Author: Bradley Martinez
What seems like the perfect silhouette for tonal colour ways, Kanye and adidas are back with their latest iteration of the famed 350 V2 silhouette.
Though a fresh new Colourway, its easy to see past models inspiring these latest earthy tones. The uppers re-engineered prime knit has been dressed in a combination of soft off whites with muddy, earth tones whilst the semi translucent midsole seems to follow suit from the ‘Static’ and ‘Cloud White’ with a burst of ice white. A subtle gum outsole finishes off the package complimenting the tones found within the upper.
PLEASE READ THE BELOW CAREFULLY!
To enter the ONLINE raffle (UK applicants only), CLICK HERE!
To enter the LONDON IN-STORE raffle, CLICK HERE!
To enter the PARIS IN-STORE raffle, CLICK HERE!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above form, this WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
Online raffle winners will be contacted with further information on how to purchase their pairs. The raffle is limited to one entry per household! Multiple entries will be cancelled!
In-store winners will be contacted via email informing them of their win and pick up dates. Due to current government laws surrounding Covid-19, the store is working on an appointment only basis. You will need to contact the store to make an appointment for a time during the stated pick up dates.
From Rinse FM to Boiler Room, who better to finish off the week on the Frequent Players channel than Liana! Known for her eclectic array of music we asked Liana to throw down a mix to help us all reminisce of those Mantra parties and weird weekends we long to have back!
Besides this special guest mix we also sat down with Liana to discuss her career, her influences and also what the rest of 2020 has in store for her.
Footpatrol: Liana, it’s a pleasure to have you spend some time with us! How have you been during lockdown?
Liana: Hey guys, thanks so much for inviting me to be part of this series! I’ve been good thank you – it’s wild to think we’re in the fourth month of corona now, quite a strange time all round. I’ve been spending a lot of time cycling around Hackney (on my bright pink bike!) and generally trying to stay sane/active which was a struggle at first, although slowly got into a rhythm. I’ve only baked banana bread once too…
FP: As a quick introduction to the Footpatrol readers who may not know you and your sound, would you be able to share a bit about yourself?
Liana: So I grew up just outside east London, where London meets Essex. Growing up we’d go to funky and garage nights across Essex, and of course I’d come into London for nights at Fabric and FWD>> (this was towards the end of the first dubstep era back in 2009/10). Those early clubbing memories are some of my favourites, and I think those experiences definitely shaped the type of music I play and listen to now, which is a wide cross section of genres.
FP: You have been DJing for 10+ years having residencies in some of London’s most recognised underground radio stations. Where did this passion for music and DJing come from?
Liana: I grew up playing instruments (piano and guitar) and was told I had a good ear for music from a young age – I’ve also always loved going to see live music and spent a lot of time at gigs as a teen. I was lucky to meet Skinny (of Bone Soda) through going out in London back in 2010, and made my first mix for his radio show on Nasty FM (now defunct) in 2011, which eventually led to me getting my own show on there. From there (as I was still studying in Nottingham) I would drive after lectures to play on pirates in Nottingham, all the while playing at different nights across the city throughout my time at uni. I put a lot of time into radio – I did a weekly Sunday night show for a couple years and then eventually a monthly show across other stations. I really believe in radio as a format to create. It also acts as an emotional archive to echo what you were thinking and feeling at that time – looking back at my own shows, that’s certainly reflected.
FP: When it comes to your sound and the music you play, has it always been a cross-genre mixture or was this something you later decided on as you began to establish yourself as a DJ?
Liana: When I first started out I was playing a lot of grime, garage and instrumentals, and that music will always be important to me. Mak10 (of Nasty Crew) is someone I call an early mentor and I learnt a lot from him. But going to so many different nights, both on the bill and as a punter, and listening to so much different music in my own time too, means my sound has naturally evolved over time to encompass all these different interests. This does mean that sometimes I feel as though I don’t fit in anywhere – but the beauty of club music in London is that there’s this whole group of djs who also play so many different sounds that it almost becomes part of their identity, and a scene in itself.
FP: Could you give us some examples of artists and DJs today that you look up to for inspiration?
Liana: There are so many amazing djs and artists I look up to. Off the top of my head I would say Martello, JETSSS, Raj and Felix Hall are arguably my favourite club djs to go and dance to in London – they have all perfected their craft and I absolutely stan. Across the pond I’ve always looked up to Jubilee – I love the music she plays, and more of less everything she puts out on her label Mixpak. I am really interested in the intersection where electronic music meets dancehall /rap.
