Month: July 2021

Vans has made a name for itself by creating simple SoCal-inspired skateboarding footwear dominated by its signature vulcanized waffle sole unit — so if you’re a purist look away now — as the SK8-Hi LX and Authentic LX have now been fitted with Vibram soles.Both the SK8-Hi LX and Authentic LX are available in either all black or all white, sporting an upper made from premium leather with an overall fuss-free aesthetic. For the former, you’ll find the Jazz Stripe appear with tonal stitching, more stitches making out the collar details, and a perforated section on the toe box. Details such as the tongue tab are finished in leather with contrasting Vans branding, while the standard foxing tape of the Vans’ midsole slightly appears before it submerges itself into the Vibram unit.The exact same can be said for the Authentic LX, aside from the SK8-Hi-specific details. On this pair, Vans’ moniker graces a lateral-side mid-panel tag, there is no tongue branding, and again there is a slight showcase of the original foxing tape. Regardless of the silhouette or color, the Vibram sole appears in all its blocky, sturdy glory with branding at the rear-quarter and an outsole that’s heavily lugged and chunky.Take a look at the Vans SK8-Hi LX and Authentic LX with Vibram soles above, and head over to OneBlockDown to pick up all four now. The Authentic LX retails for $176 USD, while the SK8-Hi costs $206 USD.For more reworked classics, check out the upcoming Patta x Nike Air Max 1 “Noise Aqua.”

Following the recent premiere of Space Jam: A New Legacy, Sotheby’s closed out the auction of Michael Jordan’s player sample of the Air Jordan 11 Space Jam sneakers with a winning bid of $176,400 USD.The auction house partnered up with Project Blitz for an “MJ’s Secret Stuff” auction of the perfect deadstock condition autographed sneakers which sold for about the same price it was estimated for. Never actually worn by Jordan, the pair was kept with its yellowed soles and his signature found on the left shoe in silver ink.The Space Jam sneaker sample is stored in a velvet-lined custom wooden box showcasing a laser-etched graphic of the ‘Tune Squad’ logo on the inside of the lid and Space Jam on the outside.In case you missed it, this Air Jordan 1 Mid is made of sustainable materials.

Louis Vuitton has unveiled Charlie, its first unisex sneaker offering. In addition to being a gender-neutral design, the shoe is environmentally-conscious and boasts 90 percent recycled and bio-sourced materials.The shoe, which comes in both a low and high-top version, features a crisp white design with a LV monogram accent on the shoe’s heel and grey detailing on the toe. Charlie’s sole is made up of 94 percent recycled rubber. The shoe’s upper is made up of a synthetic material, produced from recycled polyester and a layer of Biopolioli, a corn-based plastic. Additionally, the tongue patch is made with ECONYL, a 100 percent recycled nylon, which is also used on the back of the Charlie for the House’s signature. The inside sole and lining features recycled polyurethane and recycled polyester.Louis Vuitton extends its environmental responsibility to the packaging as well, protecting the shoes with felt made from TENCEL (branded fibers from renewable wood sources) and constructing the box from recycled cardboard.The shoe will be available in sizes 34 to 47 in Euro sizes (3 to 13 in US sizes) on November 12 on Louis Vuitton’s website.In related news, Louis Vuitton celebrates “Art and Open-Mindedness” with FW21 accessories.