The Titan 22 Chinese New Year Sale

If you thought you were going to make it out of January without copping anything, this might change things for you.

Titan 22 is having a special sale to ring in Chinese New Year! Starting today until tomorrow, January 31, 2014, most items offered in all Titan shops will be offered at 22% off. If you passed on a pair you wanted dropped this month or earlier, well you just might be able to get them below retail! I'm not Chinese, but I'll welcome an opportunity to save some money when I can.

Head on out to your nearest Titan 22 store and check out what's in stock! Advanced Happy Chinese New Year!

Mita Sneakers x SBTG x New Balance MRT580SM

Photo from http://bit.ly/1fZC7n2

Almost a month into a year that I've been projecting as a big one for runners and already we've got a pretty sick three-way collab dropping on our shores! Japanese retailer Mita Sneakers teams up with Singaporean artist Mark Ong (aka SBTG) to hash out this awesome looking 580.

Photo from http://bit.ly/1imJN2M

Majority of the shoe is decked out in black nubuck with hits of bright green and SBTG's Vine and Tiger Stripe camo patterns strewn across the tongue and ankle collar. Personally, I really like how downplayed the camo is. In a world where mediocre, lazy design passes off as sneaker dopeness, the use of restraint with the pattern is much appreciated. It doesn't scream at you should you manage to see someone in them on the opposite side of a street, but you'll find yourself taking a closer look when you get nearer.

I also don't think I have to say a lot about how crazy good the insoles look!

Photo from http://bit.ly/KGeUaS

Sole Academy is dropping a limited number of these on Saturday, January 25! To cop them, a raffle system will be in place. The mechanics of which are listed below.

Raffle & Stub Mechanics:
1 raffle stub - OPEN FOR ALL who show up during release day (1 person = 1 stub)
2 raffle stubs - If you are an Academy Member - just present your card on release day 
3 raffle stubs - for any purchase of NB shoes from our stores starting tom (Wed) - Just present your Original Receipt on release day to get your 3 stubs 

***Cut-off for dropping of stubs is at 12nn this Sat / Bring at least one valid ID / You can only participate in the raffle if you are wearing NB on your feet...NO NB, NO CHANCE.

Sizes Available: 

Sizes: 8/2, 8.5/1, 9/2, 9.5/2, 10/1, 11/2, 12/1 (11 pairs total)

Lucky raffle winners will get to cop them at a price of P8095! Good luck!  

The Jordan Future

All Photos taken from Complex

I was surprised seeing this pop up on sneaker blogs I routinely check on my morning net troll. Named the Jordan Future, this shoe certainly looks to take both literal and figurative steps in a new direction for Jordan Brand's lifestyle offerings.

On-Court Components, Off-Court Style. 

Not counting the retros, Jordan models designed for off-court use have been generally underwhelming in recent times. Now while this isn't an entirely new shoe, I'm definitely interested to see where the folks at JB take this concept. I say this because most sneakerheads will easily point out the use of the iconic Air Jordan 11's underpinnings. And resting on top of those components is a woven upper that employs off-center lacing, very reminiscent of Nike's Inneva and Footscape models. The craftsmanship alone is something that warrants a closer look. And with 3M threads mixed into the weave, the Jordan Future has all the makings to be a subtle head turner.

The colorway shown in the pictures isn't anything memorable, but should a "Bred" makeup surface, I'm sure that's bound to get a few more tongues wagging and a lot more folks eager to cop this simple play on the past and future of Jordan Brand.

Look for the Jordan Future to drop on March 1.

Sneaker Trends to Pay Attention to in 2014

We're not even a full month into 2014 yet, but already certain types of sneakers are building huge buzz. Retro models are still going to be strong, but chances are, you're gonna be seeing more than just Nikes and Air Jordans on people's feet this year. So with that in mind, here's a brief look into some types of sneakers you should try looking into in 2014.

Retro Runners

The New Balance "Barber Shop" Pack. Expected to drop in Spring.