FP: What would you say to young DJs who are trying to establish themselves within the industry, what advice would you give them?
Liana: Play the music you actually love, and go to a lot of nights. On the first point I think sometimes people are worried about what they think should be playing – rather than the music that genuinely gets them going and they’re into, more often than not the passion for the things you really love will shine through so just focus on that instead. Going out is also super important, I’ve met many of my friends and have made loads of contacts through going out. I would say if you want to play at a certain night, then start by actually going to it, and understanding what it’s all about. Listening and learning from everyone whenever you can is also key.
FP: Now there is still plenty of time left in 2020, is there anything people should be looking forward to from yourself?
Liana: I have a monthly radio show on Know Wave and have a seriously amazing guest lined up for my next show, so keep an eye out for that.
FP: Liana thank you so much for sitting down with us, before you go is there anything you want to share with the readers surrounding your mix?
Liana: This mix is a window into everything I love. It spans uk rap, dancehall, dembow, breaks, house and more. I also tried to approach this mix as a representation of the type of music I’d want to listen to in the club if they were open right now. I really can’t wait for the world to open up and for us all to be dancing together in a club again.
Continuing our exploration into some of the people who work behind the scenes at the brands we know and love, we now face our attention to Mizuno. For this weeks discussion, we welcome Luca Marchet who is the manager for the Sportstyle category at Mizuno EMEA.
Having worked closely with Luca in recent years, we manage to sit down with Luca and learn how he found his path into Mizuno whilst getting a great insight into the lifestyle and performance within Mizuno and how it fits into the history of the brand.
Footpatrol: Luca, thank you so much for being here! Before we look into the brand and the work you guys have been doing, could you tell us a bit about yourself and what your role is?
Luca: Hi Guys!!, My name is Luca Marchet, I’m the Sportstyle Category Manager for Mizuno EMEA. Sporstyle in Mizuno is what we call all the business related to sneakers and lifestyle. It’s a very new area for the company because we approached this market only in 2018. I’m basically in charge of the development of all this business for the EMEA Region, going from Collaboration to General Releases, I’ve worked for Mizuno since 2016 when we started to plan the category , and before I worked for Diadora for 5 years running all the collaboration and being the merchandiser for the normal in line collection.
FP: Was it always the plan to go into footwear or was this a direction that you grew to love over time?
Luca: That’s a really nice story, because actually I always had a passion for sportswear brands but initially I had completely different plans. I was a semi-professional skier and once I realized that I would have never ever be the next Alberto Tomba I decided that I wanted to link my studies in Business economics and my big passion for sports! Thanks to a masters i did in Sport Business Strategy I got the opportunity to start an Internship in Diadora for the sportswear business unit. I can’t hide from you that my idea was to move into the Sports Marketing department, but thanks to my old boss ( Rudy Comazzetto, best former boss I could of ever had) I fell completely in love with this world, not only footwear, but the lifestyle world in general that became not only my job but a huge passion.
FP: Mizuno is one of the oldest brands in the game and has dominated in nearly every sport over the course of its history, on top of that the technology used in shoes such as the ‘Wave series’ has been ahead of the curve for a while.
Has it always been the goal for the brand to be so technologically advanced with their products?
Luca: Perfect timing for this question! Wave technology has been our big pillar since 1997 when they launched this new Midsole technology in with the Wave Rider 1, our most iconic running silhouette.
Exactly in this moment between now and when this interview will probably go live we are facing an historical moment for the Mizuno brand because after 23 years we are launching a completely new technology that is called Mizuno Enerzy.
The Mizuno mission is to contribute to social, economic and environmental sustainability through the power and effect of sports. Innovation and technology are the tools that give us the possibility to pursue our missions. I think that one of the strongest assets of our company is that everyone here has the mindset that a product is never good enough and that it can always be improved.
FP: It has also been great to see Mizuno make a huge entry into the lifestyle market with the Kazuko line. Could you explain what Kazuko means and what the focus behind launching this range of products over the last couple of years has been?
Luca: We are very new in this market so our first priority was to tell the sneaker consumer what Mizuno is and the rich heritage filled stories that our brand has.
The word “Kazoku” means family in japanese, the idea behind this is to share with our family our product and our stories so that they can tell it to their communities.
We selected very carefully all the members of our Family because in our mind they will be our voice to the consumer. This is off course also the nature of the partnership with Footpatrol.
