Month: July 2022

Nike has had its fair share of unorthodox silhouettes. One that arguably stands out the most is the Air Kukini, arriving in the year 2000 as part of the Swoosh’s experimental Alpha Project. Now following its “Pixel” edition of the Kukini earlier this month, the sportswear giant is presenting its anime-inspired “Mighty Swooshers” iteration.Taking inspiration from Nike’s Swoosh Man superhero figure, the fictional hero was crated by Ian Campbell, an Olympic athlete, and Nike veteran. Swoosh, the mascot’s official name, was used to bring more eyes to the brand’s Sports Entertainment regime that launched back in 1996. The character’s body suit was designed with bold red Swooshes on the chest and the sides of the head while the base of the protective costume came in a metallic appearance, closely-similar to the latest Air Kukini “Mighty Swooshers” sneaker. The new shoe — designed for “The Mighty Swooshers” collection — is based on a narrative from a fictional comic book. For the appearance of the new Air Kukini, images of the superhero have been printed throughout the upper. A “Metallic Silver” cage is used to cover the top of the silhouette while the upper sits atop a black midsole that is complete with a transparent Air Bubble. Red Swooshes and further black detailing that reads “The Battle of Dimension Six” and “Nike And The Mighty Swooshers” is also printed on the insoles. You can have a closer look at Nike’s Air Kikini “Mighty Swooshers” above and it will be available on the official Nike store in the coming weeks for $120 USD.In other footwear news, Nike is staying cool for the summer with its Dunk High “Blue Chill.”

Demna’s Balenciaga is a pioneer of the normcore trend, tapping into the seemingly mundane to produce subverted takes on the overlooked facets of fashion, in turn making them highly-desired designer goods. Take its thimble, Destroyed Stan Smith, soccer scarves, or the Crocs for example — each was once a familiar part of everyday life, until Balenciaga got its hands on them. The same can be said for the house’s latest shoe, the Tourist Sandal.Drawing on the ugly sandals that are stereotypically worn by tourists — the kind that has guided tours with umbrellas pointing the way — Balenciaga now offers its take with a sporty update. The result is something quintessentially Demna with a hint of Teva, as the pair combines a familiar ergonomic-centric shape with its athletic-inspired house cues.The pair is made up of three velcro straps, with the front toe piece bearing Balenciaga’s moniker, the second wearing the “Sporty B” logo, and the heel strap again seeing the brand’s name embroidered into it. Further branding works the ergonomic insole, while a final touch can be seen on the outsole.This is where things get much sportier, as the sole unit looks like it’s been taken right off a ’90s running sneaker — again, feeding into Balenciaga’s now-signature aesthetic. Completing the shoe is the heavy use of technical materials, once more injecting a sense of athleticism into the design.Balenciaga’s Tourist Sandal is available in white, black, red, khaki green or neon pink, and each retail for £495 GBP/$695 USD. Take a closer look at the pair above, and purchase yours in-store or online now.In related news, Kanye West’s adidas YEEZY SLIDE “Onyx” is restocking.

Nike is prepared for a hot summer with its newest Dunk High in “Blue Chill.”The cool-toned iteration is crafted with full leather uppers, its immaculate white base making way for the light blue overlays and yellow detailing on the pull tab, tongue tag insignias and insole logos. Other branding hits can be found on the matching light blue panel swoosh and embossed outsole stamp as the shoe rests on a white midsole and light blue outsole, with white laces tying the shoe together for a clean finish.Check out the shoe above. The Nike Dunk High “Blue Chill” is set to drop in the coming weeks via Nike and select retailers for a price tag of $120 USD.In other footwear news, a new Nike Dunk Low “Chenille Swoosh” joins the “University” series in hues of gray and black.