Month: May 2023

Two kings of collaboration — Edison Chen and Hiroshi Fujiwara — are teaming up once again for not only a new take on the Nike Dunk Low, but a complementary apparel range as well via their labels: CLOT and fragment design. Previously, early looks at both the Dunks and clothing had surfaced via early pairs, official imagery and teasers from the duo. Now, the much-anticipated collection has been presented with a complete breakdown of what’s to come and its release information.The CLOT x fragment design x Nike Dunk Low revisits CLOT’s silk-themed Nike Air Force 1 Low from 2018 — a shoe that Fujiwara shared is his favorite from CLOT in its twenty years of collaborations. This “Silk Royale” pattern makes a return across the Dunk’s upper in a striking white that matches the opaque sole unit. From there, CLOT returns to its love for pandas with the inclusion of black hits at the tongue, eyestay and branding. Another point of homage arrives with its special tear-away layers. This technique has been utilized in releases dating back to the original 2009 “1WORLD” collaboration on the Nike Air Force 1 Low and appears again to unveil black branding hits from the trio at the lateral and black leather at the Swooshes. Alternate laces in blue are joined by a special box bearing the “Silk Royale” theme to round out this highly-detailed release.Supporting the kicks, two hoodies and two t-shirts have been assembled by the duo. A black and white hoodie leads the way with co-branding scattered across the front and back, including a red CLOT20 tag that is affixed to each of the four garments. A black hoodie chimes in with a small, tonal CLOT x fragment design logo at the chest and a panda in the shape of a “C” appearing to write out “CLOT” at the back. Both tees utilize these designs, flipping the placement from front to back and vice versa while appearing in white and black colorways to complete the range.For those looking forward to the collection’s release, it is currently scheduled to release on May 19 via JUICE stores across the world. A special pop-up in Tokyo is set to be announced alongside an expected wider release of the shoes at a later date. Prices begin at $87 USD for the tees and go up to $150 USD and $176 USD for the shoes and hoodies respectively. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CLOT (@clot)For more of the latest news in footwear, Nike has revealed the NOCTA Hot Step Air Terra in “Snakeskin.” 

It’s hard to deny New Balance’s presence in the British footwear market, quickly becoming a dominant force on UK streets nationwide. While born in Boston, New Balance has become synonymous with English street culture, dressing style tribes from across the country with athletic kicks that generate status and praise. New Balance opened its first factory on British soil in 1982, relocating to a small village named Flimby the following decade. Shortly after, New Balance launched its Made In UK line, highlighting local craftsmanship, production, and talent. As a result, the vibrancy of British heritage can be found on every pair, keeping quality at the forefront while paying tribute to local artisans and experimental design. The UK-based football casuals had a long-standing relationship with New Balance, delivering an alternative approach to sports footwear supplied by adidas and Nike. While the subculture prided itself on elitism on and off the field, New Balance offered a more refined approach to classic styles. As football casuals grew in age, its members searched for a modest look that aligned with New Balance’s relaxed and comfortable systems. Due to its history, New Balance’s forthcoming collaboration with London-based streetwear label Palace makes perfect sense. The British imprint founded by Gareth Skewis and Lev Tanju has redefined UK streetwear culture since 2009. Season after season, Palace has dispatched its humorous approach to design through slouchy T-shirts, GORE-TEX outerwear, Triferg hoodies, and more — becoming a quintessential element of the local fashion movement. Grounded in authenticity, Palace has always lived and breathed skateboarding, which contrasts New Balance’s on-field athletic roots. Both brands have established an intense incline toward collaboration, seeing Palace unite with Umbro, Kickers, UK pop star Elton John, and many more. On the other hand, New Balance has chosen to match with UK retailers size?, Foot Patrol, and London designer Paul Smith. Now, Palace and New Balance come together under one roof to craft a collaboration cemented in history. Embracing New Balance’s Made In UK 991 model, the duo merge their shared identities to create a timeless design that lasts a lifetime. Available in two colorways, the first features a teal ripstop base, complemented by purple leather trimmings that line the toe boxes and ankle areas. Tan suede runs across the mudguards and heel counters, while beige textiles hit the medials with tinted “N” insignia. The rears preview clear windows that showcase divided Palace lettering, completing the design with “P991” lace dubraes, co-branded tongues, and dual-colored bottoms. The second take is designed in a black, grey, pink, and purple palette, featuring a similar construction to the previous pair. Outdoor pursuits inspire the apparel collection, including water-resistant nylon shell jackets and shorts with dual-logo patches and concealed pockets in purple and teal. Simplistic T-shirts and crewnecks collect merged graphics, completing the range with cinchable caps in matching hues. Take a closer look at the complete New Balance x Palace collaboration in the gallery above. The range, alongside an in-line lookbook selection, will drop in-store and online on May 12, 11 a.m. EDT on the brand’s official webstore, and in Japan on May 13, 11 a.m. JST on the Palace Japan webstore, and on the official “Palace_Skateboards” WeChat store May 13, 11 a.m. CST.Elsewhere, here is everything dropping at Palace this week.