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

JUST BEING GIVEON

The Long Beach-born artist discusses his debut E.P., “Take Time,” where the vocals take center stage.

West Coast musicians are fond of drawing upon one another for inspiration, though Long-Beach native, Giveon, has a perspective that is entirely his own.

For Giveon, vocals are central, and inspirations are culled from the smoky, late-night lounges of the Rat Pack and Frank Sinatra as well as the distinct R&B edge found from contemporaries such as Frank Ocean and Miguel. “There’s soul to it. There’s pop to it,” said Giveon of his signature style. “However, I want to speak on relatable things everybody thinks about, but nobody says — in a classy way. The goal is just to be Giveon.”

According to the singer/songwriter he had a sort of epiphany after hearing Sinatra for the first time. “It was the very first time I heard a baritone singer,” he said. “I got into Bobby Caldwell and Barry White from there. I realized my tone at this point.”

For the artist, creating music has always been a very personal process, looking to his own experiences to inform the music and lyrics. Drake also took notice of the singer’s vocals, featuring Giveon in his 2020 release of “Chicago Freestyle.”

“My writing process starts with the story of something I experienced, or a close friend experienced,” said Giveon. “After that the composition is made and the lyrics come last. I’m an artist, a self-starter, an entrepreneur, a creative, and most of all a thinker. I sit around and think a lot. That’s an inspiration as the songs reflect my thoughts.” Giveon says that while fashion hasn’t sparked any inspiration for his music, it is something he considers when he is creating a new project. “Fashion means a lot to me because it helps me tell a story,” said Giveon. “For example, if I’m shooting for a project, the look I’m wearing lets you know what’s going on before anything else. I wouldn’t say fashion sparked any inspiration for the music. I would say it’s the other way around.”

Still, fashion is definitely an area that the artist has his sights set on for his future.

“First, I want to establish myself as an artist,” said Giveon. “Second I want to expand into fashion. Fortunately for me an artist like Kanye West has already paved the way for someone like me to be taken seriously as an artist while being respected in the world of fashion.”

“At the moment My favorite designers are Rick Owens and Kerby Jean-Raymond,” said Giveon. “Rick Owens for the way he approaches patterns and fabrics and Kerby for his innovation and the way he approaches design.”

"LIKE I WANT YOU" Official Music Video

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)

KERBY JEAN-RAYMOND x REEBOK VP CREATIVE DIRECTION

Reebok Names Kerby Jean-Raymond/Pyer Moss
Vice President of Creative Direction

The CFDA Award winner will also release in 2022 the first products of Reebok's Product With Purpose program.

Kerby Jean-Raymond is assuming greater responsibility at Reebok.

The New York City-based designer and founder of Pyer Moss has been named vice president, creative direction, for the sports brand. In this role, he will provide creative leadership and work closely with Reebok’s product, global marketing and development organizations to ensure consistency across all areas.

Jean-Raymond will also be at the forefront of the brand’s Product With Purpose program, which is part of its commitment to United Against Racism. The program will launch in 2021 and the first products by Jean-Raymond will release in 2022. In addition, he will serve on the Reebok senior leadership team and report to president Matt O’Toole. O’Toole confirmed that the Reebok by Pyer Moss collection will continue as planned.

“I am thrilled to be evolving my role at Reebok and joining the leadership team as the head of creative direction,” Jean-Raymond said in a statement. “I welcome this opportunity to help invigorate the brand with new ideas, while also focusing on instilling a sense of social purpose into our work.”

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Jean-Raymond expanded on the statement: “I started working with Reebok in 2017 after meeting Damion Presson [Reebok’s director of entertainment marketing]. I was brought in to support the launch of a shoe at the time called the ‘DMX Fusion.’ We made our own version called the Experiment 1 and were asked to make some apparel to support one of their retail partners at a mass market price point. I’m not really too good at following rules, so I didn’t pretend to try.

