CrepCulture

Posted on September 8, 2020September 8, 2020 by crepcultureblog — Leave a comment

‘Bok Boys: Reebok’s Greatest Streetwear Collaborations

By Jack Cook @TheDripQuarterly

If any of you are familiar with the YouTube sneaker show Full Size Run, you will know that Co Host, Brendan Dunne, has been pushing a ‘Bok Boys movement for quite some time, so we thought it was only right to honour the movement with a look at some of Reebok’s greatest collaborations… according to us anyway!

Reebok might just be the biggest sportswear giant to come out of the UK, and thanks to the recent work of Leo Gamoa, they have produced some of the best streetwear collaborations the sneaker industry has seen in recent years.

We look at our favourites below:

Patta x Reebok Workout 25th Anniversary: 2012

We start our deep dive into Reebok’s collaborative catalogue with the Patta x Reebok Workout 25th Anniversary. The Reebok Workout has always had a place in my heart due to the popularity of the all-white sneaker in my hometown. However, this joint effort from Patta and Reebok is as far from the original colourway as you can get. Dressed in grey horsehair with teal accents the colourway fits perfectly with Patta’s brand identity of obscure designs on classic silhouettes.

The sneaker came correct with numerous lace colour options to allow the consumer a furthered level of customisation to align with their taste. All the bold colours and horsehair upper are offset by a pure white sole, to ensure the sneaker does not go unnoticed.

This makeup of crazy materials and contrasting colours, plus the clear creative control over the project which Patta was granted, make this collaboration a true head turner. It is this reason why the 25th Anniversary Reebok Workout is probably my favourite pair which features on this list.

Palace Skateboards x Reebok: 2013 & 2016

Palace x Reebok Club C (2016)
Palace x Reebok Workout (2013)
Palace x Reebok Workout (2013)

This next segment features two different collaborations between Palace and Reebok; the Reebok Workout from 2013 and the Reebok Club C from 2016. Although the two British streetwear giants have joined forces many times over the years, many of these collaborations have missed the mark, often producing wild and inconsistent colourways. The two collaborative efforts above however were exactly what I would want from a collaboration between the two.

These two models managed to stay true to the traditional looks of a Reebok sneaker while providing a nod to Palace Skateboards with branded laces as well as the famous Triferg logo on the tongue. Sometimes less is more with collaborations and we think that Palace nailed that philosophy with these. Let’s hope they get back to this outlook soon and start producing gems like these again.

Gosha Rubchinskiy x Reebok Phase 1 Pro: 2016

Russian designer Gosha Rubchinskiy boats some great collaborations with the likes of Adidas and Burberry but our favourite comes in the form of the Gosha x Reebok Phase 1 Pro silhouette that released in 2016.

This collab makes the list due to Gosha opting for a more understated OG Reebok model in simplistic colourways. All three of the colourways feature bright orange Russian wording embroidered on the heel, a move synonymous with Rubchinskiy’s designs.

The Gosha x Reebok Phase 1 wasn’t the only collaboration that dropped in 2016, with Alife also bringing a version of the sneaker out. The colour pallet used by Alife was very siliar to that used by Gosha but with their logo on the tongue of the shoe, a gum sole and teal logos throughout, pictured below:

BAIT x Reebok ‘West East’ Pack: 2018

LA Based streetwear and sneaker store BAIT have joined forces with Reebok many times, with their most recent being the Toy Story themed Instapump Fury that released this year. While this is one neck-breaking release, their best collaboration comes in the form of the ‘West East’ Pack which dropped in 2018.

The two brands joined forced to re-create three fan favourite silhouettes with a regional theme; the Club C, Exo Fit and Workout. All three are dressed in a classic white colourway with a vintage sail coloured sole. The shoes feature the BAIT branding and American Flag on the left representing the West element of the pack. The Reebok logo and the British Flag can be found on the right sneaker, representing the East.

I recently managed to pick up the Workout from this collaboration for under retail and couldn’t believe it. This is certainly one of those classic collaborations which seems to have flown under the radar for most sneakerheads.

JJJJound x Reebok Club C: 2019

It would be criminal to discuss Reebok’s best collaborations and leave out last years efforts with mood board extraordinaire JJJJound. The shoe originally released in a pop up dubbed ‘Centre de Commande’ – a store decked out as a retro office space reimagined by JJJJound. With only 300 pairs of the collaborative sneaker available at the pop-up, the shoes flew off shelves, making them highly sought after.

Later last year, the JJJJound Club C’s were re-released with a further 1,500 being made available. Due to the hype surrounding this shoe and the scarcity in supply, the sneakers currently sell on secondary markets for around £250-300!

Reebok is expected to reignite their relationship with JJJJound this year after a photo of their new collaboration was teased on the JJJJound official Instagram account. The Reebok Classic Nylon is the silhouette of choice for their collaboration this time around (pictured below), but has no official release date at the time of writing. However, if the Club C is anything to go by, the JJJJound x Reebok Classic Nylon’s are sure to sell out very swiftly and fetch a hefty price on resale platforms.

SNEEZE x Reebok Club C: 2020

The final collaboration to make the list is the more recent SNEEZE x Reebok Club C’s, releasing in June of 2020. SNEEZE is a New York-based magazine which was established in 2008 and acts as a modern guide to street style, culture and lifestyle.

The sneaker features a nubuck upper with the SNEEZE logo debossed onto the side of the shoe where you would usually find the Reebok logo. I was lucky enough to pick up a pair of this clean collaborative Club C when they dropped back in June. SNEEZE Magazine also donated all proceeds from the sales of the Reebok Club C to the Black Lives Matter Movement which makes this collaboration that much more special.

How do you feel about the collaborations listed above? Did we miss any that you are particularly fond of? Let us know!

Written by Jack Cook @TheDripQuarterly
edited by Toby Eldredge @crepcultureblog

Posted on August 26, 2020September 8, 2020 by crepcultureblog — Leave a comment

CrepCulture Socks!

Release Date & Time: Friday 28th August at 14:00(BST)

The last few months have been incredibly strange for everyone. Whilst most people have undergone a period of lockdown and a halt to all normal activity, this time has given many the opportunity to expand their creative endeavours. CrepCulture is no exception. During the past months, I have grown CrepCulture at a much quicker rate than I had done previously over the past three years. I have been able to amass a substantial following on social media platforms and here on my blog, allowing me to take CrepCulture up a notch! With all that being said I present, the CrepCulture OG Socks.

The OG socks take their inspiration from three of Nike’s OG Air Max colourways. These are the ‘Neon’ Air Max 95, the ‘Infrared’ Air Max 90 and the ‘Menthol’ Air Max 93. If you know me you will know the love I have for the Nike Air Max lineage. It was important for me to pay homage to this love of Air through my first CrepCulture product. Each stripe on the upper of the sock represents one of these iconic colourways and is a perfect match to the corresponding shoes.

On the ankle of the sock, you will find an embroidered CrepCulture logo. During the lockdown, I had a huge rebranding where my logo was redesigned. A big thank you to @Abixart for designing the logo and to everyone who helped in the creative process. The logo on the socks and the positioning is the standout feature in my opinion. I wanted to position the logo perfectly so that it would really pop in sneaker photographs and I believe that I achieved that. I’m very excited to see some of your on-feet shots featuring the CrepCulture OG socks and I’ll be sure to repost them!

