Nike’s forgotten Air Terra Abandon

An incredibly rare sneaker that surfaces once in a blue moon -- the AIR TERRA ABANDON can be found in VERY few places; Nike’s catalogue of archived advertisement stands for one, perhaps the occasional splash across third party marketplaces, but we form a solid base for arguably the clearest image of this piece of footwear mastery you’ll find on the internet in 2021.

It features an open-weave and synthetic leather upper, with reflective accents upon the tongue and heel. Phylon and Air-Sole technology pair up in formidable fashion from the midsole down, sitting upon technically brilliant high-traction outsoles built for downhill terrains.

This was marketed as an affordable yet lightweight trail shoe; what do you think of the Nike Air Terra Abandon? Let us know below!

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2011: Adidas ZX8000 'G-SNK' x Atmos

Pairing anything ZX with the ‘Aqua’ colourway as used by Koji on this collaboration between Germany’s adidas and Japan’s retailer Atmos, tends to be a raging success; in fact, it has even experienced life on 4D and LXCON silhouettes, too. But to put it bluntly, NOTHING hits like the 8000 runner when clad in a shimmering sea of blue and yellow.

We first saw the combo rear its head in 1989, only to be REINVENTED part way through October 2011 by Koji and his team of designers, featuring GLOW-IN-THE-DARK scales across an otherwise familiar upper -- which was repeated by a SUPERSTAR ‘80s earlier that year.

EVERY (and we mean every) single glowing sneaker produced by Atmos will be followed by ‘G-SNK’ and a Roman numeral, which simply indicates a nocturnal trick to spring on your colleagues at the Halloween party. Koji has a habit of following in his own footsteps hence numbering each GITD installment, particularly when incorporating faux hair and animalistic features into a majority of Atmos related products; this is the way he works, he knows his audience.

Do you own a pair of adidas ZX ‘Aqua’ of any mathematical stature, if so, in which year was your pair born?

Nike Air Mowabb x COMME des GARÇONS

As far as fashion house-cross-sneaker collaborations go, Japanese giants Comme des Garcons HOMME Plus have REALLY cemented an MVP status in Nike’s history books. We’ve seen vibrantly dyed Air Max 180, numerous Dunks both high and low, enough Air Force 1 to kit out a nation and even platformed Cortez; one that has always stood out is the ACG Mowabb, another of Tinker Hatfield’s early designs. 

At the time when adidas were pushing their EQT range, Nike were exploring the possibilities of a horizon permitted with ACG in-tow; needless to say, 1991 was a pretty big year in the grand scheme of things. 

DNA is drawn delicately from the HUARACHE, in particular a neoprene sock-lining and rubberised heel counter which together look perfectly at home when EXPLORING rural terrains to keep everything where it should be; lovely! 

Rei Kawakubo’s design process went AGAINST the GRAIN here; when hiking, the ethos of less-is-more contributes heavily to a shoe’s aesthetic presence for obvious reasons. Yet, there are extended edges and uncut hems scattered across the upper without remorse, giving a distinctly UNFINISHED look to a silhouette ‘chunkified’ in the name of fashion. 

BAIT x adidas EQT Running Support 'Big Apple'

If you’ve been keeping tabs on MORPRIME Industries for a decent length of time, then you’ll be aware of our unmatched level of appreciation for ADIDAS’ EQT line in its entirety. It’s not just the aesthetic presence each pair demands, it’s the general history and physical feel once a pair is on foot, in hand albeit even cuddled into the small of your back. We don’t discriminate. 

BAIT aren’t strangers to collaborations plucked from Three-stripes royalty, in fact this is the first time they’ve taken a curious flick through adidas’ tempting runners ARCHIVE; ultimately dropping their dart on the EQT Running Support and going with it.

Whilst we’d love to sit here and analyse every inch of a sneaker inspired by New York city’s illustrious image, there’s a lot more to BAIT than a copper green nubuck replicating a frosty Statue of Liberty, or red accents to back the product’s name-sake. Oops.

However, collectibles are a side to hoard-culture that we both share in equal measure -- BAITME.com houses an ENTIRE product page for the goodies, which isn’t all that surprising when a multitude of their collaborative efforts derive from cartoons, animated films and anything remotely ‘nerdy’. We love it. Toy Story, Tom and Jerry, Astro Boy and Spiderman to name but a few -- we LOVE it. This area of the website above lists MEDICOM, BANDAI and inundated levels of FUNKO.

