It’s been awhile since we’ve posted up any @warhammerofficial content - what, with MORPRIME Industries™ HQ currently submerged in a sea of GUNDAM and all!
So, today we’ve decided to showcase Brother Chaplain Relator from MORPRIME Industries™ own Komodo’s Chapter - one of our most recently painted miniatures.
Chaplains are a specialist branch of ASTARTES (Space Marine) leadership, tasked with looking after the spiritual well-being of their fellow battle brothers whilst remaining a fanatical force of the Emperor’s will. They lead from the front with chants and litanies to inspire warriors around them.
CHAPLAINS are easily distinguished by their skull-shaped helm and ornate iconography, donning a load out that varies from chapter to chapter.
OUR take on this zealous warrior-priest dons the stealth-focussed phobos amour. Whilst it seems like a juxtaposition for the Chaplain’s role - some lighter, more agile armour aids efforts in keeping up with the rest of Komodo’s rapid assault tactics.
Stay-tuned this week as we’ll be running ANOTHER Warhammer competition with a host of goodies up for grabs for our hobby audience.
You read that correctly, another COMPETITION!
Two-wheeled collaborations draping New Balance models in Kawasaki green
Another instalment of MORPRIME IndustriesTM recording instances whereby motorsport touches base with our beloved sneaker culture, forming an indistinguishable knit to please both petrol-heads and footwear aficionados.
Here we have 2012’s New Balance 993 x Kawasaki ‘NINJA’, an inevitable highlight in the @s_j_pearce Hall of Fame.
We aren’t so used to Boston’s household favourite allowing external brands to plaster their name across panels of premium suede, so when we see a 993 silhouette Made in USA AND draped in Kawasaki-green — necks are broken.
Three, we repeat THREE sets of script scoped residency upon this unicorn, firstly reading ‘NINJA’ across both tongues and ‘KAWASAKI’ then finding residency on either heel and mudguard in tandem.
This pair in particular was obtained via means of a certain SUPERBIKE team manager -- pretty cool if you ask us! Who doesn’t love a sneaker story?
What is your most interesting pick-up story? Do any of your pairs have a story?
Hiroshi's Fragment-ed Gear for All Conditions
Gosh, where to start? NIKE and FRAGMENT DESIGN have been singing from the same hymn-sheet since 2010’s TENNIS CLASSICS, going on to cover some of our industry’s most loved silhouettes with excruciating ease.
Instead of tapping into Peter Moore’s AIR JORDAN 1 or even the upcoming three-way Waffle hybrid spawned in Sacai’s laboratory, we shall be finding solace beneath sister-brand ACG’s bold ZOOM Meriwether shadow. This all-terrain, all-conditions article of rugged ELEGANCE breached entry into ACG’s cleanslate era of outerwear; taking pride of place alongside the combat ready WOODSIDE and TAKAO Gore-Tex lines.
Though we cannot, and will not deem the use of d-ring lacing, an elaborate wrap-around tongue system and medial zip to be REVOLUTIONARY - we can earmark HIROSHI FUJIWARA’s nod towards hiking silhouettes as an early nudge in the direction modern trends would take. This model was available in two nappy-suede colourways, launched alongside three versions further of the equally mid-cut Nike Air Magma Zip.
Weaving through an amalgamation of samples, Jordan Brand product and the occasional FnF instalment - which Fragment Design embossed Nike silhouette has been your favourite thus far? Consider a world where third-party pricing isn’t an emblematic factor!
Nike's archived tri-pressure TL Air Max IV
Let’s start with some trivia surrounding this sneaker; what is the resounding title it dons OH so comfortably?
Avoid reading any further if you’re wanting to amicably accept our CHALLENGE, dipping a toe into Nike’s vast internet ARCHIVE.
