Author: Bradley Martinez
No longer strangers to a collaboration, German giants PUMA team up once again with creative director of R H U D E, Rhuigi Villaseñor. Having already reworked the PUMA Suede back in ’21, the duo are back again for another take on the Suede.
This time, Villaseñor opts for a soft pink upper with off-white tones for what makes in our opinion, an outrageously good combination. Bringing a chunkier approach to this simple upper, a thicker lace that throws things back to the 80s with style.
Now available to shop online here!
Last year, we provided our first-ever opportunity to collaborate with you – our community, to deliver a series of workshops partnered with Generation Works. Designed for those who wanted to kickstart their career within the creative industry. These workshops lifted off the lid to the industry through hands-on experiences and real-world insight.
Our knowledge fuelled workshops gave attendees a chance to be featured on our latest Communi-T. A one-time offering to those who want to share their designs with friends or family and have their own official Footpatrol apparel collaboration. From copywriting, image making, screen printing, and content creation. Participants were able to get a real taste of the ins and outs of a marketing campaign from idea to execution.
Featuring guest speakers; Will Stowe, Mark Ward, London Print Club, and Footpatrol’s very own marketing team. Attendees were provided the tools and knowledge handed down by experts in the creative industry. Offering their own experiences to the table as well as assisting participants in their content creation and ideas.
Closing of the community workshop initiative, we are pleased to finally announce our winners! To celebrate all their hard work, we sat down with Connor, Amber, Max, Jason, and Shezy to find out a little more about their experiences, skills, and newfound knowledge.
We would also like to say a massive thank you to all of those who attended all of our workshops. It was such a memorable moment of the year that this year, we’ll be doing it again this year! Share what you’d like to see by filling out this quick questionnaire, HERE!
Footpatrol: We appreciate the time and effort that you have taken out of your busy schedules to take part. For our FP audience that may be unfamiliar with who you are and what you do, could you tell us a bit about yourself?
Connor: My name is Connor, I’m a graphic designer. I’ve been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil in my hand, and then just never stopped. Always had a passion for design, illustration, graffiti, and stickers. Love a sticker.
Amber: My name’s Amber, but I also go by the pet name Wolfie and a handful of other nicknames. I’m currently working as an Agent/Producer for the incredible multidisciplinary agency WEBBER and I’m also the founder of my much loved, but as of late, much neglected storytelling platform, Sin Milagros.
Max: My name is Max, I’m a last-year marketing student. I like sneakers and vinyls.
Jason: My name is Jason. I’m currently working in the financial services industry but I’ve always had a creative side to me. I’ve dabbled in art and music amongst other things but I defiantly love putting my mind to creating artistic solutions and collecting trainers.
Shezy: Hi my name is Shezy. I am currently working at Barbour. I have had an obsession with sneakers since I was a teenager, as well as clothing and fashion as a whole. I haven’t studied fashion but have been trying to break into that world in my own way.
FP: What attracted you to sign up for this workshop with Footpatrol?
C: I saw the image-making course advertised on Footpatrol’s Instagram. It’s not everyday you see a course like this available. I thought well I quite enjoy making images, I like Footpatrol, no harm in applying. Was also interested to see what other like-minded people could come up with.
A: I heard about the workshop through friends and at the time I was working freelance as a Community manager and Events producer for the wonderful Paul Smith’s Foundation – so I was eager to see what creative workshops were out there, as well as working on my copywriting which was proving to be a big part of my role.
M: Honestly, mostly curiosity. The description said that these workshops should give us a look at the processes that we, as consumers, don’t really see. Because often, we give credit to the big brands for creating the community that all of us are a part of and overlook the real people who are behind it and engage with us.
J: I saw the workshop on FootPatrol’s Instagram and thought this would be a great opportunity to get my ideas out in the world through a brand I trust and appreciate. It’s not everyday you get the chance to try something you don’t always do and you know you’ve been given the platform to get your ideas out whilst being supported by the Footpatrol and Re: Generation marketing and community team.
S: I saw it as a notification on my phone, and it led me to the page with all the information. I was genuinely interested in just getting to hear from all the amazing people at the workshops about their journeys and how they got to the fields that they did. It’s interesting just to see how people end up doing what they do as well as trying different things. It can really open up your mind. So I was hooked on the idea immediately.
FP: Could you tell us a little bit about the workshop you attended and your involvement in this selected workshop?
C: My course was run by the talented illustrator Mark Ward. He told us about his inspirations, processes, and the jobs he has been involved in. We were then given a brief to create an image from a caption created from the copywriting course. We sketched images that first came to mind, to then hone them into a full-fledged idea.
A: I was part of the copywriting workshop where the lovely Will Stowe gave a presentation on his career as a copywriter. We were then set a series of tasks to come up with a line of copy based on various mock briefs.
M: I attended two workshops. The first was focused on copywriting and hosted by legendary Will Stowe. As Amber mentioned, there we did a few exercises on how to come up with a creative copy. It was really fun and interesting, especially hearing some stories from Will and meeting new people. The other one was about creating and planning the marketing campaign. I enjoyed that one a lot. We met with an amazing marketing team, who guided us throughout the whole process, from the initial brief to the execution of our ideas. At each step of the process, we got some valuable insights into how things are actually done.
