sneakers
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Written By Alvin aqua Blanco , Director of Content Posted 38 mins ago @aqua174 Alvin aqua Blanco is the Director of Content in the Men’s Division for iOne Digital, steering Cassius Life and Hip-Hop Wired. Representing the Bronx, he was nurtured by a steady diet of Hip-Hop culture and music. He graduated from the University […]
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Is it going to be “Grand opening, Grand Closing” for sneaker brand Allbirds Inc.? It kind of looks that way if stock prices are any indication.
According to Bloomberg the sneaker brand took a major hit on the stock exchange after going public just 18 months ago as share tanked as if they had a celebrity spokesperson spitting antisemitic rhetoric on social media. Things have gotten so bad that Allbirds will be hitting the pause button on opening new stores and have even replace their Chief Financial Officer Mike Bufano with former Adidas AG, Annie Mitchell.
Revenue in the three months through December sank 13% to $84.2 million, trailing the average analyst of $96.7 million. Joey Zwillinger, the company’s co-chief executive officer and co-founder, said Allbirds, which makes shoes from wool and eucalyptus, tried to win over more younger consumers and runners, but those products missed expectations.
“We just didn’t see the sell-through on those franchises that we would’ve hoped for, and that came at the expense of that core franchise,” Zwillinger said in an interview. “We took our eye off the ball a little bit.”
Though Allbirds took a net loss of $101.4 million last year, it still pales in comparison to adidas $540 million loss after cutting ties with Kanye West. Still, adidas is a monster in the game and can take that kind of loss and keep things moving. The same cannot be said about Allbirds which is looking to get stabilize their business before they can fly high again.
“We know we disappointed in 2022,” the company said to begin an investor presentation. “Decisive action” is being taken in what Allbirds described as a “transition” year.
Anytime you take a loss in the business game the best you can do is say it’s a “learning lesson” or it’s just a “transition” into a new direction. Still, it’s L’s regardless. Just sayin.’
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Jayson Tatum is one of the most electrifying basketball players in the NBA today, culminating in his being a starter in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah. The St.Louis native unveiled his first signature shoe as a member of the Jordan Brand slate of athletes, the Tatum 1, with a design with adults and younger folks in mind.
Jayson Tatum, 24, shared his excitement of getting his own sneaker under the revered Jordan Brand offering of sneakers in a statement. The motivation for the sneaker and its innovative design transported Tatum back to his younger days as he admired other basketball legends and their signature shoes.
“I want people to feel like they can connect to me,” Tatum said in a statement. “I remember being a kid, walking into the store, and looking for the signature shoes of my favorite players. The moment I saw the shoe or put the shoe on, I felt like I was in sync and closer to them in a way. So, I want this shoe to be a bridge between my fans and me to bring us closer together.”
As shared in a press release from Nike, the Tatum 1 was designed with Tatum’s comfort in mind as one of the most athletic players we’ve seen in the game in recent times. With a secure connection to the foot reinforced by a lightweight TPU frame, the shoe is surrounded by ground-contact foam that featured an integrated traction pattern. The shoe has very little rubber on the toe and ball of the foot, styled for how Tatum plays off his forefoot.
Via the trade-off in the design, the Tatum 1 is the lightest Jordan Brand shoe in its vast lineup and also houses an uncage Zoom Air bag in the forefoot that provides some bounce back but still fosters a connection to the court floor. The collar of the shoe is padded to support the ankles and the mesh knit upper of the shoe is well-made but light in weight.
The Tatum 1 “Zoo” colorway was inspired by Tatum’s young son, Deuce, and their trips to the zoo hence the animal prints on the outside of the sneaker.
The “St. Louis” colorway features the colors of his hometown baseball team and has “Archer Ave,” the street where he grew up, stitched inside the tongue of the shoe.
The “Barbershop” colorway, only available in adult sizes, gives a nod to Tatum’s always crisp lineup and fade and how he feels most confident after a cut.
Lastly, the “Pink Lemonade” colorway is a salute to Tatum’s favorite beverage.
