Tag: nike
3.26… A date that is now etched within the sneaker community, of course, it means its Air Max Day!
Each year that passes, it seems that the Air Max franchise grows from strength to strength. Whether that’s Nike looking back at the history of certain silhouettes, revisiting famed colour ways or exploring new and exciting ways of utilising Air like when they launched the ultra-futuristic Air Vapormax.
To celebrate this year’s Air Max Day, not only are we celebrating by co-hosting the Give Fresh Air: The Game Show, but we also caught up with four individuals within the sneaker scene that live and breathe Air. Whilst catching up with each person, we challenged them with bringing down their favourite Air Max within their collection…
Take a closer look at each person’s pick below… who are you siding with?
Ikechi Amaechi / @kech_kicks
From her eclectic partnership with Sheaker Mag to creating Black Sneaker Chic – a platform that is dedicated to the evolving sneaker savvy female audience, Ikechi Amaechi’s enthusiasm and passion for the sneaker culture never fails to impress. A highly coveted favourite for Ikechi is certainly the Air Max 98’s ‘Gundam’ iteration – it’s bold, colourful and invigorating, mirroring a true reflection of Ikechi’s personality.
Skreech / @papaskreech1
Sneaker enthusiast and founder of ‘Mini Kicks’, Skreech has always found ways to integrate his love for sneaker culture into a wider community. A doting Arsenal fan, Skreech’s must-have pair is the Air Max 1, securing 5 pairs of the iconic silhouette. With a standalone favourite being the ‘Varsity Red’ OG – representing his devotion to the Gunners.
Sam Le Roy / @lleumass
The man behind the ingenious Hart Copy, Sam Le Roy love for sneakers has continued to inspire the masses with his social writing platform. With the Jeff Staple Air Max 90 ‘Navigation Pack’ being his treasured favourite, with its block-by-block map of NYC. The 2004 gem was the first pack Nike ever dropped on a wider commercial release with laser etching.
Jules / @crown_juelzz
South London born photographer and co-founder of Sneaker Sisterhood, Jules is a certified gem in the sneaker industry. Representing status and her inner-city London identity Jules would say that her favourite of Air Max is certainly the Air Max 95 ‘Neon’ colourway – a staple pair within the UK and arguably too good to be worn.
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE BELOW!
The London In-store draw is now CLOSED!
ONLINE draw will now be over on the Footpatrol app, CLICK HERE to download!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above forms, these WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
In-store winners will be contacted via email informing them of their win. Within this email, winners will be given a set of dates in which they must collect their win from our London store. To collect, you will need to provide the winning email and a valid photographic government ID matching the winners name. NO ONE can collect on the winners behalf. Failure to provide this, or failure to collect within the given dates will mean failure to purchase your win.
To sign up to the Online raffle, you will need to download the Footpatrol Launches app and complete a pre-authorisation payment of the retail price of the product plus shipping costs. This will be held until 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 great discipline comes superior ideas. A forward-thinking masterpiece. Timeless and ahead of its time, 25 years later, here we are still talking about the Nike Air Max 97. Sneaker junkies across the globe unite as we briefly educate you on what you need to know about this iconic footwear emblem.
The year 1997. A pinnacle moment in sneaker history saw the birth of the Nike Air Max 97. Visible air continued to shine but this time throughout the entire midsole as well as a hidden lace up system which enabled Nike to innovate a shoe model loved by many to this day. Air Max was first born in 1987 through Tinker Hatfield’s daring design on the Air Max 1 (originally known as just ‘Air Max’ with experts not knowing how legendary the first of its kind would become therefore naming it the Air Max 1) – a shoe which to many changed lifestyle culture and foot comfort forever. Fast-forward 10 years later and here we are with the updated/futuristic 97 iteration of the legendary line.
As Tinker Hatfield and Sergio Lozano stepped away from Air Max to focus on more performance-based and flagship Nike footwear, the reins were handed over to Christian Tresser – little did he know this moment in his career would stand the test of time amongst sneaker evolution. With a new millennium approaching and technology advancing it was vital Nike kept one step ahead of its competition. Tresser, taking inspiration from rain drops, nods to the Japanese Bullet Train, automobiles, CD’s, the waves of the sea and of course mountain bike frames – the Nike Air Max 97 emerged.
