long been partnered with the licensing agent Artestar, thereby ensuring that his signature and imagery would appear on Off-White T-shirts, New Era caps, and even Peloton uniforms for years to come.

But Basquiat also had a certain way of moving and was a great beauty, which made him the perfect runway model for, say, the spring 1987 Comme des Garçons show. He also combined his passion with a cool remove, posing for the New York Times Magazine in 1985 wearing a paint-streaked Armani power suit, barefoot. It’s the kind of impertinent dance with consumer culture that artists today are usually too self-righteous to undertake.

Most recently, Basquiat’s work appears in the fall 2020 collection of Coach, which today debuts its collection of bags, T-shirts, and sweatshirts printed with the artist’s imagery, like the crown and dinosaur. The campaign was shot by Micaiah Carter and features Michael B. Jordan, Jennifer Lopez, Paloma Elsesser, Jon Batiste, and Basquiat’s niece Jessica Kelly, to name a few. In addition to the images, Coach will release a number of videos on social media in which subjects meditate on subjects like the family and art.

Basquiat, Carter says, “was a springboard for people to open up conversations that I think people weren’t having as often. And it resonated with the people that we shot, who are all people in the community who are all advocating for equal rights, not just for people of color but for all types of people.”

But Carter, who is 25, also points to something else: “A lot of it was New York.” He recalled arriving in the city from his small California hometown and thinking, “You have no choice but to adapt into your own ways” of approaching style. “Given his success, he still really made it his own with these designers and with these luxury brands to make it come back down to earth and really put his mark on everything. I think today people are inspired by that bravery that he had, to just do what he wanted to do.”

Carter’s signature is combining an easy sense of intimacy with a warm majesty. (It was firing on all cylinders in his photographs of Pharrell, posing in a Moncler gown, for the November 2019 issue of GQ as well.) Carter captured his subjects with an attitude that echoes the easy, stylish cool he attributes to Basquiat—Elsesser grinning, Jordan in a perfect crouch, and Lopez with her hoodie yanked over her head and nails painted electric blue. “They’re all artists,” he says, “and so there’s this respect—this level of collaboration.”

The other secret, Carter notes, is the perfect playlist. “I think that sets the mood.” Erykah Badu, City Girls, Playboi Carti, James Brown, and gospel music are all standards for him.

J. Lo brought her own playlist, however, and, Carter says, “I was able to vibe with that and really connect with her.” On the playlist? “Remixes of her own songs. I mean, that really gets you in the zone.” Barefoot Basquiat would approve. BY RACHEL TASHJIAN

CRAV* CHANGE REQUIRES ACCEPTING VIEWS

CHANGE REQUIRES ACCEPTING VIEWS.

We are Boston based and aiming to build a better future for today’s society by challenging each and every persons view and learning how to coincide through the differences. EXPERIENCE THE REVOLUTION!

Full Collection: WWW.cravindustries.COM

rev•o•lu•ton OVERSIZED COLLECTION

J BALVIN X Air Jordan 1 HIGH

J Balvin’s Air Jordan 1 High Collaboration Expected To Release This Holiday Season

If all of the sold out drops and astronomically high resell prices of Off-White and Travis Scottcollaborations are any indication, it’s that the Nike/Jordan team have mastered the art of aligning with key influential partners. And as we saw confirmed via an incredible Super Bowl halftime show this past February, the Jumpman music roster is set to expand by one this year with the welcoming of reggaeton artist J Balvin. The Colombian icon, who has been running up the numbers in recent years in terms of popular tunes with the likes of Cardi B, Bad Bunny, Major Lazer, and more, is now receiving his very own Air Jordan 1 collaboration. Balvin discussed in a recent interview that although production was caused to be pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the kicks will now be targeting a release for the 2020 holiday season.

Visually, the kicks are expressive of the artist’s vibrant fashion sense as the upper, which has been upgraded with edgy/extended overlays, is presented with a vibrant multi-colored gradient base seated next to a cream-colored tongue. Accents arrive by way of stark black shoe strings, as well as his signature happy face logo stamped along the left tongue and lateral heels. Peep a first look here ahead, and keep it locked for more official information related to its release likely on Nike.com and at select stockists. via sneaker news by elliot santiago

the launch

On April 4, 2019, Beyoncé announced a collaboration between that Ivy Park and Adidas. The collaboration marks the relaunch of the Ivy Park brand after severing ties with former retailer Topshop. In a statement released by Beyoncé on the official Ivy Park website, she states, "This is the partnership of a lifetime for me... Adidas has had tremendous success in pushing creative boundaries. We share a philosophy that puts creativity, growth and social responsibility at the forefront of business. I look forward to re-launching and expanding Ivy Park on a truly global scale with a proven, dynamic leader." The new relaunch also aims to put out shoes, performance gear, and lifestyle apparel.