J: I attended the campaign creation workshop which was run by FootPatrol’s marketing team. We got to hear the background and job roles of everyone that’s pretty much involved in a campaign. It was nice as we put faces to the work we see soo much. We were given the task of creating a photo campaign for the t-shirt and slogan that had already been designed and selected in the other workshops. The goal was to set up a three-image campaign that would be used on Instagram initially, and in those three images convey the message that encapsulated the campaign.
S: I was lucky enough to attend both the 2nd Workshop and the 4th and final one. Both were really intense experiences in the best way possible. The original workshop I attended was about illustration and design by the ever-talented Mark Ward. It really opened up my eyes to what goes on behind the scenes as an art creative working with clients. Mark made it so much fun and interactive. The task we were given was such a mental workout for me and made me appreciate the graphic designers and artists out here so much more.
The other workshop I attended was the campaign creation one. This was a real home run for me honestly the guys at FP were lovely and really fleshed out life in the industry as we as what potential roles exist in campaigns. It really got me into my element and I was so involved with every bit of the task we were given as well as the absolute free reign they gave us to do anything we wished creatively. Whilst still helping me and the team out by keeping us on track and just nudging us in the right direction. I honestly couldn’t be more over the moon with the whole experience.
FP: What was the most valuable thing that you learned during this time?
C: Working with clients for design I know how important a brief is. It’s easy to read one and think oh yeah I’ve got an idea then just to run with it. I learned from Mark to actually dissect a brief and to milk it for every idea you can. There may be things there that are not noticeable at first glance.
A: I can be incredibly precious or overthink when it comes to my creative outlets to the point it can hold me back from doing something – with a lot of the tasks we went through on the day, we were required to produce something in very short and strict time frames which forced me adapt and just get something down. I guess overall the valuable thing I learned is trying to be a perfectionist can hinder you more than serve.
M: Generally, learning about the processes that take place behind the product rollout and participating in them. Also, getting some knowledge from people with real experience.
J: I learned that when you only have a short amount of time to complete a campaign, every idea can be a great idea but you need to drill down to the one that matches what you’re trying to get across as soon as possible, so I had to be concise and decisive. I also learned that whatever we’re doing, the message that you’re trying to get across should be memorable, relatable, and simple enough to grasp for anybody. Otherwise, your campaign’s not going to reach and connect with your target audience.
S: Having a clearer vision than Evian, and that’s not to say that the idea can not evolve into something else. Our idea changed drastically throughout the days but the most important part was being able to get it to be as clear and well thought out as possible. Really thinking about all angles how you want it, where? when? Who? Just every aspect possible. If you have that it’s so much easier to feel comfortable and confident with your idea and just nail it.
FP: What task stood out the most to you and why
C: Once given a few words from the brief we had to come up with as many ideas just based on these words as we could. For me this was a great mental exercise, really makes you think of alternatives to the obvious.
M: At the end of the campaign workshop, we had to take some pictures of our final ideas. It was really interesting to see how much our initial ideas were changing during this process because we had to get the most use out of the set and available tools.
J: The task that stood out the most for me was when we were trying to get the ideas we had put down on paper with the ideal shots and backgrounds to come to life. Having a vision and then executing it are two very different things, but getting them to marry up was a great challenge. It also let me know that being flexible and open to new ideas/information once you’ve started can be a real blessing.
S: Our initial idea for the campaign was a real fire starter. We were all spitballing ideas of what the initial idea could be. What props we could use and how. What the set narrative would be and how all this would translate to mobile and someone just scrolling up their IG feed. It was all such an exciting and fun task the guys at FP really made it so that we really had no limits to what we could do. So the sky and our imagination were really our limits. There were so many great ideas from serious to really quirky and funny. We were all constantly adapting and adding to our ideas to make them better. It was an intense and challenging process but so rewarding and satisfying.
FP: Could you describe your initial thought processes when completing this certain task, did you have any tactics to win?
C: I was basically given a playbook of the thought process needed, the rest was left up to me to get my ideas on paper. Was like throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping it stuck if I’m honest. No tactics to win though, I was just there for a good time and to gather inspiration.
A: In all honesty I think I came into the workshop with the intention of being more of an observer than any ambition to win which perhaps is a winning tactic in itself – focusing less on the outcome and more on the experience.
No tactics at all. To be completely honest, I didn’t even think of winning. I just went there to find out more about the industry that I am very interested in. However, I was a bit stressed in the beginning, as I have never done anything like this. But as I mentioned before, thanks to the valuable insights and feedback from the team, I enjoyed the whole experience.
J: My initial thought process was to create something that would grab my attention if I was insta-scrolling. So when trying to complete the task, I wanted images that would stand out. Show some emotion without being emotional, and above all else be relatable and recognisable. I didn’t set out to win, but I set out to give my best so that when it was all said and done I knew I’d tried everything to make the greatest campaign I could. It just so happens I also won.
S: I really wasn’t there with a mindset to win as much as I just wanted to absorb and learn from the experience as much as possible. So there wasn’t any pressure but more so me challenging myself to get the most out of the opportunity. Being given so much creative freedom and such an amazing team of people to work with to make our vision a reality was beyond what I could ever ask for. I really wanted to put that team and opportunity to good use and create something I am really proud of and that is truly a great representation of me and my vision.
