Category Archives: STYLE
The 25 Best Pharrell Hooks
You’d be surprise how many No.1 hooks Pharrell Williams has produced over the years. Click HERE to check out the COMPLEX top 25 list….
Supreme Flying Logo
To celebrate the Fall/Winter range from Supreme. They commissioned a plane to fly the Supreme logo over the skyline of New York City. The track “Solstice” by Brian Bennett – sampled off Nas “Find Ya Wealth” and Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Friday track “Lord, Lord, Lord.”
Casa Pezo: Solo Houses by Pezo Von Ellrichshausen Architects
Designed by Chile-based studio Pezo Von Ellrichshausen Architects, this unique 2,150 square foot home is the first of the series to be set in Cretas, a municipality located in the Matarraña comarca, province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain.
ABOVE THE DUST
Above The Dust from Leo Zuckerman on Vimeo.
Round II in The Whistler Bike Park. Credit to the riders Eli Zuckerman.
5 Boro Fall 2011
5BORO FALL ’11 CLIP from 5BORO on Vimeo.
5BORO beautifully shot video of Dan Pensyl, Willy Akers, and some of their other riders hitting spots around NYC.
Supreme Fall/Winter 2011 Collection
I was recently in Tokyo and always make it a must to stop by the Supreme store to pick up some summer gears. B-ball singlets, a cross over Popeye tee and a couple of caps. The winter range is just around the corner so Supreme have updated their website with a preview to their fall/winter 2011 collection. Check out the range here.
Conference of Cool
Eager Beaver Lager + Stussy Capsule Collection
Stussy has connected with Eager Beaver Lager on a special capsule collection for their Toronto and Vancouver chapter stores. Further information on the launch can be found here.
Dave White Interview
Dave White Interview – Eagle/Americana/Nike/Jordan from WeAreHQ TV on Vimeo.
WeAreHQ caught up with artist/designer Dave White to chat about his latest exhibition which is inspired by the American Eagle and talks about future projects including the upcoming Air Jordan collaboration.
Vista Skateboard Art: Brazilian Magazine
Skateboarding culture has spread to a new youth all over the world and I couldn’t more supportive of exposing Skateboard magazines from countries other than the states. Vista Skateboard Art is a brazilian magazine about skateboarding culture in Brazil and worldwide. Free to download. The magazine is designed by Chiba Chiba studio.
“Post-Riots Levi’s And Nike To Shift Comms And Marketing Strategy From Rebellion”
It was only natural that some brands would start launching ‘topic’ campaigns in relation to the London Riots. I understand the riots are causing a lot destruction and negativity to the community, but I can also see how like with any brand. It wants to relate to people whether its a sport they play or a current affair the world is being effected by. As long as it’s done tastefully I support it.
Brands including Levi’s and Nike denied suggestions that they were paying the price of flirting with images of youthful rebellion, but several youth brands are attempting to reconnect their offerings with sportspeople and even with the people who cleaned up after the protests.
In a Daily Mail column on Monday, Janet Street-Porter wrote that ‘even mainstream brands such as Levi’s promote the notion of confrontation as hip’.
Writing for PRWeek, Instinct PR founder Jonathan Kirkby has argued that brands must now become ‘more sensitive’ with their PR and marketing, warning against using imagery and ideas that could be interpreted as ‘encouraging a rebellious attitude’.
Levi’s pulled cinema and Facebook adverts last week for its Go Forth range, which featured a young man squaring up to riot police while a voiceover said ‘you’re marvellous’.
Although Levi’s declined to discuss how it was moving its brand on following the riots, a statement given to PRWeek claimed that the advert was ‘in the spirit of positive action and optimism’.
It added: ‘We believe this spirit was encapsulated by the groups that came together in Clapham, Hackney and elsewhere to rebuild their communities.’
A Nike spokesman denied that the brand had flirted with dangerous imagery, although earlier this year it replaced a line of shirts that read ‘Dope’, ‘Get High’ and ‘Ride Pipe’ following complaints that they promoted drug use.
Hinting that Nike was likely to refocus its comms and marketing strategy to emphasise its relationship with elite sportspeople, the spokesman insisted ‘sports values have always inspired our campaigns and brand statements’.
London 2012 Olympics tier one sponsor Adidas has used controversial rappers Snoop Dogg and Big Sean to promote the brand. Adidas head of PR Sarah Gower declined to comment, but a previous statement said the riots ‘go against everything we stand for’.
PRWeek also contacted JD Sports group marketing director Stephen White for comment, but he failed to respond.
Foot Locker declined to comment as ‘a matter of corporate policy’.
KEY BRAND PLAYERS
Levi’s was forced to pull an ad featuring a young man squaring up to riot police, following a public outcry that it glorified riots.
Nike had a store hit in Manchester and its products were targeted in other stores by youths.
JD Sports suffered as young rioters struck 30 of its stores – at a cost of more than £10m in clean-up work and lost stock.
BlackBerry was identified as the smartphone of choice for teenage rioters and its instant messaging service BBM was reportedly used to organise disruption.
Adidas clothing featured in many of the media photographs of the riots.
Sk8thing on i-D Magazine
I love this dude and his style and one of my best mates in Tokyo was schooled by him in design. So I always follow his work and interviews. i-D caught up with him to find out what’s been happening in his world.
When the bat phone rings and SK8THING’s on the end of the line it’s one of those calls you sit up in your seat, empty your eardrum, clear your throut and pay attention to.