The shoe was a huge hit in Italy, especially the neck-breaking Silver Bullet which had a significant regional elegance to it with a sense of luxury – a fan favourite to the always stylish Italians. This version of the shoe also takes reference from the infamous, high speed, Japanese bullet train which revolutionised the way people travel. With the help of Japanese culture and design, Tresser had a solid base to work from in producing a new vision for Air Max under high pressure and big expectations. The 2 year earlier success of the Nike Air Max 95 (the 110’s to us in the UK), Japan also helped the evolution and innovation of sneaker culture and with this demand, came the need for upgraded premium releases. Connected fact: The small boutique street-style stores in Japan also inspired Footpatrol London’s earlier shop interior decor.
2017 brought the silhouette’s 20th anniversary, a welcomed return with many new retroed versions of some classic colourways, along with some clean in-line and premium itterations, plus some new high heat releases alongside. The year revived the AM97, fueling sneaker addicts to acquire pairs they had once forgotten about. 2017 will be looked back at a key time for the Air Max model. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled on the Footpatrol launches app calendar for what’s coming up in the Nike Air Max line.
Over the years Nike has come up with some truly outstanding Air Max pairs worthy of any sneaker rotation or collection. Here are a few of our favourites picked by the team over at Footpatrol.
Nike Air Max 97 Silver Bullet (See Below)
There have been a few versions of the AM97 Silver Bullet since its beginnings in 1997 – the colourway even inspired further silhouettes in the Nike production line such as TN’s, Zero’s and Jewel’s. The jarring colours scheme inspired by the Japanese Bullet Train and the ripples from a water droplet sets precedent to the Air Max 97 DNA.
Over the years, the Air Max 97 Silver Bullet has retroed only a handful of times since its original release, hence its consistent high demands from consumers and sneaker enthusiasts alike. The iteration from 2012 released along a pack of original Air Max silhouettes and had a slight change with its monochrome black outsole. After its hiatus, the AM97 returned in 2016 with Italy being host to its pre-release due to its huge popularity in the 90’s. With that being said, Nike released the AM97 Silver Bullet in Italian retailers only. The ‘La Silver’ came with special badges which the inline Silver Bullets in 2017 didn’t. In addition to the Italian market, on a separate occasion, a special edition was released with the Italian flag on the heel tab and tongue in very limited numbers.
Nike Air Max 1/97 Sean Wotherspoon – 2017/2018 (See Below)
The most important Air Max Day to this day? The Nike Air Max 1/97 x Sean Wotherspoon for Vote Forward in 2017. Wotherspoon competed alongside our very own former Footpatrol London store employee Alexandra Hackett [a.k.a @miniswoosh]. Sean’s shoe boasted a hybrid of Air Max 1 and 97 whilst structured with contrasting corduroy materials. The campaign elevated Sean’s career as not only a lover of vintage fashion at his consignment stores Round Two but also as a new and upcoming sneaker designer – which has now seen him venture onto adidas. Check out Sean’s latest releases here.
Nike Air Max 97 x Undefeated (UNDFTD) – 2017 (See Below)
Undefeated never seem to miss when it comes to an Air Max collaboration. In 2017 we saw black, white and green versions of the shoe. Not easy to spot nowadays, a rare commodity and a sneaker many people wish they had bought. Undefeated branding ran through the waves as well as their iconic logo on the tongue of the sneaker.
Nike Air Max 97 x Skepta 2017 (See Below)
A key player in Nikes locker – another 2017 release saw our very own UK resident MC and Grime artist Skepta collaborate with Nike on a jaw dropping colour scheme on a Ultra variation of the 97 which boosted his recognition not only in music but in fashion, design and all round pop-culture status. Skepta has since gone on to make several key Nike models including a Nike Air Max Deluxe as well as a Air Max Tailwind V.
Around that time, Nike were heavily pushing hybrid models – constructing 2 silhouettes into one. Nike’s GS sizing were hybrids at a time where Air Max 95’s would come with an Air Max 93 midsole, so these releases weren’t anything new. With the Skepta collaboration, Nike took the Air Max BW and the Air Max 97 to create a Paris inspired project. From the contrasting Swooshes taken from the French Flag to the mesh material, the AM97/BW paid homage to the love Paris and Skepta have for each other.
Nike Air Max 97 Gold (See Below)
If silver does not take your fancy, don’t worry Nike has you covered with a gold version of the Air Max 97 Silver Bullet. The metallic hints make this shoe very noticeable on the streets. The dark red swoosh Nike branding reinforces the style’s strong status. The shoe also comes in a strong patterned Italian version.
Nike Air Max 97 Baroque Brown
A stand out colourway pasted in earthy tones with a speckled midsole, contrasted with the full length Air Max bubble, the Baroque Brown 97’s are a must-have pair. From the bottom of the outsole to the top of the upper, the waves fade lighter in tone giving a stand-out finish. Once more, a premium suede has been used rather than the favoured metallic prowess recognised to many AM 97 fanatics.
