Nike Kobe 9 EM Premium "Philippines"

It's been argued that the Philippines is a Kobe Bryant country. The Black Mamba always gets love from his Philippine fans whenever he makes a local appearance. And to give back, Nike Basketball is releasing a special colorway inspired by the "Pearl of The Orient".

What "South Beach" Means to The Nike LeBron Line

July 8, 2010.

That was the day when NBA superstar LeBron James took to a TV special to announce to the world that he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to chase rings with the Miami Heat. As boneheaded as the TV special was, the move to Miami has been a successful one thus far. In the 4 years that followed LeBron James’ decision, the Miami Heat have won two consecutive NBA championships, while LeBron James padded his resume with a slew of individual awards to truly justify being the league’s best player, and his lofty “King James” nickname.

But out of everything that day in July brought forth on both the NBA and popular culture, the best thing LeBron’s move to Miami has been the introduction of the “South Beach” themed sneaker colorway.

Adidas Stan Smith Suede Pack

Ever since the Adidas Stan Smith made its way back to retail a few months ago, the sleek, minimalist tennis sneaker has been poised for a great year. And one of the latest in what's been a string of strong releases is a three color suede pack done up in both warm and cool hues for the summer.

Air Jordan 2 Retro White/Red

The Air Jordan 2 may be one of the more underrated models in Michael Jordan's sneaker line, but its simplistic design has steadily endured throughout the years. And in a few months time, another original colorway of MJ's second sneaker will be making its way back to retail. 

Vans Slip-On "Bandana"

The classic paisley print has enjoyed quite a revival as of late. You could walk into a Forever 21 and find yourself various articles of clothing bearing the print in one way or another. And now, the vibrant pattern makes its way onto the timeless Vans Slip-On. 

Nike LeBron XI "South Beach"

The color scheme that really set things off for LeBron James' signature line returns once again.

Dressed up in a predominantly aqua hue with contrasting black, pink, and mint accents, the Nike LeBron XI "South Beach" is the latest iteration of the famed colorway which first made its appearance on the LeBron 8 back in 2010. And judging from these shots that recently hit the net, it's definitely an eye-grabbing colorway that not only LeBron fans can appreciate.

Air Jordan 11 Retro "Columbia"

It seems like the folks at Jordan Brand have answered our prayers and have set the release of the beloved "Columbia" Air Jordan 11s this year, sometime in the insane sneaker frenzy known as the holiday season. Despite the "Legend Blue" tag these beauties are gonna be released under, the shoe's clean white look down to the tonal blue accents takes it way back to the 1996 NBA All-Star Game.

Fila 95 and 96

We've all heard so much about how the 90's was the golden age of sneaker design. And rightfully so, judging from the amount of older sneakerheads salivating whenever a quintessential shoe from that era gets the retro treatment. I was a kid in the 90s, so the shoes I had were the ones my parents would get for me. But I remember Nike brought out some memorable shoes back then, as did Reebok, and Adidas.

96

I never really paid attention to Fila, up until they signed an NBA player named Grant Hill. The dude was killing it in the 90s! There was a point where he was even touted to be the next Michael Jordan! Now those of you who follow basketball may know that didn't happen, and some injuries may have gotten in the way of Grant Hill to reach his full potential during his playing years. But Grant Hill will no doubt go down as one of the greats from that bygone era.

Nike SB x Air Jordan 1 by Lance Mountain

When news broke out earlier this year about Nike SB hooking up with Jordan Brand for some sneakers, the skate geezer in me rejoiced because this official collaboration was a long time coming. When you look at skateboarding, the uneducated opinion is quick to associate it with rebellious attitudes that serve no place in "proper" society. But most of those people have never stepped on a board in their life. With skateboarding comes creativity, quick thinking, and a masterful sense of repurposing things. To a skateboarder, the functions of stairs, rails, and roads are challenged, creating new venues for breathtaking performance art.