Those familiar with Mr ‘thing will know him as the man behind some serious ‘streetwear’ activity, playing a leading role in the foundation laying of brands like BAPE®, Billionaire Boys Club/Ice Cream and more. Those less familiar will still know of his artistry; his graphics for BBC and BAPE® have been fundamental in the sky-rocketing success of the brands as they’ve become prolific the world-over. So much so that when i-D online popped for a quick convo with Sk8 last week, he whipped out his iPhone to show us a snap taken by photojournalists on the frontline of the London riots the previous evening, with the leader of the troop, fist raised, clad in a BAPE® varsity jacket. “It’s fake” Sk8 was happy to insist.
Background setting aside, now for the juicy stuff: as he made a rare trip from Tokyo to London, i-D online was offered the extra-special, extra-exclusive opportunity to speak to the masked magician about his next big thing and blow it wide-open for your delectation. Coming at us from a triumvirate of major clothing design talents, SK8THING has been joined by longterm collaborators Hishi and Toby Feltwell on new brand C.E. Discussing the working relationship SK8THING explains, “Having worked on BAPE® and BBC together we’re really tight and a lot of the inspiration comes from the relationship itself and the discussions we have”. With the trio continuing their involvement with other brands Toby discusses the particular attraction of breaking away from the pack, ”The idea started because the working process we share is really fun! With Ape or BBC each of our responsibilities differ in every case, but to do something where there’s no client and no history involved means we can start from scratch and work on a different level.”
Reflecting on the feeling of “alchemy” that surrounded the early days and drops of BAPE®, with consumers marvelling at the pieces that were hitting the shelves, Toby explains, “I don’t want to be undiplomatic but this heritage, vintage, workwear revival is relevant for now but it’s totally ubiquitous and there’s no need for anyone to really make any more of it. We wanted to work out what’s on the other side of that, not from a trend or marketing perspective but to be creative and do something new.” As the trio worked from their Tokyo studio, SK8THING was aware of the pressure to conform and the conservatism that’s taking hold in the style stakes explaining, “doing something in opposition to that feels like the healthy way for us to approach the collection and hopefully things can develop from there.”
Oppose and not conform they have indeed done. Thumbing through the first collection, the brand presents a refreshingly bold benchmark; a perspex, collared and pocketed jacket hangs alongside some dead daring graphic tees and a whole bunch of shirting with SK8THING’s signature penwork all over it. On specific references Toby explains, “We’d seen theEnter the Void trailer and that got us started on this sci-fi path, looking at Phillip K. Dick books and that kind of thing. Matrix is kind of cheesey seeming now but that thinking is definitely there.” And we reckon a dose of something bright, shiny and futuristic is just what we need!
What we’re seeing is a new-age of sartorial splendour, motivated by a want to shake things up and administer an injection of wearable, future fashion into the market. As for the future of the future we ask Sk8? “I have no plans, I’m here in London right now and I’m really satisfied. It’s gonna be good…” And ‘my oh my’ do we believe him. Let’s face it if anyone can make it hip, make it hot and make it happen these chaps can, so here’s to the future and C.E taking hold of the streets. SK8THING strikes again!
Scott Serfas Photography
Scott Serfas was born in the suburbs of Vancouver where nothing separated him from the North Pole but a stained wooden fence and crushed rock. At age sixteen, he was abducted from high school by an unsuspecting church organization and forced to ski moguls and perform daffy’s off lemmings leap under the 7th heaven chairlift–the original stimulus for Scott’s interest in air time photography.
Lotus Cars Names Swizz Beatz VP of Creative Design & Global Marketing
I’ve got a new found respect for Swizz Beatz after meeting him Monday night. I’ve seen quite a lot of media coverage of him after his joint venture with Reebok and now becoming CD for Lotus. That’s two HUGE achievements and exciting one’s at that. I can’t wait to see what he creates with Lotus. Here’s a few of the reasons why Lotus took on Swizz –
1. Like Group Lotus , he means business: He’s a risk taker with considerable credentials including music producer, rapper, designer AND painter.
2. Like our cars, he’s multi award winning: This year he shared a Grammy Award with Jay-Z.
3. Like Group Lotus he keeps good company: This man regularly works with the likes of Bono, Kanye West, Beyoncé and Alicia Keys.
Swizz’ new single ‘International Party’ (which is also part of the new Reebok Reethym of Lite campaign) not only features Alicia Keys but also the Lotus Evora “Concept Bespoke.”
Nigel Sylvester + Gatorade–All Day Sessions: Bay Area
Gatorade‘s “All Day Sessions” video series takes place in San Francisco, CA. Soundtrack courtesy of Dom Kennedy’s “2 mph,” who makes an appearance near the end at the Benny Gold‘s shop in the Mission District.
Christian Louboutin Spiked Calf Hair Rollerboy
Yet another edition of the Louboutin ‘Rollerboy’ shoes. Available now for $1431 through Browns.
Aloe Blacc: Green Lights
Yesterday Aloe Blacc released ‘Green Lights’ from his ‘Good Things’ album. A nice, mellow, feel good song.
Ken Block’s Gymkhana Four: The Hollywood Megamercial
Ken Block is the man! I’ve been following him over the past few years and GYM4 is unbelievable. Shot in the backlots of Universal Studios, California. If you’ve been living under a rock and this is the first you’ve heard of KB. Check out the previous Gymkhana TWO as well.