“Instead we made a series of collections we believed in, incorporated our collaboration into our runways and created content that spoke to what we were already doing at Pyer Moss. Campaign 1, Seven Mothers (Campaign 2) and a series of videos called ‘Imma Ball Anyway’ were some of my favorites. Many of these projects were a result of us seeing how far we could go before someone yelled ‘uncle.’

“No one did, and I was grateful.

“Today, that collaboration will evolve. Pyer Moss is not just a partner of Reebok, but I am now the creative director, globally. Or technically…vice president, creative direction. To my Reebok fam, there’s a lot of work to do. Can our mind-sets collectively evolve to serve the future? Are we inclusive enough? Are we bold enough? Are we challenging tradition enough? Are we ready to unlearn? It’s going to be difficult. I’m ready though.”

Reebok and Jean-Raymond have worked together for four years on the Reebok by Pyer Moss collection, a popular footwear line. Their work together led to Jean-Raymond winning Footwear News’ 2018 Collaboration of the Year Award and the 2019 FNAA Person of the Year Award. He took home the CFDA Award for Menswear Designer of the Year and Designer of the Year from Harlem Fashion Row this year.

Last year, he was named artistic director of Reebok Studies, a new division created to foster emerging talent, and this year launched with Kering, Your Friends in New York, a fashion, culture, wellness and philanthropy platform to foster the next generation of innovators.

“Kerby is a fashion visionary with a bold approach who has established himself as a leader and a passionate activist,” O’Toole said. “We are incredibly excited about the impact he will have on Reebok from a design and brand purpose perspective and for him to bring his unique voice and direction to the Reebok brand more broadly. This is certainly a big opportunity for both Reebok and for Kerby — he understands the value of our rich heritage and iconic silhouettes and how he can build on that and take Reebok in an exciting and evolved direction.”

Jean-Raymond had been transparent about the beginnings of the Reebok relationship. The designer was ready to step away from Pyer Moss, but stayed in order to partner with the sports brand, which helped the designer keep his brand. He said at the WWD CEO Summit in November 2019 that Presson said he could offer “at least 10 times the amount” what another brand was offering Jean-Raymond to join the Reebok team.

Jean-Raymond said he believes the future of fashion is experiential, which calls to question what his output for Reebok will be in this new role. This year, he launched a new mentorship platform, announced a film and directed two music videos. But he hasn’t forgotten about the product. The first in-house Pyer Moss sneaker, Sculpt, launches on Oct. 3, retailing for $595. The silhouette bears resemblance to the Reebok Experiment 4 Fury Trail by Pyer Moss with an exaggerated sole similar to the Pyer Moss x Reebok DMX Experiment 1 sneaker.

The first Reebok by Pyer Moss collection debuted at Spring Studios in February 2018 with the “American, Also” collection. Jean-Raymond would show two more Reebok by Pyer Moss collections under the “American, Also” moniker at Weeksville in Brownsville, Brooklyn, and Kings Theatre in Flatbush, Brooklyn.

They released more sneakers as well, the Daytona DMX Experiment, Mobius Experiment and the Fury Trail styles. He said in November 2019 that his footwear, in particular “sells out within the first four minutes.”

Last year, he established Reebok Studies, which he described as “a division where I can sign talent, give them collaboration deals, give them sponsorship deals so that they can have money to grow their companies.”

And this year, Jean-Raymond remained very busy, directing music videos for rappers Wale and Joey Bada$$, and also through philanthropic work, donating in March $50,000 to support minority and female-owned independent businesses impacted by COVID-19 through Your Friends in New York. He also asked for mail-in donations of masks and gloves and contributed $5,000 for supplies.

He also announced he will premiere a film, “American, Also,” chronicling his runway shows and the Black experience in America. The project that was filmed over two years was slated to premiere this year at drive-in theaters and to bring the community and New York City together and engage with fans, but the date and format have not been confirmed yet.