If you’re an Air Max fanatic like myself, you will know that both the Air Max 95 and the Air Max 90 in their OG form and colourways will be re-releasing towards the end of the year. Timing of my sock drop is imperative to these Air Max retro’s as I want to give as many people as possible the chance to rock their new OG’s with these socks.

The CrepCulture OG socks come in both white and black and will be available to buy on Friday 28th of August right here on CrepCultureBlog.com. Retail for one pair is £6.99 or you can scoop two pairs (of any colour) for £12. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for a giveaway starting soon.

Release Date & Time: Friday 28th August at 14:00(BST)

Posted on July 14, 2020September 8, 2020 by crepcultureblog — Leave a comment

Constructing the Classics with London Sneaker School

The end of June marked the very first Bespoke Air Max 1 Course offered by the guys at London Sneaker School (LSS). The five-day intensive course began on Monday the 22nd of June and wrapped up on Friday when the three shoemaking students unveiled their final products to a crowd of onlookers. I was lucky enough to be invited down to the workshop over the course of the week to meet the guys, snap some photographs and get a feel for how LSS conduct their sneaker construction lessons. The experience as a whole was so much fun and I learnt a lot just from watching and listening, despite not participating myself.

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Prior to the start of the course, London Sneaker School provides you with a template of an Air Max 1, as well as a list of materials which are on offer to use. This gives you an opportunity to become familiar with some of the leathers and other materials which you will use during your time at LSS. It also means you can come up with some design ideas before stepping into the workshop.

Upon arrival, I was shown through the schedule for the week to follow as well as the impressive underground workshop located in Hackney, London. The three students; Morgan, Danny and Damon each had their own ideas about the direction they were heading in with their own AM1 designs. While for some it was solely an idea in their head, others had exact mockups of what they wanted their shoes to look like.

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Every component of the Air Max 1’s you create during your course at LSS is fully customisable meaning you have complete creative control over your finished sneaker. Even the colour of the outsole, midsole and air bubble can be selected to fit your preferences, achieved by using Nike ID (or By You) soles as donors for your handmade pair.

Some materials available, for example, more stretchy leathers, can be harder to work with, which can prove problematic if it’s your first time using them. However, as part of the course, you first assemble a practice upper of an Air Max 1. You do this in the same fashion as you would if you were making your final piece, serving as a tester to experiment with materials and processes which you will rely on further in the week.

‘Piet Mondrain’ Nike Air Max 1’s by Damon (@Damonma1)

During the five day course, students are taught everything there is to know about how a sneaker is assembled by hand. This is perhaps the feature of the course which piqued my initial interest, as not only do you end up with your own bespoke’s, but you learn about the fundamentals of shoemaking. The guys were directed through everything from material selection, cutting and sewing, stitching and clicking panels, lasting and sole bonding by Thomas and Jase.

‘Horween Beast’ Nike Air Max 1’s by Morgan (@Morprime)

While previous experience may play a factor in the outcome of your shoe, it is not necessarily important. The three shoemaking students each had a varying experience when it came to shoemaking, yet each of them left the course with a sublime pair of Air Max 1’s assembled from scratch. While there may be some glue marks or imperfections, this is to be expected. Any handmade product is more than likely to have a few flaws here and there, especially if you haven’t done anything like it before. But these ‘imperfections’ only add to the character of one’s shoe and, in my opinion, serve as a reminder of the experience as a whole.

‘Kickin’ Off’ Nike Air Max 1’s by Danny (@Dannychillman)

Both Thomas and Jase are excellent teachers and their knowledge of shoemaking is clear from the moment you meet them. After witnessing the course first hand and seeing the final products come off the last I am even more keen to jump onto the course myself. If you share the same excitement as I do and would like to learn how to construct classic sneakers yourself, head over to the London Sneaker School website. At the time of writing this there are three upcoming sessions in the near future which are as follows:

5-Day Shoemaking Course Upcoming Dates:

Monday 10th August 2020
Monday 14th September 2020
Monday 19th October 2020

London Sneaker School Course Dates

Furthermore, the guys at LSS are currently running a giveaway in collaboration with @Morprime giving you the chance to win a spot on their Air Max 1 course for free! Follow the link below to London Sneaker School’s Instagram to enter:

London Sneaker School on Instagram

London Sneaker School Online

Thanks again to Thomas and Jase for having me down to check out their very first Air Max 1 course! It was great meeting you all and I’m excited to see what the future has in store for LSS.

By Toby Eldredge @CrepCultureBlog

Posted on June 17, 2020August 26, 2020 by crepcultureblog — Leave a comment

Affordable Sneakers for Summer

Who’s not looking for a fresh pair of trainers to break out for the summer? With the warmer months just around the corner, I wanted to put together a list of the best affordable kicks which you can pick up right now. Any of the shoes on this list will guarantee your steezy status at BBQs all summer long.

Nike Air Force 1 Low

The first summer sneaker needs no introduction. Nike’s Air Force 1 has been an everyday staple for millions of people since its inception in 1982. Originally designed to be a performance basketball shoe, the Air Force 1 has been adopted by just about everyone as their number one lifestyle shoe. The model is probably the most versatile on the planet, available in thousands of colour combinations with numerous collaborative cosigns. The durability of the model is another selling point for many people who are after a robust new sneaker for everyday use. The pair below is the recent Supreme collaboration Air Force 1, which is a take on the classic white-on-white Air Force’s. While these are somewhat hard to come by, the standard triple whites are readily available, a shoe which you just can’t go wrong with.

Supreme x Nike Air Force 1 by @wxbstr

Nike Ghost Racer

Last year, Nike retroed the Ghost Racer, a 90’s running shoe built for long-distance. The lightweight construction of the model, accompanied by a Zoom Air unit in the heel, provides a level of comfort which is second to none. The Ghost Racer screams 90’s aesthetics with its bright neon colour schemes and retro look, a style which is growing in popularity in 2020. Since the retro last year, a variety of colourways are available at most online retailers, giving you a whole range of options. Furthermore, the Ghost Racer Retro’s are currently on sale, hence their inclusion on my list of affordable summer sneakers. If you are after a pair of these standout 90’s runners, you can pick them up right now for £55, a markdown of almost 50% from their retail price. Retailers such as END, Size? and Hanon still has them in stock so make sure you grab a pair before they all go.

Nike Ghost Racer by @crlsslvdr

Nike Air Zoom Spiridon Cage 2

In my previous article, I touched on Nike’s newest retro, the Air Zoom Spiridon Cage 2. This model was reintroduced by Stüssy on their most recent collaboration and now Nike is pumping out numerous colourways of the model. The upper is constructed out of an enlarged mesh canvas adding an aspect of breathability to the shoe, and the Zoom Air unit in the heel makes for an extremely comfortable ride. The Spiridon Cage 2’s come in at the retail price of £119.95 however at present there are plenty of discount codes available which can be used to secure your pair. Nonetheless, £120 seems like a pretty reasonable price for the technically superior runners! I have recently copped a pair and I cannot recommend them enough!