Now to answer our own question, this is Nike’s TL AIR MAX IV from ‘99, unashamedly mistaken for 1998’s Air Max 98 TL on a regular basis. Though visually similar, their soles share very little in the way of technology; our Air Max IV envelopes tri-pressure units sat upon Carbon Rubber outsoles with Duralon forefoot detailing, whereas the TL 98 was 0.3oz heavier and boasted Nike’s Regrind sole. Interestingly, our silhouette in question went by many names - not limited to; ‘Air Max ‘99’, ‘TL ‘99’ and ‘120’ -- do any of these ring bells for those collecting what would become an article of footwear HISTORY after launch?
Unsurprisingly, TL stands for TOTAL in a similar fashion to Nike’s Shox line seen collaboratively sporting CDG, SIZE? AND grime artist SKEPTA’s palettes in recent years. Instead of Shox-tech, the TL IV featured a tri-pressure, full-length air-bag sole unit combined with shallow insteps to encourage the PERFECT stride for its wearer’s benefit. Furthering our topic’s runner-orientated reasons for existence, each step pushed the athlete’s foot forward upon impact with credit to a mercifully guiding set of lateral crash pads.
Paying extra attention to sole-attributes before venturing into the upper unknown, sculpted PHYLON provided substantial stability where required and bottomed-out with Nike’s renowned carbon rubber BRS 1000 outer layer. Despite this, some say the TL Air Max IV was an incredibly unstable pair on foot…
Swoosh’s original Air-Sole PATENTS were about to overstay their upsettingly non-renewable 20 year life span in 1999; fear not, we welcome DEREK WELCH to the floor. He adopted an elemental formula approach for carrying technology into a future whereby its legacy was clear for all to see, birthing a multitude of logos with RECOGNISABLE embellishments in tow.
A GEL-Kayano - without Kayano
Asics’ GEL-Kayano history drifts back to 1993, where their FIRST instalment in the sneaker’s synonymous series hit shelves. Designer, TOSHIKAZU KAYANO, took inspiration from insect EXOSKELETONS, pairing this with an unequivocal love for running and indoor training in equal proportions. Alas, his concoction birthed a silhouette that supported all aspects of Kayano’s needs, in tandem with looking good amidst footwear options sprawled across the owner’s shelf - or floor.
A trait taking top-spot within the modern-day sneaker’s plethora of essentialities whilst remaining an infinitely crucial part of every athlete’s staple get-up, is functionality. In theory, any sketch may look great, almost FLAWLESS on paper ahead of pending samples and performance testing - but this doesn't guarantee a blemish-free practise of purpose. Fortunately for Toshikazu, there’s a reason his legacy continues with inexorable might; this was an example of everything ASICS had to come.
In more recent history, the UB1-S Gel-Kayano 14 marked Kiko Kostadinov’s first silhouette launched in succession to his design team’s infiltration of ASICS HQ; leading on from their already powerful arsenal of collaborative efforts.
Take a closer look at the GEL-Kayano 14, perhaps you’ll find our not-so-Kayano spoiler!
What’s your favourite GEL-Kayano collaboration? Let us know below.
Over half a decade of UltraBOOST, the adidas UB '21 takes a full circle
Ultimately, the rise in BOOST popularity stemmed from two major influences; one sitting proudly upon that pedestal encrusted in celebrity endorsements of which we know all too well, and the other laden in previously untapped levels of sneaker comfort.
Before delving into adidas’ most recent instalment of BOOST royalty, here’s a dose of technological reinvention that turned the world over; in 2013, Three-stripes dragged performance footwear into its next chapter. Welcome, the EnergyBOOST.
This fitting name refers to the technology’s energy return in every stride, a process created so willingly by thousands of expanded particles placed right beneath your sole. BOOST itself is a product of the adidas Innovation Team (AIT) and Badische Anilin & Soda-Fabrik (BASF), a combination of contrasting theories behind soft and otherwise responsive cushioning.
Since hitting store shelves for the first time back in February of 2015, the UltraBOOST has been updated and developed on a near-annual basis. This time around, the ‘21 graces us with:
A brand new Torsion System providing a more responsive run, due to under-forefoot compound being 15% stiffer.
6% more BOOST, explaining why this Thermoplastic Polyurethane sole unit looks somewhat more… BOOSTY.