These are definitely up there for us, but what would you nudge to the top of your BAITME collaborations list? Perhaps their 4:20 Stan Smiths, something furry with Reebok? Let us KNOW!

McLaren x Asics pit-team exclusive

Capsules have taken pride in being the life and soul of sneaker culture from day one, a prime example for this residing within Nike’s ‘Ugly Duckling’ retro, the infamous ‘Weatherman’ pack that featured two Foamposite installments with an AF1 closely behind and a tri-colour Air Max 90 ‘Independence Day’ launch that not only saw sale racks, but the feet of Mr Kanye West. 

Within these capsules, the occasional F’n’F or MEGA limited product managed to sneak in, perhaps a case of FOMO or riding our industry’s financial wave -- whatever the reason, it’s led to some truly incredible pairs raking infinite levels of interest from us as social media junkies. Now, we’re about to show you something a little different, something that simply does NOT come around all that often if at all… ready?

ASICS x McLaren 1990’s pit-crew EXCLUSIVE, this little number featured a GEL McLaren F1 and GEL McLaren MA-2 both draped in the racing team’s name-branding and iconic shades of red from head to toe. 

Is this one of the rarest ASICS to ever grace our feed? Have a closer look!

Happy little pieces of content you MAY benefit from knowing:

• One pair dons a neoprene sockliner-cross-oxidized sole combo, with yellowing glue stains adding attitude to an already fierce looking pit-shoe ready for action.

• Both utilise a non-slip black outsole to provide substantial support for an upper clad in red, white and grey tones; typically this trio would be seen on boilersuits team-wide thus exemplifying McLaren’s unifying colour scheme.

• At no point did this collaboration retail to the general public, meaning any potential pavement-side sightings would stem from one of circumstances; you’re in the presence of a McLaren pit-crew member, or more likely someone with luck on their side.

• These dual-marked UNICORNS are actually part of MORPRIME’s 600+ personal collection, taking poll position in TOP 10 ranking without breaking stride.

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POTY 2020: PUMA

This week, MORPRIME Industries will be covering our top five releases of 2020 residing beneath another five separate umbrellas; PUMA, NEW BALANCE, ADIDAS, NIKE and a calamatus  miscellaneous combining NUMEROUS brands outside of this foursome. Of course some opinions will differ -- which is to be expected! All we ask is for an injection of CONVERSATION and healthy DEBATE in that little comment section below…

First up, planet Earth’s third largest sportswear brand and Rudolf Dassler’s brainchild; PUMA.

FOOTPATROL SUEDE: Footpatrol managed to impose their presence on a number of spots throughout our 2020 review, which is no surprise seeing as their annual output is nothing short of a sneaker-design masterclass year in, year out. Soho’s wizards upheld Puma’s roots residing within B-Boy heritage, binding the project together with thick laces whilst bouncing to the tune of London’s musical backdrop. Somehow, TEAM FP managed to make a classic even better by meshing long-haired suede and off-white tones; a winner in the eyes of MORPRIME Industries regardless of externally variable factors.

MIRAGE OG: Puma’s Mirage OG was an incredibly lightweight runner, livened up with your classic ‘90’s flare loved by many, typically taking the mantle as a trusty pair pulled from piles of boxes when wanting to make a statement around those ‘in the know’. Reintroducing this model to consumers cued a refreshing change from exuberantly anticipated releases, thriving in a market where it had no right to do so. The Mirage OG hosted plush SUEDES and NYLON mesh combos, dashed sparingly with neon accents throughout.

MADE IN ITALY SUEDE: This Puma Suede was not only seeded to the brand’s FRIENDS AND FAMILY clientele, but limited to a mere 307 pairs in commemoration of athlete Tommie Smith’s fight for universal equality. On the 1968 Mexico City Olympic podium, he raised his fist in tandem with John Carlos as a stand for justice -- kick-starting many of the campaigns and progress we see today. Whilst steps are staggered, it is being made and this is Puma’s celebration of that.

307 units were produced in Italy using the finest materials available, a lifetime of wear to praise a lifetime of fighting inequality; the numerical value itself representative of 307 donned by Smith throughout Mexico’s sports gathering. 

