Author: Bradley Martinez

Originally hailing from Lisbon, Mr Phomer now finds himself residing in London. A visual artist with a distinct graphic style, Mr Phomer manages to take a mature typographic aesthetic whilst seamlessly blending a mixture of graffiti and cartoon illustrations.

As our very first partner during the launch of our Communi T project, we are delighted to introduce our latest collaboration with Mr Phomer. 

With a resurgence in 90’s culture, a new generation has emerged with the desire of recreating the handmade aesthetic that became renowned throughout the 90’s. With this latest collaboration, Mr Phomer set out with the idea of curating a collection that bridged the link between the generation in which he grew up, and the new generation who are adapting their own aesthetic to that iconic period. 

For this, we wanted to explore and delve into the DIY fashion culture that became synonymous with the 90’s Punk & Rap groups of that era. One thing that always stands out as easily recognisable is the small record label and agency logos found on the back of old cassette case, vinyl and cd’s. Bringing that inspiration to the collection, Mr Phomer has created a series of graphic illustrations which have been adapted to bring Footpatrol London and Paris one step further into the world of music. 

To go alongside the collection, we have created two designs in collaboration with Stance Socks featuring the Alley Rats logo.

In celebration of the collection, we’ll be hosting a special event with Mr Phomer and Keep Hush on Thursday 15^thAugust at Hoxton Basement. With a line-up consisting of, Amy Becker, Subculture, Jess Ajose, House of Pharaohs, Tysxn and Denzel Himself.

To RSVP head over to www.keephush.net .

Shot on location at Phonox, Brixton, and edited by Footpatrol.

The Footpatrol x Mr Phomer ‘Alley Rats’ Collection is Now Available in-store and online. Sizes range from S – XXL, priced between £30 – £60.

During the 80’s, basketball was not the only culture that became affected by the Air Jordan in 1985. When iconic figures like lance Mountain began skating in the AJI, it instantly became a part of skate culture.

This year sees the SB x AJI ‘Defiant Is’ pay homage to parallel cities in Jordan Brand and skateboarding history. ‘LA to Chicago’ brings together two cities which kicked off the origins of both modern-day skateboarding and greatness whilst tying together iconic references.

On the face of it, the ‘LA to Chicago’ features a Court Purple and University Gold colour-way however, a wear away effect soon reveals the famed Chicago colour way underneath which comes to fruition with more wear over time.

The Air Jordan I High ‘LA to Chicago’ will be available for an in-store purchase exclusively through an online raffle. STRICTLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON, multiple entries will be deleted. Raffle entrance closes on Wednesday 14th August at 10:00AM BST.

Sign up here

When it comes to fashion and sneaker culture, one of the biggest things you’ll find is its connection to music. Being in the heart of Soho, London music plays a big part of the culture where Footpatrol finds itself. Frequent Players is our first venture into the world of music. 

It’s with Frequent Players that we hope to build a community feel based around our customer and bring them closer to Footpatrol and building connections with the local music scene. Recently we played host to the Real Talk Music Sessions with Future Bubblers which saw attendees join us in-store for a series of talks and Q&A sessions with special guests who ranged from musicians to PR and agencies. 2019 also saw us team up with Berlin’s 3’Hi and East London native D Double E for his 2019 tour, bringing together six shows within the UK and one special appearance at New Yorks HoLo.

As part of our Frequent Players initiative, we bring you an introductory guest mix. Over the coming months we will be inviting different guests to create a special one-off mix, exploring different genres and opening up our community to a variety of music.

For this, we sought out the legendary Mr G to kick things off!

Initially part of the KCC DJ trio, Mr G has been in and around the music scene for the best part of two decades. Hailed as a dance music legend, Mr G, has been paving the way for his unique style of electronic tech-funk ever since the late 90’s with his Phoenix G label. At his very core lies a true Philly soul fan, this paved the way for his introduction to House and Techno and explore the connection between different genres. Such is the way; Mr G has managed to go very much under the radar with those true to the music scene appreciating his vast contribution to dance music.

Throughout our ten plus years on Berwick St we have become friends with Mr G, Being a lover of sneakers alongside music, it was only right that we kicked off this series with him! 

Straight off the back of Free Rotation festival, We caught up with Mr G and he took to the decks to record this special mix for Frequent Players.  

Footpatrol – Taking you away from the music scene, where do you find your other inspirations from? Could you talk us through where your inspirations came from when piecing together this mix for Footpatrol?

Mr G – I went with the vibe that I felt sneaker heads would love with interesting music so decided to make it super eclectic but with that low-end funk.My mixes have to say something though, hence the deep start reflecting a mother’s pain and the uplifting end message in the music, that’s super important to me when I do these things.

FP – We know you are an avid sneaker collector also, where have you found your best sneaker find? 