In recent months, adidas have started to pull out all the stops in terms of material recycling - everything from tag strings to sole units! Their UB’21 takes its place on Three-Stripes’ Primeblue mantel; each pair dons a 50% recycled upper with textile raising the bar to 75% recycled yarn. Parley Ocean Plastic, does the name sound familiar?
What do you think of 2021’s UltraBOOST option? Will you be grabbing a pair for your next run, considering its tribute to the OG? Let us know below!
Another limited Footpatrol collaboration of biblical proportions? Surely not...
Displaying more than a little affection towards our family over there at @footpatrol_ldn this evening, the Soho team worked in partnership with some great people at HOUSE OF ST BARNABAS on a recently rebirthed adidas silhouette -- actually donating all proceeds from the Footpatrol x adidas Originals Forum Low to the organisation’s fund pot.
@hostbarnabas provides support for those heading back into employment off the back of homelessness, making an immensely difficult transition significantly smoother through guidance, courses and mentor programmes. Launching this sneaker in the bosom of the most difficult 12 months on record tells you everything you need to know about FP; their heart is in nowhere other than the right place.
A mere 300 units were produced, clad industriously in clay-cross-grey cement-esque suede-nubuck compounds evenly across the iconic upper; building on what is already a world famous generational unit, each pair dons ‘FAMILY’ and ‘FOOTPATROL’ embellishments on alternating straps, dual-branding at each physically plausible opportunity, down to the smallest yet most impactful decision to include each staff member’s signature scrawled across insoles without exception.
GOOD stuff, from GOOD people, for a GOOD cause.
When does FnF become F only?
Cast your mind back to December of 2020, a month plagued by stop-start lockdowns, Christmas Day snowfall and you guessed it… an adidas Originals Torsion Edberg collaboration with Aussie big-shots @highs_and_lows, limited to mere 15 units.
Why produce something in such limited numbers? Well, this acts as a 15 years celebration package, commemorating the coveted relationship shared by our fashion house in question and it’s sportswear counterpart.
HAL’s offerings follow on from a ‘Blush Yellow’ general release one year prior, this time paying tribute to adidas ARCHIVES with artificially yellowed midsoles, an open-hem tongue and splatterings of grey across an already minimalistic upper. As with all CONSORTIUM fixtures, it is not difficult to spot the iconic branding linked to this sub-category of limited edition launches. Black leather upper, aged cream laces all rounded off with terry cotton sockliner -- HAL know how to make something pop!
To obtain a pair (or to be in with a chance of obtaining, anyway) sneaker enthusiasts had to pay $5AUD for a raffle ticket in which all proceeds would be ushered in the direction of Kadjin Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Arts Network -- a charity actively providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with life opportunities alongside performance-based support.
How are you feeling about the limited prospect of this sneaker, would you have purchased if produced on a wider scale?
The History of Bethesda, with MORPRIME Industries™
If you’ve been playing games for long enough, then chances are you’ve played AT LEAST one title carefully developed or published by Maryland’s Bethesda Softworks.
Whether you’re one of the avid millions still neck-deep in SKYRIM, love to Rip and Tear in DOOM or process things a little more methodically in DISHONOURED, then this iconic company has definitely touched your gaming platform of choice in some way.
Now MICROSOFT has officially purchased BETHESDA, all of its development teams and IPs, we thought it rather wise to look back over the history of this storied company - from a humble 80s beginning, all the way to the future covering EVERY stone-cold landmark in between.
2020's take on 1989, Aime Leon Dore holds no punches
It’s no secret that Teddy Santis is quite the basketball fan, and of course there’s no questioning his 2020 Aime Leon Dore interpretation of New Balance’s P550 Basketball Oxford sneaker being accepted with open-industry arms. So, what makes this iteration so fantastically sought after?
We’ll start with a little background on ALD’s founder @teddysantis; he’s a Greek-born, Queen’s residing fashion aficionado who most famously received a blessing from German sports car manufacturers, @porsche, on restoration of his 1990 911 964 Carrera 4… the first time Stuttgart’s big-boys have given such recognition to a collaborative 911 restoration project. The car itself utilised materials seen within ALD’s 2020 collection; @LoroPianaOfficial houndstooth, @SchottNYC leather amongst other carefully sculpted details.
