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Gravis Chucks LX Elephant
 With a $310 sticker price for a shot of Elephant print on a classic Jordan, the market price has recently risen for the signature pattern no matter what shoe it graces. Not surprisingly the print has been adopted by other brands including Gravis. Sticking to familiar colors, Gravis covers the tongue/toe panel of the Chuck LX in a cement colored crackle with black leather and red accents dressing the rest of the shoes.
As a fiend for the crack(le print), I have been pretty open and accepting to this material hitting other shoes whether they sport a Jumpman, swoosh, or neither. What are your thoughts about it? Pics from Sneaker News. |
Lakai “My Way” Colorway Contest
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For all of those who are complaining about monotony in the sneaker market, now is your time to put up or shut up! Lakai just launched a new contest that will give anyone the chance to design a pair of the Lakai Telford High or Manchester Select their own way. To enter all one has to do is download the templates, get creative, and submit your work by email. Only one entry is allowed per participant so out of all your ideas, go with your best. The contest deadline is August 5th at 12:01AM PST so that still gives you plenty of time to get your best work completed. The winner will be selected by the Lakai team where one lucky individual will receive a 1 year supply of their own shoe plus get featured in the Fall, 2009 Lakai catalog. Get all the details and enter at lakai.com. Info thanks to CtotheJL. |
Ryz Wear Sneaker Design Contest
 A handful of sneaker companies have created online outlets where one can customize and personalize a shoe just for them, but the options usually dead end at color blocking and stitching your name.
Ryz Wear (”rise wear”) picks up where the others left off with a democratic twist to the concept. One can download templates, design a sneaker, publish it on the site, and if it is selected by the public (meaning all the friends you tell to vote for you) your design gets produced, you receive the kicks, $1,000 cash plus $1 for every pair sold on the site. The current contest on Ryz Wear runs until July 30th, so you still have time to enter and win. There you can also shop for previous winning designs for $90 per pair. We found many great designs, but our vote went to and creative Obama sneaker that was made from one continuous line that never intersects itself. Cast your vote! Sign up, vote, and create your sneakers at ryzwear.com. |
Troop Pro Edition
 As the demand climbs for vintage sneakers and older brands climbs, the possibilities of the brand returning to the market grows as well. Lately we have seen the resurrection of British Knights, talk and rumors of Ewing brand returning, and now Troop.
Created in the Bronx, New York in 1986, Troop was one of the first brands to be adopted by the hip-hop community. Consisting of both apparel and footwear, the brand was popularized in the mainstream by pioneering rap acts like LL Cool. With 95% of sales to African American and Latino customers, it is no surprise that a rumor that TROOP stood for “To Rule Over Oppressed People” and was owned by the KKK killed its credibility and thus sales. Nelly announced last February that he is bringing the brand back through a licensing deal. These Troop Pro Editions are samples of what is to come. Photos from Sneaker Freaker. |
Mike Shinoda x DC Shoes Remix Series
 Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda has teamed with long time supporter DC for his second Remix Series project with the brand. Shinoda’s custom designed shoes will be released August 2008 and showcase an often unseen side of the musician.
Before he found fame as front man of Linkin Park, Mike attended the Art Center College of Design in California and anticipated a career to follow suit. He remains involved with his first passion of art, designing all of Linkin Park’s branding over the years, and now contributing to his latest DC project. Proceeds from the MSDC Remix Series™ project will go to the Michael K. Shinoda Endowed Scholarship in support of his alma mater. Mike designed two pairs of limited edition DC shoes, The MSDC Xander and the MSDC Pride, using traditional Japanese patterns and Koi scale textures as a theme for the project. Unique to his shoes are clear Koi scale patterned soles that reveal Mike’s artwork embedded in the footbeds. Renditions of Mike’s latest works are also found on the shoes uppers, insole and outsoles, with his signature stitched into the shoes’ heels. Accompanying each pair of shoes is a limited edition booklet of Mike’s artwork. Mike’s shoes will be showcased to the public for the first time during his gallery show, Born held at the Japanese American National Museum. An opening event will be held for the public on July 11th, 2008 from 8-10pm. Both the DCMS Xander and DCMS Pride will then be available for sale beginning August 1st at exclusive footwear boutiques worldwide and on Mike’s website: mikeshinoda.com. To find a retail outlet visit dcshoes.com/shinoda. |
Nas signs with Fila
 Normally a week or so after the NBA Draft the news boards are filled with signings of freshly drafted young talent to shoe deals sometimes even before they agree to terms with their team. Interestingly Nas has just signed with Fila for a 1 year deal. This in no way is the first of its kind of hip hop artists being signed to footwear and apparel companies.
This is the second footwear company that he has signed with having been with 310 Motoring, a subsidiary of Sketchers, a few years ago. In an interview with Billboard, Nas stated that “My best friend Will and I loved Fila. It represented prestige and everything that was cool to us. When Will passed, we buried him in a black Fila sweat suit, so doing a deal with them has a lot of significance for me.” All we can do is hope for the best with Nas and pray that Fila won’t try lacing him up in some knockoff Pradas that Hurricane Chris promoted. On another note, tune into the O’Reilly factor next week - I am sure Bill will spend 10-15 minutes telling us why Fila now should be boycotted. News thanks to OnSmash. |
In4mants x Etnies Sal Barbier 23
 The In4mation crew gave us a sneak peek at the upcoming return of the Etnies SLB 23 a few months ago in an eye catching solid red colorup. The two sides aren’t finished working together on their collaborative efforts and have a grey toned pair in the pipeline.
DailyDrop got the exclusive on this info; however, there is no information presently available as for the when, where, how much of the release. |