Nike Air Zoom Spiridon Cage 2 by @CrepCultureBlog

Air Jordan 1 Low

Everyone loves an Air Jordan 1. The historic Nike basketball sneaker is, of course, Micheal Jordan’s first signature shoe which originally released in 1985 during his rookie season at the Chicago Bulls. While many OG collectors would stay away from the low and mid-cut versions of the Jordan 1, there has recently been a surge in popularity for both. In this category, my recommendation for an affordable summer sneaker would be a low cut Jordan 1. Not only is the shoe an icon in its own right, but is also very reasonably priced. For a pair of Air Jordan 1 Lows, you would be looking to pay £85 making them a very affordable option for those on a budget. Once again, the model is readily available at numerous retailers, as Nike continues to release different colourways. The price of the AJ1 low is similar to that of a Nike Air Force 1 or an Adidas Stan Smith, putting them in the same cost-effective category. If these simplistic low tops take your fancy, you can get hold of a pair on the Nike website, Size? and Footlocker, just to name a few. As mentioned above, the Jordan 1 Lows have a newfound adoration amongst sneakerheads so certain colourways have a tendency to sell out. Make sure you scoop a pair before then or keep an eye on @CrepCultureBlog on Instagram for the latest releases of the model.

Air Jordan 1 Lows by @nineteen.85

Nike Air Max 90

2020 marks the 30th anniversary of the Nike Air Max 90 and the sportswear titans have been going all out in an effort to give fans of the model what they want. As a result, we have been treated to a whole rainbow of colourways of the Air Max 90, many of them staying true to the OG colour blocking of the model. There is a colourway for every occasion, meaning the options are limitless. My personal favourites which have released thus far are the ‘Hyper Grape’ (purple) and the ‘Volt’ pairs, but I am waiting it out in anticipation for the OG ‘Infrared’ pair in its remastered form. The Air Max 90 is a more aggressive, more defined version of its predecessor which retails for £115 in the U.K. However, as Nike have been releasing colours of the shoe since the beginning of the year, you can find particular pairs on sale right now for £85. Most of the major retailers have sales on at the moment and the Air Max 90 is included in the majority of these summer discount sales. If you ask me, £85 is a bit of a steal for a shoe with such an important history and one which provides the utmost comfort for everyday wear. I own the ‘Hyper Grape’ pair and I absolutely love them.

Nike Air Max 90’s by @dregoppy

Reebok Club C

Whenever I am asked for sneaker recommendations from my non-sneakerhead friends, I have two go to’s. The first, mentioned above, is the Nike Air Force 1. The second is the Reebok Club C. The Club C is one of Reebok’s most popular models and has made a come back over the last few years. The low cut shoe provides a sleek, casual look making the Club C a versatile model which can be dressed up or down, kept brand spanking new or beaten up. Much like the Air Force 1, the Club C is available in a whole range of different colourways and materials. My recommendation would be to go for the OG colourway of the model, an all-white variation which green accents, however at the time of writing this, Reebok has released a new pack of Club C’s. The pack features three versions of the model, each in a striking yet simplistic colourway. The green pair is very close to the OG, while the red and yellow pairs provide a fresh modification to this old school colour blocking. Priced at £69, you really cannot go wrong with a new pair of Reebok Club C’s for summer.

Reekbok Club C by @end_clothing

So there you have it, my reccommendations for afforable summer sneakers. Out of the six pairs included on the list, the Nike Air Force 1, Air Jordan 1 and the Reebok Club C’s fall into a similar category. While perhaps not designed solely for comfort, each model is a reasonably priced, readily available sneaker. These shoes are some of the most versatile on the market and make a great addition to any rotation. In contrast, the other three sneakers on the list are more comfort orientated. The Nike Air Zoom Spiridon Cage 2, Nike Ghost Racer and Nike Air Max 90 all provide an exceptional level of comfort however are probably less versatile options. These pairs would work very well in a sneaker rotation which also consists of another pair on the list, perhaps the Air Force 1 or the Club C.

Let me know if you end up picking up any of the pairs on my summer sneakers list! Make sure tag me on Instagram @CrepCulture Blog for a chance to be featured.

Shoutouts:

@wxbstr

@crlsslvdr

@nineteen.85

@dregoppy

Posted on June 9, 2020 by crepcultureblog — Leave a comment

Is There A Better Air Force Than One With A Backstory?

By Jack Cook @TheDripQuarterly

We all love the Nike Air Force 1, whether you lean towards a classic triple white or a more lively colourway such as Virgil Abloh’s collaborative efforts, every sneakerhead has at least one pair… but is there a better AF1 than a pair with a backstory?

Nike Air Force 1 ‘Rucker Park’

The first pair which we are going to feature is the Nike Air Force 1 ‘Rucker Park’ which has seen a worldwide release over the past few weeks. This Air Force 1 is a tip of the cap honouring the famous basketball court located in Harlem, New York City. This historic spot has seen the likes of Kobe Bryant, Lebron James and Allen Iverson take to the court, as well as numerous other NBA greats.

The upper of the sneaker is dressed predominantly in white with the stitching, lining and outsole in orange. This colourway is the same used on that of the Rucker Park Entertainers players jerseys during the park’s yearly streetball tournament. But the nod to the court does not stop there. The pair comes complete with basketball dubraes, rather than the typical silver lace dubraes, as well as the court’s zip code embroidered on the heel with the Nike Swoosh. The insoles even feature the pattern of a basketball court. Every detail of this Air Force 1 release has been carefully thought out to properly pay homage to the iconic Rucker Park.

It comes as no surprise that the shoe selected for this tribute is an Air Force 1, due to New York City’s longlasting relationship with the model. Nike has done a great job with this release to ensure Rucker Park, Harlem and New York City have been represented to the fullest.

Nike Air Force 1 ‘Puerto Rico’

The next shoe we are going to look at is going to be an instant classic when it drops on the 26th of June 2020. The Puerto Rico Air Force 1 is a re-release of the classic PR colourway from 2005, with some minor alterations. The most obvious difference between the two is the white Swoosh featured on the 2020 pair, compared to a navy Swoosh being used on its predecessor back in 2005.

The premium leather upper features the Puerto Rican flag embroidered on the heel, a sign of appreciation from Nike to the Caribbean Island its citizens who reside in the USA. This release brings back a wave of nostalgia for sneakerheads, many of which can almost rewind time and picture Fat Joe rocking in these in his ‘Lean Back’ video.

Nike Air Force 1 ‘Puerto Rico/Panama’ Controversy

A Puerto Rican themed Air Force 1 was originally scheduled to drop a while ago however it was cancelled by Nike due to the controversy involved. The shoe was met with a whole load of backlash after the sneaker appeared to be dressed in Panamanian artwork. It’s fair to say that Nike dropped the ball on this one, under the impression that is was Puerto Rican artwork. The release was axed soon after the backlash and it is now almost impossible to find a pair of the banned ‘Panama’ Air Force 1’s on the resell market.

What do you think about these upcoming Air Force 1’s, are any of them instant classics to you?

Written by @TheDripQuarterly, edited by @CrepCultureBlog

Posted on May 26, 2020June 17, 2020 by crepcultureblog — Leave a comment

London Sneaker School: A Sneaker Revolution

Sneaker popularity over the last ten years has expanded at an unprecedented rate and now, what started out as a subculture intertwined with music, sport and skateboarding has blown up into a leading economic industry. At the same time, we live in an age of growing creativity amongst young people, where individuals want to create and learn about processes which may result in their favourite pair of shoes. Luckily for us, learning these skills is no longer out of reach, as professionals of the art have moved in a more transparent direction when it comes to sharing their knowledge.

