Vans Vault is back with the OG Style 36 LX Two Tone range. A tribute to the brand’s iconic 1978 low-top model that may be better known as the Old Skool, this collection reworks the “jazz striped” fan-favorite with a duo of two tone offerings in classic blue/dandelion and orange rust/coconut shell. Be on the lookout for the Vans Vault 2013 Spring OG Style 36 LX Two Tone models to hit select Vault by Vans stockists sometime in June.
If the Play Cloths and Saucony collab that together built the Shadow 5000 “Precious Metals” pack, was a little too futuristic to you, perhaps this one will leave you feeling a little more at home. Dubbed the “Cotton Candy” pack, this trio of kicks plays off of the universal love for the powdery good stuff, which we swore we could live off of as kids. Using three sugary sweet colorways, including Dream Blue, Mimosa, and Coral Almond, the two brands successfully blend suede uppers with a contrasting white midsole and tonal laces and special-edition liners to build the perfect summer shoe. The set will be releasing in limited numbers in the coming weeks, with those who have the Swaag iPhone App (a free download) among the first able to own a pair followed by a wider release.
Posted in Footwear, Play Cloths, Saucony, Sneakers
Tagged 5000, Cotton Candy, Kicks, Pack, Play Cloths, Saucony, Shadow, Sneakers, Trainers
Get me a flight to Florida….As part of Disney’s Hollywood Studios ‘D-Tech Me’ experience for its ‘Star Wars’ Weekends, the entertainment giant has announced that it will offer fans a way to make themselves into mini ‘Stormtrooper’ figures. To let you explore the dark side and be part of the Empire’s Imperial army, fans would have to sit through a 10-minute 3D scan of their faces—shot using “the world’s highest-resolution, single-shot 3D face scanner created by Imagineering scientists with Disney Research labs”, according to Disney. The completed Stormtrooper figurine will take 7-8 weeks (longer, if shipped internationally) to be delivered to your doorstep. Each customised Stormtrooper figure is priced at US$99.95 a pop.
The mainstream adoption of the smartphone has generally meant more chance to kill/waste time, be anti-social and in some cases, simplify your life. Kwikset’s Kevo looks to perform the latter with their new integrated lock that enables users to unlock their doors via just a simple tap. There’s no need to swipe your phone over the keyhole but rather the tap instantly pairs and recognizes the authorization between the two. In addition you’re able to send temporary codes to trusted people so you can let them in without the hassle of dropping keys off and meeting up. For now the Kevo is only available for the iPhone 4S and 5. For more information head over to Kwikset.
Nike continues to release colourful new versions of its classic for the summer months. The “Beaches of Rio” Pack was a first move in that direction and now they follow up with the new Classic Cortez Nylon QS “Aloha” Pack. The iconic low top sneaker from Nike returns this season with nylon uppers in bold colors, featuring all-over flower prints.
Not new to each other, Stone Island and Italian footwear maker Diemme have teamed up once again and present a solid sneaker offering for Spring/Summer 2013. Featuring a satin weave and cotton canvas upper with suede heel reinforcements, the two stayed close to your favourite Vans silhouettes with this release. A low top version, similar to the Era and a mid top version, similar to the Chukka Boot, are presented, each available in the three colours of the French flag – white, navy and red. Pick up a pair here
Posted in Diemme, Footwear, Sneakers, Stone Island
Tagged 2013, Chukka, Diemme, Era, Sneakers, Spring Summer, Stone Island
Daft Punk recently sat down with Sky Ferreira of CR Fashion Book for an interview and photoshoot ahead of the release of Random Access Memories. Suited-up in custom Saint Laurent tuxedos designed by Hedi Slimane, the duo made for quite the sight. They spilled the beans on a variety of topics including the inspiration for the album title, working with Hedi Slimane and the current state of dance music. Below is a brief excerpt from the interview, the entirety of which can be found at CR Fashion Book.
SKY FERREIRA: What’s the meaning of your album’s title, Random Access Memories?
DAFT PUNK: The title plays with concepts of computer memory and human memories, establishing a loose parallel between the human brain and the hard drive—both are somehow randomly fragmented devices. We have always been fascinated by the relationship and connections between man and machine.
What is the essence of the album?
This album is about technology going towards humanity, in a world where humanity is going towards technology. We tried to capture robotic emotions with music, replacing this time our electronic machines by real human beings.
What was the most difficult aspect of realizing the album?
Making this album was difficult and challenging in an exciting way, but that is the nature of these empirical musical experimentations. We tried to do some things we had never done in a studio. We wanted to learn techniques we did not know. We did not want to take the easy route. But somehow, the difficult parts of the entire creative process are what made the journey really worth it.
It’s been almost 10 years since your last album. How do you think music has changed?
Everything now changes at a frantic speed. Our previous album seems to have been released a lifetime ago. We just created a timeless bubble around us for the last five years in order to create the music we wanted to listen to.
You’re fascinated with the past. If you could travel to any moment in time, when and where would it be?
It’s a tough question to answer. Maybe witnessing the completion of the Great Pyramids, then traveling to see the remaining Six Wonders of the World, which are now long gone.
You have said in many interviews that dance music as a whole is suffering right now. Why?
Dance music is almost exclusively made today with laptop computers, on the same software, with the same virtual instruments, and a lot of the same drum sounds. Computers, as music instruments, are making it difficult for musicians to have their distinctive sonic personality, and a lot of dance records are starting to sound the same, in a very formatted way.
What was your creative brief to [Saint Laurent designer] Hedi Slimane for this album?
Hedi is a longtime friend of ours. We share a lot of the same tastes in art and music. There was no specific brief for this album; we just played him the music. We generally prefer the music to do the talking.
This album has been in the works for a long time. What is one of your best memories from putting it together?
Being in the studio with Nile Rodgers, one of our childhood heroes, was definitely one of the highlights. He just brought his guitar to Electric Lady Studios in New York and started to play. It is the exact same guitar he’s been playing on all these records and songs we love, like “Le Freak,” “Good Times,” “I’m Coming Out,” “He’s The Greatest Dancer,” “Upside Down,” “Let’s Dance,” and “Like a Virgin.” It was an amazing moment.
All of your albums before this one were more or less homemade. Why did you decide to begin recording in a studio?
After having made three albums, we were looking for a fourth album we had not yet done. We’ve been making music as Daft Punk for 20 years, and we are always trying to feel like beginners. Going in a studio for the first time felt exciting because it was something new. WithRandom Access Memories, we ultimately decided we wanted to do a record we could not have done at home.
Where do you see yourselves in another 20 years?
That is classified information.