Retro running shoes have enjoyed a cult following in recent years, but I'm expecting more widespread attention directed towards this sneaker niche in 2014 thanks to a host of strong releases last year and the consistent heat offered by guys like Ronnie Fieg. As a matter of fact, I know some people who have declared they were swearing off Jordans to really pursue collecting runners instead. I don't know if they're really gonna follow through, but that's a pretty strong testament towards how collection-worthy runners are now. It doesn't hurt that they're much easier to wear in a casual setting than most basketball shoes, especially with pin-rolled denim or "joggers"coming from brands like Publish and Kith.

The "Fiery Red" Asics Gel Lyte V - not an original colorway, but a good look nonetheless.

Expect New Balance and Asics to be leaders of this category with a number of strong releases looking to drop within the year. Adidas releases will also be worth paying attention to, while I hope this growing interest in retro runners spurs brands like Puma and Saucony to dig deeper into their archives and drop some more heat on local shores. I don't really have to say a lot about Nike in this segment, because really, when is Nike never not relevant?

Tennis 

Aside from runners, heritage tennis shoes are going to be big this year too. No other model is going to have a bigger year than the Adidas Stan Smith. The original white and green version has already re-released locally, with a lot of strong colorways poised to follow. Personally, the all-black version is the strongest one so far, even with a slew of more limited releases set to drop this year. Hopefully, the Stan Smith serves as the tipping point for Adidas to re-release some of their other classic tennis shoes this year like the Nastase. Now that was a killer model.

Hot Lava. Hopefully a Sole Academy release? 

Looking to provide some stiff competition is Nike's re-release of the Air Tech Challenge II, an iconic sneaker once worn by the great Andre Agassi. I followed tennis early on just because of Andre Agassi when I was young, and I figured if I couldn't play like him, I could at least grow my hair and wear his shoes. Another blog that expressed excitement over the shoe's re-release called the Air Tech Challenge II the Air Jordans of prep school kids with hyphens in their last names. I couldn't have said it any better myself. Now if brands like Reebok could bring back the Michael Chang Pumps, we'd have a free for all!

There's a lot of other shoes that will be building buzz as the year goes on. Check back soon for more reports!

Adidas Releases Worth Copping in 2014.

Even if Kanye West's forthcoming Adidas line didn't release this year, 2014 is looking good in terms of sneakers coming from the Three Stripes. Now, if only most of the heat manages to find its way to local stores.

As a consumer, I can't help but get a little let down when you find out a brand doesn't carry the things you like. It all started sometime last year with the re-release of the Mutombos. I walked into an Adidas store and asked some of the staff if they would be carrying them in any of the colorways. I wasn't too disappointed when I heard that they wouldn't, but I was slightly elated hearing that they would be carrying the Crazy 97 - those shoes Kobe Bryant won the 1997 NBA Slam Dunk Contest in. 

Photo from http://bit.ly/1cUTYHW

It's been months since then, and I still haven't seen any colorway of the Crazy 97s on shelves beside all the DRose sneakers they carry. As selfish as it might be to say that I need them to complete my Kobe collection, there's lots of other heads out there that let nostalgia factor in their buying habits. It's not hard to see, especially when old Jordans come back out. And as much as chasing after coveted sneakers is mythologized in this culture, it still gets frustrating knowing that picking up a pair of shoes is made harder than it should be. 

Hopefully times change in 2014 because there's a slew of Crazy 8s and Crazy 1s set to release this year! 

Adidas Crazy 8 "All-Star". Photo from http://bit.ly/KygfBd

The Adidas Crazy 1 "Sunshine". Technically re-released last year, but it would be nice to see these in local stores. Just sayin'.

I don't want to get my hopes up for the two pictured above but I'd like to think there's a good chance of Adidas at least serving up the Stan Smith. In a time before Flyknits became the shoe both sneakerheads and menswear bros liked in equal measure, there was the Stan Smith. It's sleek, minimal, and I'm glad it's coming back hard this year. 