In a movement which began primarily in the US, sneakerheads now have the opportunity to have hands-on experience in the process of shoemaking by deconstructing and reconstructing iconic kicks. For the first time, this once in a lifetime experience is available in the UK as of last week. London Sneaker School (LSS) is the collaborative effort of a team with over 15 years of shoemaking experience, founded this year by Jase Cooper and Thomas Rowe (pictured below). Their aim is to develop LSS into a platform which teaches people about the ins and outs of sneaker assembly while bridging the gap between product and consumer. For the most part, the sneakers we wear on our feet are manufactured thousands of miles away on the other side of the world. This is something which the team at LSS are attempting to overcome, believing that “bringing production closer to home opens up new opportunities for creativity and expression by understanding our sneakers on a new level”.

How it works.

London Sneaker School will be offering a range of five-day intensive shoemaking courses, the dates and details of which being posted on their Instagram (@londonsneakerschool). The first course has already been announced and has sold out, due to take place on the 22nd of June 2020. This first set of students will learn how to make a pair of Nike Air Max 1’s using a range of modern and traditional techniques under the guidance of experts at LSS. The classes are kept to a maximum of four students per shoemaker in an effort to maximise your time shared with the professionals. A range of leathers and materials are available to use in order to craft your ideal pair of Air Max 1’s, allowing a substantial level of customisation creativity. At the end of the five-day course, you will have learnt how to use tools and machinery, gained a knowledge of the processes as well as go home with your own 1 of 1 Air Max 1’s!

Whether you’re an experienced sneaker customiser or a novice enthusiast, you will be catered for at LSS. The courses accommodate for everyone, so previous skill or experience is not required whatsoever! If you’re looking to deepen your footwear industry knowledge, start your own brand and want more insight or just want your own handcrafted sneakers, their courses are for you.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The sneaker making courses offered at LSS are available for the price of £1700, which can be paid upfront or in instalments over three months. When comparing the price to other similar programmes, this course is one of the more economical if you consider what you get out of the five days. One similar programme was introduced by popular sneaker customer and designer, The Shoe Surgeon, in 2018. His courses were based in Los Angeles and cost $3,000 (around £2,460), a substantially higher price than that at LSS. The Nike Bespoke programme is another sneaker customisation outlet costing £1,000 and allows you to design your own Air Max 1 or Air Force 1’s. The programme enables you to get up close and personal with materials, patterns and colour pallets. However, the Bespoke programme does not teach you how to craft your own sneakers, instead, you design them and Nike put them together for you! Furthermore, NikeLab is no longer offering Bespoke appointments in London, meaning it is only available in the US. Today, London Sneaker School have announced their next course dates. Their follow up session will take place on the 10th of August 2020 at their workshop in Hackney, London.

For more information on LSS, their next course dates and how to get involved, follow the link below to their website. I have also linked their Instagram account down below so you can stay up to date.

London Sneaker School online – www.londonsneaker.school

London Sneaker School Instagram – instagram.com/londonsneakerschool

Posted on May 2, 2020June 16, 2020 by crepcultureblog — Leave a comment

COVID-19 Relief

With the ongoing pandemic, many of our favourite sneaker and streetwear brands have come together in an effort to provide aid to the healthcare systems around the world. Healthcare systems worldwide have become strained with the overwhelming consequences of COVID-19. Here is what they are doing to help and how you can contribute.

The well-known sneaker and streetwear reselling platform, StockX, has been busy setting up numerous raffle-based sales in an effort to raise money for COVID-19 relief. The platform is donating 90% of all proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets towards the fight against the pandemic. Headlines were made this week when rap legend Eminem got on board, donating a pair of his elusive Carhartt x Eminem Air Jordan 4’s. The collaboration came about in 2015 to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of Shady Records and pairs were auctioned off on eBay for charity. On secondary markets, pairs of Eminem’s Jordan 4’s have reached well over $10,000 but StockX is now offering a pair for the small amount of $10 with purchase of a raffle ticket. Only one pair is to be raffled off in a size US10.5 (UK9.5) and you can donate and enter the raffle by clicking the link. Good luck!

Slim Shady’s Air Jordan 4’s are not the only bit of heat in StockX’s charity raffle. There are numerous pairs available for the same price of $10 a ticket. These include; a signed pair of Ludacris WHO x Puma Clydes, StockX Jordan 3’s, Sacai x Nike LD Waffles and many more. You can buy up to 1,000 tickets per auction so what are you waiting for, the bigger the donation the better. Follow the link above to donate to any of the StockX relief raffles.

Supreme is famous for its simplistic box logo design, only producing one product a season with the distinguished box logo on the front. In 2011, Supreme released the ‘Japan Relief’ box logo T-shirt, proceeds of which went towards assisting the earthquake and tsunami victims in Asia. This year with the devastating pandemic in full force, Supreme released another relief themed box logo to provide aid to healthcare facilities. The brand teamed up with Takashi Murakami to produce a very memorable box log T-shirt, one which incorporated the contemporary artists’ acclaimed flower design. The T-shirts released towards the end of April and were exclusive to the U.S. and Canada with the aim of raising $1,000,000 for COVID-19 relief. As you can imagine, people were upset that it wasn’t a worldwide drop as consumers in Europe and Asia were denied the chance to get one and donate. This is probably one of the most desirable Supreme box logos ever.

Yesterday another streetwear heavyweight, Palace Skateboards, dropped three items aiming to raise money for the health services. Palace has a deep-rooted London heritage, meaning the money raised from the drop went to the National Health Service in the U.K. The three items all feature the brand’s Triferg logo, with the letters changed from ‘Palace’ to ‘National Health Service’ in a collection dubbed ‘NHS TRI-TO HELP’. The drop consisted of a white hoodie, a short-sleeved and a long-sleeved T-shirt each with a light blue triferg, referencing the NHS logo. As you would expect, the drop was an instant sell-out and it is now hard to find any piece from the collection if you didn’t manage to secure yours. This is due to many reselling platforms and groups banning secondary selling of charitable items.

In an effort to combat the scarcity of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), many companies have changed their production to the manufacture of face masks and other PPE equipment. At the forefront of this change is New Balance, the first sneaker manufacturer to make this extreme but crucial transition. Working with medical professionals, New Balance has created a face mask for general use to be used by healthcare workers in the field. Their goal is to produce 100,000 units of the FDA approved masks every week, with coordination from authorities for distribution purposes. NB has now also moved into the production of gowns, foot coverings and other protective equipment in the fight against Coronavirus.

These are just some examples of how our favourite brands have been helping during these pressing times. But of course, it’s not just the big corporations that can help. Anyone can donate to support those in need whether that’s through one of the charity raffles listed above, giving money directly to your local health services or volunteering. Below I’ve left a few charities which you can donate to right now! Thank you to all the Healthcare and Key workers keeping the world afloat!

Stay home and stay safe everyone @CrepCultureBlog

NHS Charities Together

Captain Tom Moore

Oxfam Coronavirus Emergency Response Appeal

Posted on April 24, 2020April 28, 2020 by crepcultureblog — Leave a comment

CrepChronology: Stüssy x Nike

In light of the recent collaboration between two of the pillars of modern streetwear, I wanted to take a look back at where it all began and provide you with a brief history of Stussy’s deep history with Nike.

2000 – Stüssy x Nike Air Huarache Le

Work between the brands began in 2000 with an unofficial release of a Stüssy x Nike Huarache Le. The partnership arose as a result of a special project in Europe between Michael Koppelman and Fraser Cooke. The unofficial nature of the project resulted in very limited numbers of the shoes being produced and they were hence very hard to get your hands on. With the Huaraches being sold exclusively at Stüssy’s London location, you would have to fork out nothing short of top dollar to own a pair today. This is one for the Stüssy enthusiasts and the scarcity of the shoes makes them that much more valuable.

