Nike Kobe 8 System brings out the snake in all of us

Eric Avar, his team of designers, colorist and some other dudes, sat with Kobe as they always do to come up with some kind of crazy and innovative way(s) to sell shoes, their latest is the Nike Kobe 8 System (yupe more gimmick) and they are already heavily linked up to China. How so? Aside from the shoes being made in China (given!), 2013 is the year of the snake in the Chinese calendar and this being the EIGHT edition, which is a lucky number to the Chinese just makes it even more specially linked to the Chinese. To add to that, Nike will release a special so-called "Python" colorway, which is more like the colors of the Chinese Military Uniform. Google it if you don't believe me, and by releasing them first in China just supports my theory, that Nike, an American company is....(feel free to fill in the blank)



So the shoe it self is once again the lightest basketball shoes made by Nike, at 9.6 oz for a men's size 9, it distance it self away from previous technologies such as the Flywire and Zoom Air, at the same time differentiating it from Nike's Hyperfuse upper that seems to be popular with the current LeBron & Kevin Durant's offerings.

The upper for the Nike Kobe 8 System incorporated an innovative textile - Nike Engineered Mesh -- for the first time in a basketball shoe. This created a dynamic and ultra-lightweight fit that is 90 percent mesh for 360 degrees of breathability and tightly woven for strength and flexibility to bend naturally with the foot and mimic the natural biomechanics of the foot's basketball movements.

The shoe’s cushioning set-up moves away from it's patented Zoom Air Cushioning Unit and now uses a full-length Lunarlon midsole to deliver lightweight, low-profile cushioning, and is low to the ground allowing for greater stability.  A one-millimeter rubber outsole – combining classic herringbone with a snake scale-inspired traction pattern – uses less rubber than traditional outsoles for lightweight durability and excellent multi-surface traction. The 3-D anatomical heel counter provides a sleek, locked down fit.

Beginning December 20, 2012, the black/sulfur color of the KOBE 8 SYSTEM will be available in stores globally, on nike.com and through NIKEiD. 

The python-inspired color launches in Greater China on January 12, 2013, and in North America on February 2, 2013.

Under Armour’s Gradient “Big 10/ACC Challenge” ONLY - not for you and me

Supreme X Nike Air Force One - CAMO - super Hypebeast shoes

At the times of release which was 2 weeks ago on November 15 in the U.S & Nov 17th in Japan, I really don't feel the need to write about Nike's most iconic shoes and it's latest collaboration with everyone's favorite "skate"/streetwear brand - SUPREME. But upon careful inspection and consideration, I decided to NOT bother writing about such a hypebeast shoe. SUPREME as a brand has surpassed it's own true identity, it was and still is a skateboarding brand, made extremely famous or should I say IN-famous by sneaker heads who happens to skate. The fact that it has escalated to this level and even those who knows nothing of skateboarding nor streetwear are starting to ask for them in their Christmas wish list is somewhat...well uncool and mainstream. But if you are those that is staying true to your SUPREME roots from way back in the day, then good for you.

Nike KD V - Christmas shoes/video games edition

I am sure there is some kind of a funky explanation behind this colorway of the Christmas KD V, but unfortunately I am not in the know and even if I ask @Leoschang on Twitter, dude will probably won't hit me back because 1. He is probably not allowed to, 2. I am just not cool enough to get an RT on Twitter. So based on what I see here, I am just going to come up with a hypothesis  of the 'story' behind this colorway.

By looking at the insole of the shoe, you can probably guess that it's based on Kevin Durant's love of video games and for a boy growing up, nothing beats getting a pair of cool sneakers and/or video games for Christmas. Another theory is the upper is based off those gawd awful sweaters that you get from relatives, mostly from an Aunt that knows nothing of your interest, but I am sticking with my initial theory that it's based on KD's love of video game and the upper of the shoe are pixels of games from earlier in the days when ATARI still rules. Let's face it, you don't see this kind of pixels when you play your X-Box or PS3 do you? Unless of course it's broken. Enjoy the pics, courtesy of JC1992 from Nike Talk.

adidas Originals cute designer makes Brooklyn Nets: Dehen jackets

The cuteness of this adidas Originals designer covers up her fondness of the word LIKE in her speech pattern. Oh and ahhh....dope jacket! Brooklyn!!!!

