Author: Jake Archer

In 2021, the Air Jordan 1 has had a momentous year throughout its High to Low iterations. From inline retros to collaboration projects, the AJ1 is always expected to pull its weight for consumers. At the back end of the year, Jordan Brand introduces its latest release perfect for the colder months. For the first time ever, Jordan Brand are implementing one of the toughest weatherproof materials around – GORE-TEX. A popular component to tackle wind and water, GORE-TEX is synonymous to mountaineering, hiking, trekking and other outdoor activities. However, it has also been a huge mainstay to lifestyle fashion apparel and footwear.

For this latest Air Jordan 1, keeping its original shape, GORE-TEX covers the sneaker’s underlays and toe box while premium waterproof nubuck leather on the overlays provides protection. For full winter-weather coverage, a GORE-TEX inner bootie, tongue and plush lining inside the collar keep your feet locked-in, dry and warm as you trek through winter’s worst. reflective-design Swoosh, GORE-TEX branding and an Air Jordan Wings logo clipped to the heel complete this historic and innovative technical update for the Air Jordan 1.

The Air Jordan 1 High GORE-TEX is now sold out!

The YEEZY BOOST 350 V2 MX Rock features an upper composed of multi-toned re-engineered PRIMEKNIT. The post-dyed monofilament side stripe is woven into the upper. The Midsole Utilises adidas’ innovative BOOST technology.

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE BELOW!

The London in-store draw is now closed!

The ONLINE draw is live over on the Footpatrol Launches App, CLICK HERE to download!

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.

To sign up to the Online draw, you will need to download the Footpatrol Launches app and complete a pre-authorisation payment of the retail price of the product plus shipping costs. This will be held until completion of the draw. Those successful will have their win posted out to the address entered during sign up. Those unsuccessful will see a return of their funds, this can take up to 5 working days from when the winners have been drawn.

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE BELOW!

The London in-store draw is now closed!

The ONLINE draw is live over on the Footpatrol Launches App, CLICK HERE to download!

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.

To sign up to the Online draw, you will need to download the Footpatrol Launches app and complete a pre-authorisation payment of the retail price of the product plus shipping costs. This will be held until completion of the draw. Those successful will have their win posted out to the address entered during sign up. Those unsuccessful will see a return of their funds, this can take up to 5 working days from when the winners have been drawn.

Ever since its arrival on court way back in 1985, the Air Jordan 1 has become an iconic symbol on the streets as much as it had on the B-Ball courts. With countless iterations and collaborations since that birth its no wonder the Air Jordan 1 is a go to for many sneaker enthusiasts.

This latest take however draws on a more craftsmanship approach with the Air Jordan 1 ‘Craft’. Built with a handcrafted approach in mind, this latest design features a mix of over layered panels of colours and materials to create this stand out iteration. Soft leathers connect with rich nubuck and canvas each featuring its own bold colour to really bring this silhouette to life.

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE BELOW!

The London in-store draw is now closed!

The ONLINE draw is live over on the Footpatrol Launches App, CLICK HERE to download!

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.

To sign up to the Online draw, you will need to download the Footpatrol Launches app and complete a pre-authorisation payment of the retail price of the product plus shipping costs. This will be held until completion of the draw. Those successful will have their win posted out to the address entered during sign up. Those unsuccessful will see a return of their funds, this can take up to 5 working days from when the winners have been drawn.

Debuting its unmistakable fit in 1964. The Clarks Wallabees, a distinctive member of the Clarks Originals collection, has teamed up with Brooklyn based waffle house Sweet Chick for a modern iteration of the iconic silhouette. Under the creative provision of Clarks creative director Paolo Gabrielli, the waffle-inspired moccasin fit is one of many collaborations this year that sports an idiosyncratic spin on the beloved originals. 

Sweet Chick, a well-renowned fried chicken and waffle restaurant based in New York was founded by John Seymour in 2013 and was later backed by the legendary rapper NAS in 2015. The restaurant became such a popular franchise that it turned into a chain of stores across the US and imminently one in London. Clarks Originals collaboration with Sweet Chick is quite unconventional- playing homage to their staple waffles- an all time favourite American snack.  

Solidifying its unique and cultural collaboration this year, the British born shoe brand has opted for an unorthodox spin on their classic Wallabee silhouette. The newborn Clarks Originals x Sweet Wallabee pairing indulges in a hairy suede moccasin composition, to mimic the waffles whilst diamond detailing perforates the vamp for added waffle like texture. What’s more, an added front lace closure for a snug and secure fit, with added embroidered stitching around the toe cap for an eloquent touch. The unique fit is rounded up with a wedge crepe rubber sole for durability, comfort and an authentic Clarks finish. The timeless design is previewed in two colourways, Brown/Red and Natural/Green for ultimate taste to your Clarks footwear rotation.