Other flourishes to the shoe are the words “Living Proof” on the outer part of the rubber, which is a hat tip to fellow St. Louis native, Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards. The words “I Just Didn’t Quit” are located on the TPU portion of the outsole, and Tatum has that same phrase tatted on his calf. The TPU piece also features the coordinates of St. Louis.
Tatum has often expressed his deep respect for the late, great Kobe Bryant, who inspired his all-around All-Star game. Just as the Black Mamba inspired him, Tatum hopes to serve as a beacon for other up-and-coming players and all of those who are chasing dreams.
“Kobe inspired me to follow my dreams, dedicate myself to my craft, and ultimately become the person I am today. Today’s kids are our future, and one of my main responsibilities is to inspire the next up. Whether I get to meet them or they’re inspired by me from afar, my hope is that my journey and my story can impact people to go after whatever they want in life,” Tatum added.
The Tatum 1 will go to retail on April 7 with the “Zoo” colorway coming in both adult and kid sizes along with the additional aforementioned colorways coming as well.
Congratulations to Jayson Tatum!
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Photo: Jordan Brand/Nike
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Source: Nike Basketball / NIke
Ja Morant seems poised to become the next must-see TV superstar for the NBA. So naturally Nike locked him up for the foreseeable future and are ready to drop his first signature sneaker to cash in on his growing popularity.Nike has now released official images of the upcoming “Nike Ja 1” which were tailor-made for the explosive game that Ja Morant brings with him to the court on a nightly basis. The “Ja 1” boasts features that support “dynamic lockdown, responsive ride and support for landing.” Yeah, that sounds about right given Ja’s talents.
Incorporating tech such as the Nike Zoom Bag for quicker response time underneath the foot and a raised sidewall guardrail to ensure support when taking off and landing on two feet (like Ja is known to do), the silhouette is sure to be a hit among ballers who play above the rim on a regular basis. Still, the Ja 1’s weren’t totally Nike’s doing as they let their new superstar put his own creative stamp on his first official sneaker that give it a more personal touch than we’re used to seeing from previous signature lines.
Morant’s hands-on approach in the creative process shows up throughout several design elements on the Nike Ja 1. These details include personal handwritten notes across the colorways acknowledging his family, friends and community, who have affectionately become known as Team Morant. Nike designers also collaborated with Morant to create a signature light blue color, speaking to the blue-collar mentality that fuels him in everything he does.
The Nike Ja 1’s are set to drop this Spring (right around NBA Playoffs time) and will retail for $110. Will you be checking for these when they release? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: Tiffany & Co. / Tiffany & Co.
Looks like Tiffany & Co. will once again be teaming up with Nike to drop some exclusive footwear. But instead of incorporating the classic Nike SB Dunk for their collaboration, the two brands will be remixing the classic Air Force 1 silhouette.
And it’s looking pretty damn clean.
Hypebeast is reporting that the new Tiffany & Co. Air Force 1’s is finally upon us as LeBron James was spotted rocking a pair recently. Best believe it’ll be a hot commodity when it hits the digital shelves March 7. As for the details, here’s what to expect when the sneaker drops next month. Hypebeast breaks down how this particular AF1 remix stands out amongst the many others you might have in your closet.
Referred to as the Air Force 1 1837 — nodding to Tiffany & Co.’s founding year — a premium black suede upper hosts “Tiffany Blue” Swooshes on each side in a tumbled leather. Collaborative touches are also spotted at the tongue’s “Tiffany” script and the heel’s co-branded silver detail. An all-black sole unit supports the look, matching the laces, pebbled leather overlays and dubrae. As for the sterling silver accessories, co-branded products include a shoe horn, shoe brush, dubrae designed for the sneaker and a silver whistle.
Like we said, these joints are hella clean.
