Author: Jake Archer
Frequent collaborators, sacai and Nike are back once again with another take on one of Nike’s most iconic silhouettes, the Blazer Low.
Having recently seen the launch of two Blazer Low’s, Chitose Abe continues to slice the top off the Blazer Hi to reimagine a Blazer Low with a leather and suede mix upper with exposed foam liners. This latest coming together keeps the best of those previous iterations with sacai’s signature design touches like the stacked swooshes, tongues and double lacing.
Take a closer look at the two colour ways below and make sure to get your entries in for your chance to purchase!
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To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above forms, these WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
To sign up to the Online raffle, you will be prompted to complete a pre-authorisation payment of the retail price of the product plus shipping costs. This will be held until raffle completion. Those successful will have their raffle 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 raffle is limited to one entry per household! Multiple entries will be cancelled!
For their latest coming together, Jun Takahashi and his Undercover brand has been tasked with designing a special colour way of the Nike Dunk High 1985 model that celebrates the heritage of the Dunk and its original approach. Based on the shape and structure from when it first released way back in 1985 design, Takahashi brings a classic colourway to the collaboration with a mixture of black leather overlays contrasting against a ‘Gym Red’ pebble embossed nubuck.
Bringing design ques that we’d expect to see from Takahashi and Undercover, A ‘Undercover Basketball Association’ sits alongside Undercover branding on the heels.
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE BELOW!
RAFFLE CLOSED!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above forms, these WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
To sign up to the Online raffle, you will be prompted to complete a pre-authorisation payment of the retail price of the product plus shipping costs. This will be held until raffle completion. Those successful will have their raffle 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 raffle is limited to one entry per household! Multiple entries will be cancelled!
When it comes to craftsmanship, you don’t often need to look any further than New Balance. Known for using the premium materials across their offering. Their attention to detail is key. When we heard Tokyo Design Studio were teaming up with New Balance for their take on the 574, we knew the levels of detail were going to be down to the finest touch.
With this in mind and being based so close to the famous Saville Row. We took this opportunity to sit down with Jiu Jitsu aficionado and tailoring expert Ben Phillips.
Having spent many years working on the prestigious Saville Row. Ben has acquired a wealth of knowledge and interests that have helped him shape his career the way he’s wanted to. So if you want to learn something new I suggest you read this exclusive feature here at Footpatrol.
Footpatrol: I want to jump straight into the questions if that’s okay with you. Let’s kick things off with an introduction to yourself.
Ben Phillips: My names Ben Phillips and I am the general manager at the Roger Gracie Academy in Hammersmith and a personal stylist.
FP: Based on what I have read about you. You seem to be a popular face in the London tailoring world! Where did this love for tailoring begin to emerge?
BP: So my interest in tailoring kind of came from 2 places. One of which was Nick Cave the musician. I was a big fan of his, I love his aesthetic. The other introduction was from the film Goodfellas. I always loved that gangster look and the fact that they were always so well dressed.
FP: Did you find a lot of films that influenced your style then?
BP: Yeah definitely! Scorsese always gets the clothes right. Goodfella as I said was a big influence, Casino was another, clothing from the Godfather. To this day I am still looking for the cloth that Luka Brasi’s suit was made of when he gets killed in the film. It’s an amazing cloth but I can’t find it!
FP: What is it about it that makes it so special?
BP: It has a beautiful texture! I think that’s the most important thing for me, especially in tailoring. Texture. I don’t like that classic almost city boy shiny suit. A suit that’s got some feel to it that makes you want to touch it. That’s really important to me.
FP: I feel like being Footpatrol we need to ask you a question that’s shoe related. But I want to keep it in line with tailoring of course. When picking a dress shoe or any smart shoe is there a certain style or design that you feel is the best silhouette to work with within the tailoring world or is it as open as the trainer world?
BP: To me there are 2 dress shoes that you should own. Firstly, the Alden Cordovan Plain Toe Butcher. It’s a beautiful shape, color 8 Cordovan leather is the highest quality leather you can get and has a beautiful dark burgundy feel to it that gets darker as you wear it. It goes with any suit and works great with denim. The other recommendation would be the J.M. Western 180 Loafer. It is the easiest thing to wear, gos with any bit of tailoring, chinos and denim. It’s just an easy peasy thing to wear.
FP: Another thing we spoke about earlier is your love for Japanese fashion and craftsmanship. What drew you towards it?
BP: It didn’t really start there for me. The first brand I really got into was Ben Davis, the workwear brand. That was only because I was a big dude. I used to hang out with punks and skateboarders and couldn’t really find those clothes in my size but Ben Davis has the aesthetic I wanted and the sizes. That got me more interested in workwear in general, looking at brands such as Hercules, vintage Levis stuff like that. The Japanese took a lot of that influencer from America and continued it and pushed it. That was when my connection to Japan first started.