Nike Air Max 97 Puerto Rico – 2021
In more recent times we have seen the Air Max 97 Puerto Rico hit the shelves. Similar to the Italian version, the design features Puerto Rican flags as well as a subtle change in the swoosh embroidery.
Nike Air Max 97 Rio Jacquard Brazil – 2016
A wild pair but one which will now set you back a fair few pennies since its release in 2016. Carnival vibes throughout are just what Brazilian people are known for – this shoe is meant to be worn on the streets, joined by good people, music and dance. The digital speckle highlights this shoe, uplifting its presence whilst the pine green reminds you of its South American heritage.
Nike Air Max 97 Hyperfuse Hasta – 2012 (See Below)
In 2010, Nike introduced its latest innovation of Hyperfuse technology used in its footwear.
Eliminating its traditional cut-and-sew method, three layered composite and durable materials are fused together using heat and pressure to give off a lightweight and breathable feel. In 2012, Nike relied heavily on Hyperfuse and applied it on their classic models with the Air Max 97 being one of them. The hyperfuse material is used all over the upper with a combination of open mesh for maximum breathability.
Nike Air Max 97 Kashima Antler – 2006 (See Below)
In 2006, Nike released the ‘Kashima Antler’s Pack’ which was an ode to Japan’s most successful professional football team, the Kashima Antlers. Nike applied the inspiration on 3 icons, the AM95, AM97 as well as (at the time) newly innovated Air Max 360. The Air Max 97 combines subtle tones of black and grey. It also boasted the much-beloved elephant print on the upper with a teal-colored Max Air unit and Kashima Antler branding on the tongue and heel tab.
Download our Footpatrol launches app here for all the latest news and releases.
Shop the latest Air Max styles here.
The last couple of years has seen the Nike Dunk rule supreme. Taking not only the sneaker world by storm once again, it’s also opened up the world of sneakers to a whole new audience. Thanks to its clean aesthetic and easy use of colour blocking, its simplicity is welcoming. First launched back in ’85, the Dunk was an on court success and quickly became a street icon as well.
For the second time, Nike take us on a trip back to the 80’s to where it all began for another revisit of their 1985 Nike Dunk High. Paying homage to that original shape, Nike first set about its return with frequent collaborator UNDERCOVER and their UBA collection. Not too long after, Nike followed up this return with a duo of colour ways in a rather distinct, vintage acid wash disguise. It’s here that we land once again with another pairing of distressed inspired colour ways.
Focussing on some distinct colours within the palette, on offer you’ll notice a bright vibrant mix including a fan favourite ‘University Blue’ and ‘Collegiate Orange’ which is greeted with a vintage inspired yellow outsole. This aged feel carries on into the second pair with a more subdued black and yellow mix thats reminiscent of the ‘Varsity Maize’ colour blocking.
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE BELOW!
The ONLINE draw is live over on the Footpatrol Launches App, CLICK HERE to download!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above forms, these WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
To sign up to the Online draw, you will need to download the Footpatrol Launches app and complete a pre-authorisation payment of the retail price of the product plus shipping costs. This will be held until completion of the draw. Those successful will have their win posted out to the address entered during sign up. Those unsuccessful will see a return of their funds, this can take up to 5 working days from when the winners have been drawn.
Everything we’ve come to know and love, all wrapped up in a new, unique package… thats what the Air Jordan 1 LV8D brings to the table and we’re liking it! Not forgetting where the Air Jordan 1 came from, this latest take perfectly represents its OG heritage. With an upper thats been carefully crafted with a soft leather, the colour way is a traditional use of red and black that everyone knows as the ‘Bred’ colour way.
Keeping those recognisable touches in place with the additional, over exaggerated midsole creates a much welcome juxtaposition for the eyes. Something that looks like its straight out of the 80’s with its platform midsole fits perfectly into the modern fashion trends of today.
The WMNS Air Jordan 1 LV8D ‘Bred’ is now available in-store and online, priced at £125. Make sure to take a closer look at this latest model from the Jordan Brand below and all we have left to ask is, how would you style the AJ1 LV8D?
New year, new you…?
Maybe that new you is to hit the streets racking up the miles, we’re talking about running by the way! At Footpatrol, we pride ourselves on delivering the latest footwear in any category and we love to see the latest and greatest in running technology come to light.