The Tiffany & Co. Nike Air Force 1s are set to release March 7 on the Nike SNKRS app (good luck with that) as well as the Tiffany New York Flagship Next Door, Tiffany & Co. SoHo and select Nike retailers worldwide. The AF1s retail for $400. Y’all should’ve known these weren’t going to sell for the average Air Force 1 mom and pop spot prices, man.
Check out LeBron James rocking the exclusive joints below and let us know if these are a cop or pass for you in the comments section below.
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Source: Nissan / Nissan
Collaborations are common in the sneaker culture but Nissan and New Balance have taken it to a new level with a sneaker-themed car.
Source: Nissan / Nissan
As spotted on Hypebeast, the two brands have come together in a groundbreaking manner. This week the Japanese automobile manufacturer unveiled the Nissan Kicks “327 Edition,” a crossover inspired by the New Balance 327. The result is a car that looks like a shoe on wheels. Literally.
Present are the sneaker’s signature details including the textile stitching, suede material throughout the front and back bumper, a wrap to mimic the ’70s nylon retro aesthetic and the rear grille acts as the black rubber toe box. Additionally, we get the New Balance logo on the right side and massive “Nissan Kicks 327 Edition” branding on the left side.
Sadly, the project will not be released to the general market as your typical car launch. Instead the Nissan Kicks “327 Edition” will live as an exhibit at Aeon Mall in Tokyo; a Ginza landmark for over 50 years. Along with the opportunity to view it in person, there is a social sharing component with the campaign that incentives consumers to tweet photos of the crossover for a chance to win a pair of New Balance 327 sneakers.
Stay tuned to the official Nissan Instagram account for more details.
Source: Nissan / Nissan
Photo: Nissan
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After twenty years of sneakerheads accusing BAPE of blatantly biting Nike’s classic Air Force 1 silhouette to sell their own footwear line, the Swoosh has finally sued the Japanese brand for trademark infringement and everyone is asking the same question: Now?!
Over the past few years Nike has gone lawsuit happy, suing any and everyone for copying their classic sneaker silhouettes or even using their products to make custom pieces and selling them online. Now Nike has BAPE in their crosshairs as they want the popular street brand to stop biting their designs. Reuters is reporting that Nike filed a lawsuit against BAPE on Wednesday (January 25) in the Southern District of New York stating that the iconic Japanese street brand’s business “revolves around copying Nike’s iconic designs.”
Sneakerheads been saying this ever since BAPE sneakers hit the scene back in the early 2000’s. Some heads even refuse to rock a pair due to the fact that they’re basically Air Force 1’s without a swoosh on the side. The star on the side instead of the check was still pretty dope though. Just sayin.’ After two decades of letting BAPE eat, Nike has finally had enough and have decided to let the courts get involved.
Nike said BAPE’s U.S. sales of the shoes were “sporadic” until 2021, when it “drastically increased the volume and scope of its infringement.”
“BAPE’s copying is and always has been unacceptable to Nike, and because BAPE’s infringements have recently grown to become a significant danger to Nike’s rights, Nike must act now,” the lawsuit said.
Nike also said BAPE “refused” to stop the alleged violations when asked.
The lawsuit said BAPE’s designs will cause confusion among potential customers. It cited secondary-market sellers who referred to the BAPE shoes as “Air Force 1s” or “Dunks.”
Nike is asking the court to order BAPE to stop selling selling their sneakers and also want an unspecified amount of compensation for money damages.
Word is that Nike and BAPE had some sort of sit down in 2009, and shortly thereafter the latter retreated from the States. But recently, they’ve start selling shoes that allegedly AF1 knockoffs, again, and here we are.
When Nike began dishing out lawsuits like the point guard off your favorite teams, many felt it was only a matter time before lawyers showed up on BAPE’s door, and now that time has come. Keep in mind that BAPE sneakers aren’t even popping like that in the streets anymore, but that’s neither here nor there.
How this ends is anyone’s guess though it looks like Nike has a strong as Tom Stoltman case on their hands. Don’t be surprised if heads begin hoarding BAPE sneakers in anticipation of a cease and desist order being thrown at the Japanese clothing brand. Heck, we might go get a few pairs ourselves just in case.