Social media took to the effortlessly off-centre aesthetic this pair upholds without breaking stride. Prior to release, mood-boards and influencers raved with relentless enthusiasm, forcing our eyes to absorb every inch of late-80’s goodness. You would have seen this sneaker prior to release date, you simply did NOT have a choice.
Another decade, another anniversary, but have New Balance changed the 991?
Time for some exotica to SPRUCE up your scrolling habits, a numerically low installation in NB’s COVETED 99x series donning infinitely gracious grey and dark navy blue from heel-cup to toe. BUT, colourway aside Flimby’s iconic 991 carried a prestigious crown once it took to the stage in 2001, hopping on a direct flight to the centre of Apple founder STEVE JOBS’ seasonal footwear rotation - a man who relentlessly slipped them on for a number of years.
New Balance have pushed the boat out further with every 99x instalment, dating back to 1982’s 990v1. Who would have thought Terry Heckler’s slanted ‘N’ logo would carry such weight going forwards?
It’s no secret that Morprime Industries™ team are avid fans of most sneakers churned out by Boston’s homegrown @newbalance brand, and this year we’re celebrating two whole decades of the 991 thus requesting for your valued opinion to be voiced... is there a colourway or collaboration that tops your sneaker leaderboard? Let us know below!
From pen and paper to Cyberpunk 2077, a comprehensive RPG history
Within Role Playing Games (RPG for short, sporting a different type of POP to the arsonists choice blaster), technological advances and mentally taxing quests have taken LEAPS and BOUNDS in recent years; typically, gamer comfort and overall satisfaction follow a similar path of incline to footwear production, figurine detailing and hmm... Star Wars memorabilia.
This evening, we’re delving into the history and humble beginnings of RPG - immersing oneself in a decade-by-decade stepping stone path, HOPEFULLY learning something on the way, too!
You’re about to embark on an ADVENTURE across Role Playing Games’ ever-changing landscape, starting with its humble PEN and PAPER format then gently swinging into CYBERPUNK 2077; a once ink-cross-paper combo cum console stretching masterpiece to be admired in its entirety.
Think you’re up to the task?
REMEMBER, don’t get sidetracked - a good referee will ALWAYS have tricks up their sleeves to lead the expedition astray.
Download each slide to your hard drive in CHRONOLOGICAL order (or brain, up to you!) and let us know at which point you joined the journey, below.
See you on the other side!
MORPRIME Industries™ x Footpatrol: Hua-story Blo
To celebrate 30 years of the Nike Air Huarache and relive each step that dragged Tinker Hatfield’s thermoplastic strap donning silhouette into the industry’s cut-throat limelight, Footpatrol and MORPRIME Industries have teamed up to cover every landmark, hiccup and even a handful of substories that lead to this model so sitting proudly at the forefront of technological innovation. Without further ado, follow us on a journey from 1991 until the present day; pulling apart thirty years of unadulterated excitement.
Re-writing global sportswear and fashion trends wasn’t an easy feat, in fact Nike have been working with and Tinker-ing the Air Huarache for three decades now. The man himself joined Swoosh in 1981, utilising his love for architecture to help line our shelves with some of the most aesthetically pleasing sneakers on the market. His jump into footwear’s design pool happened a mere four years after joining Nike.
Initial Air Huarache price tags sat at $110 and $100 GS respectively, however certain issues ushered Hatfield’s sketches into the shadows from day one. It was a case of first-run orders sitting below 50 units, taking product manager Tom Hartge to trust Tinker’s range and forge an order for 5000 units. This paid off, with each and every pair of the 9.5 ounce sneakers going home with a new owner during a three day stall-sale at New York’s Marathon. From here, Nike saw orders surpass half a million units - success was the next stop.
GB sprinter Derek Redmond was somewhat overshadowed in the sneaker-verse by his father, Jim, despite multiple World Championship medals. He carved a solo route into the Huarache ‘Hall of Fame’ by supporting his injured son across Barcelona’s ‘92 Olympics Semi Final finishing-line. What makes this so key, is the featured tee bestowing Nike’s ‘Have You Hugged Your Foot Today?’ advert, worn by Redmond Senior.