FP: And in terms of the models you have been selecting for the releases, what was the thought process with the decision making in what pairs would return/be retroed?
Luca: Every shoe that we introduce in the Sportstyle range has to fit with our two main characteristics, which are Tradition and Innovation. So the shoes that we are bringing back are iconic pieces of our history or product that include technology coming from our performance world and re-interpreted by our lifestyle designers.
FP: Now collaborations have also been a great part of this Kazuko range including the Footpatrol Sky Medal we did with you guys.
What is the design process like when putting together these collaborations, do you find it varies depending on who you work with or do you have a systematic approach for each one
Luca: If we decide to collaborate with a partner it’s because we share the same values and goals, we feel that each brand can bring an added value to the other. When we drop a collaboration our goal is not to generate hype but to create a project that truly represents different aspects that equally share between Mizuno and the people we are partnering with. If this formula is respected I believe that a project will be successful even if not driven by hype. To be clear I don’t have anything against hype but I think that a project can`t be thought of with that in mind. Hype has to come naturally because the project is good. All the partners that we collaborate with are different, that’s why having a standard process would not make sense for us. Of course there is a timeframe that we have to consider to make sure that the plan will be realistic, but inside this timeframe we leave our partner quite a lot of freedom. What is very important for us in a collaboration project is the ‘Go to market’ strategy and even here we really like to brainstorm with the partner to find very creative plans. Our budget is not comparable with most of our competitors so creativity and flexibility has to fill this gap, but I have to say that I find this way of working much more interesting.
FP: There are some insane models in the brands archives such as Mizuno HST Trainer or even the Wave Rider 5. Are there any models that you have seen that you would love to see make a comeback from the Mizuno’s back catalogue?
Luca: Ah you want me to spoil the fun, don’t you? We have just brought back the Wave Rider 10.
We launched it with 2 very successful collaborations with Wood Wood and Beams. What I can say is that you will see other interesting projects with this silhouette until the end of the year, then we will start 2021 with the launch of a huge project that will include a new shoe based on the Wave Prophecy silhouette.
After this one, we might also bring back another 90es silhouette…
But generally our old catalogs are really full of interesting kicks to bring back in particular from mid 90s to 2005.
FP: For most of us we have been spending our fair share of time indoors recently. We were wondering if you could share your go to list of kicks for the below:
Working out – Mizuno Wave Ultima x Rijksmuseum
Casual Everyday – Wave Rider 10 OG
Impressing someone – Wave Prophecy 9 X Futur
Staying home – Only barefoot at home otherwise my girlfriend kills me, also slippers are not allowed.
FP: Well Luca it’s been a pleasure having you, thank you again for sharing with us yours and the Mizuno story. Do you have any last bits you would like to share with the Footpatrol Family?
Luca: Thanks so much guys for the really nice interview, Footpatrol is a legend of the Sneaker world and for me to share my story and my thoughts with you guys has been really a privilege, an honour.
It has been a really difficult time for everybody in the last month so I really wish everyone to stay healthy and safe. To finish I would like to share with you my mantra because I think it’s really perfect for the moment. KMF – Keep Moving Forward.
Back In 2015, adidas brought a prototype shoe to the United Nations to show what could be achieved in the fight to end plastic waste, 5 years on and we get the Parley x adidas Ultraboost DNA
These men’s running shoes are inspired by that historic moment and celebrate the 5th anniversary of our collaboration with Parley for the Oceans. They have a seamless knit upper that’s made with yarn spun from plastic reclaimed from beaches and coastal communities. Responsive cushioning returns energy to your stride. This product features Parley Ocean Plastic – upcycled plastic waste intercepted on remote islands, beaches, coastal communities, and shorelines, preventing it from polluting our oceans.
The Parley x adidas Ultraboost DNA are Now Available online. Sizes range from UK6 – UK12, priced at £170.
Ever since Nike brought the ISPA line to life back in 2018, they’ve stuck firmly with the ideas of: Improvise. Scavenge. Protect. Adapt.
This has meant the experimentation of some of Nike’s most technological advances and taking them up a notch, all in the effort to solve those everyday problems within the environments we find ourselves.
For the ISPA 2020 collection, these ideas are brought to the forefront like never before.
First up, is the Nike ISPA OverReact Flyknit. This concept came to fruition with the idea of how to make shoes more comfortable. By using Nike’s React technology, the team at ISPA managed to take this foam and double its geometries, maximising the React’s soft cushioning, energy return and durability all in a single lightweight compound.