Launching online at Footpatrol on Tuesday 14th December!

Pioneering a court fit in 95, the Air Jordan 11 silhouette has always been a credible and unique sighted silhouette within the Jordan lineage.The sleek and memorable shoes that owns its stand-out style is under the creative visionary of iconic Nike designer Tinker Hatfield. Whether it is  gracing the basketball courts, paired with a tracksuit ensemble,  or  even its unconventional wearings with a suit, the Jordan 11’s are legendary in subverting its own burrowing style making it a quintessential for style inspiration. 

A synonymous Michael Jordan favourite, the Jordan 11 holds undeniable history. Returning after a short-lived departure from the Chicago Bulls franchise, Michael Jordan’s courtly appearance  in 1995 saw  the first benign sightings of the distinctive ‘11’s in a full-fledged, primal “concord” colourings of white and black.

This year marks 20 years following the debut of the ‘Cool’ Grey colourway and since then, the OG ‘Cool Grey’ iteration has become an unrivalled favourite. The newest rendition to the Jordan roster, is the Nike  Air Jordan 11 ‘Cool Grey’. On offer, a distinctive patent leather overlays upper in a darker tone, infused  with a nubuck leather that indulges a soft ‘Cool’ grey tone, whilst the signature Jumpman logo is meticulously embroidered on the collar. The court to street fit further rocks a thick lace closure for added durability, rounded off with an translucent icy blue insole for added cushioning and support. 

Sporting it’s voluntary influence in everyday life, Footpatrol have teamed up with Hoops B4 Work in a campaign showcasing the upcoming launch of the ‘Cool Grey’ Air Jordan 11 collection and it’s unrivalled influence that shoes has on physical activity. 

Hoops B4 Work is a community of basketball enthusiasts that aim to re-engage individuals who have a passion for the game as well as  developing healthy long life habits to be active, increasing their mental well-being. The Clapham-based basketball community provides access to their basketball through their unique coaching  sessions that deliver between 6.30-7.45am as a gym alternative, uplifting your mood and preparing you for the work day. The bespoke classes are tailored to fit your needs and lifestyle, supporting players of all levels.

At Footpatrol we had the pleasure of featuring co-founder of sneaker sisterhood and b-ball fanatic Giulia Zed and coach Ruth in a captivating photoshoot concept. We catch up with them to discuss the trainer’s sporting influence.

Footpatrol: We ask everybody that we interview a starting question of how are you?

Giulia: I am good thanks, how are you?

FP: I am good thank you. I would say introduce yourself but I would say can you do that a little bit but you are already an recognisable figure in this scene, people know who you are. If anything could you give us a brief overview for anyone who may not be aware and also where your love for basketball and Jordan’s started. 

Giulia: I am Giulia, I am one of the co-founders of sneaker sisterhood and I am a basketball player. I am originally from Italy, that’s why my accent is a little funny. I started playing basketball when I was really little. My dad played pro-back at home and he kind of shared that love with me. I started playing when I was around 12 years old and never really got off the basketball court since. I really fell in love with it due to mainly the community that surrounded me. I would always play individual sports like swimming and tennis, so in an environment with a team sport was really just something that changed my life. I made friends for life, it was an amazing community, people that I saw six times a week, sometimes twice a day, it really gave me a home and a sense of belonging. 

FP: Could you touch on a little bit on how your love for the Jordan brand kicked off?

Giulia: Yeah, growing up in Italy again, all I would see of the Jordan brand was quite far removed. I had a family that lived out in the states and one of my older cousins, actually fourteen years older , would always send shoes back home or whenever he visited from Miami he would be wearing Jordan stuff. Obviously, I would then see clips of Michael Jordan, of the Bulls and so on, I really started to get into that more American side of basketball. It wasn’t until later on that I was able to start forcing my parents to buy those shoes, obviously I was a little kid and I couldn’t afford them but the impact that it had on me and my love for basketball was quite evident. My parents gave in and started picking up pieces here and there when I could find my size and it continued from there.

FP: Let’s touch a bit on basketball itself and the culture that surrounds it. How do you think this has affected London as a city since you have been here?

Giulia: I have been in London on and off for a total of about 10 years now. I’ve seen the scene change a lot in that time. Basketball has become a lot more prevalent, there’s been a lot more investment in the sport , even though not as much as we need just yet. But for me, basketball is what has always given me access to friendships in London, it is how I met most of my close friends, going to my local court in Clapham and being able to meet people through the sport. Like every city, I think, but in London it just feels really special because it is a smaller community and it may be continental in Europe or in the States but it is a really tightly knit community and it is really fantastic to see. Anytime I go to any tournament or any court there is always someone I know, it is just family really.  

FP: Could you tell us a bit about your involvement in Hoops B4 Work and how you found out about it? 