The first brand I actually got into from Japan growing up was A Bathing Ape. Back when it was a bit more preppy, it was almost like plays on Ralph Lauren. I used to have a sweatshirt rather than a polo player. It had the ape with the rifle from Planet of the Apes and then I had the button down shirts that had just the Ape head on it. The early stuff I still live by!
FP: Prior to finding yourself involved in tailoring, you were the owner of a tattoo shop, have you ever found that the attention to detail aspect from tattooing has ever merged with what you did as a tailor?
BP: So what I took away from it was the idea of aesthetic rather than attention to detail. By getting heavily tattooed you adorning yourself and commit to a really big life choice. I don’t think there is actually a huge difference between, working in a tattoo shop and guiding the decisions on what to get and working in tailoring guiding their decisions on that. A full body of tattoos is called a body suit. Although it may seem like a completely different thing, it’s not. It’s the same thing, just a little bit more permanent.
FP: The norms in the past with tailors have always been quite strict on looks and aesthetics. With your clear passion for tattooing, did you find any challenges facing you when trying to make your way into the industry?
BP: I have to be honest. I think I have been really lucky. Especially whilst working for a brand like Drakes where people are really into patterns. The brand makes amazing ties and scarves with these nice designs. People just saw what I had as an extension to that, I never encountered any negativity from people within the industry for it. That being said, I don’t really think you do these days. We have in the past, maybe 15 years ago. These days people are open to talk about your tattoos. There was a time where people wouldn’t even sit next to you on the tube or the bus which, I wish would come back hahaha!
FP: Have you ever tried to incorporate the two together?
BP: No, not really. I have a very dear friend called Thomas Hooper who does amazing tattoos as well as patterns. I always thought some pocket squares with some of his designs would be really cool or even scarfs. He is one of the most talented people I have ever met, he is mindblowing. He is the type of person you would message at 8am and he would have been up since 5am producing 2 cover artworks for bands, tattoo all day and then come back to painting. He is pretty close to a genius.
FP: What about now in your new career path at the Roger Gracie Academy. Were there any transferable skills you took across?
BP: I think the main thing is customer service and looking after people. Obviously at a Jiu Jitsu academy it’s a very different place to retail and my role there is different. The main thing for me is to make sure that everyone is treated right and looked after to the best of our capabilities.
FP: Just before we started the interview you mentioned about design. Have you had much input into any of the designs at the academy?
BP: At the moment the merch is predominantly academy based. We are working with some people at the moment to create a separate Roger Gracie line. For those who don’t know who Roger is, he is the greatest Jiu Jitsu practitioner of all time and 10 time world champion. He is considered the GOAT in sport by everyone. I want to create a line that people would wear in the same way they would a Mohammed Ali t-shirt or Pele t-shirt. Roger is of the same status but of course in a much more niche sport. At the moment we are working on that with the guys from Bedwin & the Heartbreakers. Hopefully that will all come out into fruition over the next 3-6 months.
FP: Let’s move onto your musical influences. Was there anything that helped you from that?
BP: Being involved in the Hardcore and DIY Hardcore scene. That taught everything I know about hard work. If you’re into say The Weekend, the chances are eventually those people will come and play in your town because 10,000 people minimum want to come and see them. If you’re into the Cro-Mags or Converge it will probably only be around 70-100 people that want to go to that show. No big producers will back that. So what you did was; I want to see that band, so I will put on the show. You’re then taught that if you want something you have to get it yourself.
FP: Just as a couple of added quick ones we wanted to throw in. For anyone that’s planning to go out for weddings, events etc….
What would be your Top 3 suit choices and where would you get them from?
BP: I think I may approach this question slightly differently. Rather than giving you my top 3 I will go for 3 different price points and where to get them.
- I would really recommend Drakes. I don’t work there anymore, but the style of their tailoring is fantastic and doesn’t feel too boxy or uncomfortable. It’s very unstructured and cool. That would be my first choice for you. That’s a bit more towards the higher end of the spectrum.
- For a cheaper option, there is Suit Supply. It’s a bit more of an introductory price, the quality of what they make is good for the price and they also have an in-store alterations guy to get it tailored.
- Lastly, if you’re on a real budget. Marks & Spencers. Head down there, get yourself a suit and find a decent alterations guy. The quality of the suits for the price is unbelievable.
FP: What about your most prestigious suit you own?
BP: That’s a tough one as I own a lot of suits! I would say my favourite suit is a diamond weave solero suit. It’s a summer fabric that depending on the light either green or red. It sounds horrible and it’s a real fabric that people either love or hate. This one though was made with a diamond weave so it’s almost the same shape as a diamond in the fabric. That is definitely one of my favourite suits and it was made to measure.
FP: Is it almost shiny?
BP: No! It’s so weird man, I should have brought it today! They say it’s a summer fabric but it’s really not it’s wool. They used to wear it in colonial times because they thought it reflected the sun… It doesn’t, it really really doesn’t. It’s a great looking suit.
