Air Jordans in 2014

Love or hate what they've done to the sneaker game, you can't deny the mass appeal that retro Jordans have. And given what's been going around the net, the popularity of the Air Jordan line will only continue to grow in 2014.

Early next year marks the return of the Air Jordan 6. It's a favorite among many collectors as it was the shoe MJ won his first NBA championship in. And with 2014 being its 23rd anniversary, we can expect a good amount of classic and original colorways to release. I don't mess with every pair of Jays that come out, but #6 is one I've been eyeing for a while. Its design cues have directly influenced a good amount of modern sneakers (see Supra Skytop 2). And what's not to love about a shoe that both Kanye West and Hanamichi Sakuragi rocked, right?

Image from http://bit.ly/1fUZiL9

While retro Jordan colorways are always welcomed by sneakerheads, new ones are pretty hit and miss. There was certainly a lot of hype last year for shoes like the Green Glow 4s and Gamma Blue 11s, but so far, what's been shown online has been pretty underwhelming. Take the black cement colorway for the Air Jordan 3 shown above which shows hints of sport blue. The change-up is something I find totally unnecessary given how strong the original black cements are. There's also an all-red Air Jordan 6, which feels like a Nike copout given the state of Limbo the Red October Yeezy 2s are in.

The only new colorway I'd wear so far are these Air Jordan 9s with a colorway inspired by the Birmingham Barons, just because they're a clean look.

And while we're at it, we all know that Black Friday and the Christmas season is a time for serious Jordan heat to drop. This year saw the return of the Taxis 12s and Bred 1s in their OG form alongside strong new colorways like the Oreo 5s. While nothing's set for the 2014 holiday season, all I want to see released come Christmas season are the Columbia 11s! I'm sure I'm not the only one waiting on those to return.

And on that note, a Bred 12 in its original makeup would make both me and my girlfriend Dylan very very happy. Jordan Brand hear me out and make it a Black Friday release or something!

What Jays would you like to see drop in 2014? Are you looking to cop any of the 6s like I am? Let me know!

Big in 2014: Flyknit.

Now that the holidays shoe releases are over and done, it's time to regroup (assess finances) and look ahead to what 2014 holds when it comes to sneakers. 

One thing I've been particularly interested in is how Nike plans to use their Flyknit material, which I'm a big fan of. Honestly, they could keep pumping out colorways of their existing models and people would still cop them. But we all know it wouldn't be Nike's if they didn't at least try to come up with something new. 

Below are two examples of new models integrating Nike Flyknit technology that could be the tip of the iceberg of what I'm thinking is a big year not only for Nike, but for the sneaker game itself. Other shoe companies should consider this a warning. Time to step up, both literally and figuratively. 

Nike Air Max Flyknit 

Pair a lightweight, breathable upper with a comfy yet supportive sole, and you've got a winner in my book. I can't say much about either the Flyknit or the Air Max models in terms of running, but I can definitely picture myself wearing these on days where a lot of walking is a sure thing. Good looks for keeping the look close to the original Lunar Flyknit silhouette, too. My only concern would be the structural integrity of the full-length air unit. Given time, once that thing crumbles, it won't be pretty.   

Nike Kobe 9 Elite

If you trace the history of Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike, you'll find that certain shoes really shook the world of basketball sneakers up. When the Kobe 4 dropped, it suddenly became alright for basketball shoes to be low-cut and not lack in terms of ankle support. Now the Kobe 9 looks to change the game again by not only going back to a high cut, but also by being the first basketball shoe to feature Flyknit technology. What interests me the most is how the material affects the wearer's range of motion. It's supposed to fit like a sock and feel like playing in a low top. I'm no Kobe, but once I get a pair, I'll definitely test them out on the court and write up a review. The only thing that worries me is the crossover appeal. They look pretty tough to pull off casually. 

Heading into the new year, expect to see some more prediction posts! I hope you're all enjoying the holidays! 

Ranking The Kobe Prelude Pack.