Photo from http://bit.ly/1bMvj3I

Any other Adidas models that you're looking to scoop this year? Feel free to let me know! 

    

Nike Kobe 8 "Year Of The Horse"

Photo via Hypebeast

To say that Kobe Bryant has a huge following in China is an understatement, and Nike knows it. Seriously, the dude's mere presence has been proven to reduce men to tears. So it makes perfect sense for Nike to drop his signatures done up in colorways commemorating Chinese New Year.

I had been following the release info of the shoe since the design hit the net. And with the Year of The Horse being my Chinese astrological sign, I knew I had to pick up a pair, and boy they did not disappoint.

Majority of the Engineered Mesh upper sports a light crimson hue, with a few portions done up in a deeper red. The latter can also be seen on the speckle detailing of the midsoles. The red hues are complemented by vivid blue accents on both the outsole and inner lining. And tying up the colorway are welcome bits of bright citron which really make the laces and swoosh pop even amidst the mix of reds.

In keeping with the Year of The Horse theme, both swoosh logos have been made to look like horse hair. It only sort of feels like it, but it's nonetheless a detail collectors can really appreciate up close.

Here's a top shot that shows the box and a peek at the bright crimson drop-in Lunarlon insole. I have seen that most fake Kobe 8s sport Nike Elite Series branding on the insoles. Dead giveaway. Unless it's an Elite model, plain Lunarlon should come standard on your pair without any dominant branding except for the Kobe icon.

I've only tried this pair on, but for the benefit of people who have yet to pick up a pair, I can confidently say that the on-foot feel of the Kobe 8 is nothing short of amazing. The density of the insole's material does a fine job of straddling between spongey comfort and stable support for both on-court and casual use.

Whether you're a fan of Kobe or not, it's pretty easy to appreciate even the little things that round out this shoe's design, from the speckled laces all the way down to the special horse icon at the back of the tongue. It still has everything I've come to love about the Kobe 8's performance and crossover appeal, and this colorway along with the 2013 Christmas editions are fitting last salvos of this silhouette before the Kobe 9 hits stores next month.

If you're feeling like scooping a pair up, better do so before these horses gallop out of stores entirely. As of this writing, select Nike Stadium stores like ATC, Shangri-La Mall, and MOA have them in stock and are selling them in limited quantities for P8195. No word yet on whether Titan will be carrying this release, but I'll update this post once I hear of anything.

I hope you found my little review helpful. And since it's 2014, expect some changes to come in the way I'll be doing reviews and live looks!

UPDATE: All Titan shops will be carrying the Kobe 8 Year of The Horse starting tomorrow, Jan 8. Webstore release will happen at midnight. 

More Reebok Classics, Please.

The Reebok Shaqnosis. Unforgettable.

While many sneakerheads in the Philippines were going crazy over Nikes and Jordans in 2013, Reebok quietly pumped out a good selection of heat. While Reeboks are among the shoes favored by the Crossfit set, it's their line of classics that keeps the brand relevant among sneakerheads.

The Reebok Shaq Attaq sold out faster in the States than you could say "Shazam!". Not exactly the case here, though.

It was nice to see certain retro silos in classic and new colorways from the Allen Iverson, Shawn Kemp, and Shaquille O'Neal lines in stores, but a part of me hopes that the Reebok Classics available here extends beyond basketball.

The Reebok Question Mid "#1 Pick". One of the Reeboks I copped last year. Nicely executed tribute to a great moment in NBA history.

Take the Ventilators that re-released last year in the OG colorways. I had a pair of the ones in the picture below, and I think they'd certainly be up there in the retro runner discussion with the Asics and New Balance lovers had they only dropped here.

And while we're at it, the Classic Leather would be nice to see in local stores as well. Talk about versatility.

Simplicity. 

There's a ton of other classic Reebok models that I'd love to see in local stores and on the feet of people whenever I'm out somewhere. I love Nikes and Jordans as much as the next guy, but a little diversity would be nice to see in 2014. So if anyone from Reebok Philippines sees this, help a brother out and keep bringing in classics!