“It’s always been our mission to show the amount of thinking and laboring that goes behind putting together a collection — we’ve been slowing down the speed of how much we produce and improving the quality of what we produce throughout the years,” Jean-Raymond said in a statement announcing the film. “This film aims to show the love and care our entire company puts into every single moment we create and will show that we appreciate fashion as an art form and communication tool.”

By Obi Anyanwu on September 30, 2020

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

YOUNG RIOT: POOLSIDE

YOUNG RIOT: POOLSIDE

LET US REFLECT AND REJOICE THE TRIUMPH OF SPIRIT. THE RESILIENCE OF BLACKNESS THAT TRANSMUTE OPPRESSION AND THEREBY WITHIN PLIGHT FINDS SOLACE. WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WRITE A LOVE LETTER TO YOUR CHILDHOOD HOME AND, IN DOING SO, YOURSELF TO FIND (READ:CONFRONT), SELF, A BLACK MAN MUST WADE THROUGH WATER, HOWEVER METAPHORICAL IN NATURE.

HERE, DAVID HOCKNEY’S PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST SERVES AS A VEHICLE TO EXPLORE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AN IDEALIZED SENSE OF SUCCESS AND A MAN WHO, IN THE FACE OF VIOLENCE AND TRAGEDY, CONSTRUCTED A BEAUTIFUL PATH TO FREEDOM. LURKING A LAYER BELOW, THIS EXAMINATION PRESENTS US WITH THE REALITY OF OUR PAST CIRCUMSTANCES. THAT IS A MAN TRAPPED IN A PRISON; HE WAS NEVER MEANT TO ESCPAE. HIS VOICE IS THE ONLY MEANS WITH WHICH HE MIGHT ESCAPE THE BOX. POOLSIDE. 

WEB: www.patheticpixels.com

IG: @REALPATHETICPIXELS

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

THE HUNDREDS X BILLIONAIRE BOYS CLUB

In the summer of 2003, Ben and Bobby Hundreds launched The Hundreds at the same time Pharrell Williams and NIGO were introducing Billionaire Boys Club to the world. For the first time in 17 years, both streetwear brands are collaborating on a T-shirt to raise money for Black Lives Matter and the Black Mental Health Alliance. Today, Bobby and Pharrell shared the following conversation around being a Black brand owner in the industry, mental health, and the importance of “sharing the codes.”

BOBBY HUNDREDS: As we all know, there is a lack of Black owned streetwear brands in proportion to the amount of influence black culture has on streetwear's design and perspective. But back in the early 2000s, there was even less Black leadership and ownership in the street fashion space. When you launched Billionaire Boys Club, was this on your mind? What was it like for you starting up your label as a young Black man in an industry that was predominantly owned and profited off of by white people?

PHARRELL WILLIAMS: When I launched BBC [ICECREAM], I was a different person. My concerns were different, my thought process was different, my self awareness was premature. I considered myself a black man and making chess moves was enough at the time because that’s what the people I looked up to were doing. I was proud that they were black and I thought it was enough. Since then, I’ve educated myself and realized that would never be enough when the playing field was never leveled. It’s never been a leveled playing field since the beginning of time. It took traveling around the world and seeing what people go through to open my eyes and humble me and recognize how blessed I am. Aside from achieving, my biggest responsibility is to hold open the door and show the way for my own people... and to explain to those who have the power over these doors why they need to open their doors or not have them at all. With BBC, I always say ‘Wealth is of the heart and mind, not the pocket.’, but that wasn’t enough.

“Wealth is of the heart and mind, not the pocket.” This is the Billionaire Boys Club mantra. I’ve addressed this before in prior projects, but streetwear culture has been slower to adopt the mental health movement. Why is that? And how can we be better?