2001 – Stüssy x Nike Dunk High

Stüssy’s next Nike collaboration came just a year later. It marked their first official collaboration with the Swoosh and in fact the first-ever official collaboration between Nike and any clothing brand. This release also saw Nike use speciality fabric on the swoosh of a shoe for the first time. Two pairs of Dunk Highs were released, the first, a black pair with a snakeskin swoosh and the second, a brown pair with an ostrich leather swoosh. The release of these sneakers was made exclusive to Stüssy Chapter stores in New York, London, Tokyo and Los Angeles and limited to 24 pairs a day (12 brown & 12 black). This was the first time a drop had happened in this manner and it created a buzz around the shoe for those how had the intel on the release. Lines outside of Chapter stores lastest for about two weeks before stocks of the Dunks were exhausted.

2002: Stüssy x Nike Blazer Mid

In 2002 Stüssy dropped a Nike Blazer Mid which propelled the model to newfound fame. The collaboration became an instant classic and the model received much more attention from Nike as a result. The Blazer was created as a basketball sneaker in the early ’70s but became popular amongst skateboarders subsequently to this release. Once again, the collaboration was produced in very limited numbers and remains one of Stüssy’s more sought after Nike models.

2003: Stüssy x Nike Air Huarache Light

Originally released in 1993, the Nike Air Huarache Light was one of the more slept on 90’s runners throughout the decade. Nonetheless, the model was reissued in 2002 and then worked on by Stüssy in 2003. The collaboration featured two colourways of the Huarache Lights both made up of mesh, nylon and leather. 2003 marked yet another first in the history of collaboration for Nike Sportswear. Alongside the GR release of the shoes, Nike also produced several promotional pairs which incorporated an embroidered Stüssy logo on the side of the shoes. This was the first time that Nike had used another brand name on one of their models which created a lot of red tape in the way of getting the duel branded sneakers to market. Due to the dramatic change and the early nature of this collaborative innovation, the pairs featuring the Stüssy logo were never cleared for resale. The co-branded pairs of Huarache Lights were given away as promotional pairs making them perhaps the most sought after Stüssy x Nike shoes ever.

2005: Stüssy x Nike Court Force XXV

In celebration of Stüssy’s 25th year anniversary, Nike released a commemorative pack of four Court Force’s in 2005. This pack of shoes focused on Stüssy specific details as a nod to the long history of the brand. Each shoe featured crocodile textures on the swoosh, toe guard and heel and had the Stüssy cities printed around the heel and on the footbed. As well as this, the tongue was dressed in Stüssy’s vintage ‘Tom Tom’ print. Originally these four sneakers were meant to have song lyrics printed on the heel however this was never cleared for production. The XXV pack was released alongside other commemorative collaborations with other brands such as New Era, Alpha Industries and Levis for the anniversary.

2005: Stüssy x Nike Dunk SB Low

The Stüssy ‘Cherry’ Dunks, as they are commonly known are one of the more recognised Stüssy x Nike collaborations. Designed by team member Robbie Jeffers, the Dunk SB’s take their inspiration from Neapolitan Ice-cream, in particular, the flavours of strawberry, chocolate and vanilla. The pair features an image of a cherry on the tongue tab with the Nike SB branding found below. The Cherry Dunks are given the status of grail by SB Collectors and sneakerheads alike and will cost you a fortune to get your hands on 15 years later.

2006: Stüssy x Nike ‘World Tour Collection’

The World Tour project in 2006 involved 40 artists from around the world coming together to do their own rendition of Stüssy’s famous World Tour T-shirt. To accompany the project, Nike released a nine pack shoes dubbed the ‘World Tour Collection’. The nine shoes were made up of three different Nike models; the Nike Dunk High, Nike Free Trail 5.0 and the Nike Trainer Dunk Low.

2008: Stüssy x Neighbourhood x Nike ‘Boneyard’ Collection

In 2008 Stüssy joined forces with Japanese streetwear heavyweight, Neighbourhood, to unveil their ‘Boneyard’ collection. Alongside an extensive collection of apparel and accessories, the brands teamed up with Nike on the Nike Blazer and Nike Terminator. The pack consisted of three Blazers and three Terminators. The Blazers featured a custom Boneyeards print on the side of each, delivered in three colours; blue, red and white. The second shoe from the collection, the Terminator, shares a similar history to that of the Blazer, traditionally designed for Basketball performance. The pack also comprised of three colourways, each with a perforated swoosh and a crossed anchors Boneyards logo.

2010: Stüssy x Nike All Court Mid ‘XXX’

The ‘XXX’ pack marked Stüssy’s 30th Anniversary and was made up of two Nike All Court Mid’s. With a premium leather upper and snakeskin accents on the swoosh, this was a luxurious release. A third pair dubbed the ‘Mysto’ edition was also created for Friends and Family made out of a royal blue canvas. All three pairs feature the Stüssy SS logo on the tongue.

Stüssy x Nike All Court Mid ‘XXX’ Pack by @sneakerish

2011: Stüssy x Nike Sky Force 88 Mid

A bit of a sleeper amongst the Stüssy x Nike lineup, the Sky Force 88’s were released in four very wearable colourways in 2011. The standout feature on these sneakers is the embossed logo on the tongue. The logo is Stüssy’s take on the classic Sky Force 88 logo, which encorporats their SS stamp.

2012: Stüssy x Nike ‘SNS Off Mountain Series’

The S&S Collection aimed at bringing together elements from sand, snow and street influences to create a pack of three models built for resiliance. The first of the series was an updated Nike Dunk High, dubbed the Dunk High OMS, which combined the silhoutte of a classic basketball sneaker with Nike Free technology for a winterised interpretation. The second, a piece of footwear designed for beach-wear, was named the Lunar Braata OMS and made use of Nike’s Lunarlon technology making them a lightweight, durable shoe. The final silhouette used was the Morgan II OMS, a shoe with a wafflle outsole for added traction during everyday urban life. Each model was available in two colourways.

2013: Stüssy x Nike Trainerendor Low

Nike unvieled their first Crosstrainer in 1987, a shoe designed to be a multidisciplinary, rugged sneaker for a variety of sports and activties. In 2013, Stüssy took a similar approach to the design of their latest collaboration with the Swoosh, producing the Stüssy x Nike Trainerendor Low. This sneaker took influences from skateboarding and snowboarding subcultures and were engineered to withstand harsh conditions whereever you are. The Trainerendor Low is an updated, lightweight version of the original Crosstrainer, which pays homage to the classic in terms of aestheics and performance.

2015: Stüssy x Nike Air Max 95

2015 marked yet another anniversary but this time, not just for Stüssy. While Stüssy were celebrating their 35th Anniversary, one of Nike’s most innovative sneakers from their Air Max linage was turning 20 years old. This was of course the Air Max 95, a robust sneaker designed by Sergio Lozano who designed the shoe with the human anatomy as his main inpiration. The model was the first in the line to have two Air bubbles, the second at the forefoot of the shoe. To commemorate their joint anniversaries, Stüssy and Nike joined up again this time releasing three minimalistic colourways of their collaborative Air Max 95’s. The pack consisted of a green pair, navy blue pair and black pair, each with a white midsole and outsole, and the classic SS logo on the tongue. Its crazy to think that this release was five years ago now, it seems so much more recent!