With the boundaries of what’s possible in running being pushed each year it seems, we take a look at the latest colour ways on offer from Nike’s Running department. For their latest offering of the Air Zoom Alphafly & Tempo NEXT%, each is coated in an eye-catching ‘Barely Volt’ that brings a vintage runner feel to these futuristic looking silhouettes.
When you think of the Alphafly NEXT%, you can almost think of it as the brother to the already well known Vaporfly NEXT%. Both being Nikes premium racers, the Alphafly took things up another gear with the addition of two Zoom Air pods sitting underneath the forefoot whilst still incorporating the Carbon plate. It was also a prototype edition of the Alphafly NEXT% that helped Eliud Kipchoge beat the 2 hour time barrier for a marathon…
Whereas you can save the above two for race day, the Tempo NEXT% on the other hand is the perfect training shoe. Built for those who want to experience a faster shoe and build up to a race, the Tempo NEXT% is a great shoe to grab for your daily runs. To cause less stress on the legs, both of the fits utilise a Carbon Plate and two Zoom Air Pods however the Tempo NEXT% opts for a less rigid plate allowing for the foot to build strength whilst training. If this combination of propulsion wasn’t enough though, both are packed with ZoomX foam for ultimate cushioning.
Both styles are now available to shop online at Footpatrol here!
With the 40th Anniversary of the Nike Air Force 1 just around the corner, we wanted to take you back to where it all started.
Culturally accepted worldwide amongst athletes and everyday society, the Nike Air Force 1 is undoubtedly one of the Beaverton brand’s greatest sneaker silhouettes of all time. The shoe first took flight in 1982 as a court shoe, boasting Nike Air technology. Named after the President of America’s private plane, this shoe offered both protection and flight. Designed by Bruce Kilgore, the Nike Air Force 1 continues to be popular amongst sneaker purists and everyday wearers to this day. Besides Air technology the sneakers boasted new and innovative features such as a cup sole, exceeding durability within an athlete’s gameplay. A threaded outsole also helped basketballers movements so they could fulfil their sporting potential.
Similar to drop culture today, the Air Force 1 was initially released in a ‘run,’ meaning a limited time of which the shoe was available on store shelves. Once they were gone, they were gone. This meant as an owner, acquiring a pair gave you top tier status and bragging rights within an emerging sneaker culture.
The relationship between music and sport, specifically hip-hop and basketball within New York, in the 80s and 90s, had an ever-lasting effect on the connection between sneakers and consumers. Nicknamed the “Uptowns” amongst inner-city youth, especially in Harlem, New York, the AF1 continues to release head-turning colourways, with eye-catching colour blocking schemes. The sneaker is especially important to the city of Baltimore; when Nike was planning to stop producing the shoe in ’84, the residents helped it live on. The community was later rewarded in 2017 with a “For Baltimore” release that pays homage to their efforts which essentially helped it live on to become a classic. Walking down any street, in any city, you are bound to spot a pair of white on white AF1 Lows within a matter of seconds. A timeless silhouette with a cult like status. A sneaker which is essential to any footwear rotation.
Thanks to collaborations the value behind sneakers still continues to drive an ever-growing market. The Scarr’s Pizza x Nike Air Force 1 collaboration, designed in 2019 by DJ Clark Kent was another coveted pair of sneakers rumoured to have only around 48 pairs made. If you were lucky enough to make it on “the list” amongst Scarr’s Pizza friends & family, you could now own a pair of sneakers worth over $100,000. From collaborations with the likes of Supreme, atmos and Playstation, there are plenty of rare releases for serious sneaker collectors. In a recent Sotheby’s auction we saw a pair of 2009, Nike Air Force 1 ‘Entourage x Undefeated x Fukijama Gold’ sell for a staggering $88,200, proving the model’s 40 year tenure is still very much in demand amongst sneaker enthusiasts and pop-culture enthusiasts.
An ultimate canvas. The Nike Air Force 1 is crisper than ever. 2022 is going to be a big year for the Air Force 1, with plenty of new models set to hit the shelves. With the re-emergence of the AF1 Mid, this can only be seen as the beginning of a big year for the style. The recent Air Force 1 Sculpt pays homage to the AF1s first release on the courts back in 1982, we recently visited father and daughter duo Chris Bramble and Freya Bramble-Carter, read here.
Shop the latest styles here.
Nigel Sylvester x Nike Air Force 1 Low iD – 2018
Back in 2018, Nygel Sylvester, professional BMX rider, teamed up with Nike to create two iconic pairs of NIKEiD Air Force 1s. The recently signed Nike athlete took inspiration from his home city of New York to create two draw-dropping models, perfect for any collectors sneaker rotation.