Now if that sounds too high-brow, all it really means is that this collaboration was the result of that mindset to find new uses for old things. And if you didn't know, the Air Jordan 1 enjoyed the distinction of being an unofficial skate shoe among skaters of decades past due to their superior cushioning and durable leather construction. Among those leading the charge during the 80's was skate legend Lance Mountain. He would intentionally rock mismatched Jays in some attempt to preserve the life of his shoes. Old photos would show him rocking a Carolina Blue AJ1 on one foot, while a Royal AJ1 adorned the other. So it all makes sense to see the mismatched look come full circle on his designs for the collaboration.

Upon first glance, you see predominantly black or white uppers with hints of red and royal blue. You get the idea of the mismatch, but the real kicker is that the black and white are actually painted on. And through continuous wear and actually skating in the shoes, the painted areas will give way to a couple of classic Air Jordan 1 colorways. It's a move that's reminiscent of how Maison Martin Margiela worked on the Chuck Taylor, because it ensures that no two pairs will be exactly alike. And the choice of colorways will certainly take the hype level up a couple of notches for sure. To finish them off, a special "Paint Shoes Not Walls" graphic by Lance Mountain can be found on the insoles.

Whether you like them to start off in black or white, Lance Mountain's Nike SB x Air Jordan 1 designs will be released in limited quantities at select Nike SB retailers and on Nike.com on June 7.

WeLegendary brought out Craig Stecyk's designs, so here's to hoping they bring out Lance Mountains as well! Check back often for any updates leading up to the release!

Release Update: Nike Air Foamposite Pro Premium "Yeezy"

The influence of the Nike Air Yeezy line lives on.

Dropping this Saturday is a Nike Air Foamposite Pro Premium that bears a colorway popularized by Kanye West's shoe line under the swoosh banner. So for anybody that missed out on both releases, this might be a viable pick-up.

All Titan stores except for the Katipunan branch will be releasing the shoe on Black Saturday, of all days.

Complete release details after the jump.

Air Jordan XX9 "Tailored For Flight" Teaser.

With the unveiling of the Air Jordan XX9 just days away, the folks at Jordan Brand have released a teaser video starring Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. While the video may not have given us a good idea of how the shoe is going to look, the name and concept of the video alone sheds a solid amount of light on one the shoe's upcoming themes.

Check out the "Tailored For Flight" video HERE!

Update: ZX Flux "Photo Print" Pack

Bad news.

For anyone looking into scooping up pairs of the Adidas ZX Flux "Photo Print" Pack, I got word yesterday that it won't be making its way to local Adidas stores due to stock getting wiped out from the Singapore-based webstore. I guess people couldn't wait to get their hands on them, and I can't hate on that. That pack was pure beauty.

Available Colorways: The top 2 colorways, and the blue shoe on the 2nd column. 

The good news though, the ZX Flux Base Color pack is now available at Adidas Greenbelt 3! It's the same release that Sole Academy dropped, so if you missed out last week, now's your chance!

The price is still set at P4895, so head over to Greenbelt 3 and join the Flux movement.

Nike Flyknit Racer Summer 2014 Releases

Just because a good chunk of the sneaker community has embraced the retro running trend doesn't keep Nike from putting out heat from their contemporary runner line. And given that our country is right in the middle of a brutal summer, either of these two Flyknit Racers could be a great, ultra-breathable choice to add to your sneaker rotation this season.

Emerging Trend: Designer Sneakers

A few years back, there were only two kinds of people who were wearing designer sneakers - douchebags and plain crazy rich folk. But now, if you follow those blogs that follow what shoes athletes and celebrities are stepping out in, you're bound to see a few designer names mixed in with the Nikes and Jordans of the world. 

Nice Kicks x New Balance "Grand Anse"

In true #TeaserTuesdays fashion, Sole Academy updated their Facebook page with a picture of a New Balance 1600 done in collaboration with sneaker store and blog Nice Kicks. The "Grand Anse" 1600 is the third collaboration between NB and Nice Kicks, and takes its cool colorway from the namesake beach on the island of Grenada.