Puma finished with printed certificates of authenticity signed by the man himself, just for that extra dash of gold.

SIZE? EASY RIDER ‘EASTER EGG’: size? Approached this 20th anniversary collaboration with Puma shirking no surprises, actually deciding to plant an ‘Easter Egg’ second layer hidden beneath the sneaker’s thin, tearable upper. Starting life as a linen-toned, suede and mesh technical runner, this Easy Rider soon sees vibrant injections of orange amidst a plethora of EASTER EGGS invisible without exploring one’s lockdown DIY black belt. 

ADER ERROR RS9.8: ADER ERROR may have been born seven, youthful years ago (well, six at the time of launch), but the South Korean newbies form an amalgamation of young creatives drawn together by their unrivaled chemistry with natural flaws (hence ERROR) attributing the brand’s philosophy -- ‘but near missed things’. This capsule pays tribute to South Korean street culture, clinging tightly to  young heritage woven into each seam -- of course, this RS9.8 is a prime example of a team reworking pre-exist

ing content in ADER’s unequivocal way, exemplary of their simple yet effective mantra.

POTY 2020: ADIDAS

This week, MORPRIME Industries will be covering our top five releases of 2020 residing beneath another five separate umbrellas; PUMA, NEW BALANCE, ADIDAS, NIKE and a calamatus  miscellaneous combining NUMEROUS brands outside of this foursome. Of course some opinions will differ -- which is to be expected! All we ask is for an injection of CONVERSATION and healthy DEBATE in that little comment section below…

As promised, Three Stripes is the penultimate stop on our 12 month journey, providing us with five hearty dishes to tuck our feverishly greedy mitts into. 

WE think this selection was nailed on, but drop a comment below with your top five in descending order. GO!

COMMONWEALTH CL Response: Deriving from near-exotic settings basked in Californian sunshine, COMMONWEALTH is a brand known for its Philipino influence and classically raw style; in fact, owner Omar Quiambao has recently opened his third and largest location in Manila. This version of Three Stripes’ CL Response bears two faces, an outstep both clean AND concise backing almost too comfortably onto an instep clad with beige suede panelling, black stripes and red accenting.

FORUM OG: As with all great pieces of work, the reader cannot turn a blind eye to patterns in familiarity when presented with actions or physical objects; in this case, the notion of repetition comes by means of mid-80’s basketball goodness and two tightly-knit sneakers residing beneath the same blanket. Here is the first of two FORUM models, a high-top dragged mercilessly from 1984 all guns blazing -- premium leather galore whilst combining cream, blue and off-white notes. Sneaker porn.

FORUM LOW x FOOTPATROL: Showing a little more love to our Footpatrol family here, the Soho team worked in partnership with their friends at HOUSE OF ST BARNABAS and actually donated all proceeds to the organisation. Over here, the team provides support to those heading back into employment off the back of homelessness. A mere 300 units were produced, each playing host to clay-cross-grey cement-esque suede compounds and even a sprinkling of nubuck; to make things somewhat more family-orientated, each pair is embellished with ‘FAMILY’ and ‘FOOTPATROL’ on alternating straps, dual-branding wherever it could be squeezed in, every staff member’s signature scrawled across paired insoles. Good stuff from good people for a good cause. 

ZX10000: We’ll approach this model in its entirety; to many consumers it was seen as the shape to revive Three-stripes ZX line in 2020. In typical adidas fashion, the ZX10k remained true to form by luring a stereotypically ‘80s mesh into the modern day, moulding and combining this goodness with an iconic Torsion bar thus conquering its original purpose -- a sneaker that suited all running needs, perhaps suiting all collectors’ needs in the process. Offspring, Overkill and Meissen were fortunate enough to be allowed their own way with the 10K, with the inclusion of size? In Q4.

Size? Stuttgart: As a successor of size?Retailer’s 2010 1/500 City Series, this black leather terrace shoe developed beautifully on Cardiff’s instalment a decade earlier; each pair of a six-part collection being twinned with one from the original set. 2020 production units sat as a comfortable base for celebration; gold branded insole embroidery, an inverted twin-city box coupling and custom wrapping paper sat nicely alongside in-store only publications. The Stuttgart’s palette is inspired by Porsche’s original horse crest, paying tribute to the area’s rich automobile history.