Nike Air Force 1 Low NYC Procell Wildcard – 2019
2019 brought the Nike Air Force 1 Procell, a sneaker which resembled New York City as a blank canvas to which you can create almost anything and fulfill true creative potential. Nike’s NYC Editions collaboration series featured this shoe which was a standout in the collection.
Nike Air Force 1 Low ’07 Craft Dark Beetroot – 2021
A no doubt slept on Air Force 1 model for sure. The Dark Beetroot colourway was straight forward in design but expressed jaw-dropping premium materials and qualities, right down to the metallic silver finished lace dubraes.
Nike Air Force 1 Low G-Dragon Peaceminusone Para-Noise – 2019
A stand-out collaboration which will stand the test of time amongst sneaker enthusiasts. The G-Dragon x Nike Air Force 1 Para-Noise from 2019 is unique in almost every element. Over time the peel away upper reveals G-Dragon’s artwork whilst boasting the PEACEMINUSONE daisy logo embroidered on the tongue taking you back to the artist’s South Korean heritage.
Nike Lunar Force 1 Low Acronym – 2017
In 2017, Errolson Hugh’s took his iteration on the Air Force 1 to new levels. The fashion forward design came in a triple white colourway with a lunar midsole. Features also included a zippered closure along the sides.
Nike Air Force 1 Low ’07 White Obsidian – 2019
One of the cleanest Air Force 1 colourways around. 2019 brought the Air Force 1 White Obsidian. A sneaker which can be worn with almost any outfit, the gum out-soles fitted with a crisp white upper and a eye-popping black swoosh help this shoe really stand out.
Nike Air Force 1 Low 3M Snake – 2021
Initially released in 2001, the Nike Air Force 1 Low 3M Snake (2021) pays homage to its previous predecessor. Silver 3M fabric laces the sneaker to hint reflective features. Not one to be missed.
Nike Air Force 1 Low CLOT Blue Silk – 2019
When it comes to Nike collaborations Edison Chen’s CLOT never seems to miss the mark. The Air Force 1 CLOT is drowned in luxurious silk embossed with a traditional chinese pattern. Inspired by the concept of Yin and Yang this sneaker was rumoured to be immensely limited.
Nike Air Force 1 Mid QS Jewel NYC White Midnight Navy – 2021
A re-introduction to the Air Force 1 Mid, the recent Jewel Quickstrike model inspired by the streets of NYC is a favoured shoe amongst sneaker enthusiasts. The clean colourway makes it very wearable within any fashion setting. We still have some sizes remaining in this style here.
Nike Air Force 1 High Sculpt White Silver – 2021
The Air Force 1 Sculpt takes things back to its most minimal stages. With strapless ankles and an aged mid-sole this sneaker takes you back to the AF1s early beginnings. Shop the style here.
Nike Air Force 1 Low Taiwan – 2018
A retro of all retro’s. 2018 saw one of the Air Force 1s greatest color schemes of all time re-release. Finished in patent leather this sneaker was a must have amongst AF1 collectors and sneaker loyalists.
Nike Air Force 1 Low Retro Cocoa Snake – 2018
Like the 3M snake, the ‘Cocoa Snake’ was also originally released in 2001 as a Japanese exclusive. Legendary ATMOS creative director Hirofumi Kojima confirmed the sneakers re-introduction to sneaker shelves in 2018. Head-turning snakeskin panelling makes this shoe unique in every possibility. A must have when it comes to AF1s and their historical status.
Nike’s newest collaboration with K-pop superstar G-Dragon and his PEACEMINUSONE, the Kwondo1 silhouette is set to release. A trainer that offers a cultural accolade to Nike’s heritage, while infused with Korean street style. What’s more, the South Korean singer and song writer’s latest design also adopts formal eloquence whilst also boasting sportswear influence in visuals and technology.
Featuring a ‘Triple White’ upper crafted from a smooth brogue leather with specs of decorative perforations and stitching on the overlays. Co-branding can be found on the tongue tab and lace tips, while the front lace shrouds are hallmarked with ‘PEACEMINUSONE’ and the label’s signature branding, also shown on the insole. Further floral daisy stitching adorns the heel for a pop of colour and intricate detail. Underfoot is minimal with a crisp white sole.
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE BELOW!
The London in-store draw is now closed!
The ONLINE draw is live over on the Footpatrol Launches App, CLICK HERE to download!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above forms, these WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
In-store winners will be contacted via email informing them of their win. Within this email, winners will be given a set of dates in which they must collect their win from our London store. To collect, you will need to provide the winning email and a valid photographic government ID matching the winners name. NO ONE can collect on the winners behalf. Failure to provide this, or failure to collect within the given dates will mean failure to purchase your win.