FP: Ben, thank you so much for spending time with us this weekend and talking to us about your passion. Before we let you go is there anything you would like to share with the Footpatrol readers and followers?
BP: Come and visit us at Roger Gracie Academy! You can have a free introductory session and Jiu Jitsu will change your life! It has done for me.
With the opportunity for events to start happening again, this weekend see’s ASICS curate a 10km race through the streets of London and we’re excited, nervous to say that Footpatrol will be heading down to take part in the day’s events. Working its way through some of the most iconic streets central London has to offer, the day plans to bring a feel good vibe for everyone taking part with live music at every KM coupled and the overall excitement that comes with a race day, whether it’s just a bit of fun or you’re out to challenge yourself.
With an opportunity to connect with the running community, we invited along some familiar faces from Your Friendly Runners Club who will be taking on the challenge with Footpatrol. We sit down with Kristine, Jamie and Henry who take us through their preparations for race days and we also discuss ASICS’ Mind Uplifter tool that aims to promote activity and a healthy mind.
Take a read below and make sure to stay tuned to Footpatrol’s stories on Sunday where we’ll be bringing you along for the ride!
Footpatrol: Hey guys, thanks so much for joining us at Footpatrol and taking part in the ASICS 10km run that makes its way through the streets of London this weekend!
How have you all been this last year? Kristine and Jamie, I believe we saw you both before on our run with YFRC last year, it’s great to have you both back again!
Kristine: It’s been an incredibly difficult year for everyone, going in and out of lockdown and with changing restrictions determining what one can and cannot do. While I’ve been lucky enough to be employed by a company that appreciates these difficulties and invest in the health and well-being of their employees, it’s been tough not to be able to go back to Denmark to see my family, taking a proper break for the hustle and bustle of the city, and probably more holistically feel free. I’ve loved and enjoyed running for well over a decade and only found a new appreciation for the sport during the pandemic. I’ve realised how much running sets me free, allows me to think about the things I don’t have time to think about during the working day and manage my emotions. It’s unreal how much a run can lift my mood, even if I don’t enjoy the run. YFRC and everyone I’ve linked up with separately for a run have also been a massive gamechanger, and I’m forever thankful for our little crew. YES – I was there for the activation last year and am happy to be back.
Jamie: It’s been a challenging year, but one that has presented itself with opportunity too. I started a business two months before lockdown 1.0 and for some time last year, there was a huge amount of uncertainty. Running throughout that time has given me focus, and a space to escape into. Running allows me to change my mood, get time to think, or enables a social interaction that at points last year was unobtainable. Also I really enjoyed the FP meet up last year, everyone was in such good spirits.
Henry: It’s been a difficult year for sure (as it has for so many people) I’m a freelance photographer so was massively affected by the pandemic, but I was able to utilise the extra time that I had off to get fit. I’ve run on and off (mostly off) for years but never really enjoyed it until this last year, I was just going through the motions. I think it’s safe to say I’ve definitely got the bug now though. I started running with YFRC back in May and I LOVE it. I’m also making good progress reducing my 5k, 10K & Half marathon times and regularly setting new PB’s.
FP: Jumping straight into it and with Raceday just around the corner, how do you normally prepare for such events?
Kristine: As I’m an organised individual, I typically spend a couple of weeks prepping for events. I’m 100% a marathon runner; the marathon is my distance, where I thrive. So, a little more prep is usually required – to ensure I’m relaxed on race day and not worried about the little things. I think about what to eat, wear, do in the days leading up to the race, and pack everything I need no later than the night before. I take time to tune in with myself and set my mind up for the uncomfortable that is about to happen. I set gold, silver, and bronze goals for the race – so that no matter how I feel on the day, one of these goals is achievable. For this particular race, I’m training for a fall marathon and will utilise the opportunity to get a good tempo/threshold session in the books and check in with the emotions and energy of wearing a race number on my chest again – thank you so much for letting me!
Hill sprints alone won’t help me; it’s the culmination of running hard, easy, uphill, downhill, long, and short plus strength and conditioning, yoga, and pilates that will. Unfortunately, running well isn’t a one-stop-shop in your running shoes.. You got to see the bigger picture and put in the work.
Jamie: I’m still relatively new to race-days, but I enjoy them all the same. I’m currently training for the London Marathon in October, so my focus is getting mileage under my belt and lengthening my efforts. I’ll use this race as a good way to put out an extended effort and acclimatise to the process of racing. Other than that, I try to get good sleep, and good nutrition in the days leading up to the race.
Henry: It depends on the distance I’m running, this week (for example) I started with some hill sprints (10 x 200m) with one minute rest in between which was super tough in this heat but really fun. I don’t like to do too much before race day to avoid injury and make sure I’m running on fresh legs but will likely do a 10k and a 5k run at an easy pace and maybe just 2 miles at an easy pace the day before race day as a bit of leg stretcher. I’ll also make sure I’m eating the right things, and I’ll avoid alcohol a few days before the race to ensure I’m fully hydrated.
