Yeezy Season Came and Went. An Adidas x Sole Academy Event Recap

The much hyped and much coveted Adidas x Kanye West Yeezy 350 Boost, in the flesh and in the Philippines. 

Last June 27, hundreds of Philippine sneakerheads flocked to Bonifacio Global City for the Adidas Yeezy 350 Boost drop which happened at Sole Academy. If you're not new to the game, you must be aware of the crazy levels of hype that surround anything Kanye West is involved in. So despite the online mechanics people needed to do to simply get a chance to join the raffle, tons of heads still went and took their chances to be one of the lucky few to head home with a brand new pair of shoes from Mr. West's Adidas collaboration.

Check out the photos after the jump to see what you missed!

Nike Air Huarache Run QS "Love/Hate" Pack

With the current demand for retro running sneakers going strong, local sneaker retailer Sole Academy takes it upon themselves to introduce a classic runner rarely seen available in the country. Since its debut in 1991, the Air Huarache remains to be one of the defining sneakers in the history of Nike's running sneaker line. Pictured here is the silhouette done up in a "Love" colorway. Serving as one half of a two sneaker pack, both sneakers are built with a mesh base, suede overlays, while the trademark neoprene and lycra sock liner will be sure to hug the feet of local sneakerheads long starved of a local Huarache release.

The "Love" Colorway will be available via the Sole Academy Web Store later today at 3 PM. The "Hate" colorway is expected to drop soon.

Check out more looks after the jump.

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.

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.

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.

Nike WMNS Roshe Run Print

Leave it Nike to drop some more heat on a country that's already feeling the full force of the summer season.

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!  

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.  

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.

Sometimes More is More.

Sole Academy has been holding it down when it comes to retro Asics model releases for a while now, and they're showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. And too add to an already solid run, they're all set to drop their newest exclusive at both locations this Saturday (11am Katipunan/10am ATC) - The "Black-Sand Camo" Asics Gel Saga.

Photo from the Sole Academy Facebook Page.

If you slept on the "Kill Bill" Gel Sagas, then these might be worth your while. Orange lages work in tandem with green accents to offset the shoe's neutral base colors, giving them a nice bit of pop without being too obnoxious. For anyone who's looking to add a pair of retro runners into their footwear rotation, these are well worth the P5995 they're going for. And for the serious sneakerheads looking to add to the stack(s), like the saying goes sometimes more is more! Hah!

Click HERE to check out more looks via the Sole Academy Facebook Page!

Seriously, bro. Do You Even Lift?

Images from the Sole Academy Facebook Page.

Well, that won't matter if you hit the gym (though you'd much rather stunt in them, I'm sure) in either of these Nike Air Trainers dropping this Saturday, October 26. Done up in iconic Air Max colorways, the "Infrared"Air Trainer 1 Mids will be released exclusively at Sole Academy Katipunan at 10am, while the "Persian Violet" Air Trainer 2 Mids will be available at Sole Academy ATC at the same time.

Sneaker history buffs should jump at a chance to own some vital models that resulted from Nike's venture into "cross training" sometime in the 1980s. If I could pull off a Shane West from "A Walk To Remember" (yes, I referenced that movie. No shame.) and be in two places at once, I'd get 'em both. Pre-supposing I have the monetary means to do so, too, as both pairs will go for the price of P6295.

Check out Sole Academy's page on Facebook HERE to get more product shots!

You Can Never Have Too Many Pairs of Retro Runners.

Photo via Sole Academy

If you're anything like me who believes that there isn't such a thing as having too much of a good thing (though my wallet would like to disagree), then you wouldn't sleep on these "Urban Camo" Asics Gel Lyte 3's dropping this weekend. Retro runners have been really heavy in my sneaker rotation as of late because they're far more versatile than pairs of basketball shoes, in the sense that you can take them with you to dressier occasions, or in my case, an office with a business casual dress code.

If you're looking for a gateway pair into retro runners, I'd strongly consider these. Really good mix of materials, and the base colors are simple enough to wear with a good array of clothes, with the ice blue accents setting the shoes off in a "yeah, I love sneakers, but I keep it simple", rather than a "My extremely loud sneakers compensate for my lack of personality" kind of way.

These shoes will be available at Sole Academy stores this Saturday. 11AM in Katipunan, while the southerners can get first crack at ATC come 10AM.

Click HERE to get more looks via the Sole Academy Facebook Page.  

Sole Academy is Coming to ATC!

It's about time the south got some more dedicated sneaker stores! Having lived in the south since 1998, dedicated sneaker stores are pretty few and far between. Thankfully, Sole Academy is opening their second branch this coming sat in a place that's pretty close to home - Alabang Town Center.

And to celebrate the opening of their second store, a good amount of heat will be up for grabs. For all the Asics heads, the Brick and Mortar Pack done in collaboration with Hal will be up for grabs, as well as some Gel Saga II's done up in a "Kill Bill" colorway. If you're not feeling either, some Nike Pegasus goodies will be sold as well!

The Kill Bills are looking pretty good, but at this point in time, I'm not sure if my finances agree. But don't get it twisted, I'm happy for the opening, and any south-based sneakerhead should be as well because I don't think any of those pairs will stay on their shelves for very long.

Check out what's happening on this Saturday, Sep 21, 3PM, at Alabang Town Center's Promenade Wing.