To sign up to the Online draw, you will need to download the Footpatrol Launches app and complete a pre-authorisation payment of the retail price of the product plus shipping costs. This will be held until completion of the draw. Those successful will have their win posted out to the address entered during sign up. Those unsuccessful will see a return of their funds, this can take up to 5 working days from when the winners have been drawn.
Design comes in many different forms. Whether it’s within footwear design, architecture, painting, essentially everything started off as a concept and slowly grew into a reality.
The Air Force 1 ‘Sculpt’ is without a doubt one of those creations. For this release though we wanted to approach it in a slightly different way, looking into an industry we felt was one of the lesser spoken about/lesser known skill sets behind design and sculpting.
We took a trip over to West Hampstead to meet father and daughter duo Chirs Bramble and Freya Bramble-Carter and asked them to give us a little bit of insight into the world of ceramics and pottery and some of the history behind the industry alongside what they do as experienced and well respected creatives within their field.
Read the full interview and feature below and shop the Nike Air Force 1 ‘Sculpt’ here!
Footpatrol: I always start every interview with whoever we interview with a simple question of how are you ?
Chris: Feeling good
Freya: Yeah feeling good, revamping everything, everything is fresh at the moment, I am re-doing my home. I feel like it is quite a fresh time for me which is nice, I just came back from a trip.
FP: For those people that haven’t had the opportunity to meet you guys or have seen your work, could you give us a bit of an introduction on what you do and who you are?
Chris: My name is Chris Bramble, I am a tutor and a ceramic pottery and sculptor. I work in London, North West, I make products and I teach.
Freya: I call myself an artist, I teach pottery, I share the studio with my father and I like to make work in my own space as well and we sell and exhibit together and separately. We do lots of work playing around with the community and internationality, that’s the practice.
FP: Where did it all begin for you both?
Chris: Well for me it began at college. I was doing an exhibition design course and I was allowed to use all the materials. I fell in love with clay and dropped everything else overnight and did clay until I could get a portfolio together and luckily enough, through an invite I was able to go to the Glasgow School of Art to do my BA Honours degree. I enjoyed it so much I stayed there for 10 years. I took 2 years out and went to Zimbabwe and I taught in Zimbabwe and was an exhibition officer in the national gallery for 2 years.
Freya: I studied fine art and there was a ceramics studio there, I was in the studio working with clay a lot and I thought, I am doing all these different art forms but clay was the one thing I kept going back to. I was fluent in it and that’s because I’ve had past experiences growing up in my dad’s studio, helping teach and stuff like that as a child. After university, I felt it was a natural calling, it’s always what I’ve wanted to do to be honest. I kind of had a moment when I fell out of love with the art industry and when I started to be creative again it was the only thing I wanted to put my hands to. I asked my dad, can I help you out in the studio for a little bit if you give me some pocket money. I started teaching kids classes. Then the ball just started rolling to just teaching everyday. I learnt the practice inside out really.
Chris: I totally agree. She got her degree at Chelsea!
FP: Did you ever think you would follow in your dad’s footsteps in this kind of line of work?
Freya: No , I didn’t think I would follow, I didn’t plan it all. I think probably as a kid I thought it wasn’t really a thing for me. Naturally we both knew my twin sister didn’t want to follow what our parents did. That is only because it is natural you see how difficult it is at home. Maybe for one reason they were really looking after us as kids, we felt their stress. In our minds we were thinking whatever they are doing we’re not going to do. People even ask me oh you ‘re going to do pottery, no, no, no. But you know what, I wouldn’t do anything else, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I think the best advice you gave was to follow what I enjoy and since I’ve made that decision more so now, everything else just went out of the window really.
FP: Chris, from your perspective, what is it like seeing your daughter following in your footsteps?
Chris: It is a lovely recognition to be working with your daughter. I’ve worked with loads of different people over the years and I found working with my daughter is the safest, you got somebody watching your back. Your kids are away from you for a longer time whether it is at school or university, they disappear. It is nice that her and her twin sister have come back and that we have worked together and we are able to push the business much further than I could have done myself.
FP: Sounds like wholesome content if you ask me. I’ve told you guys briefly, I have discovered you guys through the vogue article, and honestly when I saw some of the pieces of work surrounded by both of you, that was when I was like yep. Coincidentally, Nike asked us to do a project the same week on the shoot , being on the Sculpt Air Force 1’s, so that is the direction we wanted to go in. Could you tell us a bit about your own respective styles and would you say they differ completely or is there a lot of similarities between the two?
