Author: Tom
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the InstaPump Fury, Reebok will release a faithful reproduction of the iconic ’Prototype’ edition. Limited to a period-correct 1994 pairs, this is a purist’s love letter to Reebok’s masterpiece of modernity.
In the early 90s, Reebok had a unique team named the Reebok Advanced Concepts (RAC) team that brought innovation after innovation to the sports manufacturing industry.
Because they were given the time to distill their ideas into confirmed product, the RAC team was been able to deliver quite a few innovations to the brand including most notably the InstaPump Fury in 1994.
The original production version released in March 1994 featured citron rubber outsoles. Unfortunately, the vibrant pigment used to colour the rubber was too soft and the soles degraded quickly after even light use by runners. Today, the Prototype remains one of the rarest Reebok runner releases of all time.
To solve the quality control issue, Reebok quickly edited the Fury design and upgraded the citron soles to carbon-infused black rubber, which was tougher and far more durable, but still offered excellent grip in all conditions. Released in September 1994, this version is considered to be the original, even though it was technically the second version of the shoe to release.
From the citron yellow rubber sole to the classic ’The Pump’ logo riding high on the inflatable ball, this 1:1 remake will satisfy InstaPump Fury fans both new and old.
The Reebok InstaPump OG Prototype is Now Available online. Sizes range from UK6 – UK11 (including select half sizes), priced at £160. For further information on in-store stock availability please call 020 7287 8094.
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In the year 2000, Nike took their innovation to the next level and that wasn’t just including their revolutionary Air Max technology. Instead their focus switched to never-before-seen aesthetic consisting of 4 pillars on the heel, this silhouette was called the Nike Shox R4. The four PE “pucks” gave a distinctive responsive return for runners.
However, in 2003 Nike stepped up their innovative thinking and released the Nike Shox TL – TL short for “Total” – this updated model featured pillars that went from the initial heel to all throughout the entire footbed. Heralded for its smooth ride, aggressive and in your face aesthetic quickly made the Nike Shox TL a fan favourite.
Coming off the back of the original Nike Shox R4 release, the original Nike Shox TL has also made a return. Consumers have seen Nike Shox TL Mids in 2014 and Shox Gravity in 2017 but none in its original form. The first retro features an all black monochrome mainstay made up of breathable mesh fabrications, embroidered swoosh and shiny plastic cage underlays. In addition, subtle grey hits on the lace loops, toe detailing, Nike Shox embellishment and heel make up the upper. The stand-out 12 pillars are also in black and below features blueprint-esque detailing under the rugged rubber outsole.
To help reintroduce the Nike Shox TL to the market we partnered up with London DJ & Producer Conair. Conair is one half of collective theseevilstreets who regularly produce music as well as consistently turn up raves and radio sets across London. For this guest mix Conair has thrown it back to the early 2000s for a set of UK garage, grime and more..! Head over to our mixcloud to listen in full.
The Nike Shox TL ‘Black/Black’ is Now Available in-store and online. Sizes range from UK3.5 – UK12 (including half sizes), priced at £150.
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At the end of last year A$AP Nast posted a cryptic photo on his Instagram with the caption ‘Just wait on it’, containing what appeared to be, the follow up to Nast’s 2017 Converse collection.
Since then, further images have appeared on the A$AP Mob veteran’s IG feed, each showing off details of the upcoming collection. Nast and Converse have come together to produce a mid-top of the classic Jack Purcell silhouette, in two unique colours.
Both colour-ways feature a canvas upper and a blacked out rubber sole, which extends to the middle section of the shoe. Details include a white Converse Star logo and Jack Purcell license plate on the heel tab, as well as oversized black laces.
As well as footwear, Nast and Converse have also produced a line of clothing – featuring t-shirts, jumpers and trousers. The collection runs from UK8 – UK12 (including half sizes), and S – XL, with prices running from £30 – £100. For more information on in-store sizing please call 020 7287 8094.
The A$AP Nast x Converse ‘NST2’ footwear collection will be available in-store and online Friday 22nd March, with apparel available online from 8:00AM GMT.
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UNDERCOVER are set to take take their creative partnership with Converse even further, with their latest interpretation of the Chuck Taylor 70.
Arriving in two colourways under the direction of designer Jun Takahashi, the collection dubbed ‘New Warriors’ was inspired by the cult classic, The Warriors. Takahashi draws inspiration from the film’s waring gangs and their eccentric styles, to present a unique interpretation of the Chuck Taylor that puts the films punk aesthetic front and centre.
The main design feature is the unique double lacing system that incorporates zips and laces that move up the shoe vertically (rather than the usual horizontal way). However the shoe also features more subtle details that help bring the motif together, such as the ‘piercings’ that are attached to the heel and the toe of the of the shoe, and the ‘The Warriors’ branding which sits on the toe box.
The UNDERCOVER x Converse ‘New Warriors’ is now available in-store and online. Sizes range from UK6 – UK12, priced at £100.
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When Raf Simons began his tenure at adidas in 2013, he set his sights on elevating core adidas silhouettes. The Stan Smith was an obvious choice for Simons, given his love for the brand and the pop culture relevance of the silhouette, however the other shoes that Simons worked on were a bit more obscure.