Nike Kobe VIII - 8/Eight/Hachi - Black/Del-Sol - First Look

The number EIGHT is a significant number for Kobe and it happened to be important to yours truly as well. For Kobe, it signifies his basketball career when he first entered the NBA with the jersey number 8, it also coincides with the month Kobe was born in, August, the eight month of the year. As for me, well, that number was also my number in high school when i played junior and senior varsity. My parents believe the number eight is a lucky number, so I wore that number in honour of their believes and hoping that the luck would've rubbed on to me. it never did, LOL!

Anyways, here we take a look at a true low cut basketball shoes. The EIGHT edition of Kobe's signature shoes and it gets even lower than the previous one and it also should be even lighter from looking at the material and Lunar cushioning setup. It reminded me of Steve Nash's last signature shoes with Nike, and now Nash is Kobe's teammate, so maybe after Christmas, Steve Nash would start wearing these along side Kobe. I am just hoping that they move away from that whole SYSTEM mess that they introduced last year and just keep improving the lightest and lowest mold to your feet shoes like they did with the Kobe V & VI. But again, if they just play it save, it wouldn't be Nike Innovation. Images via Marqueesole

LI-NING and Dwyane Wade form Landmark Partnership

Collaboration Fueled by a Shared Vision Between Mr. Li Ning and Wade and a Mutual Aspiration to Advance the Growth of Basketball Across Cultures

BEIJING AND NEW YORK – October 10, 2012 – China’s leading sportswear company, LI-NING Company, and NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade, today announced the creation of a new athletic footwear and apparel brand called WADE, which will serve as the centerpiece of the corporation’s growing international basketball strategy, and be shaped by an unprecedented level of creative and strategic direction from the two-time NBA Champion.
Mr. Li Ning and Wade announced the multi-year partnership at a press conference earlier today in Beijing. Elements will include a signature line of adult apparel and footwear, available soon at LI-NING retail stores and online throughout China, and set to debut in the United States in 2013. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The unique partnership will seek to connect Wade’s renowned methods of style, training, and personal growth with LI-NING’s values of dream, inspiration and enterprise. It will draw upon the similar business and athletic philosophies upheld by Wade and Mr. Li Ning, a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist in Gymnastics in 1984, and the final torchbearer, who lit the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games cauldron in one of the most memorable moments ever during an Olympic Opening Ceremony.
“I am so proud to welcome Dwyane Wade to the LI-NING family,” said Li Ning, Founder of LI- NING Company. “Dwyane is a superstar for his athletic achievements, and also for the way he carries himself on and off the NBA court. I have come to understand what motivates him, what he cares about, and the personal and professional path he wants to take in the coming years. There are remarkable similarities between Dwyane and myself in this regard, and I could not be more excited about developing a brand with him that speaks to those shared views. At the same time, the WADE brand will deliver the high quality and performance characteristics consumers have come to expect of our Company.”
Wade will serve in an official capacity as Chief Brand Officer, and be responsible for guiding the creative direction of all WADE products. He will work with LI-NING’s WADE leadership team to spearhead the global marketing strategies and initiatives aimed to build brand awareness in the United States and China. Wade will provide significant input and approval license of all future endorsers for the WADE brand, and be instrumental in selecting the athletes he feels best embody the presence, perspective and personality of the brand.
“I first visited China in 2008, when I competed in the Beijing Olympics, and was deeply moved by the country’s genuine passion for basketball,” said Wade. “I have been blessed with an opportunity to make an impact on the game in the United States, and I look forward to now being active with the sport on a more global level. I am honored to join forces with LI-NING and grow the game, beginning in China, which is home to more basketball players – 200 million – than any other country in the world.”
Prior to the official launch of his signature shoe, Wade will wear two specially-created, high performance LI-NING-branded basketball sneakers during upcoming Miami HEAT games, including two pre-season games to be played later this week in Beijing and Shanghai against the Los Angeles Clippers. Shoes from the first two preseason games will be held for auction in China.
The Company also has plans to launch a WADE kids footwear and apparel line in the future.
The natural pairing of philosophies will be told through a comprehensive marketing campaign of upcoming TV spots and other extensions.
The agreement with LI-NING Company was brokered by CAA Sports, a division of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the world’s leading entertainment and sports agency, on behalf of its client, Wade.
For more information about Li-Ning, please visit http://www.li-ning.com.