Giulia: Hoops B4 Work saved me, especially during Covid. It was around 2 years ago, my friend Darnell who used to work at the NBA and I knew her through work was like you need to come to these morning sessions. We play outside, we are allowed even with pandemic rules, we are even allowed to play outdoors, just come it’s early in the morning but it will really help you get back into fitness. I reluctantly started heading out at 6.30 in the morning in the outdoor courts in Clapham in the freezing cold and I met coach Ruth and just her energy and vibe and everything that she does just made me fall in love with the Hoops B4 Work community. I am not a morning person but I was going 4 days a week to the Hoops B4 Work sessions, the scrimmages, everything. Generally it saved me during Covid because for my mental health basketball is really important and during lockdown, not being able to play indoors was really affecting me, so finding a space where I could be around my people again was incredible.

FP: Just to build off what you were saying on the mental side of things and also the physical side of everything. Could you explain in more depth how you think it affected yourself and the individuals that you get to be with all the time in train sessions?

Giulia: First of all, what I find amazing about Hoops B4 Work is that it is open to everyone. We do so much on individual practice as well, on top of the scrimmages and the team play where anybody can join which is amazing. You’ll have 18 year olds that come and play, you have 45 year olds that come and play, you have people that maybe just joined basketball a couple years ago and you have veterans of the sport. I think it is incredible to see the impact that it has on so many people and how it makes new people fall in love with the sport as well. But mentally, for me, basketball is really my safe space. Hoops B4 Work- I really think it is because of Coach Ruth, I am a big fan of hers, but her energy is so infectious and she just brings so much good energy. Sometimes I get a little frustrated with myself from the way I play and she is always so positive, like this voice in the back of my head that is super positive. Both physically and mentally that really helps me to keep a positive mindset. I really see that with everyone else in Hoops B4 Work as well, she is just able to have this impact on everyone, it doesn’t matter age, gender and so on, she is really a great, positive presence in this space. 

FP: I want to talk about your huge involvement besides training, a competitive edge to what you do, playing for the London All-Stars, how has that been going and how did your involvement in that start?

Giulia: First off we are undefeated and we are absolutely smashing the league. It is actually a new team that Coach Ruth and Coach Lisa registered for the first time to really push and elevate women’s basketball in the UK. They wanted to put together a really strong team that could show everything that we can do but also what we can do with female coaches and a whole female effort behind the scenes. Which I am fully supportive of  and I think it is incredible. I got involved, thanks to Coach Ruth and it has been amazing to be a part of this new team. The girls are incredible, so much talent, a lot of homegrown talent, plenty of amazing British girls but also exciting to see a lot of foreign talent coming in. We got Spanish girls, Italian girls and French girls- a really unique community. 

FP: To sign it all off, is there anything you would like to share to the Footpatrol friends and family, that could be anything from getting people gassed about something, a message of positivity, whatever you like.

Giulia: I would say just remember how important keeping active is, as part of your lifestyle it is good for your mental health, it is good for your fitness. The endorphins it releases is really good, times have been tough, we have to stick together. Find your community, find people that make you feel good and stick around them. 

FP: Let’s talk about your basketball and Jordan relationship

Giulia: Yeah, so Jordan’s have always been a part of my basketball journey,I’ve gone through quite a few of the silhouettes growing up. I am currently playing the Jordan 36’s which are epic, the 11’s as we were saying before was one of the silhouettes that have the technology for me to play and I love them. It was one of my first entries into the Jordan brand with  the Space Jam’s in 2009, I’ve gone through the ‘Concords’ and yeah this colourway I have never owned the ‘Cool Greys’ , these are absolutely incredible and the materials are really insane. The tongue is so nice , I think these will definitely be a part of my lifestyle/ potential crossover to the court collection.

FP: Can we talk about how the Jordans have been synonymous with the game and the lifestyle, and how it has always been an icon and it’s historically rooted  to the game.

Giulia: I think as far as I remember, Jordan brand has been literally basketball, I don’t think you can split the two. When you think about basketball you think about Jordan, you think about Jordan brand, you think about everything that the brand has achieved in the sports in terms of technology, materials for a performance side but also from a lifestyle side. If you weren’t wearing Jordans are you a part of that community? Do you know about basketball? Because they are absolutely iconic and at the core of the basketball community itself.

FP: Just to extend on that question and answer, as your part of Hoops B4 Work as well as the Sneaker Sisterhood, how does the Jordan brand relate to what you’re doing and what you’re a part of from both Hoops B4 Work and Sneaker Sisterhood?

