CONCEPTS x New Balance

The CNCPTS x New Balance 1000 ‘Míle’ raffle will launch on Wednesday, March 12 at 12pm EST. Winners can collect their sneakers at CNCPTS locations in Boston, New York, and Miami on Friday, March 14 at 11am EST. Additionally, pairs will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on cncpts.com starting at 11am EST on March 14. Good luck!

Concepts have been upping the game when it comes to their New Balance colabs this year, with their recent NB740 effort evoking the feeling of living the high life thanks to the champagne-influenced ‘Saignee’ and ‘Brut’. Their next project is equally luxe, although this time the pair wears its influence on its tux sleeve, as the NB1000 colourways are pure money.

Leaked within a moodboard carousel stacked with references to cold hard cash, the resulting NBs are as crispy as a $100 bill. While names are yet to be revealed, the first CNCPTS x NB1000 iteration sports a layered make-up of dark green, white and sage panels, while a second pair below forgoes the sage tones for more white and replaces the dark green toe box with a black variation. There are also two predominantly white pairs – one looks to feature a white leather upper with green accents, while the other features a white mesh base with green panelling up top. Each pair then boasts a red ‘1000’ logo at the forefoot, as well as additional co-branded logos on the tongue.

So far, it’s yet to be revealed as to which pairs will be samples or Friends and Family exclusives, so until then make sure to stay locked for more info as it comes in!

NINTENDO SWITCH 2

After months of rumors and leaks, Nintendo has officially unveiled its latest video game console, the Switch 2. Like its predecessor, the Nintendo Switch the Switch 2 can be used as a portable handheld system or at home connected to a TV.

The Switch 2 made its debut in a short video posted to Nintendo's YouTube channel on January 16. The console looks a lot like the original model but has a few new design flourishes. However, actual specifications are pending, so there's a lot we still don't know about the Switch 2' hardware, including its display type and exact graphical capabilities.

The Switch 2 price and exact release date also remain unknown, but it's launching later this year. Nintendo will share more details in another video set for release on April 2. Likewise, the company announced a series of hands-on events throughout April in New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas where fans can try the system for the first time.

Though there's still much to learn about the console, here's everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2 so far, Nintendo's Switch 2 reveal trailer focuses mainly on the console's appearance, which is very similar to the original Switch. The Switch 2 features a display sandwiched between two removable Joy-Con controllers. The display can also be slotted into a dock that plugs into your TV.

The new Joy-Cons have a similar button layout as their predecessors, but rather than slide into place on the side of the display, they appear to snap into the console with magnets. A revised kickstand was also shown off, and the right Joy-Con appears to have one additional button.

Though details on the screen's panel type, resolution, and even its exact size were not announced, side-by-side images clearly show that the Switch 2's display is larger than the original Switch, which had a 6.2-inch screen.

Switch 2 will be more powerful than its predecessor, but its graphical capabilities are unconfirmed

As with any next-gen console, the Switch 2 will deliver graphical improvements over the original Switch. However, it remains to be seen just how powerful the new system will be. Nintendo hasn't revealed any details about the Switch 2's internal hardware.

Industry rumors have long hinted at 4K upscaling capabilities and performance similar to that of a PS4 Pro. But we'll have to wait until April 2 to see if those reports pan out.

The original Switch was limited to 1080p resolution in docked mode and 720p in handheld mode. A bump to 4K would be a welcome upgrade and put it on more equal footing with other modern consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

A new Mario Kart was shown, but that's all we know about Switch 2 games.

Nintendo's Switch 2 reveal trailer included a brief glimpse of what appears to be a new Mario Kart game running on the console. The last Mario Kart title was Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which hit the original Switch in 2017.

No other new games were shown off. However, Nintendo confirmed that the system will play new Switch 2 titles and most original Switch games in both physical and digital form. That said, some original Switch games may not be compatible.

Nintendo Switch 2 price, release date, and preorder details will likely be revealed in April

For now, Nintendo is still keeping the Switch 2's price and release date a secret. We know the console will launch in 2025, but that's about it. Full details are expected to be revealed on April 2, when the company will release another Switch 2 video.

The original Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017 for $300, while a slightly upgraded Switch OLED model launched in October 2021 for $350. A handheld-only model called the Switch Lite was made available in September 2019 for $200. Based on previous pricing, it's likely the Switch 2 will cost somewhere in the $300 to $400 range.