What do y’all think about Nike finally taking BAPE to court over their sneakers? Let us know in the comments section below.
Written By Alvin aqua Blanco , Director of Content Posted 1 hour ago @aqua174 Alvin aqua Blanco is the Director of Content in the Men’s Division for iOne Digital, steering Cassius Life and Hip-Hop Wired. Representing the Bronx, he was nurtured by a steady diet of Hip-Hop culture and music. He graduated from the University […]
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Almost a year after now infamous sneaker reseller Zadeh Kicks shut down his operation and ended up getting investigated by the FBI, another sneaker reseller is following suit under somewhat similar suspect circumstances.
According to Nice Kicks, Schmidty Kicks, known for reselling sneakers at higher than retail prices, filed for bankruptcy over the weekend. Apparently it owed creditors $18,473,066.33 while only having $808.49 in assets. They must’ve had four pairs of The Air Jordan 1 “Brotherhood’s” left in stock or something. Those aren’t going anywhere on the secondary market either. Just sayin.’
Altogether Schmidty Kicks owes 661 creditors debts ranging from as little as $212 to as much as $6 million to the payment processor Stripe. Like many resellers over the past few months, Schmidty Kicks done learned that the reselling game isn’t what it used to be. Highly anticipated sneakers are hard to come by (thanks bots and backdoors) and more kicks are considered bricks than grails by the everyday sneaker aficionado.
Schmidty Kicks declared that it owes more than $350,000 to other family members of the president Brett Schmidt and $1,738,600 to Schmidty Kicks Fund – an entity that lists Brett Schmidt as a principal in an SEC filing dated in February 10, 2022.
In the bankruptcy filing, Schmidty Kicks’ President Brett Schmidt declares that potential assets the failed business has include money owed from Zadeh Kicks, its founder Michael Malekzadeh, and CFO Bethany Mockerman.
It’s not looking good out here for bulk sneaker resellers.
Zadeh Kicks founder Michael Malekzadeh and his fiancee Bethany Mockerman meanwhile are currently facing multiple fraud charges for “selling” sneakers he never actually had. Zadeh Kicks was the talk of the sneaker town after he abruptly shut down his sneaker reselling operation and blew town with millions in unfulfilled orders.
After the sneaker community exploded in anger and astonishment at the sudden shuttering of Zadeh Kicks, the FBI got involved. They not only hit Malekzadeh and his ride-or-die with fraud charges, but also confiscated his personal sneaker stash and whatever he had in storage and resold them on eBay at the end of 2021.
Naturally Malekzadeh and Mockerman pleaded not guilty to all charges but, well, it’s not looking good for them right now.
What do y’all think of Schmidty Kicks being the latest sneaker reseller to go down in flames? Do y’all even trust sneaker reselling websites anymore? We know we don’t. Let us know in the comments section below.
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Pusha T is stepping back into the sneaker game teasing his new collaboration with adidas.
As per Sneaker News, the trapper turned rapper is making moves while at Paris Fashion Week. While on route to the “Twilight Reverie” showing Pusha T was spotted wearing some never before feet pieces. At first glance, the shoes look like your standard adidas Samba. But the sneaker is actually much more unique. The “THORN,” a nod to his last name Thornton, features his marque throughout the oversized leather tongue and heel counter. Additionally, this model also has the signature trefoil logo on the toe box.
This is not the first time the “Diet Coke” rapper has worked with the German sportswear giant. Back in 2014 he signed a deal that would not only make him a celebrity ambassador but also afforded him the opportunity to release exclusive sneakers. Throughout his tenure with adidas, he released plush versions of EQT Guidance ‘93, EQT Support Ultra Boost and Ozweego.
His most noteworthy pair was the “Bodega Baby” which featured prime knit construction with premium carp leather overlays, a Boost midsole for unparalleled comfort and premium “King Push” engraved metal lace locks.
You can see images of the “THORN” below.
Photo: Arnold Jerocki / Getty