To celebrate the impending release of Kobe Bryant's newest signature sneaker, Nike recently started releasing the Kobe Prelude Pack, all of Kobe's previous 8 shoes released under the swoosh banner done up in colorways commemorating important moments of the Black Mamba's career.

When it was announced about a week back, I was losing my shit figuring out how to scrape together the dough to pick up each pair. And since reseller prices haven't been very kind, barring any miracles, I might have to let the pack slide, as much as it hurts.

The concept of the whole pack is beautiful. With the vast mix of art styles, each shoe is as much at home either in a museum or on the hardwood. Though strong collectively, some shoes have to look better than others. And with that in mind, here's how I ranked the entire pack.

8th - Kobe 3 Prelude 

I'll be honest and say that I wasn't a fan of the Kobe 3 to begin with. Designed to reflect the fury of losing to the Celtics in the finals, the abstract fresco touch may be nice, but it doesn't take away from how aesthetically displeasing the shoe is in general.

7th - Kobe Prelude VIII

Representative of the time Kobe spent off the court during his injury-shortened season. I like the upper, but the multicolored outsole just doesn't work for me.

6th - Kobe Prelude VII 

Sporting a cubist look into what it's like to play for  Olympic Gold, I just wish the gold colorway took more precedence. He was part of winning teams after all.

5th - Kobe Prelude I

The surreal art style is a nod to Kobe's phenomenal 81 point scoring performance in a game against the Toronto Raptors. Really nice mix with the snakeskin upper, but if the art carried over to the inner lining and footbed, that would have taken the one a couple of spots higher on this list.

4th - Kobe Prelude II

Taking from both the renaissance and the period where Kobe started showing off a refined jumper, the marble print sets this shoe off pretty well. Really digging that gold swoosh too. Probably the safest design out of the whole pack, if you ask me.

3rd - Kobe Prelude VI

Inspired by the walls of Venice Beach as well as Kobe's All-Star MVP turn on his home court, this shoe is LOUD. The details that went into the upper are things I wanna see up close, but his one might just be a little too loud for me to really work into a constant rotation. Yes, I actually wear my sneakers.

2nd - Kobe Prelude IV

Kobe's 4th NBA championship ring was won in the Kobe IV, and this tribute to American expressionism proclaims the glory of that year in a rather loud way. Had the text not been there, this would have been number 1.

1st - Kobe Prelude V

I can't think of a better way to interpret just how sweet this Kobe moment was. Revenge over the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the finals was a bold move that deserves an equally bold shoe. Great pop art cues without going over the top. Easily my favorite shoe out of the entire pack.

How would you rank them? Feel free to let me know in the comments section!

Nike Basketball 2013 Christmas Pack.

We're just a couple of days removed from the release of the Taxi 12 retros yet the holiday heat that's yet to be released just keeps on piling up. Featured today is the latest set of Christmas themed releases from all three signature athletes of Nike's Basketball line, namely Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant.

Nike Lebron 11 
I highly doubt Christmas in Miami is a snowy affair, but that snowflake print mixes really well with the chilly mint colorway and the bright red swoosh. Too bad Lebron won't be wearing these on court though.

KD VI

Predominantly Christmas red with accents of gold and mint green set off KD's latest signature sneaker in a festive way. The exterior may be eye-catching and all, but my favorite detail about it has got to be the subtle Christmas plaid inner lining.

Kobe 8 System

The bold design in itself is something that warrants a closer look. The spikes that aggressively jut out of the shoe don't remind me of snowflakes or shedding skin if that's what Nike wants to say. Instead, they look like icicles, representative of really cold winters and Kobe's on-court temperament. Not a bad way to make way for the coming of the Kobe 9.

As much as I'm biased to say Kobe's sneaker wins it by a mile, the entire pack doesn't have any weak shoes if you ask me! Pick up a pair or 3 when they drop in Titan, Nike, and Toby's shops in limited numbers on December 26!

Beep Beep.

The holiday season is always a cause for celebration for most people. But for sneakerheads, it's a vacuum of Christmas bonuses and time that should have been spent with their loved ones. I don't know who got the bright idea to get sneaker brands to release so much heat over the course of December, but it's been working, as seen by the hundreds of people who line up at sneaker stores over the world.