Nike Basketball Elite Series Gold Collection

For every NBA team that finds themselves in the playoff race, the glory of championship gold is sixteen grueling games away.

Taking inspiration from what every NBA baller chases in the postseason (except for Kobe Bryant of course), Nike Basketball has unveiled the Elite Series Gold Collection - championship worthy footwear designed for Nike Basketball's big three.

Sale Alert: The Sports Central Nike & Adidas Clearance Sale

I always look forward to sales because there's always a good chance of picking up some good stuff at better prices. And this one's looking to be huge.

Aside and Nike and Adidas, a lot of other athletic footwear and apparel brands are knocking up to 80% off the prices of their goods! So if you're looking for some new clothes to the gym, or in need of some new kicks to work in your rotation, come on down to Megatrade Hall at the 5th level of SM Megamall from today up to April 13!

Jordan Brand Playoff Pack

With the NBA Playoffs fast approaching, Jordan Brand is releasing a special pack to help their star players get ready for the wars ahead.

Constructed with premium materials and employing advanced technology for maximum on-court performance, the Jordan Brand Playoff Pack is inspired by the way NBA stars would don black shoes come playoff time to show they meant business. Making up this year's pack is the Air Jordan XX8 SE for Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony's Melo M10, and reworked versions of Chris Paul's CP3.VII AE and Blake Griffin's Jordan Super Fly 2.

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low HTM.

H. T. M.

In the sneaker world, those three letters spell out a huge collaboration between three of the sneaker industry's most creative minds. Fragment Design Founder Hiroshi Fujiwara, Nike Chief Innovator Tinker Hatfield, and Nike CEO Mark Parker come together once again, this time for a low-top, Flyknit version of the Nike Kobe 9 Elite.

And once again, the trio does not disappoint. Hit the jump for pictures of the other colorways and a detailed press release regarding the nature of the shoe and the HTM collaboration. Good luck finding these though. As with any HTM release, numbers are extremely limited. So if you've got connects in Italy, particularly the Milan area, better hit them up before it's too late.

Kanye West's Adidas Sneaker will be unveiled in June.

When Kanye West does something, you can bet people are gonna be watching. 

Aside from building an impressive discography in the music world, his forays into footwear have left a resounding impact on sneaker culture as well. People loved his collaborative efforts with Louis Vuitton, and went absolutely nuts over his stuff with Nike. But ever since Kanye West jumped ship to the brand with the Three Stripes, regardless of whether you like 'Ye or not, sneakerheads are eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Kanye West's love for designing footwear. 

The Adidas ZX Flux is Coming.

Time to join the movement.

I've been blogging about the Adidas ZX Flux long enough, but now I'm stoked to relay the info that Sole Academy will be bringing them in very soon.

Air Jordan XX9 Unveiling

Make way for number 29.

Michael Jordan's basketball days may be long behind him, but that hasn't kept his eponymous brand from continuing his signature shoe line. Sure, the retros get majority of the attention, but thanks to a their nifty Flight Plate technology, both the Jordan XX8 and the XX8 SE managed to put the Jumpman back in the forefront of on-court performance shoes.

Less than two weeks from now, we'll get a look at the all-new Air Jordan XX9. How they managed to keep last year's release under wraps is beyond me, and it looks like this year's drop will be the same. Will number 29 continue with the Flight Plate technology? Will it cost in the same range as last year's model? What will it look like? All these questions will be answered on April 17, 2014.

Get excited!

Takeways from The Supreme x Nike Collection Release Cancellation.

It's always a bummer when this happens, but I can't say no one saw it coming.

The forced cancellation of the Nike x Supreme Spring/Summer 2014 collection is pretty much a microcosm of how the sneaker game is nowadays. It may have been an isolated incident, but it's one we've grown accustomed to hearing about when hyped releases in limited quantities come about. 