Media coverage didn’t persuade everyone, particularly publication ‘Runner’s World’ who slated the neoprene and lycra sneaker’s level on-foot breathability; a remarkably contrasting claim to that awarded by our now disparaged ‘The Source’ team. They handed Nike a gold star for ‘Shoe Technology of the Year’ to commemorate a sneaker inundated with space-age features; this tale of two halves gave early insight into an ensuing 30 year rollercoaster.
In the same year, North America’s NBA witnessed an Air Flight Huarache maze from court-to-couch, protecting the toes of superstars Pippen and Reggie Miller to name but a few. Kobe Bryant curated an immense library of Player Exclusive (PE) iterations throughout 2003, feeding nicely into 2004’s Zoom Huarache 2K4. It is said that the 2K4 silhouette wore an unofficial signature badge to fill a gap whilst legalities and ties from Kobe’s time with previous sponsors were erased. Until the Zoom Kobe 1 debuted in January 2006, he wore a miscellaneous of Huarache iterations completed by Erik Avar with Tinker’s guidance on fulfilling the outsole pattern and other minor details.
Retrospectively, the University of Michigan’s Chris Webber led squad constructed a perfect environment for Swoosh to further aid the cut-out sneaker’s 1991 hard-court takeover - suiting their team’s unfiltered, new-age style with inch perfect precision. Baggy attire, black socks and Air Flight Huarache - the unwritten recipe for success.
The Huarache name wasn’t only synonymous amongst circles of sneaker collecting fandom, a statement made painstakingly obvious as we observe the level of historical influences Nike’s palette planners took on board, dressing 1991’s silhouette in elaborately planned colour schemes designed to demand attention.
Variations in green, shades of black and off-white tones attributed 1988-90’s ESCAPE collection, with ‘88’s Windrunner playing its part when designers drafted Stussy’s soon-to-be SMU - and of course, 2003’s very own Air Huarache ‘Escape’ namesake.
Nike tends to launch hybrids to aid the exploration of previously untapped markets, yet 2007’s Huarache trifecta may not be seen as so traditional. They pulled a second 1991 neoprene-ridden, heel-strap wearing silhouette from Tinker’s infinitely impressive and expanding portfolio - this time, lending a mid-height contribution from ACG’s rural Oregon branch. This version swapped mesh for perforated leather, going on to splash each panel in OG MOWABB colours thus displaying DNA from both sides of the fence. Many saw this gang as a final ‘Hua-rrah’ before dropping the silhouette in the short term.
Without a shadow of doubt, the Air Huarache’s impact on street and sports-CULTURE was that of biblical proportions - finding a middle-ground between basketball, running, going on to touch base with leisurewear and even tennis. Interpreting things differently, what impact did the CULTURE alone have on the success of this article footwear engineering? Well, MTV aired a Nike advert in 1992 focussing on purple lycra, USA World Champion sprinter Michael Johnson and the OG pair of Air Huarache ‘Purple Punch’.
Ayrton Senna, MC Serch and Mike Tyson were all photographed in their own pair of brightly coloured lycra-booties, as the technology became accessible to the masses.
Following Tom Hartge’s risky business that make 1991 so profitable, orders rocketed from sub-50 to beyond 250,000; furthermore, Tinker was quoted by Kahn, French and Corral in their 2017 hard-back ‘SNEAKERS’ announcing over four million sales during a single fiscal year on the market. His efforts made Hatfield’s idea float, where it naturally faded only to be brought back into the public eye early-2013 bearing a ‘What are you sayin. #huaracheAIR #STUSSY,’ Twitter caption. Global media welcomed Joey Essex to the stage as he wore Stussy’s millennium-curbing olive SMU during a photoshoot; aligning himself at the centre of Nike’s 2013 Huarache rebirth.