FP: Now that your amazing work will be featured on our latest Communi-T series, how will you celebrate this success?
C: Probably frame the t-shirt. Not everyday you have a collaborated t-shirt with footpatrol that’s amongst an incredible library of past artists and designers.
A: T-shirts for my nearest and dearest.
M: Probably will tell my parents and grandparents about it. Also, getting it signed by the FP team and framing it sounds like a good idea.
S: (His Heirness) Bradley Martinez is going to do a sneaker shopping ep with me but where he pays for all the shoes I pick at the FP store.
J: I’m making sure everyone knows that I helped put this t-shirt out in the world, and I’ll wear mine all the time so if someone asks me about it, I’ve got a great story to tell.
FP: For individuals that are looking to sign up for workshops in the future with Footpatrol, what advice would you give them?
C: Couldn’t recommend it enough. All the staff involved made it such a great place to be.
A: Do it, do it, do it – it was a lot of fun and you’ll be in great company.
M: Definitely go for it, and don’t overthink too much.
J: Jump in feet first, don’t worry too much about your past experience. Just be open to meeting new people. Learning, and giving your best because you’ll enjoy the experience way more if you do.
S: You have nothing to lose, and you miss every shot you don’t take. Like a certain brand might say Just Do It.
This year, we’ll be doing series 2 of our community workshops, to share what you’d like to see, CLICK HERE!
With both Easter weekend and the Air Jordan 1 ‘Skyline’ around the corner. We felt it was only right to work on a launch mechanism that gives back to the youngsters that will be paving the future of our city.
Last year, we worked with Taking Shape Association to host a 2 weeklong summer camp for kids and families in gang-torn areas of London. Creating a safe space for families to drop their kids off without the worries of being groomed by gangs.
We know times are tough. In hopes to bring a small ray of sunshine in these uncertain times, we have partnered up once again with Taking Shape Association to run an in-store Easter Egg drive alongside the Air Jordan 1 ‘Skyline’ launch. These Easter Eggs will be distributed across schools, community groups, and Taking Shapes’ wide support network to bring a piece of joy to the youth of today.
‘Taking Shape is super excited to be working alongside Footpatrol in supporting community empowerment by making easter the best it can be for our young souls in 2023.’ – Founder of Taking Shape Association, Kevin.
To enter the in-store raffle, you will need to donate at least ONE Easter Egg in person at Footpatrol London. Not a cream egg, nor a mini egg, but a proper Easter Egg in a SEALED box. A member of TEAMFP will then provide you with a QR code to access the form to enter the in-store draw for the Air Jordan 1 High OG ‘Skyline’.
PLEASE NOTE: FOR ALLERGY PURPOSES PLEASE MAKE SURE PACKAGING SHOWS INGREDIENTS
All the support will be hugely appreciated by the families and kids who will be receiving them. It’s an opportunity for the community to come together for a greater cause and support those who aren’t as fortunate as others. Remember, ‘People Over Product’.
T&C’s can be found below…
Answer the question correctly and donate an Easter Egg for the chance to purchase Air Jordan 1 ‘Skyline’ Trainers
By taking part in this raffle, you accept and agree to these terms and conditions. If you do not agree with any of these terms and conditions, then you should not take part in the raffle. It is your responsibility to ensure that you review the terms and conditions before entering the raffle. We, JD Sports Fashion plc (t/a Footpatrol), recommend that you print and store or save a copy of these terms and conditions for future reference during the raffle. Footpatrol is the promoter of this raffle.
- What can you win?
There will be eighteen (18) winners who will each win the chance to purchase:
- One (1) pair of Air Jordan 1 ‘Skyline’ trainers (the “Prize“).
Entrants will provide their shoe size when entering the raffle.
This raffle is taking place in Footpatrol’s London store only. The address for the store is Footpatrol, 80 Berwick St, London W1F 8TU (the “Participating Store”).
The Prize is subject to availability. The Prize may not be exchanged for a cash value, nor is it transferable. The Prize is subject to winner confirmation (i.e. Footpatrol has been able to contact winners and has been able to confirm eligibility). Footpatrol has the right to change, alter or withdraw the raffle or Prize at any time due to any change in any applicable law or any events outside the control of Footpatrol. Footpatrol shall not be responsible for any delay, cancellation or rescheduling of the Prize. If any part of the Prize is not claimed (for whatever reason), Footpatrol is under no obligation to supply an alternative prize.
This is an in-store raffle, and the winners have to collect and pay for their Prize in-store at 80 Berwick St, London W1F 8TU.
- What is excluded from the Prize?
This raffle is an opportunity to win the chance to purchase Air Jordan 1 ‘Skyline’ trainers. It is the winners’ responsibility to pay for the Prize and anything excluded from the Prize.
- Who can enter?
Entrants must be aged 18 years or over and a resident of England, Scotland or Wales. Entrants will need to have an email address, contact number and follow the ‘How to enter’ section below.