FP: Hill sprints… just those words together are tiring…
And what footwear will you be opting for for this weekend’s run? (Can answer after our shop visit)
Kristine: Since we have the opportunity to wear the Novablast 2, I will most certainly opt for this. I normally wouldn’t recommend racing in brand new shoes, but for a 10K it should be alright. I’m looking forward to experiencing how the new Novablast 2 will impact my stride and force, and if there’s some magic in there that I can leverage for some extra speed.
Jamie: Really looking forward to running in something different this weekend. I’m a big believer in having a few different pairs of trainers in rotation as each pair will perform differently and affect you differently.
Henry: I chose the metaracer, the reviews have been great and I’m really loving the all blue colourway. They’re super light and have a carbon plate for speed. I can’t wait to test them out.
FP: An exciting part of the race is ASICS’ introduction of their ‘Mind Uplifter’ which as you show the physical benefits of running/movement, ASICS is aiming to help show this virtually with this new tool to display the mental benefits of movement and sport and how it has an effect on your emotional state. How beneficial is running or being active been to your mental well being?
Kristine: Extremely beneficial. I’m very energetic and would absolutely crawl the walls if I wasn’t executing some of that energy running, at the gym, in the pool, or on my bike. Not being active makes me miserable, seriously. I do everything in my power to avoid injury and setbacks to keep being able to move. Basically, any movement will help me feel better, and if being active means going for a walk, jumping on the bike or in the pool because I cannot run, I’ll take it. And I’ll probably do it so much it makes me feel sick and tired of it – to stay well in my body, but most importantly to stay well in my mind.
Jamie: Hugely beneficial! If I’m feeling stressed, anxious, or angry about something I can guarantee a run will help to lift or shift my mood. It also gives me focus and escapism in equal measure that allow my brain the rest it needs.
Henry: Running has had such a positive impact on my mental health, I regularly come back from runs absolutely buzzing from the endorphins (especially the group runs) and now that I’ve found it I feel like I’d be lost without it
FP: Finally… What’s harder… Getting your feet across the starting line or the moment you can see the finish line in the distance?
Kristine: Getting to the start line is, for me, the hardest part. Once I’m there, I don’t even think about the finish line but focus on the time in between the two. This is where the magic can happen, where I have the opportunity to bring the best version of myself forward that day. To run the best I can on that particular day – be that a smile and wave to make it through happy and healthy or channel all those tough workouts to race hard, you have to have a positive mindset about it. You made it to the start line, and many don’t manage that; because of injury, fear, heartbreak, or whatever could prevent one from not getting there. What happens once you’ve crossed the start line is entirely up to you; how you react to the way your body feels on race day, how you manage your emotions if that isn’t the feeling you were hoping for, and how you make it a positive experience regardless. You might not get the result you’d hoped for, but you still pulled through, and that’s an achievement in itself. Not every race, or even every run, is or should be a PB; sometimes it’s practice, sometimes it’s experience.
Jamie: It’s definitely getting to the start line. You have to put in some sort of effort to get something out, and that’s especially true of running. Although my answer may switch after I’ve done the marathon…
Henry: Definitely still working on my pacing (I generally set off way too fast) so it’s seeing the finish line in the distance for me.
FP: Well guys, good luck on Sunday and we look forward to seeing you on the starting line!
A firm fan favourite, the Nike Dunk has been in sixth gear for the last 12 months and there seems no signs of slowing for the iconic silhouette. Loved for its easy to wear ability and its simplistic use of colour blocking that can create endless combinations, it’s easy to see why Nike love to experiment with the Nike Dunk.
This latest duo feature a mostly white upper which have both been over dyed to leave an almost distressed effect that still manages to pack a vibrant punch thanks to its combination of a matching blocked out swoosh.
Which colour are you preferring?
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE BELOW!
RAFFLES CLOSED!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above forms, these WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
To sign up to the Online raffle, you will be prompted to complete a pre-authorisation payment of the retail price of the product plus shipping costs. This will be held until raffle completion. Those successful will have their raffle 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 raffle is limited to one entry per household! Multiple entries will be cancelled!
With Drop 2 of International Record Store Day 2021 soon approaching on July 17th we meet Earl Jeffers and Ral Duke.
Following on from our meet up & guest mix last year with DJ Chris Read, we’d like to introduce our followers, listeners and readers of Footpatrol Frequent Players channel to producer/DJ Earl Jeffers and multi disciplined artist Ral Duke.
We recently sat down with the pair to see what they have been up to lately and find out a bit more about how their journey to date.
You can read out interview with both Earl Jeffers and Ral Duke below and look out for more information on a special limited apparel collection featuring artwork by Ral Duke on Saturday 17th July to celebrate the launch of the “HIGHER” EP by Earl Jeffers.
Footpatrol: Gents, how are we?
Earl J: Very good thank you. New music, and a merch drop is on the way so always a good time.