Nike's Air Griffey, baseball's greatest sneaker?

Realistically, if you’ve worn a basketball shoe or anything residing beneath PERFORMANCE footwear’s rapidly expanding umbrella, then chances are you’ve donned a sports-person’s SIGNATURE shoe at one point or another; it’s inevitable.

Lets face it, without a player-association we may not have taken a second look at most LAUNCHES; you don’t have to admit it, consumerism is a trait shared by the many. But let’s think for a moment, how many BASEBALL players float to the surface when diving into the depths of your mind?

Nike’s AIR GRIFFEY was a pair designed and launched by Tracy Teague in 1996, specifically (and unsurprisingly) for Ken Griffey Jr. who at the time played baseball for the Seattle Mariners. The ‘FRESHWATER’ colourway pictured above is set to retro in 2021 for the model’s 25th anniversary, following a 2016 revival to celebrate his induction into the Baseball HALL of FAME.

A Clarks tribute to the late MF DOOM

Whether you knew him as Viktor Vaughn, King Geedorah or Metal Face, MF DOOM played a part in everyone's life -- he dabbled in collectibles, sneakers, comic books and of course music with a sense of effortless muse, discarding any potential doubt surrounding the man’s god-status with each and every breath. Daniel Dumile (DOOM-ee-lay) shall always be an undisputed genius in his own right; he was your favourite artist’s favourite artist, a mask-clad family man with enough word play to educate a nation whilst simultaneously making every head bounce concurrently. 

Let’s take a step back from his career whilst pulling a single word in our wake; sneakers. There was more to DOOM than sneakers and the now glorifically sought after Dunk High, as matter of fact he upheld an incredible relationship with smarterwear aficionados Clarks -- suppose you could call it a key-in-lock situation. Match made in heaven, class combed through with artistic allure.

Metal Face DOOM’s stage title was imposed by his mother, a nickname from childhood that stuck like Super Villain in the sound systems of his fans -- but his love for Clarks stemmed from early career memories of ‘rich cats’ donning pairs due to the ‘classy but casual look to them’.

• 2014 Wallabee Low, part 1: Metal Face added reflective lace piping, contrast stitching and mask embossing across a premium feel box to what was otherwise a completely untouched Wallabee. He stuck to his ethos of originality whilst subtly standing out above the crowd from heel to toe, ensuring this design in line with Clarks’ 2014 ‘Pioneers’ campaign would survive the test of time alongside his unequivocal musical accolades in equal measure. DOOM made it look effortless, cladding one of hip hop’s most iconic models in antelope leather and custom sock liners sat almost too comfortably atop a standard-issue crepe sole.

• 2014 Wallabee Boot, part 2: As 2014 came to a close, Clarks were back again with DOOM in tow and a indigo-nubuck Wallabee boots strapped to his feet. These are every bit as impressive as their predecessor, however moving in a direction to break the necks of footwear obsessives opposed to abiding by modern culture’s unwritten rules on conformity. Fan of the KNICKS? Fan of Marvel Comics’ Viktor Vaughn? These are for you, (all) capped off with a glow in the dark sole for that night crawler slump.

We’re not ignoring Nike’s Dunk High here, but there was more to Daniel than a sole (pun intended) campaign -- DOOM was not a one hit wonder, with brutal honesty in mind he was one of the best to EVER do it. It, being everything he touched.

R.I.P. MF DOOM, R.I.P. Viktor Vaughn, R.I.P. Metal Face, R.I.P King Geedorah, R.I.P. Daniel Dumile. One of planet earth’s most diverse creatives.

END. x adidas Forum OG Low 'Friends and Forum'

Back in 2005, END. Clothing opened its High Bridge doors in Newcastle’s city centre, thus welcoming the world into a two-story abode lined with some of the best attire brands had to offer. Not only this, but as the retailer honed its blade in two alien cities, new departments were explored - ultimately earmarking Ashworth and Parker’s brainchild as one of our industry’s big hitters.

After its initial launch in 1984, adidas’ FORUM silhouette sat upon a pedestal as one of the most expensive pairs of its day, boasting an impressive $100 price tag which parted the sea in order for a gruelling journey from court to side-walk to be executed flawlessly.