Giulia: Yeah, I guess everybody that I play basketball with has played in Jordans , wears Jordans and is a true fan of Michael Jordan, the connection is obvious. In terms of Sneaker Sisterhood I’ve actually met a lot of girls through the sisterhood that actually play basketball so that connection is always there and we are all really excited now that the Jordan brand has signed so many WNBA players to the brand. I wear the Jordan 36’s that Satou Sabally did the launch with and it is good to see Kia Nurse get a colourway as well , it is exciting for the brand to work with so many female athletes. In terms of Hoops B4 Work, because so many of  the people from Hoops B4 Work are born and bred Brits and the Jordan brand is actually such a big part of British culture and streetwear culture.  It is actually amazing to see how it has transferred from everything they wear on court to wear outdoors to lifestyle. Whenever I see all my friends and we’re all going out they will always have 11’s on foot, 4’s on foot, 3’s on foot, it is an obvious collection.

Pioneering a court fit in 95, the Air Jordan 11 silhouette has always been a credible and unique sighted silhouette within the Jordan lineage. The sleek and memorable shoes that owns its stand-out style is under the creative visionary of iconic Nike designer Tinker Hatfield. Whether it is  gracing the basketball courts, paired with a tracksuit ensemble, or even its unconventional wearings with a suit, the Jordan 11’s are legendary in subverting its own burrowing style making it a quintessential for style inspiration. 

A synonymous Michael Jordan favourite, the Jordan 11 holds undeniable history. Returning after a short-lived departure from the Chicago Bulls franchise, Michael Jordan’s courtly appearance  in 1995 saw the first benign sightings of the distinctive ‘11’s in a full-fledged, primal “concord” colourings of white and black.

This year marks 20 years following the debut of the ‘Cool’ Grey colourway and since then, the ‘OG Cool’ Grey iteration has become an unrivalled favourite. The newest rendition to the Jordan roster, is the Nike  Air Jordan 11 ‘Cool Grey’. On offer, a distinctive patent leather overlays upper in a darker tone, infused  with a nubuck leather that indulges a soft ‘Cool’ grey tone, whilst the signature Jumpman logo is meticulously embroidered on the collar. The court to street fit further rocks a thick lace closure for added durability, rounded off with an translucent icy blue insole for added cushioning and support. 

Sporting it’s voluntary influence in everyday life, Footpatrol have teamed up with Hoops B4 Work in a campaign showcasing the upcoming launch of the ‘Cool Grey’ Air Jordan 11 collection and it’s unrivalled influence that shoes has on physical activity. 

Hoops B4 Work is a community of basketball enthusiasts that aim to re-engage individuals who have a passion for the game as well as developing healthy long life habits to be active, increasing their mental well-being. The Clapham-based basketball community provides access to their basketball through their unique coaching sessions that deliver between 6.30-7.45am as a gym alternative, uplifting your mood and preparing you for the work day. The bespoke classes are tailored to fit your needs and lifestyle, supporting players of all levels.

At Footpatrol we had the pleasure of featuring co-founder of sneaker sisterhood and b-ball fanatic Giulia Zed and coach Ruth in a captivating photoshoot concept. We catch up with them to discuss the trainer’s sporting influence.

Footpatrol: We start off all our interviews by asking, how are you ?

Coach Ruth: I am fine Bradley, how are you doing?

FP: I am good thank you. I must admit I don’t get asked that all the time on the other side of the interviews, thank you!  Well, Coach Ruth we have heard so many amazing things about you, only positives of course. For those that haven’t had the pleasure to have met you yet, could you give us a bit of an insight as to who you are and what you do.

Coach Ruth: My name is Coach Ruth and I am the founder of Hoops B4 Work, an adult basketball session that runs 6.30 in the morning to 7.30, 3 days a week.

FP: Could you give us a bit of an insight of how your love for basketball started?

Coach Ruth: I started playing basketball when I was 11 at secondary school and continued to when I was about 20, I am not going to tell you how old I am now. But I still play , my kids play and I coach women , adults, men, children and I just love the game, what it brings to people’s lives and the social aspect of it most importantly. 

FP: Over all the years you have been playing starting from 11 to present day coaching, how do you see basketball and the culture around it affect London as a city?

Coach Ruth: I just think basketball gives people an opportunity to meet new people from different backgrounds, mainly females. It brings smaller communities together but also grows the wider communities across the borough.

FP: Have you seen more opportunities arise over the years with basketball?

Coach Ruth: Yeah, I think there are more opportunities for anybody to play basketball. You can go to any borough in London and find an indoor court, an outdoor court. There’s more opportunities for females in the game to coach, to play, to referee but basketball has grown across the whole and there’s different elements you can get involved in.

FP: Obviously we are here to focus on Hoops B4 Work and everything that you do behind it, can we get a little insight as to what made you want to start Hoops B4 Work? 

Coach Ruth: Hoops B4 Work was started for two different reasons. One because I was a referee and I was getting abused by players that didn’t really understand the game but wanted to learn the game but their frustration was coming out because they didn’t understand the rules. The other one was that my son kept waking me up at 6 o’clock in the morning asking to go coach him in the court, so I was like well there is a shortage of availability of courts, so why not teach people that want to play and then my son could go to that. He could have people to play with, also I could help people learn the game.