Ral D: Whats popping! all is good here thank you for having us!
FP: It’s a real pleasure to be able to talk to you both finally! Why don’t we take it back to the start of both your journeys, how did it all begin for you guys?
Earl J: I had the fortune of growing up around good taste In music from my parents. No musicians as such but, the likes of Weather Report, Stanley Clarke, Santana, Luther, Miles, Prince etc…Then around 1995 my brother got some turntables and started playing jungle. Just in the bedroom, after a year or so the buzz wasn’t there anymore, but I took a bit more of a liking to it I guess and carried on. I continued to buy records from Jungle to House and Garage, hip hop. Then around 2001 I to the plunge in to production mostly making beats for my mates who were MC’s and trying to MC myself but wasn’t that good so kept to the music side of it. After a few years of that I got back to the roots of making club music in various forms, and still do so to this day.
Ral D: For me it started with a love of hip hop growing up. I was a massive wu tang fan in my teens, not only wu tang but also all the affiliates like killarmy, gravediggaz etc. RZA being a massive influence to me, I decided to grab an MPC1000 (managed to cop one of my mate for £180, mental price!). Still, to this day 8 bar scruffy wu tang loops is my first love haha but I decided to transfer these skills over to the collage work that I’m involved in now. It’s really the same process for me, cutting and sticking bits together that shouldn’t really go together, but do.
FP: And how did you guys get to know each other?
Earl J: Me and Ral have been friends for well over a decade now (more like 2 decades) from him being friends with some of the MC’s I used to make beats for. We also grew up in the same neighbourhood and have been tight ever since.
Ral D: Yeah man! We would link up down our mutual friend Hekla’s (big love to Hekla!) back in the day. Man, they were the golden days for me.
FP: Besides this project. What about collaborative opportunities, have you both been able to come together and work on quite a few projects?
Earl J: Yes indeed. Since Ral has started going down the Art/design route, we’ve worked on various things for MELANGE including previous releases, merch campaigns and tour posters. Always loved the style he’s been doing as it reflects his love for hip hop/sampling. It’s like a visual form of that I think.
Ral D: Always enjoy working with Earl, I feel like we have a very similar taste to things so it makes my job super easy. Plus the music is some of the best out there, no matter what he is producing its going to be great. A true master of the culture.
FP: Earl, we wanted to talk to you a bit about your record label Melange records, can you share with us the beginnings of the label? We also wanted to talk about house music, and in particular your love for it. We read that you have a broad taste of influences when it comes to your musical archive, what was it about the genre that drew you to it?
Earl J: It was always a bit of a dream to have my own label. In the infancy of me making music, this seemed like a lofty goal, but now thanks to the internet and accessibility to certain things, made the set up much more manageable. And as with the name Melange, meaning variety/cocktail/mixture. I t also comes from my love of collecting/digging for records. I like to incorporate various styles in to the production. The majority has been house music but I don’t want the label to solely be that. I want it to be a label that has various styles coming through, wether it’s my own productions or artists I sign. The other reason was after releasing on a few great labels and seeing the reception, it made sense to start my own one up knowing I had a following there to get it off the ground quick. House and garage was a big influence starting off. I always loved the more NY/NJ stuff when I was younger. It’s something about the grooves/chord choices/big vocals just hits the spot for me. There’s so many strains of house too that I kind of dislike giving names. A lot of it is just good house music and like digging, that I still do a lot of, you come across many killer artists and producers and all the many branches off the tree for lack of a better term. So after all these years of making music and collecting/releasing it, the label was a natural progression.
FP: A couple of things we wanted to ask you about as well, one of which is your record label Melange records, and secondly the Darkhouse Family, could you tell us a bit about the beginning of both of those?
Earl J: As I mentioned above it only seemed like the natural thing to do at that point of my career. It’s also satisfying to make the final decisions on what I put out. Not any label pressure or influence on what to release/ or what not to release. I just do what feels right, and that alone brings me great joy haha. As for the Darkhouse Fam stuff, that’s me and my man Don Leisure’s project. He also has a wide taste in music and shares the same love for digging trips. Before we came together on the DHF stuff DL had released some Drum and bass under his real name Jamal for Ruffige crew and Trouble on Vinyl. He moved down to Cardiff around 08/09 and through mutual friends he caught wind of what I was doing and reached out. We just clicked and started making music together. Initially working in the box then over time bringing in musicians and using live instrumentation in the productions, infusing some of our influences from the many digging excursions we’ve been on.
FP: Some of your previous releases have been accompanied with a merch drop – does this stem from a love for streetwear or is this a key part of Melange Records ethos?
Earl J: Most definitely. I’ve always been in to gear since a kid, and still am. I feel they also go hand in hand with each other. They both push one another forward. I’m a sucker for a good cap too so love to drop them around release time. And now I have the other project Alternative Souls, that incorporates working with artists and designers on merch for the label so keep a look out for some of that too.