In line with adidas’ 2020 FORUM resurgence, Newcastle’s END. Clothing opted to keep this collaborative effort clean and SIMPLE. Heritage aside, this re-assigned basketball sneaker plays host to a neutral palette and tribute-ready tri-colour, Three-stripe goodness. Co-branding can be seen throughout, paying particular attention to xxx/300 embossing at the tooling’s rear.

As with all fashion-house collaborations deriving from adidas’ coveted FORUM Low folder of recent months, END. raffled off a meagre 300 individually numbered units. Whilst many would inevitably miss out, it went a long way towards satisfying the inner sneaker-nerd all winners suppress when confronted with family situations.

Most IMPORTANTLY, proceeds from END. x adidas ‘Friends and Forum’ launch were donated to Greenhouse Sports - an organisation providing sports coaches for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Their unrivalled work ethic has opened opportunities for over 45,000 youngsters since 2002, working in tandem with Loughborough University whose research proved this organisation’s efforts raise school attendance, levels of positive behaviour and academic performance.

GOOD people, GOOD cause... GOOD sneaker. What isn’t to love?

POTY 2020: NIKE

This week, MORPRIME Industries will be covering our top five releases of 2020 residing beneath another five separate umbrellas; PUMA, NEW BALANCE, ADIDAS, NIKE and a calamatus  miscellaneous combining NUMEROUS brands outside of this foursome. Of course some opinions will differ -- which is to be expected! All we ask is for an injection of CONVERSATION and healthy DEBATE in that little comment section below…

NIKE slid in for our third installment, employing intimidation tactics in order to trip the competition at every hurdle. 

Has a slightly heightened obstacle caught us off guard, despite thinking we were on the home straight? Or did we finish in podium position? Fill the gap and give your input ______.

AM90 INFRA: Do we think Tinker Hatfield knew the extent to which his 1990 brain-child would develop the sneaker-world? How much his impact would indefinitely feed progression industry-wide? Every creative, designer or artist enters their chosen field in hope of contributing something major, something that may take technology to unprecedented heights. 

Nike retroed their third Air Max silhouette perfectly in 2020, earning a top-tier finish for the age-old veteran.

AM95 OG NEON: Another sneaker with more heritage than you can wave an aged bottle of Château at, Sergio Lozano’s human anatomy inspired silhouette will always be one to break necks. In its ‘NEON’ state, the 110 has seen shopfloors and collector-ridden queues over 10 times -- starting back in 1995 and ultimately maintaining god-status 25 years later. Recent general releases have been riddled with poorly executed toe-boxes and wonky tooling on Nike’s part, but these escaped relatively unscathed. 

DUNK LOW x Kasina: South Korea based retailer, Kasina, opened its doors back in 1997 under direction of former Pro-Skater EunHyuk Lee -- this two-part collaboration takes enthusiasts on a journey through his country. A ‘Neptune-green’ Kasina exclusive saps inspiration from the Seoul-to-Busan Expressway, contrasting an equally winterised SNKRS launched navy upper, paying tribute to vintage buses. Both pairs are crowned by a steering-wheel re-hashed as the sneaker’s hangtag.

NIKE DUNK SB ‘ACG’: Possibly one of the most MORPRIME FRIENDLY launches of this calendar year, Nike’s SB design team dressed 2020’s most sought after models in their sub-line’s most recognisable colourways -- strength in numbers. ACG’s ‘Terra’ concoction is given free-reign on this early ‘00’s Peter Moore model, speckled midsole and all.

JORDAN 1 ‘MOCHA’: Within the same breath as his Dunk low became a wardrobe essential, Peter Moore designed Michael Jordan’s first signature shoe -- it’s increasingly more difficult to argue that 1985 was an unimaginably revolutionary year for the brand. 

Perhaps craved due to its shared coffee hues with Travis Scott’s collaborative high-top, the ‘DARK MOCHA’ is without a doubt the most sought after Air Jordan 1 High to leave the conveyor belt in 2020, despite a repeatedly delayed European launch.

POTY 2020: NEW BALANCE

This week, MORPRIME Industries will be covering our top five releases of 2020 residing beneath another five separate umbrellas; PUMA, NEW BALANCE, ADIDAS, NIKE and a calamatus  miscellaneous combining NUMEROUS brands outside of this foursome. Of course some opinions will differ -- which is to be expected! All we ask is for an injection of CONVERSATION and healthy DEBATE in that little comment section below…

Second in line, 1906’s legacy and a brand that truly put BOSTON on the map -- New Balance.