In case you haven't heard, Nike and Supreme teamed up to release a small collection featuring some basketball jerseys, shorts, and a couple of Air Foamposite Ones to match. With the release being yesterday, people camped out way in advance. And as the drop day drew near, more people lined up, and the situation increasingly looked like it was only a matter of time before it got out of control. Ultimately, the NYPD stepped in and ultimately cancelled Supreme's in-store release due to concerns for public safety and "near-riotous behavior". 

I've been in line for sneakers before, and I've had to go to a store really early just to have a better shot at getting shoes I want. I get how thrilling the highly-charged atmosphere of a sneaker line or campout can be, but I question why did people embrace this to be the norm? Lines and campouts in The Philippines are pretty mild compared to those abroad, but you gotta feel for people stuck with the thought of getting mugged, hurt, or even killed for their sneakers every time they have to line up. 

Anyone else aside from Swaggy P who managed to score a pair? 

Who's to blame for how out of hand things have gotten now? It's really hard to point a finger at a single source. Is it the shoe companies who purposely limit production, riling up the demand from their target market? The greed that drives people to buy more pairs of the same shoe just to flip on ebay or Facebook? The "you ain't up on this!" mentality that some sneakerheads may have? Or the "any press is still press" notion that brands especially in streetwear seem to embrace? Over the course of this article, I've actually raised more questions that I have answers for. But if those are the things I'll be thinking about when I'll be waiting in line for the next hyped up drop, the more inclined I am to not line up at all. 

Nike Roshe Run White Label Release Details

Above - Nike Roshe Run White Label "Great Britain". Below - Nike Roshe Run White Label "Brazil" 

White Label.

Anything with that tag has got to be something premium. In this case, it's a new set of Nike Roshe Runs dropping this Saturday at Sole Academy. However, copping them isn't going to be that easy. And in an attempt to level the playing field a little bit, the folks at Sole Academy have updated the release mechanics to include a little contest. Details of which you can check out after the jump.

Update: Get a Chance to Win Some Never-To-Be Released Adidas ZX Flux Models on Instagram!

Adidas is going pretty hard when it comes to promoting their new ZX Flux model. And why wouldn't they when they've got a shoe that's a sleek, modern interpretation of the ZX running heritage? And while we here in the Philippines are awaiting their arrival, there's certainly no harm in trying your luck in this new Adidas contest where you can win a couple of ZX Flux pairs that will never release to the public!

Why The Supreme x Nike Spring/Summer 2014 Collection is Impervious to Your Opinion.

Versace, Versace.

You know it's always going to be big when Nike and Supreme work together on something. This time around, the sportswear and streetwear giants are coming out with a capsule collection featuring basketball jerseys, shorts, and a couple of Air Foamposite Ones. As usual, the closest thing to a Supreme press release is a simple lookbook or editorial showing off the product, leaving the blogs to come up with reasons to rationalize why you need this stuff in your life.

Long story short, it's Supreme. I could tell you that while the baroque printed jerseys and shorts are cool, I'm a little on the fence about the printed foams. The Air Foamposite One's look is dynamic enough to not need some crazy print for it to stand out. Sure, it worked with the galaxy ones, but you've got the thermal map/dirty napkin foams on the other side of that argument as well. If that were me, I'd just put some minimal Supreme branding in an relatively unobtrusive location like the tongue or the heel tab. Uninspired design? More like effortless. 

But then again, by the time you get to the end of this writing, people will have set up their camping gear, and prayers will be offered to all the gods of the cosmos for the sake of faster internet in preparation for the drop. Because no matter what I or any other blogger will say about them, they will most likely sell out. If contradicting opinions were bullets, Supreme x Nike's Spring/Summer Collection is 50 Cent circa '03.

Look for the collection to drop at Supreme locations in the US and UK on April 3. Same dates apply for the online release. Friends in the Far East will have to wait a couple of days though, as they're slated to drop in Japan on April 5.