Footpatrol reserves the right to ask the winners to provide proof of age. Employees (and their immediate family) of the JD Sports group (http://www.jdplc.com/our-group/sports-fashion.aspx), or anyone else professionally connected with this raffle are not eligible to enter the raffle. Footpatrol reserves the right (at its sole discretion) to decide if the eligibility criteria are met. If the eligibility criteria are not met, the entry will be invalid.
- How to enter
Entrants can enter the raffle by bringing a boxed easter egg to the Footpatrol store (80 Berwick St, London W1F 8TU) and answering the question provided by Footpatrol. If the entrant gets the answer right, then they can donate their egg to enter the raffle for a chance to win the Prize. The Footpatrol store staff will assist with entries. Entrants will have to scan the QR code in-store and complete the online form by providing their full name, email address, contact number, shoe size and submitting this. Footpatrol store staff will also take a note of the entrant’s names to avoid any duplicate entries.
Once an entrant has provided their details and completed the form through the QR code, they will receive a confirmation email.
Please note only easter eggs in a packaged box will suffice. For the avoidance of doubt purchasing an item like a crème egg alone would not be sufficient, however a crème egg easter egg which comes packaged in a box is sufficient.
The easter eggs collected through the raffle will be donated to Taking Shape Association who will then distribute the eggs to local schools, community clubs, and to children of lower-income families.
Entrants must answer the question correctly and donate a boxed easter egg to the Footpatrol store to enter this raffle.
Participation is limited to one entry per person. If more than one such entry is received, only the first entry will be accepted. No responsibility is taken for entries that are lost, delayed, misdirected or incomplete, or cannot be delivered or entered for any technical or other reason.
- Closing Times
The raffle will open on Wednesday 5th April at 10:00am (UK time) and will close on 7th April at 10:00am (UK time). Any entries received after this date and time will not be valid.
- How are winners selected?
Entrants who guessed the question correctly will only be eligible to enter the raffle. Footpatrol will select the winner from the correct guesses randomly using a random name generator. The decision of Footpatrol is final and binding on all entrants. No correspondence will be entered into regarding the selection of the winners (other than with the winners themselves). The winners will be notified via email that they have won and will be required to bring valid ID with them when they pay and collect their Prize from the Footpatrol store. Valid ID is required so that Footpatrol can verify the winner’s entry. The winner will have 1 week to attend the Footpatrol store and purchase the Prize. In the event that the winner does not collect their Prize within 1 week, by 14 April 2023 at 19:00pm (UK time). they will be considered to have waived their right to the Prize.
- Winners’ Responsibilities
It is the winners’ responsibility to: (i) answer the question provided by Footpatrol correctly and donate a satisfactory easter egg to the Footpatrol store; (ii) complete all stages of the How to enter section above and present evidence of such completion to a member of staff in a Participating Store; (iii) provide accurate contact details; (iv) provide valid proof of age, which is required to enter the raffle; (v) adhere to local laws in the UK (vi) comply with any rules, instructions, requirements, terms and conditions or regulations of the event organiser; and (vii) pay for the Prize in-store. Footpatrol will not be liable to the winners or any other persons where they fail to comply with such responsibilities and any such failure may result in forfeiture of the Prize.
- Personal information and data collected
By ticking the appropriate opt-in boxes you agree that you will receive regular communication from Footpatrol (and its affiliates). Footpatrol will use personal information which you provide, or which we obtain through our dealings with you, to sign you up to marketing materials provided by Footpatrol (and its affiliates) and to administer the raffle. We may also use your personal data to tell you about Footpatrol (and Footpatrol affiliates) products and offers, and for market research including analysis and development of our products and customer relationships. For full details on how Footpatrol uses your information, view our Privacy Policy here: https://www.footpatrol.com/customer-service/privacy/. You can unsubscribe at any time by following the instructions contained in the promotional emails. If you do not wish to receive marketing communication from Footpatrol (and Footpatrol affiliates) please do not tick the appropriate opt-in boxes when entering the raffle.
- Publicity
By taking part in the raffle, entrants may be invited to participate in publicity at Footpatrol’s request if they are a winner of the raffle. Entrants agree that Footpatrol (or any third party nominated by Footpatrol) may in its sole discretion use their comments relating to the Prize and their experience for future promotional, marketing and publicity purposes in any media worldwide without notice and without any fee being paid (including for the avoidance of doubt when responding to any third party). Any use of images or other personal information that could identify entrants will be subject to the entrants’ consent.
Footpatrol reserves the right to withdraw the Prize (or any part of it) if a winner breaches any of the terms in these terms and conditions or if they are found to have acted in a dishonest or fraudulent manner.
- Which law applies to this raffle
This raffle is governed by the law of England and Wales and the participants to the raffle submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
- The Promoter
The Promoter of this raffle is JD Sports Fashion Plc t/a Footpatrol, Edinburgh House Hollinsbrook Way, Pilsworth, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 8RR. If you wish to contact JD Sports in relation to the raffle, please use the following address: Donate an Easter Egg for the chance to win Air Jordan 1 ‘Skyline’ Trainers Raffle, JD Sports Fashion plc t/a Footpatrol, Marketing Department, Hollinsbrook Way, Pilsworth, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 8RR.
Immerse yourself in the cultural haven that is Paris, with our latest in-app game Footpatrol Sneaker Chain. Celebrating the lively hub around the Rue Du Temple, circled around our Footpatrol store and iconic Parisian landmarks, Sneaker Chain is our latest exclusive offering to our Launches App.