Did we put a foot wrong? Any misfires? Let your feelings be known below!

JJJOUND 992: Some see JJJJOUND as an entity, an existential oddity whom effortlessly collaborates on footwear collections with PREMIUM levels of execution. New Balance’s 992 has been a core focal point in 2020’s sneakerverse, with Justin Saunders dropping two autumnally relevant iterations of this CHUNKY RUNNER. Whilst Saunders’ prefers to take a publicity-ducking back seat, his NB certainly shirk no limelight.

CASABLANCA OG 327: One of the few POSITIVES to come from 2020, is an array of silhouettes birthed in New Balance’s design LAB. We covered the 327’s debut collaboration with CASABLANCA late last year, where it left a lasting impression on the entire MORPRIME team. Charaf Tajer’s Parisian and North American roots are always on full blast when the creative juices flow, meaning it comes as no surprise that the self-taught designer previously worked at Pigalle, Off White and Supreme, capping 2020 with an LVMH prize shortlisting. Great job, beautifully balanced from eyelet to outsole.

KITH 992: From humble beginnings tending to the stockroom at his Uncle’s DAVID-Z retailer, Ronnie Fieg quite literally sculpted runners-culture into the New Balance and ASICS ridden chunk-fest we see today. This 992 utilised a navy-mono palette that led nicely from his debut denim collection on the big stage.

SALEHE BEMBURY 2002: NO introduction needed, Salehe currently sits at the head of Versace’s footwear design table and this was his first sneaker brand collaboration… so far. It has been heralded by many as the glimmer of hope in what was otherwise a miserably repetitive and subjectively negative year, he opted for an expert concoction of premium materials and tangerine tones.

550 ALD: New Balance allowed fashion-house AIME LEON DORE from Queens, NYC to take on what was the brand’s most significant basketball retro of 2020; taking their 550 Oxford out of 1989’s long-forgotten top draw and not changing a single thing. There were four iterations on offer, a readily available blood-red with navy, forest green and grey only obtainable via an ALD raffle win.

That's it... 30,000 followers!

Well that’s it, 2020 is finally done and dusted... what a YEAR! Pandemic and hyped releases aside, we’d just like to pass on a heartfelt message.

We’ve finally hit 30k followers, which reflects the sheer time and effort Morprime Industries’ team put into day-to-day content, interactions and the occasional opinion-based argument in our comments section rather nicely. 

What we’re trying to say is - THANK YOU! 

Morprime Industries started out as Morgan’s dream, being the founder father per se in a bid to form a channel with no motive other than sharing his interests, whilst challenging himself to create and publish a steady stream of content that reaches every corner of the globe. As someone who has always struggled to fit in, this is Morgan’s way of carving his own path, what you see here is a medium of self-expression, an alternative mood-board.

Behind the scenes, Morprime hosts a team of creatives spanning industry leading graphic designers, writers and videographers -- all of whom worked relentlessly this year to churn out the product you love. I’d like to thank them all for their contributions this year -- not forgetting our clients and followers who have helped along the way.

May your 2021 be fruitful and jam-packed with positivity! We can’t wait to share our upcoming projects with you all; more content, more series and even our own shoe… spoiler alert!

To infinity and beyond! 

Love, Morprime.

Custom Gundam: ACG-900 'Mowabb'

Feast your eyes on the beauty! Typically, this is what to expect when you combine GUNDAM with NIKE’s cult classic Air Mowabb sneaker.

Taking the ultra utilitarian BANDAI HG 1/144 GH-001RB Grimoire Red Beret kit from their Build Divers series as a blank canvas, we customised this fantastic Mobile Suit with preferential details, weathering and a livery inspired by the king of the concrete jungle — the Nike Air Mowabb.

What makes the Mowabb an ESSENTIAL pair in our rotation each time the weather turns sour? Well, the 1991 silhouette epitomised Nike’s ACG line; we’ve seen them host CDG and Olivia Kim collaborations (amongst others) without straying from Tinker Hatfield’s original design, which exemplifies just how ahead of his time he really was.