2018: Stüssy x Nike SB Blazer Mid and Low

The Nike Blazer was added to Nike’s SB programme in 2005 under pro-skateboarder, Lances Mountain’s guidence. Despite working on two Nike Blazers before, 2018 was the first time Stüssy created an SB Blazer desgined specifically for skateboarding. They unvieled two SB Blazers, one lowtop dubbed the ‘KT’ for team rider Kevin Terpening, and a midtop which celebrated Lance Mountain’s longevity within skateboarding.

2020: Stüssy x Nike Air Zoom Spiridon Cage 2

This year we were treated to an absolute gem of a collaboration from the streetwear giants. The Nike Air Zoom Spiridon Cage 2 was originally released in 2003 and hasn’t seen too much sun since then. Despite having been very popular with runners and Japanese fashion enthusiasts, the Spiridon Cage 2 never really caught on in the mainstream sneaker scenes. In fact the shoe has been greatly overshadowed in recnet years, especially with the name ‘Spiridon’ being associated with the more popular ‘Air Zoom Spiridon’ originally released in 1997. Nonetheless, Nike pulled the underappreciated model out of the vault this year for a refreshing collaboration. Stüssy produced two colourways of the Spiridon Cage 2’s both of which dropped in April this year. Both colourways were knockouts but one certainly stole the limelight. Available in a ‘Pure Platinum’ rendition as well as a ‘Fossil’ colourway, the later proved to be the more popular pair, and its easy to see why. The pair has an upper consisting of mesh and woven textile overlays, sporting a bold black swoosh. Stüssy branding can be found on the tongue, heel and outsole of the sneaker. This pair is perfect for the warmer months to come and is somewhat of an understated heater! Aethetics aside, the technology used in the Air Zoom Spiridon Cage 2 was well ahead of its time when it deuted in 2003. The model has a caged Zoom Air Unit in the heel and a full-length foam midsole, making this technical runner a good everyday runnaround. Since the Stüssy collaboration, Nike have began to push out more Spiridon Cage 2’s in a variety of colours, a few of which I have my eye on. This collaboration was the perfect way to reintroduce one of Nike’s more obscure models back into sneaker culture.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about Stüssy’s history and it’s Nike collaborations from the first to the last. Stüssy’s importance in sneaker history should not go unnoticed as they have been paramount to pushing innovation in collaborative ways since the get go in 2000. They were the first clothing brand to ever have an official collaboration with Nike and the first company to have their own logo on a Nike product. The work done by the duo has laid the foundations for sneaker collabortion today, which becomes so much more apparent when looking back at their longstanding partnership.

Posted on December 27, 2019July 14, 2020 by crepcultureblog — Leave a comment

CrepCulture – A Year in Sneakers

2019 has had a lot to offer in terms of the sneaker releases, retros and collaborations which we have been treated to by many of the big brands. In this article, I will be sharing my year in regard to which creps I copped to rock, sold and restored, including a few stories along the way. This article is not to be confused with the ‘Best Sneakers of 2019’, which is currently in the works!

I began the year with a bit of a heater, a shoe which actually released towards the end of 2018 but I didn’t get my hands on until February. Originally deemed a Shanghai exclusive the Concepts x Nike ‘Green Lobster’ Dunk SB thew SB fans into a frenzy trying to get secure a pair. The collaboration first released in Shanghai as a surprise drop on the morning of the 22nd of December and then received a slightly wider, but very limited, release on the 28th. I managed to get a pair of the converted Lobsters through an early morning campout and a bit of good fortune! I was actually camping out for a pair of the Concepts ‘Purple Lobster’ Dunk SBs with my brother, Max, at Concept’s Dubai location. We arrived just before 4am with the aim of bringing home two pairs of the Purple Lobsters! After about six hours in line, we were informed that there were hardly any big sizes available, much to the despair of sneakerheads towards the back of the line. Luckily for Max, he got his hands on a pair in his size but took the only UK10. Due to the uproar in the line, the management agreed to give those who missed out on their size first dibs on the stash of ‘Green Lobsters’ which were set to be released. So I put my name down and left empty-handed. About a month later the release date for the green pair was announced but unfortunately, I was back in the U.K. getting on with my studies. Knowing I should have a pair on hold, I sent my dad who was more than willing to wait a little while and bring home the Lobos. He found it hilarious that people in line were photographing each other’s sneakers – a very normal thing in today’s culture. After a bit of negotiation, he got my pair! Unfortunately, the only pair left was half a size big so I actually ended up selling them after failing to swap them for my true size. Out of the rainbow of Concepts Lobster SBs, I have to say the greens are certainly my favourite. Followed closely by the blue and purple colourways.

The next sneaker I picked up this year was a low key model which also released in 2018. If you read my ‘Best Sneakers of 2018’ article I wrote last year, you will know how much I love the Nike Skylon II. Last year I rocked the purple/pink/white Skylon II’s to death and was keen to get another pair. Coming in at the retail price of £84.95, the model is a no brainer if you want a casual run-around shoe or something to wear for the summer months. In March I bought my second pair in the orange/yellow/white colourway, one which I had had my eye on for some time. I managed to scoop them up off eBay for about £30, an absolute steal for a shoe which received a lot of wear in the following months.

In May, we witnessed one of the most hyped sneaker releases of the decade. Especially amongst the modern sneaker enthusiast, and in the current climate, people would put this shoe in their top ten list in recent years. We all know about Travis Scott’s relationship with Nike/Jordan Brand by now and his second Air Jordan instalment had people going nuts! The shoe responsible was Travis’ Jordan 1 which featured a colour palette never before seen on the model as well as an outlandish reserved swoosh. At first, sneakerheads were divided but those not in favour must have been swayed by the hype, as you hear nothing but praise for the collaboration today. This was one of those releases that was always going to be near impossible to cop, but somehow I managed it. This will probably irritate some of you reading but I didn’t really try! Dover Street Market came through with the W, and was the only raffle I entered just on that off chance. It’s funny because I never get wins when it comes to modern-day releases but the only two I have both came from DSM. The other pair was the original Off-White Nike Air Max 90’s from ‘The Ten’. Whilst those stayed in the collection, the Travis Air Jordan 1’s did not. The asking price at the time was pretty high so I sold them for cash plus one of the commemorative T-shirts from the drop. Looking back I wish I had held onto them for longer, as they currently go for double what I sold them for! But I was not in the financial condition to do so… student life and all of that.

Later that month, I picked up probably my most worn pair this year. If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen that I have rocked these non-stop since I grabbed a pair in the Footlocker sales. The pair is the Nike Air Max Plus ‘Grid Yellow’ a re-retro which first released alongside other Grid patterned TN’s in 1999. The pattern on the mesh upper alongside the clear cage make this shoe a showstopper in my opinion. I have also been tempted by the grey/red pair but am yet to pull the trigger. I recently travelled to Australia and my Yellow Grid TN’s were my crep of choice for the trip! The photo below was taken by Max whilst we were in Melbourne.