Roam around the streets of Paris, collect sneakerheads, shoe boxes, and earn points along the way whilst being surrounded by some of the most culturally revered scenes that the city has to offer. Accumulate timers to increase your life span and don’t forget to look out for special FP tokens for a chance to win Foorpatrol merch!
Listen out for our very own Erwan Demais who supplies you with all the musical energy you need to get you up that leaderboard.
Known as the UK’s second city, Birmingham has always been a city that’s housed a wealth of cultures, styles, and music.
With that said, for our next Frequent Players, we tap into this world with the helping hand of Birmingham based DJ, Sharnie. Known to be able to deliver a mix that flawlessly blends a magnitude of genres, Sharnie has been built a collection of music that’s seen her become a step ahead of the game both on and off the air. Now, she brings her electronic flare to Footpatrol.
Footpatrol: Hi Sharnie, hope you are well, thank you for taking the time to speak to us, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Sharnie: Hey, it’s my pleasure thanks for having me! I’m from Birmingham, born and raised. I’m a DJ, been doing it for around 6 years now, and am a budding producer also. Aside from this, I’m also currently studying Herbal Medicine.
FP: what is your earliest memory of music and what got you interested in DJing?
Sharnie: I used to sneak into my big brother’s room when I was around 3 or 4, playing their jungle tapes on their stack stereo. The stereo was originally my dad’s from the early 80s, with some fat speakers. I would always play M Beat – Sweet Love, it was my favourite song! This was definitely the beginning of my love for electronic music.
My interest in DJing started when I used to make mixes for myself to listen to my fav songs and play them in my car when I first started driving. Eventually I decided to upload a couple of these mixes and the rest was history!
FP: Can you tell us about the most memorable event you ever DJed, and why it stood out to you?
Sharnie: It wasn’t my typical gig as I’m used to DJing in clubs, but DJing at the commonwealth games in Birmingham was a memorable one. It was the biggest crowd I’ve DJed for, and it was a full on, big scale production – it was mad to be a part of that. Early morning sets with tea and biscuits on the rider was a first as well!
FP: How do you approach building a setlist, and what factors do you consider when selecting tracks to play?
Sharnie: I don’t tend to plan my sets track for track, but I usually throw a couple of songs I want to play that night into a playlist. Then I just go off the vibe of the crowd and where I want to take them for the next hour or so! When selecting tracks, I always consider my set time, and who is playing before or after me in the line-up to make sure my set fits nicely into the night.
FP: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a female DJ and how did you overcome it?
Sharnie: When I first started out, the lack of representation was an issue. Not seeing many other female DJs around made the prospect of doing it professionally seem unattainable, and there were some occasions where I wasn’t taken seriously. Overcoming this is an ongoing process, industry-wide really, which seems to be moving in the right direction in recent years! I just make sure to work with people who are actively supporting and booking women.
FP: How do you stay current with new music trends and genres, and incorporate them into your sets?
Sharnie: I am always on the hunt for new music, but I don’t tend to pay too much attention to trends as they come and go. I’d say I’m genre-less at heart, so I’m very open in that sense – I just play stuff that I’m feeling! I make sure to follow producers and labels that I’m into, keeping up with new releases. My monthly Soho Radio show helps me stay on the lookout for new bits on a regular basis. I also listen to radio and mixes from my favourite DJs. My friends are a huge source of inspiration, we’re constantly sharing track IDs!
FP: What advice would you give to other women who are interested in pursuing a career in DJing?
Sharnie: I would say be confident in yourself and your abilities, be yourself and stay authentic to you. Practice makes progress! Put yourself out there, social media is a great tool so use it to your advantage. Also, support others in the scene and go to events, showing your face goes a long way.
If you’re just starting out, there’s so many great communities for women now where you can be supported, learn skills, and connect with other DJs. Selextorhood being an example here in Birmingham.
FP: How do you interact with the crowd during a performance, and what techniques do you use to keep the energy high?
Sharnie: I love to bob and weave throughout genres, keeping the crowd on their toes not knowing what to expect next! At the same time, I love a little chop here and there, teasing the next track coming in, especially if it’s a big classic tune, guaranteed energy boost!
FP: Finally, Can you share a bit about your future goals and aspirations as a DJ, and what you hope to accomplish? Do you have any upcoming gigs we can see you at?
Sharnie: I’m hoping to continue growing and evolving my craft, release some of my own production into the world, get some of my bucket list bookings in the calendar, and put on some shows in the future. Particularly in Brum!
By the time this goes live, I will have just made my Fabric debut which has been a goal of mine! But you can catch me in London and Birmingham this month, 14th with Braindance and 28th with Cava!
Peace!
A relatively new silhouette to the Karhu line up, the Ikoni Trail is a rugged offering from the Finish brand that’s ready to dominate the outdoors. A unique blend of functionality and bold styling, this latest model has adventure at its heart.