Chris: The similarity between the two of us is that we can both throw large wear , which isn’t a problem for us. When Freya does her large wear she uses it as a canvas , I think she falls back on her painting a bit with the use of colours when she went to Chelsea School of Arts. I was lucky I had two different tutors at the beginning, a sculptor and a thrower. I was able to put human elements in my work. That’s why you see heads on top of pots or hands coming out of handles as it is quite figurative. Human elements, I like human elements because I feel like everyone can really communicate with that.
FP: And yourself Freya?
Freya: I suppose I like human elements as well, I kind of incorporate them into the forms of lots of vessels. I think I have spent more than a couple of years doing vases and kind of sculptural domestic wear. Slightly leaning more into interior design, whereas he does what he does really well, it’s kind of got a bit floral and femiminine, my market really appreciated it. I really enjoy making that work, I am really into technical glazing and all of that is really exciting to me. In the future I have got plans to do other styles of work, to move on and expand in other directions and I also work with my sister who also does theatre. We are kind of expanding and exploring with different kinds of mediums , we got projects like community projects that we might be working on next year, and a lot of exciting things that involve the community.
FP: Where do you guys see your brand and studio going ? Did you plan to expand, any ideas to take over the world or did you want to keep local, small and family-focused?
Freya: I think we can do both.
Chris: The most important thing is that we can carry on enjoying it and be able to make it grow honestly. Without it turning into a mass production thing, we believe that we put a bit of our spirit in our work, it’s a bit of us and when you go too wide, then sometimes you see the colleagues lose a bit when they get too satisfied . We hope to keep that together but carry on growing like we have been doing in the last few years.
Freya: I think that it is special to have the close knit community and have the family vibe and most importantly above everything it is about care. People value the care that we give and they give in exchange. It is really important , I think, for this type of work for people who really put their life and soul into what they make, we treat them with utmost respect and help them. I feel like we would be contradicting ourselves and our integrity as people and artists if we work in mass production, it goes against the whole point really , but we do want to expand in a way where we just want to have more people that can help us do that really. Personally, I would love to go more internationally as well. I think I am in a time in my life now that I am ready to travel. It would be nice to open studios abroad or work with other artists, just be open in that sort of way. There are definitely ideas in that way.
FP: This question is mainly down to my naivety of the industry. When you guys were getting into pottery, besides having each other’s backs, were there any other influences or artists that you had, that helped as a catalyst wanting to work in this industry?
Chris & Freya: No
Freya: My only inspiration was the work that I saw in my home and living lounge was his work. To be honest, no other ceramics inspired me in the same way, as there are loads of people that work with clay, but not really. When I started studying it , I was pulling out different types of sculptors like Alan Peascod. I like expressive people like that .
Chris: All I can say is that my original teacher told me to drop my exhibition in, Anthony Bennett was really important because I could see what could be done with clay. When I went up to the V&A, I was told Anthony Benett originally did the ‘d’andfour man’ and he was able to every line in his lip , every crease at the side of the eye, every hair on his face and he did it all in clay. He was my true inspiration. Through him I was able to understand and express my feelings through clay and be able to manipulate it into any form or shape, whether it was a toilet or whether it was bricks for a house or cups, sourcers etc. Through him I understood that it was a matter of doing it. Just do it and that’s it.
FP: I love the example, the first one the toilet, a class little anecdote!
Freya: I had to make a toilet once it was awful.
FP: May I ask why you had to make a toilet?
Freya: I forgot to make the rim and the toilet water splashed out of the bowl onto the person.
Chris: Have you ever seen pottery throwdown? Have you ever heard of it ?
FP : No
Pottery Throwdown is a series on television once a year, where they get 10 amateur potters, it is like British Bake off, it is run by the same company, sold by the same company the Love Productions. So Freya was on that and the day she got thrown out, is that day she forgot to put the rim on the toilet, so when they pulled the chain it all came out and trenched the judge. They loved it, they kept it there because it was fun. This programme was built for people to show what they can do and it’s entertaining.
FP: I wanted to go into a little bit of detail just to talk about the different types of clay, purely because I feel for a lot of people it is a new bit of insight to the industry. Could you give us a brief example of the different types of clay and the different effect it can have on the final result.