FP: Ral, you have designed album cover art for some highly coveted artists like, Ghostface Killah, Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine & Alchemist to name a few. What’s it like to see your work used by some of these artists?
Ral D: It’s crazy really, especially when they are the ones seeking me out. Because I work a lot with American artists, we are on different times. So many of mornings I’ve woke up to messages from my favourite artists out the blue, before I’ve even had a coffee.
FP: How did you manage to get your work out to these artists, was it a long arduous process or did it all happen by chance?
Ral D: Its quite mad when I think about it. Westside Gunn was the first artist I designed for, he hit me up in the earlier days. I keep my ear to the ground pretty good and I was into Griselda early on, so I guess it spiralled from there. I got to give Griselda the props, they are real ones. Its an honour to go on this journey with them and they still hit me up to work now. I may or may not have spent last night putting together something for Conway, who knows.
FP: So of course we brought you guys here for this collaborative project to celebrate this year’s Record Store Day. Could you tell us a bit more what it was like piecing together this project and Earl, can you walk us through your process in working on the EP?
Ral D: Its been a real pleasure to work with Foot Patrol on this! You guys have given us so much freedom with our artistic approach. For me from an art design perspective I wanted to make the album look like something that would catch your eye digging in the crates! I think like a good pair of trainers, over years this record will look amazing! Influences for the design are definitely groups like funkadelic/parliment and we brought in with Melanges ethos for family. I love the aesthetic of 80’s/90’s technology. I also love how films like total recall thought they nailed how technology would look in the future (big ups to Arnie! they almost nailed it in some aspects). Earl was very hands on with the design also, we basically pieced this one up together.
Earl J: Yes and thank you once again for linking up with us on this and seeing the vision of what we’re doing. With Lockdown it’s been an obviously messed up time but a great one to lock away and create, and that’s what this release is a product of in some way. It’s a honour to also have Kaidi Tatham on the ep. He’s one of my Favourite musicians/producers around. So I’m blessed to have him touch the record with some Flutes and Guitar in only the way he can do so. The flip track ‘Higher’ definitely has some inspiration from the NY sound of the 90’s as that’s played a significant roll in what styles I play and make, so only right to pay some more homage to it. Also I want to shout out my man Lloyd Everitt who blessed the track with some vocals along with myself. Lloyd is a very talented actor from around the way and has just landed a role in a new DC comic series coming on Netflix called Sandman, so keep an eye out for that too.
FP: Earl, Ral it’s been a real pleasure to sit down with you guys properly and find out more about your careers. Before we like you go, is there anything you would like to share with the Footpatrol community out there?
Earl J: Big up to the crew at FP, Sheebs, Sam and everyone else involved.
Ral D : Pleasure has been ours. Massive thank you to FP and Frequent Players!
The Raven x Footpatrol pop-up has been created solely for UK fans of the Call of Duty franchise, offering a chance to experience a community driven activation after over 18 months of uncertain times. Our aim is to provide a safe event, with exclusive lifestyle garments on retail and an opportunity to meet and greet globally recognised content creators.
When designing out the team’s collections, we wanted to focus heavily on personifying each brand. This allowed us to draw inspiration from each team’s history in esports, and also their regionalised foundations. The challenge was going to be creating a design language that makes every garment unique, yet still work in an eight piece collection.
For LA Thieves, everything was about identity. As a parent company, with owners such as Drake and Scooter Braun, 100Thieves have re-written the script for esports merchandise, so for us, this was about adding our own chapter. After spending time exploring numerous design directions, it became evident that anything too graphic heavy wouldn’t work. We decided to strip everything back, blow up the text logo lockup, print seam to seam and allow the brand to take centre stage.
Atlanta FaZe has such a rich history in esports and wider gaming culture, one that has been littered with streetwear icons and collaborations with brands such as Premier League team, Manchester City. The main inspiration came from their trademark hand sign, we used this as a silhouette to house their iconic camo texture. For us, using a box fit tee and oversized hoodie would be a clear fan favourite for FaZe’s demographic.
OpTic Chicago was an opportunity to look beyond esports and dive into the rich landscape of Chicago street fashion and culture. Taking the iconic oversized bomber and coupling it with a boxy graphic heavy tee felt like a nice balance between past and present. Throughout the design we included subtle nods to OpTic’s past, after all, when you think competitive Call of Duty, it’s impossible not to nostalgize about their profound impact on the space.
To round off the collection, London Royal Ravens was an opportunity to explore inspirations close to home. As a brand born in the UK, the foundations built for UK Call of Duty are a shared heritage with ourselves. For the rich red tee, we designed a unique, festival esc take on the typography. For anyone who has attended a UK LAN event, the connection here will be unmistakable.
Creative Director of Raven, Adam Cooper, explains the narrative behind the collection “We wanted to make sure every item offered something different to what can already be purchased. It was a joy to collaborate with Footpatrol and get lost in the collections on detailed construction, all the way from the contrasting sherpa knit and polyester to the debossed coach jacket aglets. We’re incredibly proud to be leading the way for CDL merch in Europe and are very excited to see where the long term partnership will take us.”