Introducing a new set of technologies to their arson, the Ikoni Trail features premium materials across the upper whilst underneath is Karhu’s latest AeroFoam Trail cushioning to offer the ultimate everyday cushioning. Making sure its not just another shoe that puts style over function, the Ikoni is an evolution of their tried and tested designs and provides a perfect balance when it comes to comfort and propulsion. Paying tribute to their archives, the asymmetrical forefoot lace is a signature design aspect but offers those tiny adjustments for the optimum fit.
Take a closer look at this new offering below and make sure you’re ready for your next adventure by shopping the Karhu Ikoni Trail online here!
It’s time to change the record. At Footpatrol we’re all about building a space to highlight creatives, and want to empower the women we have within our community. For International Women’s Day, we’ve teamed up with a female owned social media agency, spring, for a month-long campaign to change the record around stigmas and stereotypes that women face in their respective industries.
Introducing Zarina Muhammad, one half of The White Pube, ‘unprofessional part-time critics.’ We spoke to Zarina about making the arts more accessible to all, from conversational language they use in their text to the monthly grants they offer young creatives.
Footpatrol: Hey Zarina! Tell us about yourself and what you do?
ZM: I’m Zarina Muhammad. I’m one half of The White Pube and I’m an art critic. I write about art and exhibitions and the way it all makes me feel.
FP: What does ‘change the record’ mean to you?
ZM: So I think I’ve interpreted this question quite philosophically. I think change the record, it implies that there’s a way that things are done right? And it’s like this record that loops, it’s stuck and I think changing the record just means maybe a little reset, something different. It’s just nice to have something else. Like having something up next that there’s not yet had chance to be played.
FP: Let’s talk about The White Pube – what drove you and Gabrielle to start it?
ZM: I like art. I really like it. It’s great. More people should interact with art.
In reality, we did actually start The White Pube as a joke. We thought it was so funny. We thought of the idea of two girls that look and sound like us, there’s no way that we’d be art critics. So wouldn’t it be funny if we gave it a go. And I think I’m really glad we did because when people write about art, it’s like you’re historicizing it. I think it’s important that someone other than like a white middle class, middle aged man with a salary, a pension and like a two up two down in Hampstead. Someone other than that gets a chance to preserve their opinions about art.
FP: What stereotypes / stigmas do you face as a woman in the art world?
ZM: This is more like a question about whose genius we believe in, right, who do we naturally think of as clever? Who are we comfortable thinking of as a clever person who’s doing something different or something that we can respect?
I think when we first started the White Pube, we had a lot of people – it wasn’t just men – that were telling us like, ‘Oh, I don’t know what you’re doing, but you’re doing it wrong.’ Just because we were doing it slightly differently to the way it had always or traditionally been done before.
We didn’t invent embodied criticism. We didn’t invent writing the way you speak. I just think that people were less willing to take us seriously because we were women and that’s a really subtle, slight stigma. But it’s one that you chafe against, it’s a friction that kind of exists alongside you
FP: That’s a great way to put it. What’s your proudest achievement to date?
ZM: Every time I reach a milestone I completely forget it. It’s hard to find moments of pride when you, like, you are just like never stopping, like it’s just constant capitalism, right? It’s hard to take a moment to take stock. So I think actually what I’m most proud of is the longevity of it all. Like, we’re coming up on 7.5 years, we’ve published a text every single weekend for 7.5 years. That’s crazy. I’ve not been in relationships that long. This is the longest term relationship I’ve ever been in and like happy to be in it because I think I’m proud of the body of work that we have left behind us after those seven a half years and I want another 7.5 and another 7.5 after that. So I think, yeah, I’m proudest of Hard work.
FP: The White Pube have been able to actualise a lot of change for artists, tell us about that.
ZM: One thing we have done that is like a tangible difference that we’ve made, like direct action has been the Working class Creatives Grant. We put £500 a month in the pocket of working class Creative, We don’t ask for evaluation. There’s no formal application process. People just email us funding at thewhitepube.com and tell us what you make and just a little bit about yourself. I mean, it’s just it’s luck of the draw and it’s a rolling Grant. So there are a whole bunch of people in the email inbox who are still in the running and I think it is really important because the arts are so, so middle class and it’s hard. I’m a middle class person in the arts, like it’s terrible. There are so many of us and it’s so hard to make a living when you’re not middle class and when you’re just at the whims of like other people’s mercy, right? So £500 a month can make a huge difference and hopefully it will keep someone in the art world or the creative industries for a bit longer.
FP: Why is IWD still important and needed?
ZM: I think International Women’s Day is still important and still needed because it’s been illegal to pay me less than a man since before I was born. Yet somehow it still happens, right? Maybe sexism can be reasoned away is like quite an abstract, strange conceptual thing. Like it’s quite interpersonal. Maybe like you said something funny because I’m a I’m a girl. It’s also like a really tangible thing. It’s an economic thing. It affects like people’s socio political circumstances, their literal into their their personal sense of safety. It’s measurable. I think until that changes until it’s not just about gender like equality, it’s about gender equity. Like the amount of women that are impoverished on the basis of their gender, right? Like the way that gender often acts as an axis through which economic oppression can take place. Until that ceases to be a thing. I think International Women’s Day will remain important because it’s about taking stock of where we’re at with that weird balance.
FP: What does the future look like for women in the art world? What do you want to see?