FP: How have you seen it bringing people together and as you said across multiple different backgrounds affect people physically and mentally? Have you seen a positive change?

Coach Ruth: Yeah, the people that come to my sessions are aimed at those that used to play in school, university and college.The social aspects that improve in their skills development but also creating a behaviour change. It is about packing your bags the night before, improving mental health, getting people to have a fun time but also improving their basketball skills at the same time. 

FP: Would you like to keep Hoops B4 Work an London based organisation? Or one day would you like to see it grow nationwide?

Coach Ruth: I would love to see it grow worldwide, getting more people playing from whichever country you are in, whichever time zone you are in and just get people playing the game, whatever level both male and female. Just really growing the game to a next level.

FP: To sign everything off, is there anything you would like to share to Footpatrol readers, listeners, the lot whether that would be something to get them excited for, a message of positivity, anything. 

Coach Ruth: I think Hoops B4 Work caters for all, we just did a female focused tournament which I am so proud about. We are getting more women playing, more female refs, videographers but also catering for the men as well. We do mix tournaments, if you are interested in playing whether you are a beginner, an elite person or whether you want to get involved with coaching just come down to Hoops B4 Work, we’ve got something for everyone.

FP: Coach Ruth, what does basketball mean to you ?

Coach Ruth :That’s a great question, I just love the game, I love meeting new people and teaching people. I love seeing people grow and develop their confidence, I do it everyday so it is a part of my DNA. When people say that it is actually something that I love doing, it is not about payment, it is not about the hours put in, it is about the end product and how you see people develop and grow on and off the court. That is both for adults and kids. 

FP: Let’s talk about the need for the community in London, the community that Hoops B4 Work brings, what kind of transformations have you seen in people building that community?

Coach Ruth: Hoops B4 Work has built a wider community in Basketball. One of the oldest people to come in was 65, the youngest person has been 18. Once you see people develop you even have  some of the wives saying to me ‘wow their partner has transformed and improved, they have lost weight, they are in a better mental state.’ It is just about giving people an opportunity to play. At 6.30 in the morning the courts are free, so you are never going to get an obstacle, the only obstacle is you getting out of bed. Other than that it is an environment that is welcoming, any ability can come to Hoops we’ll teach you and help you grow.

FP: Let’s talk a little bit more about the importance of growing the women’s side of the game. Firstly, why is there a need for improving the women’s game and how are you going about it? 

Coach Ruth: My passion is to improve women’s access to basketball. There is a lack of opportunity for women to play in the game but I am about to change that and create a female focused environment where women feel empowered, where women support other women and we are on a journey together. It can’t be done alone, if there are any females out there that want to get involved, you don’t have to be able to play, it could be through administration, coaching or it could just be I want to give it a go. My passion is to create further opportunities. I have a son that plays, a daughter that plays both that don’t have the same path but eventually one day,  both of them will have the same path.

FP: How does the Jordan brand and Hoops B4 Work merge? 

Coach Ruth: The Jordan brand and the Hoops B4 Work are both community based initiatives. Our aim is to grow the community and build the community. We both have similar ethoses and it is about creating opportunities for all. Whatever background you come from, gender you are, it is about how we can build a wider community from basketball. 

FP: I would originally say that basketball is more of an American game played in big stadiums but you get kids going down in cages playing, is there a big community of basketball in London?

Coach Ruth: Yeah

FP: Let’s talk a little bit about that and how you play your part in the community and how Hoops B4 Work bridges that gap between people who want to get into playing but don’t really know how to approach playing, as it can be a little bit intimidating approaching a team. Tell me a little bit about bridging that gap of understanding and getting people into the game in the city 

Coach Ruth: Basketball within London is really growing, I set up Hoops B4 Work to try and get a new target audience and to grow the game. But to also grow the community, if you are new to basketball you wouldn’t want to go to a new team. It is quite intimidating playing for or going to a session that already has players that play. What we do is try and open the doors to anybody, whether you have played before, whether you have got experience but also just to build a basketball community. To feed that into the young people that I coach. It is about creating opportunities whether you are male or female, an older adult with experience in school. I had somebody last week that joined, that had not played in over 20 years and they were nervous. I met them downstairs and as soon as you come into Hoops B4 Work everyone has to introduce my ethoses, everyone has to say hello to everybody and if you don’t you get press ups. It is about creating that open door policy.

FP: One thing more about me is the discipline, getting up when it’s cold outside, it’s dark, getting up, getting out there and getting to and it can feel hard in the moment but like you are going to feel great afterwards. So re-establishing people’s routine and discipline through the manifestation of the game.  