In other news, the SMU’s backstory is a thing of great fortune…
Simon Porter was in contact with Nike’s Jason Fulton asking specifically for ‘unique product’ to line shelves soon after opening Stussy’s FIRST London Chapter store. It just so happened that four QS were in the works; The Hideout took two Footscapes, whereas Simon nabbed Tinker’s neoprene model for himself in a duo of colourways.
Nobody discussed the pairing with Stussy’s US team due to its intended London store-only presence, eventually selling out through word-of-mouth alone.
By blowing Swoosh minds, Stussy gained access to a certain Dunk SB struggling to gain its market foothold.
Black and white mono, mesh-based pairs launched worldwide from 2014; THIS marked the point of no return as Tinker’s Huarache gathered a second wind, going forth with immeasurable force and inadvertently coasting that infamous runner’s high until fully customisable NikeID options were dropped at its feet mid-2015 .
Gary Warnett was one of the first to hint at its comeback in 2012, kickstarting a renaissance that size? later joined by draping the ‘Light-er’ version in MOWABB’s COA; beginning to line stomachs of starved collectors.
Now for a little something along the lines of Footpatrol’s origin story. Calling St Anne’s Court, Soho its first home in 2002, FP was a product of Nike approaching both Michael Kopelman and Simon Porter to open a premium sneaker store off the back of Stussy’s ‘00 SMU success.
Just over a decade later, Footpatrol launched their OWN Huarache singing to the tune of a mere 500 ‘Concrete’ units. Their team took on 1993’s LIGHT silhouette which unlike its heavier, original form saw a solo ‘Ultramarine’ colourway spanning small and larger sizes at time of release. With a heavy heart it didn’t mimic the height of popularity Footpatrol managed to harness, despite sharing an intricately sculpted tri-hole caging system and streamlined suede upper panelling.
Tales of origin encompassing Tinker’s Huarache and its tagline are now common knowledge - however, here’s a recap for those somewhat unfamiliar.
Tales change throughout time but facts remain the same; in this case, we have the late Sandy Bodecker to thank for sculpting Nike SB into the force it is today, as well as scribbling ‘Sneaker of the [Greek] Gods’ in response to Hatfield’s preliminary Huarache design. Inspired, he drew on the repeatedly remodelled ‘harrachi’ Mexican sandal when naming - a form of footwear that could fulfil any purpose whilst consistently fitting with modern trends.
Unfortunately, North America’s infamous sandal was merely a namesake as ‘Huarache’ became its production tag, and technical inspiration grew from an elaborate water-skiing bootie epiphany. He was impressed by the neoprene’s ability to stretch and mould its form dependent on each wearer’s dimensions, proceeding to bury the concept beneath a combination of structural exo-skeleton and lycra across early sketches. His idea to stretch above tarsals opposed to lateral metatarsal spread worked at a tangent from 1986’s elasticated Sock Racer forefoot - one of Bruce Kilgore’s creations.
Although Tinker introduced ‘flex-sole ridges’ to the Huarache’s tooling and left Avar to conclude the Flight’s outsole at a later date, coming years saw an uncontrollable spawning of hybrids forming beneath the model’s polymerised chloroprene umbrella - utilising details from both models in a way not dissimilar to the duo of designers’ own tandem efforts.
Andre Agassi is often overlooked for his contributions to the sneaker’s success, with an eye-catching signature Air Tech Challenge II in tow. Two of Hatfield’s silhouettes were united to initiate a concoction of ‘89 performance and ‘91’s lesson in technological finesse - birthing the Air Tech Challenge Huarache, allowing the sneaker to contend in a way it was not famed for. Of course, Agassi claimed his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon with this visible-air-bootie on court.
Nike‘s Huarache FREE 2012 QS capsule was composed of three ingredients - two cut-out basketball silhouettes in original colourways and a single, low-slung pavement beater clad in 1991’s ‘Emerald/Resin’ autumnal palette. FREE technology met retail shelves for the first time mid-2004, three years after Stanford University’s running team was seen cooling-down barefoot in line with a theory encouraging improved foot health; from this point, footwear designers tried to incorporate literally slicing soles into their practise.