Chris: Well, London is built on clay so when you get a hot summer and the ground dries up, you get a lot of subsidence in London. London is built on red earthwear , that’s why it is full of pottery and we have large smoke stacks in London. If you use that clay in the ground, dig up the ground anywhere in London you’ll get a sticky yellowy brown stuff and that’s called red earthwear. That red earthwear is used to make cider jars, slits in roofs, bricks and gardening pots. Now, the red earthwear gardening pots, everyone should recognise them because they are kind of red/ browny , they are very porous so they half fire them, so it drains water out of them. London is rich with it. Porcelain is completely up the high end , the red earth would be fired to 1000 to 1040 whereas porcelain will be fired right up to 1,400 degree. Porcelain is translucent, some porcelain is see-through, at 1,400 degrees the porcelain clay turns into glass, but that originally comes from China. A natural happening thing in China, however, earlier on in the century, we found out that we can replicate it rather than buy it as imports from China. You can find most of them clays down in Cornwall and to give it’s translucent ability, bone has to be added and the bone burns out and makes it whiter and adds calcium. It is called bone china because it has got bone in it, people don’t release it has bone in it.
Now the other kind of main clay is stoneware and that came about in the mid 50 and 60s where their studio pottery had a revolution. It started with a guy named Hamada from Japan and a guy called Bernard Leach , they are the Godfathers of studio pottery. Studio pottery means that you have a small company making things by hand, which was opposed to the Industrial Revolution in 1910, where we had machines mass making things that was the beginning. Large cotton weaving up North and industrially made ceramics in Stoke-on-Trent. Stoke-on-Trent had five pottery towns together that actually produced together to create pottery for the whole country. Now those companies are slowly dying. I will list a couple of reasons for that because we have companies like Habitat and IKEA to mass produce things and people like cleaner cut things these days. So they like mould made things rather than hand painted and handmade. The other thing which is quite unusual, up to the 70’s everybody got married. Once you got married, you always got at least a 150 piece tea set for your wedding present. Some people have two or three, if you ask somebody mature they will say I’ve still got one of those tea sets upstairs. People also used to have large racks on the walls for these things. Another reason is that Americans used to come over and buy whole sets of Derby wear, Dembi, Worcester and all these other sets.
Freya: The clay we use is stoneware in the studio and we have a light grey to dark grey black stoneware. A lot of Chris’s work is like grogged play, which means that it is really gritty, so a lot of the sculptural stuff will have a stronger grogged play and you will see a grainier texture on the surface compared to smoother and coarser plays.
Chris: The revolution of the industrial and handmade things and it’s happening now again, the kickback against people sitting in front of computers all the time instead of feeding information into computers, people are getting bits of clay now and expressing themselves.
Freya: Yeah, now it is like people like really wonky stuff, not clean stuff as it is more raw.
People are expressing themselves when they are at dinner parties,it doesn’t matter if you are man or woman, the artist is out there giving out their dinner and it is a conversation, like ‘oh did you make that.’ Did you make that platter? Who made these mugs? Ah, I made them. It is another string to people’s bow and its way of expressing yourself and it is accessible from the age of 2 to the age of 105. Which is so great about clay, when you come along and do your little event thing, you’ll see.
FP: I am excited for it if I am completely honest with you! Just before I let you free, we like to leave everybody with an opportunity. If there is anything you would like to share, whether that be a message of positivity, something you want to get people excited for, how would you like to sign everything off?
Chris: Just get your fingers in and have a go!
Freya: I would like to say come see us and have fun and before that relax and follow your joy.
Nike Zoom Spectrum Plus
Originally released in 2003, it initially served as footwear for Japanese runners who required more motion control and structure while the aesthetics were inspired by hot-rod drag racing culture hence the notable flames on the upper.
The silhouette made its return on the scene in 2018 with a collaboration with NYC skate brand Supreme, in which it saw the OG colour making its way back up as well as a new colourway in Black. Coming off the back of those releases, Nike have quickly returned with 2 more new colourways.
To some, the OG aesthetics may seem bold, although, these two colourways are bolder. Still featuring its signature flames the original design however, is overpowered by newly displayed graphics, respectively. One silhouette contains a mixture of Court Purple and Deep Royal Blue along with a blend of patterns in different varieties. There are hints of palm trees and skylines as well as checkerboard displays on the inner lining. A midsole in Geyser Grey and a Japanese kanji appears on the tongue and heel which translates to “War”.
The other pair alongside this silhouette contains similar graphics with hints of palm trees but with areal views of a cityscape in the night. With a mixture of Melon Tint and Palest Purple, like its counterpart, this too sits atop a Geyser Grey midsole and includes the Japanese kanji on tongue and heel.
Nike Zoom Spectrum is now available online. Sizes range from UK5.5 – UK12 (including half sizes), priced at £130.
Shop the Nike Zoom Spectrum Plus now via the Footpatrol Website.