Coach Ruth: Hoops B4 Work is about creating behaviour change , about people’s mindset and how they would prepare for work. It is the same thing through basketball, setting your kit the night before, getting your work clothes ready the night before it is hard, 6.30 in the morning especially for those that like to sleep. I’ve got a player that sets her alarm four, five times and still asks some of the players to wake her up. But once you are there it doesn’t seem like 6.30, the environment changes, for about 10 minutes it is 6.30 in the morning but once that goes the environments are high fives, there’s laughter, there’s oh no coach no more running please. But the environment is a positive environment and it is designed to make people have the right start to their day and to create a positive attribute to their life but also teaching them a new skill, which is a life skill, basketball is not just a game it is a lifestyle skill. It is more than just a game guys. 

Nike’s newest collaboration with K-pop superstar G-Dragon and his PEACEMINUSONE, the Kwondo1 silhouette is set to release. A trainer that offers a cultural accolade to Nike’s heritage, while infused with Korean street style. What’s more, the South Korean singer and song writer’s latest design also adopts formal eloquence whilst also boasting sportswear influence in visuals and technology.

Featuring a ‘Triple White’ upper crafted from a smooth brogue leather with specs of decorative perforations and stitching on the overlays. Co-branding can be found on the tongue tab and lace tips, while the front lace shrouds are hallmarked with ‘PEACEMINUSONE’ and the label’s signature branding, also shown on the insole. Further floral daisy stitching adorns the heel for a pop of colour and intricate detail. Underfoot is minimal with a crisp white sole.

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE BELOW!

The London in-store draw is now closed!

The ONLINE draw is live over on the Footpatrol Launches App, CLICK HERE to download!

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.

To sign up to the Online draw, you will need to download the Footpatrol Launches app and complete a pre-authorisation payment of the retail price of the product plus shipping costs. This will be held until completion of the draw. Those successful will have their win posted out to the address entered during sign up. Those unsuccessful will see a return of their funds, this can take up to 5 working days from when the winners have been drawn.

The YEEZY Slide features injected EVA foam for lightweight durability, whilst the soft top layer in the footbed offers immediate step in comfort. The outsole utilises strategically mapped grooves for optimal comfort and traction.

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE BELOW!

The London in-store draw is now closed!

The ONLINE draw is live over on the Footpatrol Launches App, CLICK HERE to download!

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.

To sign up to the Online draw, you will need to download the Footpatrol Launches app and complete a pre-authorisation payment of the retail price of the product plus shipping costs. This will be held until completion of the draw. Those successful will have their win posted out to the address entered during sign up. Those unsuccessful will see a return of their funds, this can take up to 5 working days from when the winners have been drawn.

Design comes in many different forms. Whether it’s within footwear design, architecture, painting, essentially everything started off as a concept and slowly grew into a reality.  

The Air Force 1 ‘Sculpt’ is without a doubt one of those creations. For this release though we wanted to approach it in a slightly different way, looking into an industry we felt was one of the lesser spoken about/lesser known skill sets behind design and sculpting. 

We took a trip over to West Hampstead to meet father and daughter duo Chirs Bramble and Freya Bramble-Carter and asked them to give us a little bit of insight into the world of ceramics and pottery and some of the history behind the industry alongside what they do as experienced and well respected creatives within their field. 

Read the full interview and feature below and shop the Nike Air Force 1 ‘Sculpt’ here!

Footpatrol: I always start every interview with whoever we interview with a simple question of how are you ?

Chris: Feeling good

Freya: Yeah feeling good, revamping everything, everything is fresh at the moment, I am re-doing my home. I feel like it is quite a fresh time for me which is nice, I just came back from a trip. 

FP: For those people that haven’t had the opportunity to meet you guys or have seen your work, could you give us a bit of an introduction on  what you do and who you are?

Chris: My name is Chris Bramble, I am a tutor and a ceramic pottery and sculptor. I work in London, North West, I make products and I teach. 

Freya: I call myself an artist, I teach pottery, I share the studio with my father and I like to make work in my own space as well and we sell and exhibit together and separately. We do lots of work playing around with the community and internationality, that’s the practice. 

FP: Where did it all begin for you both?

Chris: Well for me it began at college. I was doing an exhibition design course and I was allowed to use all the materials. I fell in love with clay and dropped everything else overnight and did clay until I could get a portfolio together and luckily enough, through an invite I was able to go to the Glasgow School of Art to do my BA Honours degree. I enjoyed  it so much I stayed there for 10 years. I took 2 years out and went to Zimbabwe and I taught in Zimbabwe and was an exhibition officer in the national gallery for 2 years. 

Freya: I studied fine art and there was a ceramics studio there, I was in the studio working with clay a lot and I thought, I am doing all these different art forms but clay was the one thing I kept going back to. I was fluent in it and that’s because I’ve had past experiences growing up in my dad’s studio, helping teach and stuff like that as a child. After university, I felt it was a natural calling, it’s always what I’ve wanted to do to be honest. I kind of had a moment when I fell out of love with the art industry and when I started to be creative again it was the only thing I wanted to put my hands to. I asked my dad, can I help you out in the studio for a little bit if you give me some pocket money. I started teaching kids classes. Then the ball just started rolling to just teaching everyday. I learnt the practice inside out really. 