We just have to open our eyes, open our ears, open our minds and hearts. We don’t think like that because a lot of us are just like “I’m good” and that’s all that matters. The system trains us to be like “Don’t worry about them, worry about me. Did I make it? Ok good, ‘cause it’s hard out here.” We have to take it upon ourselves to look each other in the eyes and realize that we’re stronger together—there’s power in numbers. And now more than ever, we can’t afford to not galvanize, not mobilize...as Killer Mike says. We need to figure our way forward and upwards. If you have a brand—especially if you are of African diaspora— it’s your job to educate. And how about this, even if you’re not Black, but you trade on the likeness of us—it’s your responsibility as well. You gotta tithe...you gotta give back to that which is giving you everything that you have right now.

We are donating our proceeds to a mental health organization that puts its emphasis on the Black community. Can you speak on why that is specifically important?

Of course it’s important. There are a lot of variables that affect the minds of the people whose likeness gets traded on and marketed towards and then don’t receive benefits from it at the end of the day. And not everyone can get access to mental health resources like therapy or rehab, not everyone has people around to help. If you never really dealt with the erosion of your mental state, then it only continues to erode. There’s so much to unpack when it comes to this but, the fact that the fashion industry is thinking about the importance of mental health and how it affects the African diaspora is a very important step that we all need to take.

After George Floyd’s murder, America’s response was that of anger, frustration, and protest. Now that we are settling into a groove of consistent activism, there is discussion on what our hard goals are. There are many different answers to this, but I’m wondering what goals you’d like to see out of this? Whether it’s a short-term goal, or one that will take the rest of our lives to accomplish?

There’s no doubt that this is the American Revolution 2.0. It’s also an evolution because there are people that are opening their eyes—they didn't realize they were sleeping the entire time and being complicit to the things that affect us and continue to lead to the untimely death of people that look like George Floyd and us. We’re also dealing with a very different Washington [D.C]... they are just overt with it [racism], there’s no hiding it. What I’d like to see is for there to be some accountability online so that at least we can get our facts straight. We can’t get our facts straight when our system is being infiltrated by foreign agents and bots. I mean, as a sneakerhead, the first thing you try to do when copping is getting around the bots. We have to do the same thing here. There is a world of divisiveness on our internet. The best way to divide people is to use the tool of selfishness. I would like all of us to be aware of all the variables at hand—there’s a lot going on. While it is dark now, I know there is a God and He is the greatest. But we gotta get ourselves up out of this. Faith without work is dead, so we have a lot of work to do...and most of it is just being more self aware. If you’re kind and think of others, then you're heading the right way. But they get you with the lure of being selfish. Being woke is cool but man, but it’s like driving home at 4am and you don’t really know that you’re tired until you swerve. And at that point, you realize you ain't woke. That’s when you say “I’m up now..I am going to continue to work on myself and continue to challenge the people around me to wake up.”

Whether you appreciate it or not, your influence and visibility as a Black owner of a streetwear brand inspired an entire generation of Black youth to believe they could also be the ones in charge. From Tyler [the Creator] to some of the kids in my crew today.

You know, I’m honored for things like that. But going back to the earlier question...I feel like I didn't do enough. At that time, it was about me, I was being selfish and I thought being black was enough. So if I could encourage you all to do anything, it’s to take your people with you...don’t make it just about you. That’s why you see me with my hands together [prayer pose]. Some of us pat ourselves on the back, others of us beat ourselves on the chest. That’s cool, I'm gonna let you do that...but when you’re done, bring people with you. Share the codes...share the cheat codes. A lot of us had to figure it out ourselves...that’s where we go wrong. The more of us that learn the codes, the stronger we are. That’s how we get to market share. If we don’t have market share, we don’t have a voice. If you don’t have a voice then you’re going to need help with healthcare, education and the biases that are ingrained in our legislation that makes the gravity 2x heavier on us. Share the codes, hold the door open.

Did you have a figure that you admired when you were growing up? And what would you say to a young Black man or woman today who is thinking of entering the space?