Mr G – Tokyo many, many times. The best one was looking for a Roshe Run leopard, I looked everywhere before finally walking into a local sneaker shop in Shibuya and there it was, one pair sat on a shelf, though not my size it fit and was on sale ……. super happy to have found them!

FP – Can you remember your first experience with Footpatrol? 

Mr G – Probably when it was in the alley seeing all the great sneaks they couldn’t give away then it all changed and those OG safaris all of a sudden went twice the price!

FP – We hear on visits to Japan you’ve often found yourself sneaker shopping, is there a big culture between music and sneakers there like here in London?

Mr G – More of a hip hop edge in japan with a lot of Jordan high tops, rather than running shoes for example. Atmos is king however and usually well ahead of the pack. Although, it’s all quite boring now as you can get anything for a price, back when the joy was knowing it was only available in japan …. that’s when I took a step back from it all as now you buy something, come home and then maybe 4/5 weeks later they’ll be available in the UK!

FP – Is there any upcoming DJ’s that have made you stop and admire at what they’re doing within their genre at the moment?

Mr G – There are many that you hear of or dig but the skill is to come up with something different from the rest, but few do so it feels same ole same ole but a bear young DJ in Lausanne, Switzerland who I thought was dope!

Pleasure

Thirty years ago, adidas unleashed their game-changing running collection to the market – the coveted ZX Series.

Each of the original silhouettes were designed with individually tailored technology to suit the needs of slightly different runners and the problems they faced, meaning that everyone could benefit from the performance-enhancing features that came with each model. One of these hugely successful innovations had never been seen before, the Torsion System.

The Torsion System was an instant hit with runners of all capabilities. The X-shaped system sat in the midsole, a solid TPU arch which bridged the heel and forefoot for heightened support and stability. It allowed the front and rear of the foot to operate independently from one another, while also reducing excessive twisting and adapting to whatever terrain you were running, therefore providing high levels of support and stability.

Creating instantly recognisable silhouettes, the ZX series featured an array of different colour blocks with each one representing the shoe’s performance capabilities. Blue was for cushioning, green represented guidance and yellow was the key for support. 

For SS19, adidas has revisited this period in their history and in celebration and recreated four ZX Series silhouettes in their original colourways. Providing a modern touch on these iconic silhouettes, adidas has added new lace jewels which have been graced with ’30 years of Torsion’ branding. 

The adidas Consortium ’30 years of Torsion’ collection will be coming soon to Footpatrol.

The ‘Cool Grey’ colourway was initially released in 2001 on the Air Jordan XI and set a tone of new iterations of the model, respectively. In 2004, the ‘Cool Grey’ colour palette was introduced to the Air Jordan IV, adding a unique spin on the original silhouette.

15 years later and for the first time, Jordan Brand have brought back the eluded colour in time for its 30th anniversary. Dressed in a monochrome upper made up of nubuck, ‘Dark Charcoal’ hits were featured on the wing tips, lining and tongue tab. “Knowing that materials and textures can create dimension (on the same colour), I thought it would be cool to do a shades-of-grey shoe”, says the Footwear Product Director at the time, Gentry Humphrey, revealing the inspiration behind the colourway’s creation.

The white midsole added contrast along with yellow detailing on the tongue label, behind the tongue, outsole and airbag. A chrome Jumpman on the heel finished off the subtle silhouette.

The Air Jordan IV ‘Cool Grey’ is now SOLD OUT.

For 2019, Nike continues to delve into its archives, gifting us with revivals of some of their most standout silhouettes over the millennial period.

First released in 1999, the Ghost Racer was Nike’s newest running sneaker silhouette on the market. The Racer was Nike’s first to utilise a full-length Duralon BRS-1000 midsole system, benefitting from a faux carbon medial post and midfoot shank. With a Zoom Air unit also built into the Ghost Racer’s heel, the technological twosome was a combination that provided high levels of comfort that a long-distance runner needed.

Up top, the sneaker boasted breathable mesh and suede overlays which allowed for a more stable, yet breathable feel. With this blend of lightweight construction and comfort, the Ghost Racer proved to be a very popular silhouette. 

Fast-forward to 2019 and Nike has reintroduced the Ghost Racer to the market in near-replica form. With a more lifestyle approach taken, the Ghost Racer has been updated with modern materials, elevating the already comfortable creation to new heights. 

Available in two colourways, a subtle black and metallic silver (available now), and a more vibrant colourway of volt and white, the Nike Ghost Racer is Now Available in-store and online, sizes range from UK6 – UK12 (including half sizes), priced at £105.

Last Saturday we hosted an in-store meet and greet with AWAKENY founder Angelo Baque in celebration of the ASICS x AWAKE NY Gel-Kayano 5 360 collaboration.

The family tree of New York City skate brand and streetwear mainstay Supreme has seeded numerous independent clothing labels, not limited to Jason Dill’s Fucking Awesome, Brendon Babenzian’s Noah, and more recently, Awake NY, the brainchild of former Supreme brand director Angelo Baque.