2019 has given birth to a revival of many models which had been long forgotten. Nike finally retroed the Tailwind IV and the Air Max Plus III. One model which is not in the same category but has seen a resurgence in popularity is the Air Max 90. Now despite all of this I actually didn’t buy any of the new 2019 Air Max 90’s despite trying to cop a few. Instead, I managed to get a pair of Dave White x Nike Air Max 90’s which were part of the ‘Wet Paint’ Pack in 2005. This is a big grail to many 90 collectors, myself included, and I copped this pair for a major steal of £50 back in June! As is usually the case with any Air Max over the age of ten years, the pair is no longer wearable, due to midsole crumbling but fear not, a restoration is currently ongoing. I had an old pair of Air Max 90’s with a very similar coloured air unit which I have used as a donor. The midsoles have been repainted and the OG outsoles have been attached. The only step outstanding is the reglue of the Dave White upper onto the doner soles, which in truth I am petrified of doing! I will get there eventually. A comprehensive tutorial article will be posted towards the beginning of next year outlining each step of the process, as well as the equipment needed and the overall costs. I have never done a sole-swap before so the article will be aimed more towards beginners, like me, who want to give it a go!

In August, I picked up my only non-Nike sneaker of the year, the Hypebeast (HBX) x Asics Gel Kayano 5’s. Honestly, Asics have killed it this year with collaborations from Ronnie Fieg, SneakerFreaker, Awake and numerous other high profile brands. Not to mention a variety of incredible GR colourways on some of their more desirable models. The Hypebeast Gel Kayano 5’s were certainly the standout pair for me and after eyeing them up for a while I finally got my hands on them during summer. The bulky 1990’s aesthetic of the model is perfect for today’s streetwear and high fashion inclination, and the materials used on this particular pair are second to none.

Nike’s Air Max line is my personal favourite thing in creps and over the years I have been collecting each OG colourway of each given model. One of these which I had not yet added to the collection was the OG Air (Max) 180’s in the Ultramarine colourway which originally released in 1991. The Air 180 was the first Air Max to advance past the standard air unit with its air bubble being visible at 180 degrees around the shoe. In October I was blessed by my boy Omar (shoutout to Omarni) with the 2011 retros of the 180’s for my birthday. What a hero! They have got plenty of wear since then, despite the wet conditions at the moment and could certainly do with a cleanup. A few OG colourways still elude me, in particular, the Air Max 360’s… but hey we’ll probably get a retro shortly!

One month later I copped my next pair and it was a bit of an impromptu one. This was the Gortex x Nike Air Force 1’s in the black colourway. I acquired these on a day out in London with my girlfriend where we spent far too much money and each returned home with a new pair of creps. While I copped the Gortex AF1’s, Lydia got a pair of the Nike Air Max 95 SP ‘Multicolours’ (rainbow slices) which released earlier in the year. I have hardly taken off the Air Forces since I got them! The Gortex and rugged leather upper make this shoe a very durable option for the weather to come in the next few months. I was drawn to this shoe mainly by the orange detailing which is present on the tongue and the heel, and the benefit of using them as a Timberland alternative!

My final sneaker pick up of the year was probably my favourite of the year. I secured a pair of the new re-crafted Nike Air Max 90’s in the ‘Hyper Purple’ colourway whilst in Dubai for Christmas. When I wandered into Nike DXB I was shocked to see both the purple and the volt colourways of the new Air Max 90’s sitting on the shelves. The purple pair, in particular, has been on my radar since we saw the first images online a few months back so these were a must cop! Whilst I was also tempted by the Volts in the OG colour blocking I am planning on waiting it out for the green pair dubbed the ‘Chlorophylls’. It’s fair to say I left the best till last. The new recrafted 90’s are honestly so much better in hand than they look in photos. The updated shape is beautifully done and makes the shoe feel much sleeker compared to the bulkier 90’s we’re all used to. The box size has been narrowed to match its original 1990 size and the pair comes complete with a Nike hangtag and arch supports. The box, hangtag and arch supports are all purple to match the theme of the sneaker which I think is a great touch from Nike. I can only imagine that the Volt, Blue and Green pairs, as well as the OG Infrared, will all release with similar packaging in their designated colours. This is such a good release, and the fact I was able to secure a pair two weeks before they drop in the U.K was pretty cool!

So that is my year in sneakers!

What did you pick up this year? Let me know what your personal favourite pickups were of the year by commenting below, or through Instagram @crepcultureblog

Posted on December 12, 2019December 14, 2019 by crepcultureblog — Leave a comment

The Resurgence of the Nike Air Max 90

Prior to 2019, the Nike Air Max 90 was going through a rough patch. While the model has remained somewhat popular amongst enthusiasts, the Air Max 90 has been cast out of the limelight in recent years. The popularity of the shoe has been at a low, and other Air Max models such as the 97 and 98’s have soared in demand in comparison. This is mainly due to the fact that the 90 has almost been neglected by Nike. The general release colourways were poor, and there had not been any collaborations on the model for a very long time. This lack of buzz surrounding the model had knock-on effects in the secondary markets, and as a result, the market for Nike’s Air Max 90 was almost dead. I remember seeing people struggling to sell some proper grail status 90’s during this time for hundreds of pounds less than what they were worth. We’re talking about some of the best; Tounge & Cheeks, Kaws, Warhawks… it was crazy. While sellers struggled to move their pairs, people looking to buy the model could find amazing steals. I took advantage of this and was able to find my personal grail, the Nike Air Max 90 x DQM ‘Bacon’ (2004) in my size and in amazing condition. I bought this pair in 2017 and paid no more than £140… I still can’t believe it. You’ll have to excuse me because I feel like I bring up my pair of Bacon’s every time I mention an Air Max 90, but they are number one in my opinion. Anyway moving on!

I also want to add that even though I’ve said the last few years have not been exciting for the 90’s, there have been a few one-off standout releases. There have been a few decent GR’s and QS’s, for example, the Halloween Air Max 90’s which released in 2014 along with a few nice colourways of the ‘Ice’ quick strikes.

Nike Air Max 90 ‘Halloween’ worn by @william_nikelondon, shot by @amieejerrard

Obviously, Nike’s Air Max 90 debuted in 1990, meaning next year, 2020, is the models 30th Anniversary. If you think back to 2017 when Nike celebrated the Air Max 1’s 30th Anniversary, it’s hard not to get excited about what is to come next year. Air Max month in 2017 had it all; retros of OG colourways, new Air Max models, the ‘Vote Forward’ campaign, the Atmos elephant retro! I honestly cannot wait to see what Nike will give us for the anniversary of one of their most iconic models. This year, Nike has already started pushing the Air Max 90 in preparation for 2020, and the buzz around the model has already begun.

The Air Max 90 madness began in March when Nike dropped the ‘Mars Landing’ Air Max 90’s. This was a follow-up release from the famous ‘Moon Landing’ 90’s which are one of the most eye-catching Air Max’s you will see, constructed of a fully reflective 3M upper. Given the popularity of the Moon Landing’s, sneakerheads went crazy for this release and we saw an AM90 sell out for the first time in years (with the exception of the Off-White collaborations, which I have discounted due to the hyped nature of all Off-White x Nike drops). The release of the Mars Landing 90’s proved just to be a taster of the hype we would witness surround the model to come.

Nike Air Max 90 ‘Mars Landing’ by @sole_obsession

A retro of the ‘Python’ Air Max 90’s, which originally released in 2003, came next at the start of June. All features of the shoe were kept true to their OG form, and the pair flew off shelves! They were released alongside a green Python colourway which proved just as popular. Each colourway has since been restocked so if these take your fancy you can still get your hands on them.

Nike Air Max 90 ‘Green Python’ by @pattajunky

Later in the same month, Nike celebrated Pride Month with a commemorative pack of shoes called the BETRUE pack. The pack consisted of an Air Max 720, Air Tailwind 79, Zoom Pegasus Turbo and an Air Max 90, which proved to be the more desirable of the bunch. The pair had a multilayered swoosh in different colours of the LGBTQ flag as well as a bold yellow heel wedge.