Chris: I totally agree. She got her degree at Chelsea!

FP: Did you ever think you would follow in your dad’s footsteps in this kind of line of work?

Freya: No , I didn’t think I would follow, I didn’t plan it all. I think probably as a kid I thought it wasn’t really a thing for me. Naturally we both knew my twin sister didn’t want to follow what our parents did. That is only because it is natural you see how difficult it is at home. Maybe for one reason they were really looking after us as kids, we felt their stress. In our minds we were thinking whatever they are doing we’re not going to do. People even ask me oh you ‘re going to do pottery, no, no, no. But you know what, I wouldn’t do anything else, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I think the best advice you gave was to follow what I enjoy and since I’ve made that decision more so now, everything else just went out of the window really. 

FP: Chris, from your perspective, what is it like seeing your daughter following in your footsteps?

Chris: It is a lovely recognition to be working with your daughter. I’ve worked with loads of different people over the years and I found working with my daughter is the safest, you got somebody watching your back. Your kids are away from you for a longer time whether it is at school or university, they disappear. It is nice that her and her twin sister have come back and that we have worked together and we are able to push the business much further than I could have done myself. 

 FP: Sounds like wholesome content if you ask me. I’ve told you guys briefly, I have discovered you guys through the vogue article, and honestly  when I saw some of the pieces of work surrounded by both of you, that was when I was like yep. Coincidentally, Nike asked us to do a project the same week on the shoot , being on the Sculpt Air Force 1’s, so that is the direction we wanted to go in. Could you tell us a bit about your own respective styles and would you say they differ completely or is there a lot of similarities between the two?   

Chris: The similarity between the two of us is that we can both throw large wear , which isn’t a problem for us. When Freya does her large wear she uses it as a  canvas , I think she falls back on her painting a bit with the use of colours when she went to Chelsea School of Arts. I was lucky I had two different tutors at the beginning, a sculptor and a thrower. I was able to put human elements in my work. That’s why you see heads on top of pots or hands coming out of handles as it is quite figurative. Human elements, I like human elements because I feel like everyone can really communicate with that. 

FP: And yourself Freya?

Freya: I suppose I like human elements as well, I kind of incorporate them into the forms of lots of vessels. I think I have spent more than a couple of years doing vases and kind of sculptural domestic wear. Slightly leaning more into interior design, whereas he does what he does really well, it’s kind of got a bit floral and femiminine, my market really appreciated it. I really enjoy making that work,  I am really into technical glazing and all of that is really exciting to me. In the future I have got plans to do other styles of work, to move on and expand in other directions and I also work with my sister who also does theatre. We are kind of expanding and exploring with different kinds of mediums , we got projects like community projects that we might be working on next year, and a lot of exciting things that involve the community. 

FP: Where do you guys see your brand and studio going ? Did you plan to expand, any ideas to take over the world or did you want to keep local, small and family-focused?

Freya: I think we can do both.

Chris: The most important thing is that we can carry on enjoying it and be able to make it grow honestly. Without it turning into a mass production thing, we believe that we put a bit of our spirit in our work, it’s a bit of us and when you go too wide, then sometimes you see the colleagues lose a bit when they get too satisfied . We hope to keep that together but carry on  growing like we have been doing in the last few years.

Freya: I think that it is special  to have the close knit community and have the family vibe and most importantly above everything it is about care. People  value the care that we give and they give in exchange. It is really important , I think, for this type of work  for people who really put their life and soul into what they make, we treat them with utmost respect and help them. I feel like we would be contradicting ourselves and our integrity as people and artists if we work in mass production, it goes against the whole point really , but we do want to expand in a way where we just want to have more people that can help us do that really. Personally, I would love to go more internationally as well. I think I am in a time in my life now that I am ready to travel. It would be nice to open studios abroad or work with other artists, just be open in that sort of way. There are definitely ideas in that way. 

FP: This question is mainly down to my naivety of the industry. When you guys were getting into pottery, besides having each other’s backs, were there any other influences or artists that you had, that helped as a catalyst wanting to work in this industry?  

Chris & Freya: No

Freya: My only inspiration was the work that I saw in my home and living lounge was his work. To be honest, no other ceramics inspired me in the same way, as there are loads of  people that work with clay, but not really. When I started studying it , I was pulling out different types of sculptors like Alan Peascod. I like expressive people like that . 