Steven Cohen Senior Tech Editor FOR BUSINESS INSIDER

BC EAGLES x NEW BALANCE

Boston College Receives Special Edition of the New Balance 9060

New Balance continues to pay homage to the city of Boston. This time, the shoe brand has introduced a special edition colorway for Boston College with its New Balance 9060 silhouette. The shoe comes months after the brand announced the school-specific New Balance 550. Its second shoe dedicated to the school, the new colorway receives direct nods to the institutuion.

The “Boston College” iteration for the New Balance 9060 sees the shoe constructed in a mixture of materials. Mostly constructed out of a light grey mesh upper and suede overlays, the school’s maroon undertones hit the “N” branded on the side as well as the inner lining and parts of the sole. The tongue is elevated in leather while the school’s “BC” logo is stitched on top. The insoles feature Boston College’s “Eagles” inscription to celebrate their mascot and inject a dose of school spirit, on-theme with the design.

Look out for the New Balance 9060 “Boston College” arriving in the coming weeks at select retailers and online. Joyce Li

LEGO® ADIDAS ORIGINALS SUPERSTAR SHOE

Since September 2020, LEGO and adidas have delivered a roster of classic silhouettes reimagined with color palettes, branding and detailing inspired by the Danish company’s iconic building blocks. Recently, the two European institutions have unveiled another component to their partnership via an adidas Superstar LEGO Brick Set.

Although previously-seen adidas Originals have included colored blocks as accents, none have been able to boast construction made entirely out of toy bricks. The latest product to emerge out of the aforementioned alliance isn’t meant to be worn, but it features all of the “shell-toe’s” signature details. For starters, the set takes on the sneaker’s original “Cloud White/Core Black” colorway. Shimmering “Metallic Gold” branding on the lateral profile and tongue further nod to the model’s retail version. The iconic toe-cap is recreated, but not out of durable rubber. Laces, however, are transplanted from the made-to-wear shoe, delivering yet another touch of accuracy to the special edition release. Lastly, the U.S. 7.5-sized “shoe” arrives with a display stand and plaque, collectible shoe box and 17 additional LEGO elements to create a one-of-a-kind model. Mixing in bricks from outside sets also works.

Enjoy official images of LEGO’s adidas Superstar Brick Set here below, and find the collection available via adidas.com on July 1st.

For more experimental takes backed by the Three Stripes, check out all YEEZY release dates for 2021 and beyond. by Jovani Hernandez for sneakernews.

LIFELIKE DETAILS
Includes adidas Originals Superstar graphics, shell toe shape, trefoil logo and 3-Stripes – just like the real thing. It even comes with laces and a shoe box.

MAKE IT YOUR OWN
Comes with 17 extra LEGO® elements so you can decide to build the left or right shoe. Customize with your own LEGO bricks to make it truly yours.

SPARK CONVERSATIONS
Add this never-seen-before LEGO creation to your sneaker collection to get people talking. A true collectible with display stand and plaque.

EXCLUSIVE BUILDABLE SHOE FROM THE LEGO® SUPERSTAR COLLECTION.
In this never-seen-before LEGO® shoe, you can recreate the iconic Superstar sneaker from bespoke LEGO bricks to make a collectable display piece that's sure to spark conversations. Just like the real thing, this LEGO version includes the iconic adidas Originals Superstar trainer graphics, shell-toe shape, trefoil logo and 3-Stripes.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Dimensions: 4.7" x 10.6" x 3.5"

  • Authentic adidas Superstar sneaker details

  • Lace closure

  • Display stand and plaque

  • Building instruction booklet includes the history of the shoe

  • Collectible shoe box packaging

  • Real shoe size: US 7.5

  • This set is designed for adults

  • Imported

  • Product color: White / Black

  • Product code: FZ8497

YEEZY FOAM RUNNER RED

Better late than never. The first-ever all-red adidas Yeezy shoe release is finally coming, and it’ll be in the form of one of the most provoking “sneakers” of the modern era. That would be the trending Yeezy Foam Runner, a shoe made of recycled algae and currently taking the footwear world by storm for its prehistoric look (as well as its many comparisons to Crocs). According to Yeezy Mafia, a release is  expected in October 2021 and is officially dubbed the “Vermilion”.

All-red has become a signature color-scheme of Kanye West after he introduced with his Air Yeezy 2, the swan song of his short-lived tenure with the Swoosh. Many expected the all-red look (commonly referred to as the “Red October” colorway) to establish itself on  a more mainstream model – possibly the Yeezy Boost 350 v2 or Yeezy 700, but there’s no better way to pair the audacity of the flooded hue with the Foam Runner Yeezys.

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

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.