Sam Hodgkinson, Marketing & PR Manager of Footpatrol, speaks on the merging of esports and sneaker communities “With our store being within the heart of Soho and having such a strong sense of community cemented within it, the last year has proven a real challenge so having this opportunity to immerse ourselves within the world of esports and work on this project with both Raven and CDL has been a great experience. We hope that with this collection, we can further cement the connection between the gaming community and the sneaker community! Launching the project locally in our neighbourhood of Soho, we can’t wait to see these two worlds collide, we look forward to seeing you all there!”
All four collections will be sold exclusively at the Raven x Footpatrol pop-up store in Soho, London on 10th July 2021.
The pop-up will also feature global peripheral brands ASTRO Gaming and Scuf Gaming, along with meet and greet sessions with UK based Call of Duty content creators Liam ‘Jukeyz’ Lunt and Angelika ‘Angelika’ Slon. The event will be open to all to attend, for one day only. CLICK HERE for more information.
Now more than ever, it’s important to be taking notice of your surroundings and those within your local community, finding ways to help each other and spread their messages. So when we learnt that New Balance were reintroducing their iconic 990 line beginning with the 990 V1, we wanted to touch base with a local charity and delve into the individuals who tirelessly work to bring good to our community.
The House of St Barnabas is a social enterprise and charity that works to support those affected by homelessness and aims to bring them back into long-term employment. They work with a vision of the future whereby a lasting good work environment is coupled with a secure home and provide a supportive network for those who pass through their doors. This is their end goal, to provide people with the support and training they need to find lasting paid employment.
So, to celebrate the upcoming launch of the New Balance 990 V1, we headed over to the Grade 1 listed building in the heart of Soho that House of St Barnabas calls home to sit down with our first guest, Ollie Stewart. Having been working for a youth hostel, Ollie now heads up the employment programme and ever since her first visit to the House, instantly fell in love with the place and what it was doing to give back to the community.
To learn more about The House of St Barnabas and what you can do to help, click here!
The New Balance 990 V1 will be launching in-store and online on Friday 9th July. Sizes will range from UK – UK, priced at £200.
Footpatrol: How did your journey begin with HOSB?
Ollie Stewart: I used to work for a youth hostel and one of my colleagues came here to do some recruitment. I came down with the young people who were going to go on and do an art employment program. When I came to the House I fell in love with it. I mentioned that if there was ever a job here I am going to go for it. Fortunately enough a role opened up and I got it!
FP: What was it about the House you loved so much?
OS: It marries two of my passions. Art and the eradication of homelessness or supporting people who are at risk of homelessness. I have always worked in the supporting people sector and I just felt it was perfect for me. Beautiful building and amazing people I get to work with.
FP: Would you say that basically your specific reason behind wanting to work for HOSB?
OS: Absolutely! As said, all my career choices have been based around supporting adults or young people. Working in this building as well, marrying that love of art and supporting homlessness.
FP: Could you talk to us a bit more about that marriage between your two passions?
OS: Of course. I have always loved art, working in a grade one listed building. It’s beautiful. That on its own gives me a zest of wanting to come in and work. Supporting those people who are vulnerable as well just makes me want to get and go to work everyday. Seeing people’s faces as well as they walk through the door and see the staircase is amazing. It really gives you passion to want to do your work especially with this team you have here around you.
FP: Could you tell us in a bit more depth what your role is within the House?
OS: We run an employment program that participants do lasting 8-10 weeks. After the program they come onto what we call progression which means we support them in getting sustained employment, London living wage, no zero hour contract, making sure we support them for a year and ensuring they pass probation. If there are any teething problems we will meet with the employer and graduate and work out any differences. We also support people with their transition from benefits into employment.
FP: What’s it like seeing people working on creating the best versions of themselves?
OS: The difference from start to finish of the program is incredible. The confidence that some end up leaving with is immeasurable. We just finished a program now and I just met with 2 of the people who graduated. The zest and the feel in them wanting to get into employing is amazing. At first when they walked through the door that confidence wasn’t there and now they are flying through the roof with CVs being sent out left, right and centre. I am so happy and honestly I cannot wait to see the results!
FP: If there was one thing you would say to people to help further encourage their support what would it be?
OS: Check out our website, look at the stories. We are always updating it. There is also a lovely little donate button if you would like to donate. Become a member! Just come in and we would love to show you around. It’s a members club with a difference.
Now a long standing partnership, Nike and Jun Takahashi return once again for another take on his GIRA (Gyakusou International Running Association) line. Once again, the collaboration is a coming together of minds that puts functionality and aesthetics firmly balanced alongside each other to create a striking proposition that you wouldn’t normally get when it comes to active wear.
