Sneaker heavyweights Nike, adidas, Under Armour, and even new comer Brandblack's catering to their athletes' desire for self-expression drives the sneakerhead culture as each colorway and signature sneaker presents a masterpiece coveted by many. Along with this, customization processes like NIKEiD or one-of-a-kind craftsmanship by Mache gives athletes a bevy of colorful options for each and every game that sometimes deviate from the color palette of their respective teams. In a world where uniformity is a necessity, but individuality and unique aesthetics lead to marketability and profits, the NBA is tasked with policing its players' numerous sneaker options to uphold the principle of a team uniform. Popular sneaker blog Sole Collector spoke with the NBA to discuss the sneaker guidelines that allowed for creativity and self-expression, but also maintained a "dress code". According to Christopher Arena, the NBA's Vice President of identity, outfitting, and equipment, in 2012 team managers and sneaker companies began requesting their athletes be allowed to wear bolder footwear. As a response, the Association created a calendar attentive to holidays, like Christmas, continual celebrations, such as Black History Month, and special events that authorized the striking footwear options a presence on the court. Above is an infographic by Brett Dalzell illustrating all the days when NBA players can wear special sneakers, and go to Sole Collector for the full read.
Mr. Happy /
I stumbled on this video on accident. I wasn’t looking for it, so when I got a glimpse of Chance the Rapper’s face on a thumbnail of a Vice video, my jaw dropped from both confusion and excitement. To my surprise, on March 20th, Vice released a short film called “Mr. Happy”, which features Chano as a depressed and suicidal kid, who is ready to take the final step to his death. Chance’s genuine ability is beautifully showcased, and although it isn’t a full-length feature, he is able to offer at least a small dimension to his character. The storyline, although somewhat conventional, has quite a few unexpected turns, and enough intricate details and scenery that earned it a second watch in my book. The point is: watching one of my favorite musicians act was simply satisfying and comforting. I find solace knowing that in between those often depressing singles our man isn’t wallowing away in a studio, but finding other methods of expression that although are as, if not more, gruesome, reflect a healthy expressive process and creative development.
It wasn’t until I already finished my first run through that I even made the connection between Chance and other rapper-actors like Childish Gambino, Kid Cudi, or Common. One after another, more and more musicians are taking roles on other creative expressive fronts, which paints in my mind a horizon filled with comprehensive artists that are multi-talented and faceted. This is something that as consumers and fans we should want, as those artists with experience in many mediums of creation can more wholly present new ideas and development. Art in all forms stimulates the mind, and promotes progression and creative process. I would rather have a Chance the Rapper who creates a variety of art, and is able to bring all of that experience outside of the music world back to the mic, than one who we as a population and consumer base, restrict to the music industry. It’s too static, and doesn’t properly reflect the culture we live in today where there is technology and social media that allows anybody to become anything. And while it seems as though it is out of our control as a population, it is our responsibility to remember that the industries that market art, music, and popular culture, do so to satiate our taste. When we show our support in these instances like Chance’s, more artists will be inspired and incentivized to step outside of the box, and seek that versatility that pop culture can have. Enjoy the film.
The Middle-Ground Between Sport and Fashion /
With so many limited release shoes and hundreds of silhouette variations, it's easy to lose focus on the macro view of the sneaker game, but the industry is changing. Brands like adidas and Nike, which have been synonymous with the sportswear industry, have ventured into the middle ground occupying the merging gap between sport and fashion.
This past fall, adidas released the Tubular: a modern, innovative, and commercial silhouette heavily influenced by the high-fashion Y-3 Qasa Shell. The shoe's designer and now VP of Global Design, Nic Galway, recently sat down with Nice Kicks to discuss the shoes design as well as how adidas plans to navigate the current intersection between style and sport. Check out an excerpt of the conversation below as well as the accompanying video, and for a full read head here.
“Nice Kicks: When did work on the Tubular begin and how did it come about?
Nic Galway: Basically it started some time ago, maybe four to five years back. At that time, I was looking to promote within the company seeing how far back we could take the collective memory of our brand. I was very interested in Originals, but at that time I was working with Y-3. So, I took a trip and was looking at old products, [including the original adidas Tubular.] It wasn’t so much the actual shoes but the prototypes that led to that shoe that really caught my imagination. The prototypes were somewhat crude, they’re handcut, handmade, and they had a real charm about them. It got me really inspired. What I wanted to do was to strip back the idea to what the initial thought would have been as to why they started that product. So it wasn’t about creating a one-to-one version of the original Tubular, but rather understanding why they did it. That took me to the idea of suspending the foot over a tire which is very close to the end product that you’ll see today.
Nice Kicks: In the past couple of years, the non-retro lifestyle running market has really taken off. What do you attribute that to?
Nic Galway: I think people have become a little bit tired [of retro.] They love the past– I think that will always be a strong root in everything we do– but people are looking to be challenged I think. You’ve had a long period of similarity and now I think people are much more open minded. That’s why we’ve created the products we’ve been working on. I think it’s proving to be a big success because the reaction we get to these more challenging products has been incredibly positive. I think that’s a good sign for the industry as a whole.
Nice Kicks: Recently you’ve received a new title. What is your direction as the new VP of Global Design at adidas?
Nic Galway: It’s where we start, it’s all about creativity. What I want is that everything my team does to be rooted in creativity. Whether it’s a bring-back, in which case we do it true to the original and make it to the highest quality, or if it’s something that’s forward reaching, it all has to start with creativity. I really want to bring everything I’ve learned over my experiences with the brand and bring that to the team and I really want to move forward constantly. Adidas is a pioneering brand and that’s what I stand behind.
Nice Kicks: Lastly, what can sneakerheads expect from the adidas Tubular as it launches? Is this the first step towards rapid innovation for adidas or is the Tubular a model that will remain relevant and on the market for years to come?
Nic Galway: I see both. I see the Tubular as a stake in the ground. It’s an intention from us. We want to let people know that we are an innovative brand with a very rich history. I think this rich heritage can either be a hindrance or it can really be a true enabler. For me, it has to be the enabler. I think this is a starting point and what I’m really looking forward to is seeing where we can take the Originals brand moving forward but doing it in a way where people can still connect.”
More Albums Dropped! /
By now you know 2015 is a massive year for hip hop. Thus far, we have been graced with new projects by popular culture staples such as Drake, Big Sean, and of course Kendrick Lamar, but beyond these, albums by Joey Badass, Lupe Fiasco, and Ghostface Killah & BADBADNOTGOOD have also been intriguing listens. Today, albums by ultra-foodie Action Bronson and Odd Future member, Earl Sweatshirt, have officially released.
Four years in the hip hop game and Action Bronson finally debuts his first studio LP, Mr. Wonderful. If you've followed his web series on Munchies, "Fuck, That's Delicious," you've known of the pending album for awhile. The 13-track project features Chance The Rapper as well as production from The Alchemist.
After releasing the music video for "Grief" last week, fans of Earl Sweatshirt and Odd Future were given a glimpse of what's to come from his second studio album I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside. The 10-track project includes features from Vince Staples, Dash and a couple others. You can stream the album here.
You can stream both albums now in the OfficeVibes tab!
'Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation' Official Trailer /
Ethan Hunt returns from his last mission that ended in Dubai to track and destroy the Syndicate, rogue individuals that do exactly what Hunt's IMF does, while he and his team face the disbandment of their organization. Obviously, Tom Cruise stars in the fifth film of the M:I franchise and is accompanied by staple Ving Rhames, Alex Baldwin, Rebecca Ferguson, and Jeremy Renner. Mark your calendars for July 31st as Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation releases then. Watch the official trailer below.