Diving deep into the Three Stripes archive Simons chose to bring back the adidas Response and adidas Ozweego. The latter of which has now become synonymous with the Raf Simons x adidas partnership.
Through Simons’ elevated and forward-thinking design, an 80’s running silhouette that no-one paid much attention to, helped usher in the high fashion sneaker trend that is so prevalent today.
For SS19 Simons and adidas have re-introduced the Replicant Ozweego (a more summery iteration of the classic shoe, that features cutout panelling on the upper). The SS19 iterations feature a tricolour aesthetic, with three eye-catching colour-ways, Black/Yellow/Cream, Black/Red/White and Black/Pink/Green.
The adidas Originals by Raf Simons Replicant Ozweego SS19 is now available online, priced at £345.
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Jordan Brand continue to keep the ball rolling with their Air Jordan 1 model, allowing the iconic silhouette to be readily available to consumers. Having already seen a few iterations released, this time round Jordan Brand are back with a Sail/Phantom colourway.
The shoe is primarily dressed in a Sail coloured tumbled leather with pre-creased detailing, which was also featured on the Turbo Green and Crimson releases. Similar aesthetics of the OG Metallic Red are equipped with hits of University Red around the ankle collar created with nylon and a major deviation with red stitching all around the upper. Further features include a contrasting black Wings logo, jagged stitching on its foam tongue, and a classic Nike Air tongue tag make up the finishing embellishment.
The Air Jordan 1 Retro OG High ‘Sail/Phantom’ is now SOLD OUT.
In 2014 Nike commemorated the 45th anniversary of the Neil Armstrong becoming the first man on the moon with the Air Max Lunar 90 SP. The shoe featured an abstract pattern of the surface of the moon, which made the swoosh almost indistinguishable.
However, the silhouette of the Max 90 is so iconic the shoe was still instantly recognisable, even without Nike’s signature branding. Combine this unique aesthetic with the American flag heel tabs and the overall narrative, and the shoe became an instant classic. In addition, the midsole featured Nike’s Lunarlon running innovation which was made up of soft responsive foam – that might’ve had consumers feel like walking on the moon, ironically. This technology was subsequently pushed on lifestyle silhouettes for everyday use.
Nike are set to follow this up and explore further into our solar system with the Nike Air Max 90 Mars Landing. Similarly to the Lunar SP’s the Mars Landing features a unique aesthetic, that features a textured depiction of the surface of Mars, complete with dunes, craters and clouds.
This unique upper is then grounded by an all black, speckled sole and metallic heel tab. All these elements combine to create a truly unique shoe with a very forward-thinking narrative.
The Nike Air Max 90 ‘Mars Landing’ is now SOLD OUT.
The adidas Predator is arguably most of the most recognised silhouettes in Football. From amateurs to professionals to legends, almost every footballer has owned a pair at one point or another. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Predator line, and to celebrate adidas have produced a collection celebrating two of the most iconic players to wear the boot; David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane.
The apparel of the collection pays homage to the Real Madrid kit that Beckham and Zidane wore during their time at the club together. The Beckham and Zidane Predator models from the collection, honour iconic moments from their respective careers.
The Predator Accelerator ZZ reference the Accelerators that Zidane wore when he won the 1998 World Cup and Ballon d’Or (hence the gold). Whereas the Predator Precision DB pay homage to the pair Beckham was wearing when he captained England during the 2001 World Cup.
The adidas Football ’25 Years Of Predator’ Collection is available now online. Sizes range from S – XL and UK6 – UK12 (including half sizes), priced between £65 – £300.
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Few collections pay tribute to the past in the way that the adidas SPEZIAL line does. Taking design inspiration from adidas’ extensive archive, the SPZL line celebrates culture and history, in a contemporary way.
Headed up by Gary Aspden, the SPEZIAL line is all about heritage and presenting different subcultures through a new cultural lens. As as result, the collections often have a strong connection to the style tribes of the 80s and 90s.
The SPEZIAL SS19 collection draws inspiration from the eclectic streets of London and the multitude of subcultures that co-exist here. The collection features subtle and not-so-subtle homages to the Football Casuals, Drum and Bass and Jungle movements, and presents these features in a fresh way.
The adidas SPEZIAL SS19 apparel and footwear collection is Now Available. Sizes range from S – XL and UK6 – UK12 (including half sizes), priced between £35 – £220.
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The New Balance 1500 is by far one of the most iconic silhouettes in the brand’s vault, transcending running culture and gaining a cult following among many contemporary subcultures.
The 1500 may not get as much attention as more hyped silhouettes, and as a result of this there’s some iterations and interpretations that have been lost to time. Thankfully though, there are people like Robert Stewart, that are preserving the 1500’s legacy.
Robert is the owner and director of SneakersER, owner of Sneaker Laundry Glasgow and one half of New Balance Gallery (Instagram’s biggest New Balance community). He also happens to be a self-confessed New Balance obsessive, and was more than happy to take us through his extensive (and rare) 1500 collection.
The New Balance 1500 OG and 1530 will be available in-store and online Saturday 2nd March. Sizes range from UK6 – UK12 (including half sizes), priced at £150. For more information about in-store sizes please call 020 7287 8094.
Make sure to head down to Footpatrol London to see some of the pairs mentioned in Robert’s collection up close in our New Balance 1500 installation…!
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