adidas Basketball D Rose 3 “Michigan Avenue” in time for Christmas

I used to work at Michigan Ave and I dread working there especially during the shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Probably the busiest shopping street in the City of Chicago , Michigan Ave offers great shopping attractions, and during the winter especially with the lights and everything, it is a sight especially for tourist. But, if you are from where D Rose is from, which is the South Side of Chicago aka the 'GHETTO', going to Michigan Ave is like going out of town and experiencing entirely different feel. In recent years, many of these kids from the inner city are congesting Michigan Ave, acting like they own the damn place. That's why I stopped going to Michigan Ave during the weekends.

Anyways, this colorway of the Rose 3 is dubbed the “Michigan Avenue”, it is a nod to the lights and shoppers that frequents that street in Chicago during the holidays. The white synthetic leather upper, bright blue nubuck toe, and speckled midsole symbolizes Michigan Ave’s bright lights and clutters of visitors. From there, the 3-Stripes and lace eyelets go with yellow, and the tongue, outsole and laces are infrared to represent the icons in the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival parade. On the back of the tongues, The inside of each tongue, stars and a half-moon shout out Derrick’s “Poohdini” tattoo. Satellite coordinates of Michigan Avenue and the number 1,000,000 – for the number of lights on display each MMLF – round out the look.

Coming out November 15th, these bad boys retails for $160 and is available at your select adidas Basketball stores.

adidas D Rose 3 “90s Throwback” aka "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" edition

Poor "Pooh", I don't know how he's going to move his shoes this year when he is not playing in them during NBA games. To add to his on-court absence, the price hike from $120 to $160 will surely make a few parents cringe when their kids asked for the D Rose shoes for Christmas.
I am aware that Nike signature shoes are costing more and more these days, with the Air Jordan costing in the $200+ price point, as well as the LeBron X+ nearing the $300 price point mark, I guess adidas basketball was thinking that if they don't increase the price, it will devalue D Rose's third signature shoes and they need to keep up with a higher price point signature kicks that is somewhat relevant when it comes to the sneaker market. But the think that they failed to realized, Air Jordan is the shoe that started it all, it will ALWAYS have a follower, the LeBron X+ is a gimmicky shoe that tracks your fitness activity and with LeBron fresh off his first championship this past summer, kids are now clamoring for Bron2's shoes more than ever. This leaves D Rose's third signature shoes; again with D Rose still sidelined, a higher price point in this slumping economy, how on earth are you going to come up with that $160+tax for something that D Rose will probably never wear this NBA season ? Especially when Jordan Brand keeps coming out with their overpriced Retros that seems to be the MUST HAVE for kids of all ages.

One way to get shoes moving these days of course it to create them in LIMITED fashion add to that, bright colors! As ya'll can see here, being tagged as the “90s Throwback”, or “Fresh Prince” for the loud color outfit that Will Smith wore in the “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” opening credits, this colorway is almost similar to last year's "Simeon - Wolverine" colors takes TWO separate green, one the Volt/fluorescent green and the other Slime green, blue trim, and graffiti style tags of "South Side" and "773" on the back of the tongues as a nod to Derrick’s hometown Chi-town. Of course, it would not be complete without the speckled mid-sole. Set to release Nov 9, get ready to act a fool in these like Will Smith did back in the days.