Taking the process of the Nike React Element 87, the ISPA OverReact utilised pressure and density maps with foot strike data to give the designers a more clear understanding of where the cushioning is most and least needed.
When it comes to the upper, ISPA have taken their life long motto of improvise, scavenge, protect and adapt and made use of what’s around them. Much like the Vapormax 2 ‘Random’, the OverReact has its colour ways decided by the yarns that are available at the time, adding to this unique yet purposeful appearance.
Launching online on Thursday 9th July (Available online from 08:00am), sizes range from UK3.5 – UK14, priced at £160.
The Air Jordan I Retro High has been a go-to silhouette for many years and the rise in demand is still strong as ever. Nike and Jordan Brand are yet to slow down in pumping new and old retros to consumers, and the latest release is a testament to that.
The latest colourway to land is in the form of a ‘Smoke Grey’ iteration. Featuring a two-toned colourblocking, this release is reminiscent to the brands sought after collaboration with Union LA. Similar to the 2018 releases, the midrange portion of the upper is dressed in Smoke grey along with a combination of suede and leather materials. The Swoosh is in a contrasting black along with the laces and outsole. The top region brands black and red along the collar with the wings done in leather, whilst the Wings logo is displayed in black. To cap it all off, the tongue tab is yet another contrasting element with red and black.
To sign up to the ONLINE raffle, (UK APPLICANTS ONLY), CLICK HERE!
To sign up to the IN-STORE raffle (LONDON ONLY), CLICK HERE!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above forms, these WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
Online raffle winners will receive a special code in which they’ll have a limited time to purchase their raffle win via a unique link. One entry per household.
In-store raffle winners will be notified via e-mail and required to contact us via Instagram Direct Messages to set up an appointment within specific dates given to the winners. On collection, you will need to bring proof of ID. Failure to do so, may result in you losing your win.
For our next instalment of the Concept to Reality series, we focus our attention to Trippin. What started out as a Facebook group quickly rose to become an independent platform hub that connects all things from travel, culture and creativity.
Using a range of mediums from audio, film and written word, Trippins aim is to promote travel with a purpose and think about that impact it can have on the environment. We sit down with Sam, one of the founders of Trippin to shed some more light on this platform.
Head over to our Instagram to see how you could win a £200 gift card to show at our Footpatrol London store.
Footpatrol: Hey Sam, how are you? Thank you for taking the time to talk to us today! We have worked together in the past (be it a long time ago) and know all about you but for our audience can you give them a little insight into yourself and what it is you do?
Sam: I’m one of the founders of Trippin. We are an independent platform that connects travel, culture and creativity like never before.
FP: How did you go about starting Trippin? And what difficulties did you have at the beginning?
S: It all started because we were frustrated with the fact there wasn’t a place to find travel recommendations that we actually trusted. We felt all the other platforms weren’t really speaking to us and the type of travel we do.
So, we created a Facebook group for friends to share info with each other and that quickly grew into an engaged community full of like minded people across the world. That’s when we realised we had something special and started taking Trippin seriously.
As for difficulties, anyone starting their own business will know how much of a rollercoaster it is. Too many challenges along the way to just focus on one.
FP: What were you doing prior? Was it a creative job? Freelance? Or something completely different?
S: I was working at adidas for almost 4 years before Trippin. A large portion of that time was based at their HQ in Germany doing Global Brand Communications.
FP: What we would like to know is how you get from concept to reality. Would you be able to choose ONE project that you have worked on and summarise into 5 steps the process from the client’s initial email to what the consumer sees?
1 – The first thing we discuss is whether this project is right for Trippin. We’re a values driven business and have had to turn down more projects than we’ve accepted because we aren’t willing to make sacrifices for commercial gain. If we decide its a go-er then the discussion will quickly move onto what we can bring the table thats truly progressive and will move the needle.
2 – We then take those initial ideas and collaborate with our global community to validate them and uncover powerful insights – which in turn we translate into a tangible, actionable strategy. We’ll ensure our partner (not “client”) is across this the whole way to make sure all stakeholders are aligned and have the same vision. This transparency builds trust and allows us to focus on the creative.
3 – We’ll be moving on pre-production alongside finalising some of the creative decisions. This is where our producers work their magic of putting all the pieces in place and making shit happen. Being highly communicative and transparent with the partner on what’s achievable within the budget and timelines is key here.