As well as a host of apparel pieces, the stand out from the collection has to be the ZoomX Vaporfly Next%. Often being let loose on their most advanced technologies, Takahashi brings the famous elite runner and adds his GIRA spin to it creating a visually different silhouette with all the benefits of the standard Vaporfly Next%.
To celebrate the launch, our friends over at ‘Vaporfly World Wide’ got an early look at the collection and offered us their insights to this latest collaboration. We sat down with Arran who heads up their Instagram who tells us more about his love of running and why this latest collection is that good!
The Gyakusou x Nike apparel and ZoomX Vaporfly Next% will be launching online on Friday 9th July (Available online from 08:00AM BST), priced from £45 – £260.
Footpatrol: Hey Arran, thanks for joining us at Footpatrol, how have you been?
Arran Mcaskill: Very very well thank you. A lot of exciting stuff is coming up this summer with the Euros and then the Olympics so there’s plenty of good vibes. Also been training a lot for the Berlin Marathon in September so that’s keeping me busy.
FP: So, you’re one of the cogs over at Vaporfly Worldwide, could you give our audience a bit more information about who you guys are and what it is you do?
AM: Vaporfly Worldwide was originally founded back in 2017 by my friend Jerry, soon after Nike announced the Breaking2 project. The account was originally created towards sneakerheads with Nike’s new ZoomX technology at the time. Gradually, the account shifted into the runners community we have now – which is when I got involved. I now curate our instagram feed and run our website – giving runners all the information they need on upcoming releases for the Vaporfly variations. Now we have started to create a lot of our own content, allowing me to be a lot more creative.
FP: Forgetting the odd injury here and there, this last year, running has been a real saviour to a lot of people and I think we’ve seen a lot more people take it on. What is it about running you enjoy so much?
AM: I entered the London Marathon 2018, and fell in love with running. The feeling you get once you’ve finished a run is unmatchable in my opinion. It gives me a sense of freedom and exerting myself to the fullest within my individual limits. You get out what you put in from running, and I find that very rewarding.
FP: Though it has its many physical gains, we can’t help but ignore the mental health benefits also, is this something you’ve found a benefit also?
AM: 100% agree. For me and so many other runners, it offers so much more than keeping physically fit. When I’m running, I don’t have to talk or listen to anybody else – it gives me that headspace with minimal distractions that I wouldn’t get from anything else.
FP: The real reason we’re here to talk today is because Nike and Undercover Lab have come together once again for their next Gyakusou instalment. What is it to you that makes this collection so special?
AM: As with any Gyakusou collection, it provides functionality alongside aesthetics. Normally with activewear functionality comes first – but with this Gyakusou release they get the balance just right. There are some great new materials that are used in the new apparel and shoes. Such as a new proprietary knit technology used in the new half tights. The colours and graphics are also a modern twist on some of Nike’s iconic graphics from their early days of track and field – I really appreciate these well thought out details. What I also love about this collection is that there has been consideration taken that runners do more than just run. Pockets now giving me the ability to carry more than just keys, so I can enjoy the city of London after my run.
FP: We must admit, we do enjoy the almost secretive nature that comes with the Gyakusou collections, we don’t know what it is but it always has a sense of mystery about it…
We can’t chat and ignore the main piece to this latest collection, the Vaporfly NEXT%. Though visually based more on the first iteration of the NEXT%, there are a lot more changes going on the more you look, how are they to run in? Are there any noticeable differences?
AM: The new Vaporfly NEXT% x Gyaksou has some very cool new updates, with clear iconic Gyakusou branding, but it still feels familiar to run in. It’s very much based on the first iteration of NEXT% with it still having predominantly the Vaporweave upper. There is additional support around the arch of the foot and surrounding the toe box which is a noticeable difference compared to the previous models. I now find myself running in these more for my speed sessions compared to the updated NEXT%2. The lockdown and structure of the shoe just works for me a lot more – although every runner will have their different preferences.
Another obvious change is the lacing system. Despite the laces being thicker and weighing more, with the new eyelet lacing system it now puts less pressure on the top of my feet.
FP: Which colour way will you be choosing most?
AM: I’ve been using the ‘Midnight Spruce’ colour for my training, and I’ll be saving the Red colour for an upcoming race I have.
FP: Massive thank you for joining us, look forward to seeing more from you and the team in the future.
What has definitely become one of the most popular silhouettes within the Air Jordan signature collection, the Air Jordan IV has played host to some of the most sought after iterations whether its been retro colour ways or the string of collaborations like Travis Scott or Union LA.
Every so often, Jordan Brand will delve back into their history books to bring inspiration into their latest iterations and this latest ‘White Tech’ is no different. Bearing similarities to the ‘Oreo’ colour way we first saw way back in ’99 which was later revisited in 2015, this latest take however features a more reversed monochrome colour palette. Mostly dressed in a crisp white upper, subtle hits of grey are placed upon the eyelets and midsole trims which also features the iconic cement print that is heavily featured across past and present 4’s!
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE BELOW!
RAFFLE CLOSED!
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