The people I tend to admire don’t make sense when I get asked this question because what I admire in people doesn’t really resonate with most people. I’m into people who are more like sages and seers. My grandparents, my mom and dad...wise people who see things. You know, the type of people who can read you from head to toe when you walk in a room..those are the people who I spend most of my time talking to. I find value in the things unseen. That doesn’t work for everybody because it’s not a tangible thing. I don't give names of people who you can see the things they have tangibly done. What I would say to any young black man or woman today who’s thinking of entering the space, is to surround yourself with people that are better than you. Do it because you love it so much that you would do it for free and you can’t believe that you can actually get paid for it. Hold the door open. Talk to your partners about them understanding more, listening more, watching more, and being more open.

Share the codes...share the codes...share the codes.

And, you know what, get really excited when you see others doing well. Some people take Ambien, some people take melatonin. But, I can honestly tell you the best sleeping aid known to mankind is good will. Be excited when your brother wins. Be excited when your sister wins. Don’t block their blessing because when you do that, you’re blocking yours. Whatever God got for you is yours. That’s it...share the codes. Be happy when you see someone making it because you’re going to want them to smile when you’re doing the same.

***

BEN JERRY'S NIKE SB DUNK "CHUNKY DUNKY"

BEN JERRY'S NIKE SB DUNK "CHUNKY DUNKY"

Nike SB Dunks have gained fame for their out-of-the-box concepts and progressive means of redefining a skate shoe. Ben & Jerry’s is familiar with that methodology as they’ve gained unparalleled fame for their own unique flavors and packaging for decades. And despite much of fat-tongued Dunk appeal being the unusual nature of collaborations, Nike SB and Ben & Jerry’s share a lot of core values.

It’s now a pesky waiting game for the upcoming May 23rd/26th release date of the epic Ben & Jerry’s x Nike SB Dunk Low collaboration. In the meantime, we’ve decided to show you a first-hand look at the “Chunky Dunky” Dunks, which is inspired by the cold confectionary’s trademark flavor of “Chunky Monkey”. Decorated with cow fur exteriors with mis-matched patterns, a Swoosh with extended “melted” edges, and the rainbow covering on the insoles and lining, these SB Dunks offer up that truly unhinged design in all the right ways. Peep our YouTube unboxing video below and stay tuned for release info and a store list.

Updated: Ben & Jerrys is giving away one pair of the shoes. Enter here. VIA SNEAKER NEWS

Neiman Marcus Creditor Calls for Deal With Saks Fifth Avenue

A letter by the creditor suggests that combining the two luxury retailers would create between $2.8 billion and $4.7 billion of value.

DALLAS, United States — Hedge fund Mudrick Capital Management LP asked Neiman Marcus Group's independent directors on Tuesday to explore a combination with rival department store chain Saks Fifth Avenue, challenging the company's plan to reorganise under bankruptcy protection.

A lawyer for Mudrick, which holds portions of Neiman Marcus's roughly $5 billion of debt, wrote in a letter to the directors that a sale or merger with Saks would result in better financial recoveries for creditors than the company's current plan to restructure and hand control to senior lenders.

Neiman Marcus filed for bankruptcy last week after prolonged store closures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in plunging sales.

The letter, reviewed by Reuters, suggests that combining the two luxury retailers would create between $2.8 billion and $4.7 billion of value. That could ultimately be achieved by Neiman Marcus using bankruptcy proceedings to permanently close at least 22 stores in nearby or overlapping locations to its rival. That and other cost savings could boost the combined retailer's earnings, the letter said.

Saks owner Hudson's Bay Co in 2017 explored a Neiman Marcus takeover but did not ultimately pursue it, Reuters previously reported. Hudson's Bay has remained interested in Neiman Marcus, according to sources familiar with the matter, but has not yet made a formal bid for the company.

Representatives for Mudrick, Neiman Marcus and HBC declined to comment.

Hudson's Bay was taken private in March by shareholders that include Chief Executive Richard Baker, and it is also grappling with financial fallout from the coronavirus outbreak.

Neiman Marcus Chief Executive Geoffroy van Raemdonck told Reuters in an interview last week that the company is focused on reorganising and that a deal with Saks is not at the top of its priority list, though he did not rule it out.