Fortunately for you all, this is just the start of our NIKEPLA series with a sold out first drop of the Gundam ‘Orange Box’ currently in the works for LUCKY owners, and a big list of projects on the way! A collector supplying the collectibles — something rather anti-rehabilitation about the act, don’t you think?

Our ACG-900 ‘Mowabb’ would make a great centrepiece in any collection; or as the name suggests, even aid social media celebrations surrounding a sneaker launch!

So, what are YOUR thoughts on our design? More importantly, what would YOU like to see in the pipeline next time around…

Photography: Morgan Weekes
Artwork: Matt Varker
Words: Tommy Corlito

Nike Air Jordan 1 'Shattered Backboard'

Let’s be honest, this shoe needs VERY little introduction. Without getting ahead of ourselves, the original Jordan 1 SHATTERED BACKBOARD colourway is one of very few non-OG palettes to grace this silhouette without attracting unwanted backlash. 

If we were to touch upon the story behind this pair, however briefly, the colours are drawn from a uniform worn by MJ in a 1986 Italian exhibition game when -- you guessed it -- he SHATTERED the BACKBOARD whilst wearing his first signature shoe. End of story.

Now for a splash of exciting news; some of you may or may not know about a Morprime Industries sticker pack launching imminently over on our webspace. You heard correctly -- stickers! What makes these a little bit special, is the HIGHLY limited AJ1 SBB holographic iteration to be popped in a few random orders -- remember how it felt packing a holo-Charizard? Well, we’re hoping to take you all on a trip down memory lane; the lucky few anyway.

EYES PEELED! In the meantime, what’re your top three non-OG Jordan 1 colourways?

Photography: Morgan Weekes
Artwork: Matt Varker
Words: Tommy Corlito

Asics x Vivienne Westwood Gel Kayano 26

We shall birth this introduction bluntly -- any footwear classed under the ‘FASHION’ header would ordinarily act as a passing interest to us. Occasionally, the odd release does catch our eye, most recently for example the ASICS x VIVIENNE WESTWOOD GEL-KAYANO™ 26 who may have bagged a winner.

Vivienne’s second project with ASICS uses the hyper-technical Gel Kayano 26 as its base layer -- the latest evolution of the famed Kayano line, a franchise that has been at the forefront of long-distance running since its 1993 debut year.

Inspiration was drawn from Westwood & (Malcolm) McLaren’s Autumn/Winter 1982-83 Nostalgia of Mud collection ‘sack shoe’. A tribute to early civilisational footwear, crafted from a single piece of wrap-around leather thus throwing things right back to when footwear was built with the SOLE intention of protecting one’s foot. 

This 2020 update sees the simple sack wrap-around upper placed upon the Gel Kayano 26 as a loosely-connected holdall, switching up leather-twining for technical netting and an elasticated toggled closing system. Other details include Vivienne Westwood’s signature Orb logo embedded within the heel counter and a mock-patina that gradually darkens towards the shoes rear. 

OUR TAKE: We knew this would be a polarising post with it being one of the most extroverted shoes we’ve received this year, but it came as a surprise after posting on our story that so many shared our positive view of the shoe. ASICS continue to use great base models for their fashion collaborations, leaving an interesting shoe that still performs under pressure and now with added storage for your next lockdown stock-up!

Photography: Morgan
Artwork: Varker
Words: Tommy Corlito

Puma Archive Collection: City Slickers!

Puma have once again opened the vaults on their impressive archive. This time they’ve revived two popular 80’s silhouettes, the Bluebird and the Madrid. 

This Archive Collection leans more towards the Bluebird whilst the Madrid takes on the wildcard role. It has already caused a stir amongst collectors due to its vibrant purple palette. The terrace-inspired pack is themed around local cultural icons from the chosen capital cities and we’ll be covering each shoe below. 

The Bluebird ‘Amsterdam’ comes in a vibrant shade of orange, a colour connected to the Dutch Royal Family that has come to represent national pride. We’d take bets that the blue featuring on the Formstripe and laces, signifies the famous canals and waterways that run through the Dutch capital.

The Bluebird 'St. Petersburg’ comes dressed in a colourway directly inspired by the city's coat of arms, with its red heraldic shield, two silver anchors and azure ribbons. The 'St. Petersburg’ Bluebird is crafted with premium suede and leather, a timeless combination that never fails and features throughout the pack. 