Chris: All I can say is that my original teacher told me to drop my exhibition in, Anthony Bennett was really important because I could see what could be done with clay. When I went up to the V&A, I was told Anthony Benett originally did the ‘d’andfour man’ and he was able to every line in his lip , every crease at the side of the eye, every hair on his face and he did it all in clay. He was my true inspiration. Through him I was able to understand and express my feelings through clay and be able to manipulate it into any form or shape, whether it was a toilet or whether it was bricks for a house or cups, sourcers etc. Through him I understood that it was a matter of doing it. Just do it and that’s it.

FP: I love the example, the first one the toilet, a class little anecdote! 

Freya: I had to make a toilet once it was awful.

FP: May I ask why you had to make a toilet?

Freya: I forgot to make the rim and the toilet water splashed out of the bowl onto the person. 

Chris: Have you ever  seen pottery throwdown? Have you ever heard of it ?

FP : No 

Pottery Throwdown is a series on television once a year, where they get 10 amateur potters, it is like British Bake off, it is run by the same company, sold by the same company the Love Productions. So Freya was on that and the day she got thrown out, is that day she forgot to put the rim on the toilet, so when they pulled the chain it all came out and trenched the judge. They loved it, they kept it there because it was fun. This programme was built for people to show what they can do and it’s entertaining. 

FP: I wanted to go into a little bit of detail just to talk about the different types of clay, purely because I feel for a lot of people it is a new bit of insight to the industry. Could you give us a brief example of the different types of clay and the different effect it can have on the final result.

Chris: Well, London is built on clay so when you get a hot summer and the ground dries up, you get a lot of subsidence in London. London is built on red earthwear , that’s why it is full of pottery and we have large smoke stacks in London. If you use that clay in the ground, dig up the ground anywhere in London you’ll get a sticky yellowy brown stuff and that’s called red earthwear. That red earthwear is used to make cider jars, slits in roofs, bricks and gardening pots. Now, the red earthwear gardening pots, everyone should recognise them because they are kind of red/ browny , they are very porous so they half fire them, so it drains water out of them. London is rich with it. Porcelain is completely up the high end , the red earth would be fired to 1000 to 1040 whereas porcelain will be fired right up to 1,400 degree.  Porcelain is translucent, some porcelain is see-through, at 1,400 degrees the porcelain clay turns into glass, but that originally comes from China. A natural happening thing in China, however, earlier on in the century, we found out that we can replicate it rather than buy it as imports from China. You can find most of them clays down in Cornwall and to give it’s translucent ability, bone has to be added and the bone burns out and makes it whiter and adds calcium. It is called bone china because it has got bone in it, people don’t release it has bone in it. 

Now the other kind of main clay is stoneware and that came about in the mid 50 and 60s where their studio pottery had a revolution. It started with a guy named Hamada from Japan and a guy called Bernard Leach , they are the Godfathers of studio pottery. Studio pottery means that you have a small company making things by hand, which was opposed to the Industrial Revolution in 1910, where we had machines mass making things that was the beginning. Large cotton weaving up North and industrially made ceramics in Stoke-on-Trent. Stoke-on-Trent had five pottery towns together that actually  produced together to create pottery for the whole country. Now  those companies are slowly dying. I will list a couple of reasons for that because we have companies like Habitat and IKEA to mass produce things and people like cleaner cut  things these days. So they like mould made things rather than hand painted and handmade. The other thing which is quite unusual, up to the 70’s everybody got married. Once you got married, you always got at least a 150 piece tea set for your wedding present. Some people have two or three, if you ask somebody mature they will say I’ve still got one of those tea sets upstairs. People also used to have large racks on the walls for these things. Another reason is that Americans used to come over and buy whole sets of Derby wear, Dembi, Worcester and all these other sets.

Freya: The clay we use is  stoneware in the studio and we have a light grey to dark grey black stoneware.  A lot of Chris’s work is like grogged play, which means that it is really gritty, so a lot of the sculptural stuff will have a stronger grogged play and you will see a grainier texture  on the surface compared  to smoother and coarser plays. 

Chris: The revolution of the industrial and handmade things and it’s happening now again, the kickback against people sitting in front of computers all the time instead of feeding information into computers, people are getting bits of clay now and expressing themselves.

Freya: Yeah, now it is like people like really wonky stuff, not clean stuff as it is more raw.

People are expressing themselves when they are at dinner parties,it doesn’t matter if you are man or  woman, the artist is out there giving out their dinner and it is a conversation, like ‘oh did you make that.’  Did you make that platter? Who made these mugs? Ah, I made them. It is another string to people’s bow and its way of expressing yourself and it is accessible from the age of 2 to the age of 105. Which is so great about clay, when you come along and do your little event thing, you’ll see. 

FP: I am excited for it if I am completely honest with you! Just before I let you free, we like to leave everybody with an opportunity. If there is anything you would like to share, whether that be a message of positivity, something you want to get people excited for, how would you like to sign everything off?

Chris: Just get your fingers in and have a go! 

Freya: I would like to say come see us and have fun and before that relax and follow your joy.