Neiman Marcus has negotiated a plan with most of its creditors to cancel about $4 billion of debt in exchange for handing control of the company to senior lenders led by Pacific Investment Management Corp, Sixth Street Partners and Davidson Kempner Capital Management.

Pimco and Sixth Street declined to comment while Davidson Kempner could not immediately be reached.

These investment firms are also providing a $675 million financing package to aid the company's operations while it navigates bankruptcy proceedings, which a federal judge approved on an interim basis over Mudrick's objection.

The lenders hold the lion's share of Neiman Marcus's senior debt, giving them significant sway over whether the company's reorganisation plan is approved. Their agreement would likely be needed before Neiman Marcus attempted to explore a sale in lieu of the current plan.

An auction could also be time-consuming while Neiman Marcus is struggling. Neiman Marcus expects to burn through hundreds of millions of dollars in cash through at least the end of July.

Mudrick's letter said other creditors are hamstrung in agitating for a sale given they have signed a so-called restructuring support agreement associated with Neiman Marcus's bankruptcy case. The company's executives could be concerned about losing their jobs in a merger, and Neiman Marcus's private equity owners are keen to move on from their failed investment, the letter said.

By Mike Spector and Jessica DiNapoli; editor: Christopher Cushing. BOF

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

NIKE AIR TRAINER VIOTECH

NIKE AIR TRAINER VIOTECH

Amidst the early-1990s Nike Trainer push is the Air Trainer 3, the multi-purpose sneaker made famous by the likes of Bo Jackson. Its most recognizable color way is undoubtedly the original “Medicine Ball”, a relic from the decade that has seen the light of store shelves numerous times over the year. But what is inarguably its most popular is 2002’s “Viotech”, a more vivid and playful approach to what is typically deemed a no-nonsense gym sneaker. The Air Trainer 3 “Viotech” is, of course most known for its Viotech purple exterior, but the trim of grey and yellow combined for an iconic package of colors that essentially defined the earlier part of the 2000s. With the Viotech Dunks coming back in late 2019, it’s apparent that many classics from that area were fair game in terms of a retro, so we’re finally happy to confirm that the Viotech Trainers will indeed be back this year. Peep the official images ahead and stay tuned for a closer look.

In other early-90s Trainer news, the Supreme Cross Trainer will be dropping soon this season.

Nike Air Trainer 3 $130
Style Code: CZ6393-500
Color: Viotech/Dandelion-Viola-Grey Slate

via sneaker news

HAILEY AND JADEN FOR LEVI’S®

Spring is springing, which means you can finally start dressing the way you want to, instead of the way you have to (i.e: with mittens). Jaden Smith and Hailey Bieber have the right idea. Here, the rapper/actor (him) and model/TV host (her) walk you through our top looks for those first warm days.

THE CUBANO SHIRT: A VACATION YOU CAN WEAR
Sunshine means Cubano time. This throwback statement piece works equally well on men and women. Style it however: you can button it to the top, leave a few open, throw it over a graphic tee, or grab it to use as a shacket on your way out the door. Our Cubanos, decorated with, say, paisley or flowering birds of paradise, are exactly as loud as you need them to be. Should you wear them with jeans, chinos, shorts, or swim trunks? Yes.

HAVE IT BOTH WAYS
Our favorite thing to do right now is to go high/low — mix casual clothes with something a little more formal. Our Straight Chino Short II is perfect for this, because all you have to do is throw on a graphic tee, and you’re done.

STAND OUT (BUT NOT TOO FAR OUT)
Yes, you can pull this off. The key to wearing a single pattern from head to toe is to choose pieces in softer color schemes. You’ll still get plenty of attention, but you won’t seem to be begging for it.

LACE UP
These sleeveless Charlie tops are super feminine, and their adaptability gives you all kinds of options. You can lean into their femininity, or go the tomboy route with boyfriend jeans or a Trucker Jacket.