Launched in 2012, Awake NY captures the unique cultural spirit and sensibility of New York City. Awake NY is a reflection of the diversity that has defined the city’s cultural landscape. Simultaneously classic and contemporary, Awake NY evokes both the changing aesthetic vibrancy and timelessness of New York. 

Thank you to ASICS and Angelo for coming to the store and being there in person to celebrate the first collaborative project, we hope to see you for the next one!

Check out the full recap below…

#TEAMFP

For 2019, we teamed up with Japanese sports brand Mizuno.

After a resurgence in 2018, Mizuno looked to their archives and pulled out their Sky Medal OG model. The Sky Medal was a classic 90’s running shoe first making its debut in 1993 after being seen on all of Mizuno’s athletes.

For this collaboration we wanted to tap into this era of Mizuno and re-imagine the fashion and culture at the time of it’s unveil.

When it came to reworking the Sky Medal OG’s materials, we worked with a mixture of materials that would complement the simplicity of the Sky Medal’s silhouette. These comprised of both real and synthetic suedes and mesh throughout the upper which allowed the iconic shape of the Sky Medal to stay visible using their neutral tones.

Stepping back to the 90’s again for the colour palette, the trainer has distinctive cream and purple hues, this proved prominent throughout the sports stores of that period, representing of what would have been found in your local high-street sportwear store of that time.

Finishing off the design and taking prominence is the Mizuno Runbird logo, featuring metallic gold and purple underlays, complimenting the textures and neutral tones used throughout the design.

Branding on the heel features a reworked Footpatrol logo taking inspiration from the Mizuno’s Transtab logo found in the same position on the original silhouette.

The Mizuno x Footpatrol Sky Medal OG is now available in-store and online.

Shop our latest collaboration HERE.

ASICS and Awake NY have announced an upcoming collaboration that includes two distinct colourways of the recently released GEL-KAYANO™ 5 360. This is the first collaboration between ASICS, the leading global sports performace brand and Awake NY, the destination for contemporary fashion and streetwear.

Launched in 2012, Awake NY captures the unique cultural spirit and sensibility of New York City. Awake NY is a reflection of the diversity that has defined the city’s cultural landscape. Simultaneously classic and contemporary, Awake NY evokes both the changing aesthetic vibrancy and timelessness of New York. 

The first colourway in the collaboration combines a reflective silver base with mint green accents, while the other takes gold as it’s focal point with a blacked out sole. 

ASICS and Awake NY brand owner Angelo Baque drew inspriation from New York and Paris in creating the unique silhouettes. The silver and green colorway was inspired by Baque’s trips to New York City as a kid and the vision of the stainless steel Unisphere at the center of Flushing Meadows Park in Queens. 

The gold and black colourway was inspired by memories Baque has of wandering around Paris and the way the street lights cast golden hues over the night. 

The ASICS x AWAKENY is launching in-store Saturday 13^thJuly and online on Friday 12^thJuly (available online at 8:00AM GMT). Sizes range from UK6 – UK12 (including select half sizes), priced at £150.  

Join us in store from 10:00AM Saturday 13^thJuly, where Angelo Baque will be joining us for a special meet and greet in celebration of the ASICS x AWAKENY Collaborative project.

The upgrade to NEXT% represents looking forward to each new race day as a chance to cross the line faster. Because as Mo Farah recently said, “As an athlete, you’re always looking for that next percent.”

Fast is the focus with these racing shoes that are designed to meet the needs of every runner from world-class marathoners to those who just want to log miles on the weekends. The 2019 Nike ZoomX launches in a flooded spectrum of neon green (it’s the most visible colour to the human eye).

Designers created a Nike-only version of the neon hue, called Nike Phantom Glow because its chemical makeup generates an energetic glowing effect, for the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT%.

Athletic feedback played a huge role in revamping the already successful system that increases running economy. Plus, a new material construction, called Vaporweave, on the upper is lighter than Nike Flyknit, breathable and critically absorbs less water from sweat or rain, so it stays airy and dry over the course of a marathon. 

Designers added 15 percent more Nike ZoomX foam (capable of providing up to 85 percent energy return) to the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT%, but the shoe’s weight stays the same as the previous version.

They also shaved 3mm from the offset (now 8mm), so you can expect to experience better stability and increased energy conservation before toe-off. Still embedded within the foam is a full-length curved carbon fiber plate that increases stiffness to provide a sensation of propulsion.

The laces are slightly offset to alleviate pressure along the sensitive part of the foot. (It’s a look Mo Farah said he was very into). A new traction pattern improves forefoot grip so the shoe handles better in wet weather. Also, on the outsole are new contoured treads with deep grooves that facilitate smoother movement during turns. 

The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT%, coming soon to Footpatrol!