A week before the official launch of the collaboration, Beyoncé sent various orange boxes to celebrities and fans promoting the launch. The boxes ranged in size from full scale clothing racks with the most notable pieces to smaller boxes that included shoes. Celebrities who received the box include Ellen DeGeneres, Cardi B, Kendall Jenner, Ciara, Missy Elliott, Reese Witherspoon, and Hailey Bieber.

Hours after the pre-sale launch on January 17, 2020, the collaboration was officially sold out on Adidas' website. The line was available in select Adidas stores worldwide, as well as Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Foot Locker, and Finish Line locations in the United States, on January 18, but also quickly sold out. Many fans expressed their frustration and blamed Adidas' virtual "waiting room" for with not being able to purchase any items because of the short time it took to sell out. Matt Powell, a senior footwear analyst at NPD Group, says Ivy Park x Adidas could eventually surpass sales of other Adidas collaborations, including Yeezy by Kanye West.

TOM & JERRY x REEBOK

If two of your favorite pastimes as a kid were watching Saturday morning cartoons and collecting sneakers, today’s Reebok announcement regarding an upcoming collection with Tom & Jerry must take you back to a much simpler time. Featuring unisex apparel, the collaboration’s main attraction is undeniably the footwear given that the cat-and-mouse duo will grace three iconic silhouettes: CLUB C, Club C Revenge, and INSTAPUMP DURY.Sharing the spotlight on two stylings of the Club C, Tom & Jerry’s rivalry is depicted perfectly on the low-top silhouette. On one pair, graphics of these rivals going at it are littered across the entire paper-white upper. Though equally showcasing these two’s animosity towards each other, the second shared court shoe opts for a much quieter design, using a chalk and pink palette to dress the midsole, upper, and collar. Ironically, sound FX graphics appear in red on the heel. On the tongue, each has claimed his own side on this pair, as Tom is seen snarling at Jerry – who’s sticking his tongue out – from right to left shoe.Loyal fans of the witty mouse may perhaps best enjoy Jerry’s standalone Club C Revenge option given that it faithfully replicates his brown and pink makeup. The former color takes over the entire suede upper, while the latter appears around the collar, in the midsole stitching, and underneath Reebok’s vector logo. A similar rose hue appears on Tom’s independent sneaker – the Instapump Fury – although the shoe’s most notable detail is undoubtedly the grey fleece material used around the toe, side panels, and heel to resemble the conniving feline’s fur.The entire Reebok x Tom & Jerry collection will be available in full family sizes with an official release on February 15th, 2020 at Reebok.com and in-store at select retailers worldwide. Until then, enjoy official images of the collection here below. - by Jovani Hernandez

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***Announced last December, Reebok and Warner Brothers will be dropping an extensive footwear and apparel collection commemorating Tom & Jerry. But ahead of next week’s drop, BAIT has revealed that it’s joining the duo via an exclusive, collectible two-pack. Dubbed “The Tom & Jerry Sneaker Kit,” the special package features the faux-furred Instapump Fury honoring the conniving feline and Jerry’s tan/pink Club C Revenge. Additionally, the kit includes a white t-shirt (size XL) with BAIT, Reebok, and Tom & Jerry branding throughout, while also displaying the two frenemies eager to go at it; Jerry is shown rolling up his “sleeves” at the chest as he walks towards the back where coincidentally Tom is waiting for him (bandaged-up) dead in the center with a wooden bat. Near the left hip, the beloved Saturday-cartoon characters partake in a literal cat-and-mouse chase. The BAIT-exclusive box itself also serves as a tribute to the trouble-making tag team with its cheese-graphic under the lid and shoe cover depicting the duo crammed in a storage unit next to pencils, chewing gum, and OG versions of the Instapump Fury and Club C.BAIT’s exclusive pack is priced at $300 USD and available for purchase now at BAITme.com. 

THE POWER OF PYER MOSS

THE POWER OF PYER MOSS

Designer Kerby Jean-Raymond launches his latest collection with Reebok 

A fashion show is never just about the clothes, and few shows this season have been quite as thoughtful and impactful as the Pyer Moss show which took place in the historic Kings Theater in Brooklyn, New York on September 8th. The show included the debut of Reebok by Pyer Moss Collection 3, the next chapter from Pyer Moss designer Kerby Jean-Raymond’s series “American, Also” which continues to explore the human condition while bringing a voice and light to untold stories.  

Even before getting to the clothes, Jean-Raymond designed the location of the show to be a statement in and of itself, steeped in history and culture. Jean-Raymond told Nylon Magazine, “I grew up here. This is my zone school area. I worked across the street for three years at a sneaker store. I think the success [of the concept] is bringing people closer to me rather than trying to assimilate into whatever else people are doing."

