Month: August 2021

Nike has filed a lawsuit against John Geiger’s John Geiger Co and La La Land Production and Design Inc, claiming that Geiger’s GF-01 sneaker infringes on the Air Force 1’s trade dress. In response, Geiger stated in an Instagram post that he’s “been very clear through two years of manufacturing and selling the GF-01 that it was inspired by Nike, and also made sure that anyone purchasing the shoe is aware that it is a designer shoe crafted with higher materials and quality, along with my trademark and changes to the silhouette.” A copy of Nike’s complaint obtained by Complex states “By marketing and selling shoes using Nike’s registered Air Force 1 trade dress, John Geiger knowingly and intentionally creates confusion in the marketplace and capitalizes on Nike’s reputation and the reputation of its iconic shoes.” Geiger himself is no stranger to the Nike corporate machine. As the former manager to NFL All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis, Geiger had a hand in the design of the Zoom Revis in 2012 and also worked with The Shoe Surgeon on a series of Air Force 1 “Misplaced Checks” customs — AF1s adorned with multiple Swooshes in premium materials — before founding his own brand. In his above-mentioned Instagram post, Geiger also mentioned his time around Nike’s corporate machine, saying “I feel like Nike has been benefitting off the hard work from myself and a lot of creators within the [sneaker] community over the past 10 years. I’ve remained quiet and never spoken publically because everyone within the sneaker community has spoken for me but now Nike wants to use meritless claims and attack me as an entrepreneur.” Geiger also has promised transparency through the legal process.La La Land was in hot water with Nike as recently as last year, as it was also named as a defendant in the highly-publicized Nike vs Warren Lotas lawsuit. Though Lotas settled with Nike in December 2020, La La Land and Nike are still entangled in a courtroom battle. The production outfit recently filed a counterclaim against Nike, stating “Nike’s strategy aims to quash competition and intimidate legitimate businesses … that often lack the resources to defend themselves against such a well-resourced opponent. There is a bullying nature to these actions that chills creativity and lawful competition.”From a design standpoint, Geiger’s GF-01 features an overall shape that’s similar to the Air Force 1, but there are notable material and embellishment differences — namely a custom “JG” pattern on the outsole and insole, a slightly thinner midsole, differently branded hits and more luxurious materials like premium tumbled leather, chenille and even multi-colored tweed fabric. Others may note that Nike never brought suit against BAPE for the BAPESTA, the most famous Air Force 1 “homage” of all time.Even with the lawsuit set to head to trial in the Central District of California, Geiger remains unfazed: he’s set to release the GF-01 in an Air Force 1 “Linen”-inspired colorway today, August 28. View this post on InstagramA post shared by John Geiger (@johngeiger_)See a side-by-side of similar GF-01 and Air Force 1 colorways plus Geiger’s statement above, and for more footwear news, be sure to check out the Air Jordan 1’s new “Marina Blue” colorway.

Merrell 1TRL’s Hydro Moc has been one of 2021’s most unexpected hits, a lightweight, form-fitting silhouette that’s half water shoe, half clog and entirely unique. Providing a more sporty and streamlined option than the fashion-focused YEEZY Foam RNNR or the inherently casual Crocs Classic Clog, the Hydro Moc has found its niche — and is now set to expand that niche with a half-dozen new colorways for the fall.Standout styles include an airy all-white makeup and an oceanic two-tone blue with marbled detailing. Apart from this duo, there’s also a two-pack of earth-toned makeups: one that mixes tan and brown with a black strap and orange hinge, the other a brown and cream with tonal strap detailing. Lastly, there’s a set of black styles, one that offers murky black and gray marbling, the other a high-contrast mixture of black and white. All six pairs feature Merrell’s signature single-density injected EVA construction, a contoured heel arch for support, an articulated strap that can be flipped up and down for an adjustable fit and 2mm lugs on the outsole for enhanced traction. Each weighs in at a feather-light 410 grams.Several of these Hydro Mocs are available on the Merrell webstore now, and others will likely arrive in the coming days. Each is priced at a palatable $50 USD.In other non-sneaker-related footwear news, Kanye West’s YEEZY Slide is set to drop in a vivid “Glow Green” colorway.

Melting Sadness is responsible for some of the whackiest, most whimsical adidas collaborations you’ll ever see, and the brand — helmed by Chinese artist Zhang Quan — has teamed back up with adidas Originals for a four-shoe “Melting Ice Cream” collaboration. Consisting of two takes on the Campus and two iterations of the 3MC, Melting Sadness’ latest adidas kicks are staggeringly sweet and excellently embellished.The first Campus is dubbed “Halo Mint,” and features a light blue tone that’s splashed with hits of tan. Its counterpart, “Campus Sand,” offers a mostly tan color scheme with textured details that represent ice cream cones. Both also boast a special cork heel tab. On the other end of the spectrum, the 3MC serves up a dashing double scoop of its own. “Cream White” supplies a Neopolitan-like mixture of cream and brown tones with just a touch of strawberry pink, while “Icy Blue” is the most colorful style of all thanks to a cotton candy-like mix of blue, yellow, pink and green. All four pairs are complete with dripping details that descend onto their midsoles and come with a special hang tag.Expect the Melting Sadness x adidas “Melting Ice Cream” collection to hit Japanese retailers like atmos on August 28. Each pair’s MSRP is set at a tax-inclusive ¥13,200 JPY (approximately $120 USD).In other adidas news, Kanye West’s YEEZY Slide “Glow Green” has received a release date.