The Bluebird ‘NYC’ is a size? exclusive and really takes things up a notch. Not only does this pair come individually numbered with a rumoured run of 500, but it’s also our favourite of the four.

The shoe is based on a one of a kind shoe made in the 1970’s for legendary New York Jets quarterback and Hall of Famer Joe Namath that was discovered on a recent hunt through Puma’s back-catalogue. The ‘NYC’ edition dons the Jet’s iconic team colours and sits upon slightly yellowed midsole giving the appearance of a shoe unearthed after decades of storage.

Finally we have the Madrid. The first Madrid’s release documented by PUMA dates all the way back to 1983, taking its original colour inspiration from the Madrid Coat of Arms. The ‘London’ edition rocks a rich purple and orange features as a nod to the colours associated with the Jubilee Line that runs through the city.

Which is odd as we always thought it was Silver/Grey, but we’ll never complain about a loose theme to justify sliding a purple suede banger into the pack. We’ve received a mad amount of messages from overseas collectors about this pair.

Shouts to our Puma family for sending through the pairs to shoot, we’ll be back with more Big Cat content in future but for now enjoy fantastic imagery we’ve created with our man @varker.

The Hideout x Nike Footscape Woven 'Hamster'

We took a little RNR this past weekend but now we’re back with engines blazing! Today we bring you a woven oddity from the golden era of collaborations The Hideout x Nike Woven Footscape.

The original Footscape launched in 1996, the shoe was structured to surround the foot for maximum support without sacrificing comfort coming with an asymmetrical lacing system to relieve pressure, that often caused issues in conventional runners. We’ll dive deeper into the Footscape OG another time, as today we’re talking about its lifestyle evolution, the Footscape Woven.

The Footscape Woven was introduced in 2005 as part of a HTM release and rapidly gained cult-like status in Japan that gradually spread across the rest of the world. The shoe sits on a lightweight Pylon midsole with the upper featuring panels (constructed form various materials) woven together with a weave similar to that of the Air Woven from 2000.

The pair featured here is a limited-edition from 2006 produced in collaboration with iconic London retailer The Hideout, the boutique situated on Upper James Street was considered ground zero for streetwear, stocking brands like Supreme, Neighborhood, Stüssy and A BATHING APE. Sadly the store closed its doors in 2014 yet its impact on Londons sneaker/streetwear scene still resonates today.

Nicknamed the ‘Hamster’ due to its furry upper, this shoe is a great example of experimentation, utilising non-performance materials to completely flip a classic and its use of premium Pony Hair and Raw Hide for the inner lining and insole resulted in The Hideout x Nike Footscape Woven quickly attaining grail status amongst collectors. 

ADIDAS ZX 2000 BOOST

We recently received a few pairs of the new ZX 2000 Boost from @adidaslondon. 

While initially garnering interest with a ZX 710 inspired colourway the ZX 2000 has now seen larger commercial push with hopes to follow in the footsteps of successful lines like the NMD and Ultra Boost. 

The ZX 2000’s are constructed from a mixture of synthetic materials with a lightweight, breathable mesh dressing the majority of the upper while TPU overlays offer additional support. The shoe also offers a snug, sock-like fit due to stretch points starting at the tongue. This all sits upon a full length BOOST sole unit with a partially covered heel section which could be for added durability or an aesthetic choice. 

Coined as the three stripes summer blockbuster this polarising addition to the iconic ZX family left many sitting on the fence so we thought we’d try our hands at our own creative, showcasing the sneaker at its best and maybe changing a few opinions along the way.

Taking inspiration from Katsuhiro Otomo’s animated masterpiece Akira, we envisioned the vibrant ZX 2000 as a futuristic motorcycle zooming through the streets of Neo-Tokyo. 

This highly detailed imagery wouldn’t look out of place today displayed in @adidaslondon’s Oxford Street flagship or even on a holographic billboard in the not so distant future. 

size? x Nike Spiridon Caged 2⁠

Hailing Orion 1! Turn on the tactical viewfinder, you’ll want to see this!
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UK retailer @sizeofficial recently teamed up with Nike to create a Carnaby Street inspired Spiridon Caged 2 designed by @stevensmith.⁠
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The shoe features an eclectic mix of materials and colours alien to the shoes original performance origin but we think the switch up works even if the light suede toebox makes these a summer only affair.⁠