Image from http://bit.ly/1fbftUh

I for one do not intend to join the Christmas sneaker rush because primarily because I fear for my life, and Christmas shopping for gifts is a different kind of spectacle on its own. I will acknowledge though that out of everything that's dropping this month, all I want are the Air Jordan "Taxi" 12s.

Image from http://bit.ly/1fphcpA

Jordan heads will rejoice at the return of this classic colorway, last seen packaged with the Bred 11s in 2008. The 12 is one of my favorite Jordans because me and my dad had pairs a few years back. Magnificent color blocking, the mix of leathers, and the gold eyelets really make the "Taxis" a subtle head turner. I can only hope the quality of these is at least close to the originals! 

Look for these to be available at Titan and other Nike shops tomorrow for P8195. And for anyone looking to cop the other Jordans releasing this month, may the force be with you. 

The Ugliest Sneaker of 2013.

2013 isn't done yet, but it's been a year that saw tons of solid sneaker releases across a whole lot of brands. Many have been straight-up fire, while some rode on the hype wave to conceal how lackluster or downright hideous they really were. Out of all the kicks that I think fell in the latter category, it wasn't too difficult to pick out what I think is The Ugliest Sneaker of 2013 - The Nike "Thermal Map" Foamposites.

Image from http://bit.ly/1bw3f7O

I've never owned a pair of foams, but I've been a fan of its simpler renditions. If I had the means, I would have picked up a pair of the eggplant, royal, or copper ones. I don't know if designers think that putting crazy prints on foams would consistently make them sought after items, but every since the hype for them got out of control, that's all I've been seeing.

Image from http://bit.ly/1bw3PT5

Sure, I'll concede that there are a few printed foams that I wouldn't mind copping, but these are just hideous. No offense to foam heads, but I wouldn't want to wear a print on my feet that looks like stains from a girl's time of the month. They're not too far detached from the "Weatherman" foams that released as well, which aren't as ugly, but still pretty bad looking to me. If you ask me, that whole weatherman theme should have stayed with KD's line, and even his shoe kept it way simple!

Fingers crossed for a return to simpler designs in 2014!

Like Lightning.

Photo via Nice Kicks

Though Street Fighter the movie was pretty horrible, but somewhere amidst that clusterfuck of a story was a Raul Julia monologue so gloriously over the top I'll never forget it. He spoked of gods and coming down like lightning only to get the bejesus kicked out of him by Jean Claude Van Damme.

Speaking of gods, lightning, kicks, and ugly-beautiful things, on December 5, Titan finally brings the thunder down south! Now normally, I'd be losing my shit to this news, but there's a part of me that's worried of having a Titan store that's a short drive from my house.


And to sweeten the deal, they're making the Nike "What The Kobe 8" available via lottery. Much like what the Street Fighter movie did to its namesake franchise, the What The Kobe 8 takes familiar things and puts them all together into some ugly but strangely compelling creation.They're obnoxious as hell, and yet I still catch myself wanting a pair. Y U DO THIS, TITAN!? WHY!?

Get on Twitter to vie for a lottery slot, and if you're from the south, or just happen to be in the area on a Thursday, swing by the happening at the Molito Commercial Center this Thursday! Doors open at 3pm.

Break out the Milk.

Image via Hypebeast

After what's been months of teased samples, Jordan Brand is finally releasing the "Oreo" Air Jordan 5, on Black Friday, no less. A quick Google of both "Black Friday" and "sneakers" will yield you a whole lot of results that point out to this "holiday" being a pretty big deal over in Americuhh. It's also where a lot of people get hurt over some shoes. So, here's to hoping that doesn't start happening over in these shores.

I'm not the biggest fan of the Air Jordan 5, but this monochromatic look is straight up dope. The contrasted inner lining and the speckled "shark's teeth" details really set off the shoe better than a loud colorway ever could. Pretty neat exercise in restraint, if you ask me.