2019’s Autumnal season was the lucky recipient of ‘Back to the Future-esque’ FitAdapt technology - forming a bridge over what was a previously untapped market incorporating smartphone applications, 1991’s heartbeat and a lot of fun. Everything else aside, wearers (or users in this case) could adjust ‘lace’ tightness with ease and skim a multitude of LED midsole colour options through an app-reliant sneaker feature.
So, each of these steps contributed towards 2021’s retro of 1991’s storymaker; a sneaker with enough history to pack a small novel and more iterations than your favourite games console. Its ‘dynamic-fit’ technology has, and will continue to push boundaries across industries far outside of lines deemed to be its comfort-zone. Tinker’s designs revolutionised our shelves, transforming all collections with early career prowess.
MORPRIME Industries™ x Footpatrol: Hua-story, The Impact
Morprime Industries™ and @footpatrol_ldn present: HUA-STORY, an inclusive round-up of the Nike Air Huarache and its thirty year history.
This concludes our journey, an elevation of stature inclusive of ALL sporting, leisure and personal occasions that honed in on the essential needs otherwise untapped, unchartered by external brands. No one was making the developments that Hatfield envisaged, no one; fittingly, our last stop is titled IMPACT.
Slowly scroll from slide-to-slide and fester in Swoosh accomplishments; absorb every last detail in hope of channelling the raw passion Tinker showed when dissolving minor details and finalising a sneaker that was decades ahead of competition.
Now for the rule breaker - which Hatfield silhouette had you hooked? And if no love is shown in his direction, who was your numero uno?
MORPRIME Industries™ x Footpatrol: Hua-story, The Culture
Morprime Industries™ and @footpatrol_ldn present: HUA-STORY, an inclusive round-up of the Nike Air Huarache and its thirty year history.
Our middle and otherwise penultimate stop on this shared journey of sneaker discovery, resides within the Air Huarache’s uncanny ability to engulf the fragile CULTURE of which it is a part of - equally, taking every necessary step towards ensuring they played a crucial role in sculpting accessible aspects of the same culture in return.
At which point did you buy a ticket and join the masses? Whose feet were they on? Let us know in the comments, below!
MORPRIME Industries™ x Footpatrol: Hua-story, The Legacy
Morprime Industries™ and @footpatrol_ldn present: HUA-STORY, an inclusive round-up of the Nike Air Huarache and its thirty year history.
We tapped into the four corners of Tinker’s neoprene-bootie influenced world, guided by no more than a Scream Green-brick road, press office stepping stones and carefully etched sketches that wouldn't look out of place sprawled across ancient cave-walls.
Our first leg in this trio of events, delves into an undeniable LEGACY that formed in the early years of product seeding, placement and generally combining some of Swoosh-world’s most incredible concepts into retail-worthy, bite-sized chunks.
Join us on our journey, stopping off at stations titled; 1991, ‘92, ‘03, ‘04 and 2007 - maybe, just maybe a nugget of information will catch your eye… let us know, below!
Piet's Parra-phernalia, produced for Friends'n'Family
It’s no secret that Dutch artist, Piet Parra, is far from a stranger when working with Oregon’s NIKE on highly sought after launch product; in fact, over our past three years of collecting there have been four ‘generally’ available pairs to leave production lines:
Nike Air Max 1 (2018)
Nike Air Zoom Spiridon (2018)
Nike Dunk SB (2019)
Nike Blazer Low SB (2019)
Of course, from the selection above we saw two FURTHER sets of ‘F&F’ capsules handed out in, well, Friends and Family proportions -- one being a teal suede Dunk SB and the other making its mark as a SWOOSHLESS Air Max 1. FORTUNATELY, we were lucky enough to be on the receiving end of Air Bubble goodness!
‘PARRA’ is embroidered atop the mudguard’s lateral, replacing our resident MINI SWOOSH detail.
An abundance of clouds now fill the vacant space left to operate on its own terms, with free-reign being given to a sky blue satin-cross-cord panel stealing all sense of limelight.
Which of @pietparra’s sneakers have you appreciated the MOST? Furthermore, which of them do you STASH from the outside world?