EMBRACE THE BIG SLEEVES
Puff sleeves are back, and we’re here for it. Take, for instance, our Hannah top: its flowy sleeves make for a fun, flattering silhouette, and its eyelet details (those little holes) complete the beachy look. It’s versatile, too — tuck it in, or don’t, or tie it into a crop top like Hailey.

GO BIG IN LEVI’S® 501® MID THIGH SHORTS
Mid-length shorts are in style for women, and our advice is to buy yours a size or two bigger than usual. The extra room gives them a slouchy streetwear fit and plenty of versatility. Wear them with a tighter top or that new Cubano shirt you’ve been meaning to try.

BODEGA x SAUCONY GRID AZURA 2000

BODEGA - Founded in 2006, Bodega has been a refuge and tool for a clandestine group of artists through the ideation and execution of creative endeavors examining the intersection of fashion, counterculture, community, and the arts.

At Saucony, we exist for runners. Runners inspire us, bring us new ideas, force us to be better. They drive our design and engineering. They keep us competitive. They keep us hungry. They keep us honest.

Whether it's in a conference room or out on a lunchtime run, we're constantly talking about and arguing about our sport, runners and the products that fuel them. We love our products and we run in everything we make.

This focus and passion fuels us as we strive to create the best running shoes and apparel on the planet. We leave work each day knowing we've done everything to make runners' lives just a little bit better.

At Saucony, a good day is when we get to run. A great day is when we inspire someone else to run.
(from the company website)

BODEGA x SAUCONY GRID AZURA 2000

The transformation of the GRID Azura 2000 under the aegis of Ever Ready is marked. A design meant to excel in the comparatively controlled conditions of athletic training has been altered for the sake of true, all-purpose versatility of occasion and environment. Where a streamlined shape with an extreme lightweight design characterized the original prototype, an approach reflected in the mesh dominant material choices, the retooling leaves only the transparent mesh windows intact, replacing the rest of the original’s mesh with suede and leather. This change carries over to the distinctive, aggressive overlay, which swaps nylon for pebbled leather. The more substantial physical construction simultaneously reins in the potential for catastrophic system overload resulting from heavy use demands placed on the lightweight frame inherent in the original prototype, while harnessing the true potential of the design, by providing more solid grounding for the energy generated by the streamlined silhouette. This change in perspective is also seen in the new colorway, which dispenses with the turn of the millennium, athletic futurism, for earth tones, greys and black, with the occasional vibrant accent. Instead of seeking to impose itself on its surroundings, this adapted form of the GRID Azura 2000 absorbs and responds to them. This new sense of self-assured adaptability goes down to the last detail, with custom packaging and multiple lace options.

Of course, it might be presumptuous to claim a state of ever readiness, when relying upon only one component. Accompanying apparel, a pullover hoodie with nylon zip pocket and classic nylon construction track bottoms stabilize the GRID Azura 2000 within a cohesive system.

With twenty years of hindsight in the rear view mirror, we know that the future invariably comes with its own set of problems. Even the gadgets that we all know, love and use every day are not without the occasional bugs and glitches. Just like the benefits of previously unimagined technological advances, these problems are often unforeseen, until they actually happen. It takes a special kind of mentality to face down scenarios that only exist on a theoretical level. That's why the all-new, Bodega GRID Azura 2000 has taken on the name "Ever Ready". The Ever Ready concept reconstructs the sunny outlook of the original. The problems of the new millennium that have already happened and the uncharted territory of a new decade are taken into account. It's not about being paranoid, and it's not about being fearful. It's about being prepared, even when you don't know ahead of time what you are prepared for. The future isn't always as user-friendly as advertised, but you'll be ready. 

Of course, it might be presumptuous to claim a state of ever readiness, when relying upon only one component. Accompanying apparel, a pullover hoodie with nylon zip pocket and classic nylon construction track bottoms stabilize the GRID Azura 2000 within a cohesive system.

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.