So if you're looking to get in on the Black Friday action, try your luck at all Titan 22 shops, and their webstore if there isn't one near you.

Retail is at P8195, so better act fast before you have to deal with resellers!

Flashing Lights

If you're a serious sneaker collector, you've had to hear DJ Clark Kent's name at one point. Or at least see it in some entry in your favorite sneaker blog when you were too caught up with those Red October Yeezy 2s.

Photos from http://bit.ly/1iMZgrf

Lights off.

Well to cut things short, DJ Clark Kent is huge in the sneaker game. He's up there with guys with Ronnie Fieg and Jeff Staple in the conversation of dudes who put out heat every time they collaborate with a sneaker brand.

Constantly featuring 3M material, elephant print and neon accents, every release in Kent's "112" series is always something to look for. And continuing that tradition are 3 new Nikes done up in collaboration with California streetwear and skate apparel retailer Primitive.

Lights on.

While the P-Rod Hyperfuse Max and the P-Rod 7 aren't slouches in both the performance and design aspects of the game, my favorite has got to be the premium SB Dunk low. Not only is it the first SB Dunk in the "112" line, the mix of materials just works. Eye-catching as hell, and it'll be available on November 29th at COG Centris starting at 11am!

Price - PHP 5495
Size Range - 6-12 (including half sizes)

Gods Among Us.

For a while, I used to seriously collect vinyl toys. For one, they were pretty awesome, and opened me up to work from a whole lot of amazing artists. I don't pick up toys as much as I used to before, but every now and then comes one that's seriously hard to pass up. 

Forged by lightning and jet fire, Titan 22 is finally unleashing Premytheus on the world. And like the kicks that Titan regularly stocks, it's just straight heat. Cast in resin, hand-painted, and limited to 200 pieces, Premytheus will be available on 6PM, Thursday, November 29 at Titan Two Parkade for P2500. Not a bad price at all to keep a God on display or near your stack of shoes so no one gets any smart ideas.

***

Pre-orders will start tomorrow at all Titan shops, with a P1000 reservation fee. 

Get a head start on the holiday weight gain.

It's inevitable. The holidays are fast approaching. You go to Christmas party after Christmas party. You eat, you drink, and you have a great time. Well, at least what you can remember, anyway.

You can't pass up on days worth of home-cooked meals because it's a welcome break from your yuppie diet. Christmas comes on, NewYear's Eve rolls along, and suddenly it's a new year and you're anywhere from 5 to 20 pounds overweight.

It happens. The stuff you got for Christmas suddenly doesn't fit. So you make some bogus resolution to commit to an active, healthy lifestyle and become one of the hundreds of people who crowd the gyms in the first few months of the year.

I'm here to tell you that holiday weight gain isn't a bad thing. It's like a course of nature in the strange, whacked out sense that it's just bound to happen. All I'm trying to say is, if you're going to gain weight anyway, you might as well pack on the pounds way before the holiday season kicks in.

One good way to get started is with "El Sur", opening this Saturday at the Alabang Town Center! Brought to you by the same organizers of Mercato Centrale over in Bonifacio Global City, expect a good variety of food to stuff your face to your heart's content. I can only hope I end up trying food out from some concessionaires not seen in Mercato BGC though. 

So if you're in the south looking for some new food choices this weekend, check this place out and tell whoever's planning on getting you clothes as gifts to size up accordingly.

Street Cred.

Streetwear's been on the up and up internationally for some time now. To say that's it's blowing up is a huge understatement. Chances are, even a person without even the vaguest idea of the culture has heard of A Bathing Ape, Stussy, or Supreme.

It isn't just the internationals that are making waves in this part of the world. There's tons of notable brands in the local scene that continue to push the game forward and leave their own marks on streetwear culture. If you want to get a crash course in what the local scene is all about, and maybe cop some new threads too, head to the Samsung Hall at SM Aura Premier this Saturday for Platform's Next Movement!

Platform 360 PH on Twitter

Platform Show on Facebook

Yes, fashion can save the world.