While most fashion shows have a musical soundtrack, Jean-Raymond also took this one step further. The show opened with a monologue that took the audience from plantation fields of North Carolina to the Carnegie Hall concert stage, where Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Godmother of Rock and Roll music,  rose to fame.  The message that came across was clear: the oppression and mistreatment that black people have endured for centuries will never be forgotten, and that in the face of the history and the present, people have “…a freedom on the inside that the world didn’t give them and the world could not take away.”

The concept of Sankofa is integral to Reebok by Pyer Moss Collections 3. Sankofa is a Twi word from the Akan tribe in Ghana that translates to "Go back and get it" and is represented by a bird fetching an egg from its back. This idea is artfully integrated into several key pieces in the collections. Sankofa symbolizes going back to the history of your past to take what is rightfully yours and reclaiming your narrative. 

As the opening monologue ended, the curtain went up on the choir, named “The Tabernacle Drip Choir Drenched in the Blood.”  The choir served as the inspirational music accompaniment for the entire show as the models walked the runway. It was an evocative choice that transported the audience and, in the end, brought the crowd to their feet during their final song of the night.

By the next day the reviews were in, and the response was overwhelming. As with his previous shows, Jean-Raymond gave people a new perspective on art and fashion and what it can all mean, wrapped up in a story they’ll never forget. It’s about being conscious about culture and designing with a purpose. 

Reebok Global Design Manager, Priscilla Shum, who has been working with Jean-Raymond on the Reebok side of the collection since its foundation, says the collaboration has been very meaningful to her.

“Working with Kerby and the Pyer Moss team has been incredibly rewarding,” says Shum. “With Kerby I get to witness a creative genius in his element. Being able to extract that vision and put that expression into something he sees in his head is something I can’t really put into words. It’s such a fulfilling, motivating feeling.”

Reeboks relationship and design process with Jean-Raymond and Pyer Moss has evolved and grown quickly.

“This collection differed in the sense that both his mainline, Pyer Moss and the Reebok by Pyer Moss collection fluidly told a story and fed off each other,” says Shum. “In previous seasons, we were establishing a relationship, understanding each of our needs. In this collection that relationship harmony really came through.”

The Sept 8th fashion show also debuted the new Reebok by Pyer Moss Experiment 4 “ Fury Trail” sneaker, the latest style to join the Reebok by Pyer Moss footwear collection. The shoe was designed as a sacred object split into three layers, each one representing all those who climb to success through the creation of something sacred in the face of adversity. The first offering of the Reebok by Pyer Moss Collection 3 is available now, with the second offering becoming available in December.

In a recent interview with Footwear News, Jean-Raymond said it was a dangerous move for Reebok to start working with him.

“Reebok did a dangerous thing by signing me. I was not an ideal candidate. I wasn’t doing wild sales numbers, I wasn’t trending, I didn’t have any celebrity backing, I was speaking politics in my art and somebody there saw the potential in that and how I can [mobilize] a community, and they took a chance. All you companies that have profitability with no souls can reach back down and reinvest that money into communities, and you’d be shocked with how fast your growth would accelerate. Reebok did it and you should do it.”

Jean-Raymond was recently named Artistic Creative Director for Reebok Studies_, a new division that will focus on exploring human nature and show the importance of people’s lives and stories. As he explained to Footwear News, his vision for this new branch with the brand is to expand talent and build a pathway for other artists.

“My vision is to not only work with existing Reebok talent and partners; it’s also to champion new ones,” Jean-Raymond said. “Having my own division at Reebok allows me a way to provide a pathway for bringing in designers, artists and personalities that we feel can marry well with the Reebok brand. As the first designer to ever work with Reebok in this capacity, I feel honored to be a part of such an important moment in the brand’s history.”

Shum says Jean-Raymond’s storytelling through his designs is unparalleled and that partnering with someone with such vision is a game changer.

“Working with Kerby is unique in the sense that no one can tell a story like he does,” she says. “His ultimate vision far surpasses what any of us would think of. The partnership puts Reebok in a whole different light and spectrum. So many different eyes and voices that wouldn’t normally be exposed to what we do now have eyes on us. It’s pretty incredible.”

As for what’s next for Jean-Raymond’s future collections, he told Footwear News he is already working on the next one—and it’s sure to shift the fashion community yet again.

“The next one is not going to be a trilogy; it’s going to be a one-and-done. I am halfway through with it, I did the Reebok portion of it already,” Jean-Raymond said. “I have the concept, I think it’s really fire. All I can say is it’s not about race because that’s not my thing, that’s not my schtick. I’m not the race guy. I’m the social [guy]; I care about people.”

The first offering of the Reebok by Pyer Moss Collection is available now. The second offering will be available December 14th.