4 – On every campaign we focus as much energy on the talent that’s in front of the lens as the talent behind. To ensure true authenticity, we always question whose story it is to tell and make sure our crew is reflective of that. It’s our mission to create a space for positive dialogue and diverse storytelling. Once the crew is in place and all the finer details are locked then we move into the actual production and let the magic happen.
5 – Focus is then shifted to the finer details in post. We build out the rollout plan to maximise impact and deliver assets against that. Consistency yet diversity across every touch point here is key to spark meaningful conversations and leave lasting impressions. We harness the power of our community to amplify the reach and measure changes in awareness, sentiment and behaviour.
FP: Would you have any advice that you could share with our readers?
S: There are always two ways to say the same thing.
FP: How you are coping with the current lockdown. Is there anything particular that’s keeping you going?
S: Music is and always will be my coping mechanism. Just got a set of decks in the house so I’ve been having a lot of fun on them & escaping from my lockdown reality.
FP: And finally as it was trainers that brought all us together originally – we would like you to kickstart a little competition for our readers.
Could you take us through your top five essential travel shoes? What do you never travel without and why?
1 – One Stars for every occasion
2 – adi’s triple black response hoverturf to quietly stunt
3 – OG TNs for something lil louder
4 – Air Max 2090s if weathers heating up
5 – Clark Wallabees to flip it up
Thank you, Stay safe!
#TEAMFP
One of the original colourways to drop back in 1991, the Air Jordan V Grape became a cult classic in pop culture due to Will Smith’s Fresh Prince of Bel Air sitcom. Fast forward to present times, the Air Jordan V Grape iteration is seen as the epitome of the 90’s through the combination of Grape and Aqua colours.
Over the years, collectors and sneaker aficionados have seen the Grape V’s return as well as a Black version dubbed ‘Black Grape’. Now in SS20 for its 30th anniversary, Nike and Jordan Brand are back with yet another spin on the fan favourite.
The latest form dubbed the ‘Alternate Grape’ takes a more bold approach with an upper primarily constructed of suede in Grape Ice. With clear breathable netting on the side and along the throat, the classic bulky tongue features 3M with the Jumpman in New Emerald. Further aqua hues are displayed on the shark teeth along the midsole and lace toggles. To tone down the bold colours, black is used on the lining, midsole and laces while the outsole gets an icy treatment.
To enter the ONLINE raffle (UK APPLICANTS ONLY) CLICK HERE!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above form, this WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
Online raffle winners will receive a special code in which they’ll have a limited time to purchase their raffle win via a unique link. The raffle is limited to one entry per household! Multiple entries will be cancelled!
Last year, adidas Consortium entered the outdoors with a gardening-inspired capsule collection dubbed ’The Gardening Club;. Taking a tongue-in-cheek look at lawn-based activities, each piece has been named after a different type of gardening product, including this Response Hoverturf. Ahead of Spring 20, adidas released a new set of colourways focusing on a more darker hue.
During Summer 20, they return again with a new colourway but this time just on the Response Hoverturf silhouette. Built for all terrain, both pairs boast a robust mesh base and synthetic overlays on the uppers. With one in a combination of black and grey whilst the other with white and black, both receive a bright hit of shock yellow. The underfoot features shock-absorbing adiPRENE tech in the heel and forefoot cushions your every step. In true outdoors style, a robust rubber outsole provides you with trusty traction on a range of surfaces.
The adidas Consortium Response Hoverturf is available now! Shop here!
Rucker Park is seen as the mecca of street basketball, birthing a host of talented players that would eventually go onto play professionally in the NBA. Located in Harlem, players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Rafer Alston – whom were New York locals, would ply their trade in their early days to compete in the Rucker Tournament. During the tournament, players would feature crossover dribbles, extravagant slam dunks and bravado to excite the crowd.
Nike have created an Air Force 1 Low to pay homage to a legendary monument in both basketball and to New York. The classic silhouette would be fitting to Harlem specifically, due to their use of the term ‘Uptowns’ to name the model.
The Air Force 1 Low displays mainly a white upper in synthetic leather material, whilst the Swoosh features a tumbled leather. With an exaggerated mesh tongue, the use of orange stitching is used around the panels, midsole and Swoosh. The lining and outsole also take on orange hues. To complete the homage to the historic facility, enamel basketball deubres take over the standard feature and Rucker Parks zip code operates on the heel.
The Nike Air Force 1 ‘Rucker Pack’ is available online now! Shop here!