Given the scope of the damage left by Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda, it's pretty admirable to see so many people sharing their individual talents and skill sets to come up with ways to help out those who were directly affected. I've seen businesses, artists, and lots of people in between roll up their sleeves (both literally and figuratively) and help out with relief. A clear sign that the good old spirit of bayanihan is alive and kicking in these parts.

The latest effort I'm sharing with you today comes from the world of fashion. In the wake of such disasters to affect a certain area, a lot of clothing gets donated. The thing is, not all clothes are seen to be appropriate for everyday use, especially for people who just got through a natural disaster. Fortunately, the Philippine Red Cross found a way to put those clothes to good use, through a pretty neat fundraiser called Aid Couture.

Old clothes previously donated will be washed, styled, and sold to the public, and proceeds raised from the sales will go towards getting vital supplies for the typhoon victims.

A whole lot of clothes will be up for grabs! Think about it like going thrift-shopping for a totally noble cause. So if you're in the mood to shop this weekend, head out to Alabang Town Center on November 16 and 17!

Check out the video HERE

for more details, visit http://www.aid-couture.ph/

Keep It Simple, Stupid.

I (try to) make a living as an advertising copywriter. And in the couple of years since I started out, I've heard the phrase "keep it simple" more times than I can even remember. You'd think it'd be pretty easy to do, but for someone who counts dudes like Jack Kerouac as his favorite writers, it can get pretty tough to shake off a love of really going into detail when it comes to talking about things.

All Photos from the Sole Academy Facebook Page

Air Max 1 SP - P5295

Air Trainer 1 Mid SP - P6295

Nike Air Force 1 Low SP - P5295

Take for example, me talking about these shoes dropping this Saturday at Sole Academy. I could mention that the Nike Monotones Pack keeps it simple, but hardly boring. Composed of an Air Max 1, Air Force 1 Low, and an Air Trainer 1 Mid, each shoe is done up in 1 color but executed in different styles. You'll see some speckles, and a carbon fiber-like woven pattern up in the toebox area. Despite the different styles, the use of a single color all throughout each shoe keeps them subdued and capable of being worn with a plethora of different clothes. If you were looking for a new pair of beaters you wouldn't get tired to looking at, any of these would make a great choice. Pick up a pair or three at Sole Academy (11 AM Katipunan/10 AM Alabang). 

But in the spirit of keeping things simple, I'll try to do just that. 

New Nikes. This Saturday. Sole Academy. Get 'em.  

Send Help 2 Typhoon Yolanda Victims.

Again, you don't need me to tell you how bad the effects of Typhoon Yolanda have been. Instead, if you're up to helping out, here's another way you can do so while scoring some fresh kicks in the process.

We Legendary just got in their new delivery of Nike SBs. And in a rather apt matter of coincidence, the new "Send Help" SB Dunks were included. Designed once again in collaboration with artist/illustrator Todd Bratrud, these dunks feature a simple colorway complemented by purple cement print and neon green outsoles.

Image from http://bit.ly/HQcIfS

Image from http://bit.ly/1aDwOAo

A portion of the total sales of the "Send Help 2" Dunks will be donated by We Legendary to NikeTalk.com to aid their relief efforts towards those affected by the typhoon. So if you're one of those SB heads who have been eagerly waiting for these to drop, now's your chance. And if other pairs catch your fancy as well, click the link below for a complete listing of what's dropping TODAY at We Legendary Ronac, Taft, and Kamuning.  

What's Dropping. 

Dine For A Cause at Yabu.

You don't need me to tell you just how bad Typhoon Yolanda made herself known to The Philippines. There's a lot of ways to help get things back up and running in the south, and I'm here to share with you one where all you have to do is eat.

For one day, all Yabu branches are donating 100% of their profits towards those affected by Typhoon Yolanda. Forget about those abs for a minute and bring a hearty appetite for katsu to your favorite Yabu branch on Wednesday, November 13, 2013.

Yabu Branches:

SM Megamall

SM Mall of Asia

SM Aura Premier

SM North Edsa

SM Southmall

Robinson's Magnolia

Alabang Town Center

Exercises in Deconstruction.