ZM: So, I don’t know what the future for women in the arts actually holds because I think it can be such a strange industry that takes so many twists and turns. So I am notoriously bad at predicting the future. Please don’t take my word on this. I don’t know about women in the art world in the future because I think the art world is such a it’s an interesting industry, right? Everything changes so quickly and also nothing changes ever. Artists will always find a way to make interesting things happen regardless. And I think I’d like to see that.
FP: Got a piece of advice for your younger self?
ZM: Oh my God, I have so much advice for like, Baby Zarina because I think she needed to hear so much of it. She also would not like to be told fine, but I’d tell her to be brave and trust herself and she should do more. She should worry less about pissing people off because they’re gonna get pissed off anyway probably. And she’s just say how she feels and not worry about it because I think that’s when I really felt like a person, like an actual person and I started to care less about saying the right thing and that generally what’s right for the world and started saying the right thing that was right for me or true to me and I think that maybe it’s like the best part of being the white pube because we get to write criticism that feels true or maybe not true, but sincere and honest. I think those are three different things and I think trying to find that is like a lifetime’s work and I wish I’d started earlier.
Make sure to follow Zarina Muhammad & The White Pube,
Shout-out to the full female team that worked on this campaign:
Production: @springtheagency
Creative: @ttfinlay
Images: @alicetakingphotos
Video: @azcaptures
MUA: @tillyferrari
This campaign is powered by Nike!
As you may have seen from our recent social posts, we’re helping Salomon by celebrating the 10th anniversary of one of their most famed silhouettes, the XT-6. At Footpatrol, we were lucky enough to be one of the very few stockists around the world to launch the XT-6 10Y. With each pair numbered and limited to 804 worldwide, this unique pair harks back to its beginnings within the world of performance and trail running hence its near all red upper and features ‘Prototype’ detailings across the heel linking it back to that rich heritage it was founded.
Rolling out a series of special content surrounding the XT-6, we hopped on a call with the original designer of the XT-6, Benjamin Grenet to discuss his past within footwear design, the crossover between performance and trends and of course, the XT-6.
Footpatrol: So, let’s kick things off at the very start… Could you share with our audience how you got yourself into footwear design and in particular how you became a footwear designer at Salomon?
Benjamin: Firstly, I’m definitely more a product designer than a footwear designer and was designing long before my role at Salomon with different agencies. I’ve designed everything from boats and tools but I was always interested in performance products. I had the opportunity to join Salomon in ‘02, more than twenty years ago in the position as a bag designer for Salomon and did this for three years. It was interesting, very rich and I discovered the world of performance products through our S–Lab label and this was where I did my first design dedicated to athletes through this S-Lab line. It was three years later though that I joined the footwear team. I was a total virgin when it came to footwear design but I discovered everything about footwear from this moment and had at that time the position of Advanced Innovation designer which was good as I could dedicate my time to innovation without the pressures of the commercial aspect. So I had the different position of footwear design, designing products for hiking, trail running, S-Lab and now I manage the in-line team for footwear.
Footpatrol: So talking of S-Lab, technology and performance, we’re here to talk about the 10th anniversary of the XT-6, how does it make you feel to think it’s 10 years old now?
Benjamin: It’s strange! It’s strange to think we designed this product ten years ago and that it’s still alive and with definitely more quantities than in the past with the original product but it’s with thanks to our consumers who love the product and are still excited to wear the product.
Footpatrol: It must be a unique feeling seeing people wear something you’ve designed, whether that’s on the city streets or winning competitions around the world, what’s that feeling like as a designer?
for sure it’s pleasant for a designer to see their designs out on the street but I would say my real victory is to see my kids every morning with an XT-6 on their feet. It’s never happened in the past that my kids have wanted to wear different products but it’s the first time in my career that I see my kids wear something that was designed by their dad!
Footpatrol: As you say, you see your kid going to school, you see it during fashion weeks but can you tell us more about the original inspiration behind the XT-6?
Benjamin: Of course, so I’m very interested in motorsport, by all the mechanical products, it’s where I try to bring inspiration to my products especially for such a technical range like trail running. From the automotive world, I’m very intrigued by the technology and how the technology is the starting point of the design and not trying to hide this and instead trying to put the technology at the forefront of the design and as an element of the design aesthetic. That’s how I like to work, starting by understanding how we want to create the product in terms of functionality, I always try to avoid the question of the style, it’s not a question of the style, it’s more a concept of the technology and how we play with that within the design.
Footpatrol: Ok so when we talk about design, what are the kind of timelines you’ll be working towards? How long did it take to get to that final design of the XT-6?
Benjamin: In-fact, It’s both, It’s very quick but also a very long time… Let me explain. It’s a very long process because it’s an XT-6, a sixth generation of a very long evolution from the XT-Wings which was the first generation with this chassis and technology. We started to develop the S-LAB XT-1 and the 6 is this sixth generation, it’s a long evolution. So if we consider all the products before, it’s a very long time but between the 5 and the 6, within my career it was probably the fastest I had designed. Because thanks to those five products before, we had a lot of maturity and a greater understanding about the technology and what we needed to change and move. The most problematic aspect of the 6 was creating visibility on the market and how we can create a signature product within the market.
Footpatrol: So for those who may be unaware of where Salomon is from and the location of Annecy, how does the terrain that surrounds Annecy play in terms of testing and how important is it in regards to the end result.