"These are [not] the sneakers you're looking for", a Mandalorian's Fett-ish
Adidas rebirthed its ZX-range in 2020, introducing an all-too-familiar sneaker-umbrella to an industry populated by relentless Dunk, Jordan 1 and Yeezy launches; in fact, they even delved into archives to revitalise their infinitely popular Star Wars collaborative pairing first OFFICIALLY seen in 2010.
One whole decade ago, Three-Stripes and our beloved Star Wars franchise were already launching products to win the galaxy over. We saw Darth Vader on multiple occasions, Yoda’s moccasin, both Skywalker twins and a quartet of intergalactic space crafts; all of which were absorbed with minimum effort by their designated silhouette counterpart.
A factor that set adidas’ first Boba Fett tribute apart from those mentioned above, was the tauntaun-proportioned leap from an unofficially coined nickname emblazoned across Oregon’s Swoosh Dunk High SB to an official ZX800 sporting Boba’s Mandalorian logos on each heel.
Material-wise, we saw a contrast of leather and suede balanced out with heavy lateral canvas - as is clear to see, every panel could be traced back to its residing home within Fett’s bounty hunter armour and in-turn removing all possibility of confusion between green and blue shades the Mandalore’s family duo donned so recognisably.
Now onto 2020, where we celebrated a ten year partnership in tandem with 40 years of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK in tow; this time, Boba took form as adidas’ ‘Top Ten Hi’ model. Once more, we were presented with details a plenty starting with that infamously blaster bolt blemished beskar alloy Mandalorian Armour. Remember all of those Star Wars easter eggs that slowly spread through word of mouth back in the day? Well, open the Top Ten’s battle pouch to reveal; “You can run, but you’ll only die tired”.
FNF SNS: Abbreviations and Forums
Our Swedish family at @sneakersnstuff are at it again, sinking another free-throw off the back of their sunshine orange NEW BALANCE 920 ‘Sports World’ sent our way earlier this year. This time around, they produced a limited run of 300 ‘FRIENDS and FAMILY’ Adidas Forum 84 donning some of the THICKEST, BEST QUALITY leather we’ve had the pleasure of re-lacing - in fact, even that caused us problems!
This continues adidas Originals’ Forum revival of months gone by, inviting loyal retailers to have their way with this on-court CLASSIC.
So, we hear you ask - how THICK and LUXURIOUS is this leather? We could answer your question by diverting attention in the direction of a MAGNIFICENTLY elegant title adorning the collection’s gates; ‘La Collection Mercure’, some of @Peter_SNS and @ErikFagerlind’s finest work.
Swipe along to learn a little more about Sneakers’N’Stuff’s process of elimination, when ensuring their capsules up-hold the exemplary sold-out status of recent history.
Thank you to the team!
What does it take to make the SNS cut?
Berlin's rave scene, presented as a Visi-bubble of Air
With every great launch comes a BACKSTORY with more than a touch of HERITAGE; the sneaker will cross paths with someone, somewhere and their untapped cravings will be satisfied faster than you can say AIR MAX 180 ‘BERLIN’. Well, we’ll have to revise that one at a later point…
Anyway, this is exactly as above -- an article of footwear encapsulating the techno-dance scene that ensued a uniting of Germany following Berlin wall’s late-’80’s toppling, a celebration of harmony from 1990 onwards.
Coincidentally, Nike’s Air Max 180 silhouette was born in 1991 just as this neon-ridden audio landscape SWEPT a city deeply rooted within the Dutch experience. Synonymously intense luminous accents are splashed from toe to heel, leaving ample negative space for mnemonic BRUTALIST architecture themes slipping between the cracks in the form of grey tones and sharp edges.
This joint effort from both Bruce Kilgore and Tinker Hatfield ultimately REVOLUTIONISED the way we viewed visible air, it was an experiment based on ‘blow-moulding’ advances thus allowing 180 degrees of transparent air bubble exposure.
What’s your favourite sneaker backstory? Or, scrapping that which story would you like a brand to explore next?