Nike Air Max 90 ‘BETRUE’ by @juttenutte

In June we were treated to a very special release comprised of two pairs of Air Max 90’s, the ‘Mixtape Side A/Side B’ collection. This set of sneakers was inspired by the days before streaming services and CDs. One pair, dubbed ‘Side A’ features a clean white and grey upper with yellow accents. If you’re looking for a pair with crazy details, look no further! The attention to detail on this pair is amazing. On the tongue, you will see embroidered text reading ‘Side A’ as well as ’33 1/3′ RPM, which is the speed at which a record plays.

Nike Air Max 90 ‘Mixtape Side A’ by @lowricrook

This is the same story as the ‘Side B’ pair, but instead with a contrasting colourway featuring an all-over covert black and grey makeup. On the outsole of both shoes, you will discover a ‘Tracklist’ (in keeping with the theme of the pack) which lists eight iconic Air Max 90 colourways. These are; ‘OG Infrared’, ‘King of the Mountain’, ‘Anniversary Cork’, ‘Moon Landing’, ‘Lemon Frost’, ‘Untold Truth’, ‘OG Ostrich’ and ‘BRS Powerwall’. In my opinion, these are the heavy hitters from this year’s surge of Air Max 90 releases, in particular, the ‘Side B’s’. I was gutted not to get a pair for retail when they released! That being said, the resale price has dipped a little bit in the last month or so. The only pair for me which competes with these will come a little further down the list!

Nike Air Max 90 ‘Mixtape Side B’ by @emilyhol_x

‘Viotech’ is a term for a colourway which is used from time to time by Nike on various different models. In 2002 the Swoosh brought us the Viotech Nike Dunk low featuring an array of primary and secondary colours in a mismatched colour block scheme. In 2003, an Air Max 1 dubbed ‘Viotech’ was released in collaboration with Tokyo based sneaker boutique, Atmos. This different type of Viotech incorporated a variety of neutral tones and a bold purple swoosh. This year, Nike dropped two Air Max 90’s using the original 2002 Viotech Dunk colour scheme with an upper composed of vibrant suede. Enthusiasts went crazy for the distinctive pairs and both 90’s dropped in August, making them one of the better summer releases of the year. The second colourway (2.0) is still available at some stores so be sure to have a look if you like the look of these.

Nike Air Max 90 ‘Viotech 2.0’ by @shoezen.one

Nike spiced up the return of the Air Max 90 further with the implementation of the model to their ‘Nike By You’ program, the modern-day Nike ID. Not only was the 90 available for customisation, but there was a limited run of Levis options allowing sneaker enthusiasts to use premium materials and colours on their own unique pairs. The response to this design opportunity was enormous, and the Levis/Nike by You options expired after about 5 minutes! People who were quick enough conjured up some pretty remarkable pairs, making those who failed to secure a pair that much saltier! In years gone by, the Air Max 90 probably would not have been the model of choice by Nike to use for a design collaboration this huge. This is one of the reasons perhaps that the popularity of the model has diminished. The drive by Nike this year to propel the Air Max 90 back into popular demand amongst old and new sneakerheads has been amazing. The releases and collaborations thus far have been some of the best of the year, and the boom in adoration for the model has come perfectly in time for its 30th Anniversary next year.

Levis x Nike By You by @mikeknowsbest

The final set of Air Max 90’s which I want to touch on are hands down some of the best from the year. This pack is, of course, the Basement x Nike Air Max 90’s which consists of three colourways, each representing a different city in the United Kingdom. Nike and the Basement have linked up only once before back in 2017 on pair of Nike Dunk Lows. While the limited Dunk was exclusive to a pop-up put on by members of the Basement collective, the 90’s were widely available at various retailers around the country. The overall theme revolving around this pack of sneakers was ‘Real People Doing Real Things’ and the Basement portrayed this message incredibly well through the construction of each pair.

The first of the three to drop was the ‘Glasgow’ pair on the 5th of October. Arguably the best of the bunch, the shoe featured a fully water-resistant tonal grey upper, with a leather orange tongue and reflective swooshes. The materials on this particular pair were selectively chosen to embody a street-ready shoe for everyday wear. The Basement/Nike logo is embossed on the tongue, another small detail which makes this shoe a scorcher!

The Basement x Nike Air Max 90 ‘Glasgow’ by @jay.zed_

Next came the ‘Manchester’ Air Max 90’s. This subtle sneaker was reasonably slept-on compared to its other city pack counterparts, but nevertheless, it packs a punch. The Manchester pair of 90’s feature an all-over black upper, made up of water-resistant Codura, which is offset by hits of neon green on the heel-tab and pull-tab. The detail which really sets this pair apart from the others is the use of the Jewel swoosh, rather than the traditional swoosh. This is the first and only time a Jewel swoosh has been used on an Air Max 90 but I doubt it will be the last.

The ‘London’ Nike Air Max 90 was the final instalment of The Basement’s City Pack trio. This pair came complete with a range of premium materials in different tones of grey. Each grey hue on the upper had its own set material, giving the model a different yet harmonious feel across the shoe. The stand out feature on the London pair was the use of interchangeable velcro swooshes, which give the owner a degree of personalisation. This is an element which Nike has deployed on a number of models over the past two years, most notably on the Nike Air Force 1 and the Air Jordan 3. The Basement 90’s arrived with four different swoosh options which only added to the desirability of the collaboration. I mentioned earlier that only one pair competed with the ‘Side Bs’ for my Air Max 90 of the year, and this is it. The London pair from the Basement trio is my favourite from the pack and is honestly close to perfection.

The year as a whole has been an extremely exciting period for fans of the Air Max 90. The buzz has been brought back to the model through various releases, events and collaboration surrounding the icon, that is the Air Max 90. It is fair to say that Nike’s neglect of the shoe is well and truly over! I have seen 2019 to be a bit of a ‘resurgence’ of the Air Max 90, hence the title of this article, as even one year ago no one really cared about it! I understand that popularity and hype surrounding a model doesn’t make it a good shoe but it is nice to see the 90 getting a bit of love once again. This year, despite the madness, has only been a taster of what is to come in 2020. Already, we have been treated to some information regarding the future of the model next year.

In 2017 Nike brought back a remastered Air Max 1 much to the enjoyment of fans of the model. Similarly, next year the Swoosh intend to revisit the Air Max 90 and bring it back in its true OG form with adjustments to the shape, construction and detailing of the shoe. The cut of the toe box and mudguard have been altered to sit more at the height at which they did 30 years ago. The most obvious change to current 90’s is the stitch which runs over the swoosh, which Nike has incorporated on the remastered pairs. Nike is also meant to be recreating the ‘skinny-box’ design which was so prominent throughout the 1990’s – completing that true OG Air Max 90 feel!

So far we know that the sneakers are releasing in their OG Infrared colourway, a must cop for many Air Max nerds like myself, along with Volt, Blue, Obsidian and Teal renditions. A special 30th Anniversary pair with a White/Sail upper will also be available featuring commemorative dubrae’s.

I for one cannot wait for what is to come in 2020 surrounding Nike’s Air Max 90 and I know many of you feel the same way! I also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who sent in photos of their pairs for me to use in this article. For this one, I really wanted to get as many people involved as possible, rather than using stock photos or photos from the big blogs. The response I got back from everyone was immense, so thank you all!

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