Benjamin: Very important! The possibility to be very reactive to the test and the ability to test immediately and test any new prototypes with the mountains that surround us, it means we can test all year round. You can see it as a big laboratory but most important to us for the development of the product like S-LAB is the connection with athletes. It’s important to test the product but this line starts with the athletes and the core runners we have on our teams. Their ability to understand and test during runs or races it’s where we can learn or fail very quickly because they don’t have any empathy, they’ll tell you if a product works or it doesn’t work with no filter!
Footpatrol: Just touching on lifestyle and the day to day wearing of the shoe. Where do you see the XT-6 going within the lifestyle market.
Benjamin: Good question… It’s a secret! Haha. No, for sure, not only for the XT-6 but for all the lines is sustainability. The journey and how we can involve all our products in a more sustainable way and that’s how I see the story of the XT-6, without any spoilers! We have such a talented colour design team here at the design centre and we have a ton of beautiful colour ways to propose to the market and the XT-6 is very important to that. It’s a very good base for new colour propositions.
Footpatrol: One thing we were interested to learn was that the XT-6 mould was nearly destroyed at one point. Could you share a bit more about how this nearly came about and how it was thankfully saved!
Benjamin: It’s a very interesting point, it was something we discovered within our new position within sportstyle and how we can achieve and could re-propose to consumers. It’s a tricky point, from our performance product when it starts to be obsolete within performance it’s sometimes too early to propose it within Sportstyle, we sometimes need to wait some time but it’s difficult to sometimes measure this time. It’s tricky but this learning with the XT-6 helps direct us in the correct way for future silhouettes.
Footpatrol: Just touching back on the lifestyle aspect, so with the outdoor trends within fashion at the moment, how do you keep in touch with the loyalist of the brand but also look towards the future with these trends.
Benjamin: I would say, our performance line helps us stay humble and true. Within the performance line, we are able to provide something more authentic than Sportstyle and without that, without S-LAB, without the connection to athletes it will not be the same as Sportstyle. It’s very important to me to keep this link and it’s this timeless product that will help us within the Sportstyle line. We are in the outdoor Sportstyle, because of our outdoor performance.
Footpatrol: I suppose for those wanting to learn a little bit more about the different lines like for example, the XT-4 to the XT-6, how would you explain this?
Benjamin: It’s an evolution based on the same concept. In-fact, the XT-4 is based on the bottom unit of the XT-Wings, a non S-LAB product, at that time we created an S-LAB version, changed the outsole, lighter and transformed it to transform it to a more performance product. The XT-6 is based on the XT-Wings 2 and 3 bottom unit so it’s a slight evolution between both. What was funny was I designed the XT-Wings and another designer transformed it to S-LAB and for the 6, I designed the S-LAB and that designer designed the XT-Wings so we changed around.
Footpatrol: There’s been lots of Xt-6’s over the years but do you have a personal favourite? A colour way? A collaboration that resonates with you?
Benjamin: Woah! Now that’s a very difficult question… Of course I prefer the original but there are so many good variations of the XT-6. The one I prefer is always the next one that’s proposed by our design team. I’m not the creator of the new colourways but more the guardian of the temple and I’m always surprised by what our designers are able to propose so I’m always amazed by the next ones. So I’d have to say the first one, and the next one, the future ones!
Footpatrol: A timeless silhouette and like you say, hopefully in five, ten years we can have an even more in-depth conversation on how this silhouette has evolved and hope you’re there to tell that story again so thanks for taking the time to talk to us and we’ll speak again soon!
Benjamin: It’s a pleasure, you’re welcome!
At Footpatrol, March 26th is a day that’s etched within the sneaker calendar. A celebration of all things Nike Air Max, this years story was focussed on its true beginnings. The Beginnings that failed and ultimately led to the success of the Air Max 1.
This led us to think of the Big Bubble and the Air captured within the Air Unit. This led us down the road of Big Manny. An influential content creator, Big Manny holds a masters in bio medical science and his content has become an inspiration to his followers and the younger generation.
To celebrate, we launched ‘Lab 86‘. A one night event that celebrated science and air. Taking us through experiments, those lucky attendees got a first hand look at how to create fun and engaging formulas that all tied back to the AM86 and its ‘Big Bubble’.
Take a closer look at the evening below and look out for the Nike Air Max 86 Launching in-store and online on Sunday 26th March.
The journey of Salomon has been one we’ve seen grow and grow over recent years. First and foremost a performance brand, Salomon have been popping up on runways around the world with the upsurge in the outdoor trends and fashion world colliding.
Now, we help Salomon celebrate the 10th anniversary of the XT-6 with this special prototype edition. Limited to 804 pairs worldwide, this iteration takes on a prototype guise that is synonymous within the Salomon line up.
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE BELOW!
Te London in-store draw is now CLOSED!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above forms, these WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
In-store winners will be contacted via email informing them of their win. Within this email, winners will be given a set of dates in which they must collect their win from our London store. To collect, you will need to provide the winning email and a valid photographic government ID matching the winners name. NO ONE can collect on the winners behalf. Failure to provide this, or failure to collect within the given dates will mean failure to purchase your win.