Back when I was in college, it was a requirement to take up 12 units of Philosophy. Now I don't remember much, but one of the things I do was deconstruction - finding contradictions in things by delving below what we take at face value. What does this all mean? I don't know. I was just lucky to have graduated, and I thought it'd be a pretty oddball segue into talking about these new Vans drops at Sole Academy.

All photos from the Sole Academy Facebook Page. 

You don't need to be a philosopher to appreciate just how badass these Vans Authentic Decon CA's are. When you keep things simple, it's pretty hard to mess up the design on an Authentic. That's when they become timeless and enables them to seamlessly work themselves into pretty much anybody's personal style. These decons do just that. No-frills design, just premium pig suede uppers in toned down colors mixed in with clean white midsoles, eyelets, and laces. Leather interior lining and the trademark Vans Waffle Soles done up in contrasting colors round out the details.

Bright colors found literally below subdued exteriors? That's a contradiction! So maybe I did know a little more about deconstruction than I thought I did.

Pick up a pair at Sole Academy Katipunan for P3698.

Neighborhood Watch.

Looking to cop some new threads or maybe a fresh pair of kicks? In the mood to try out some new food? Well, if you've got nothing to do on a Friday, the folks at Manila Pop Up are coming back in a big way! Tomorrow, they'll be taking you to The Neighborhood, a melting pot of fashion, food, art, and music all housed under one roof!

Even the name of the event is pretty on-point. It isn't just one of those run-of-the-mill Christmas bazaars where you see pretty much the same shit. Diversity is the name of the game here, where people of different interests, styles, and ways of life come together. Just like a neighborhood block party. Check out the full list below to find out just who's going to be part of tomorrow's event!

Pretty stacked! I've got a number of old favorites that are always worth checking out alongside a good list of new brands, food joints, and establishments that I've been curious about for a while now. Overall, it's looking to be mighty promising and well worth the P250 ticket price. Hopefully the weather cooperates and gives everyone a safe and dry tour of the neighborhood tomorrow at the Rockwell Tent!

But since we're expecting rain anyway, I just had to end with this video. It's been out for a while, but it never gets old.

Manila Pop Up on Facebook and Twitter.

The Educational Value of Playing Assassin's Creed.

Did you guys ever play any of the Assassin's Creed games? You know, those ones set in different periods in history featuring characters equally skilled in parkour and killing dudes? No? Well, in one arc of the series, Leonardo Da Vinci was a character. He'd upgrade your weapons and invent things like flying machines to aid Ezio Auditore (The main guy in the Italy arc. Yup, I'm a geek.) in his quest for retribution.

I bring this stuff up because Ezio Auditore was a wicked video game character, and the closest I'll ever come to being like him (murder is still a crime, after all.) was when my girlfriend Dylan took me to the "Da Vinci -The Genius" traveling exhibit currently on display at The Mind Museum.

To spare you from a massive geekout over anything and everything I saw, I'll say that after going around and checking out the whole thing, there's irrefutable proof that people back during the times of Da Vinci had it better. In the couple of hours you'll spend checking out Da Vinci's contributions to art, architecture, science, and menswear (check out the scuba suit), you'd have to think that Da Vinci had some serious free time to think up all the stuff he did! Then again, maybe I'm just ranting because there's work again tomorrow and whatever time I could use to think up some radical, groundbreaking invention will most likely go to creating taglines and name studies for brands.

Overall, "Da Vinci - The Genius" is definitely worth the P250 price of admission if you like history (or at least Assassin's Creed) or just want to find a new way to kill a couple of hours. Check out the pictures below to get a look at the some of the things you're bound to see when you get inside. There's interactive displays, a show to check out, and some cool souvenirs too! Do hurry though, because the exhibit's only running up until the end of the month!

Pyrex Vision

574s on. 

Da Vinci's Ideal City. 

Replicas of Old Notebooks.

TAAAAANK!!

Dylan in the room of mirrors.

Ezio's flying machine! 

For more info on The Mind Museum's ticket rates, click HERE!