KINIS's ART

Born in Boston Massachusetts, Paul is the son of two Haitian parents. He currently resides in Florida, where he was raised, and continues to make efforts towards his artistic endeavors. Aside from being inspired by the events in his life and nature, Paul's first source of inspiration came from his mother, Paulette. He would transition from drawing his favorite cartoons to drawing more prominent figures in his life like his friends, family, and respected celebrities. After his high-school graduation in 2013 from Cypress Bay he felt the calling to take his art more sensitively and decided not only exist as an artist but to thrive as one. He began creating art under the moniker “P.Firmy (would later change to KINI). Paul attended Florida Gulf Coast University where he participated in their recent student juried art exhibitions. He received the Robert Rauschenberg Residency Private Studio Tour Award (2018) and the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club Award of Excellence (2018). Within his time at FGCU Paul also participated in art shows close to home in Miami. Aside from hosting his own collaborative showcase HIGHATUS in 2016, Paul was a part of both of Perspectiv Miami's art exhibitions at Museo & Macaya Gallery in Wynwood Miami. He was also a part of TheVoid Miami showcase, and in 2017 he exhibited his art at CDV in Mana Wynwood. He was just recently Part of the “GROWTH” group exhibition in 2019 at HGAB studios in Wynwood Miami. He hopes to inspire people to explore themselves after viewing his work and hopes to invoke a thought, better yet a feeling. Paul continues to create in South Florida with goals of one day owning his own gallery and further expanding the reach of his art internationally.

TO PURCHASE ARTWORK CLICK HERE @—> KINI

PYER MOSS x REEBOK COLLECTIONS 3 & 3.5 • NYFW

Earlier this Summer, Pyer Moss founder Kerby Jean-Raymond was appointed as the Artistic Director for Reebok Studies, an emerging new division within the sportswear brand that aims to “explore the human nature of things and show the importance of people’s live and stories.” Barely two months after the announcement of this larger partnership, Jean-Raymond debuted his Collections 3 and 3.5 at the historic Kings Theater in Brooklyn to a massive crowd that lined up around the block to witness his interpretation of the concept of “Sankofa”. The runway show, which was prefaced by an empowering speech and backdropped by live choir music that delivered a medley of classics of both hip-hop and gospel, saw the designers collaborative vision with Reebok materialize with a vibrant assortment of sportswear gear and the new Experiment 4 – Fury Trail sneaker. The was design in three parts to communication the story of the fight and rise of the marginalized, the glamour and expression of success, and emotion. All three parts of the silhouette come in contact with the wearer.

The Reebok by Pyer Moss Experiment 4 – Fury Trail is set to launch on Reebok.com and select retailers including SSENSE this October as part of the launch of Collection 3, with additional colorways being available alongside Collection 3.5 in Spring 2020. via sneaker news

BEYONCE'S IVY PARK X ADIDAS

Today, adidas announces a multi-layered partnership with Beyoncé. This newfound union with the all-time star will include a signature line of footwear and apparel as well as the re-launch of Ivy Park, the singer’s athleisure line that originally debuted in 2016. In addition to releasing a collection of products, Beyoncé will also champion the ideals of inspiring and empowering the next generation of creators, driving positive change in the world through sport, and identifying new business opportunities.

Beyoncé, despite her status as one of the most attractive celebrity draws for nearly two decades, has never truly had a major shoe deal with a sportswear brand. The forthcoming release of the first sneaker as part of this collaborative venture with adidas will be her first foray into the world of sneakers, which leads us to wonder – could Beyonce create a women’s line as powerful as adidas Yeezy?

Renowned not only for her music but also her style and indomitable confidence, Beyonce has slowly and painfully teased her own forthcoming adidas collaboration for quite some time. With fellow artists the likes of Pusha T and even Childish Gambino joining the ranks of the Three Stripes, it’s only fitting they leave room for the queen. Reinventing the wheel — one well worth making a comeback — the living legend has wrought an imaginative interpretation of the Samba silhouette as part of her “IVY PARK” thematics. Certainly joined by an expansive set of apparel, the shoe itself has no problems standing on its own, removing itself from its usual sportswear ethos with a chunky platform sole atop a base of what looks to be premium leathers. While the bottoms dye in dark gum shade, the rest is quite unassuming as a fitting starting point for the model itself, painting the suede toe caps with light gray then leaving all else relatively colorless — tongues, heel counters, and so on — though accents by way of the three stripes at the side and heel tab boldly display a sultry grape shade which is complemented by a swirled cord wrapped just around the entire back up to the vamp. Elsewhere, laces atop their ribbed and “IVY PARK” branded backdrop relatively are minimal to say the least, looping through only four total eye stays that are themselves constructed of the same thin string.

Grab a quick look at these as well as some unsurprisingly seductive campaign imagery right here, and sit tight as these were confirmed by Beyonce herself to be releasing on January 18th, the perfect open for the brand’s 2020 affairs. via sneaker news by michael le