Laced

Asics and Mita Sneakers have collaborated on the gel-lyte speed which will hit the market this September. The new shoe is based-on the gel-light III designed in 1990. Mita, a Japanese retailer, is no stranger to collaborations- especially with Asics. Less than a year removed from this same pairing’s 2008 campaign for the Gel Lyte III, September 5, 2009 marks the worldwide release date of this familiar duo’s latest collaborative work.

Tropical influence

The colour tone of the 500-pair gel-lyte speed limited edition was inspired by tropical fruits that bring to mind a comfortable, lightweight and cushioned run along a tropical island beach. The upper uses gradation to further fortify the summer feel. Some of the nylon materials in the upper were inspired by the cotton-woven fabrics often used in Hawaiian summer clothing.

Background

The first gel-lyte speed shoes were launched in the US in 1991 and the following year in Japan. The shoes feature the split tongue construction; an idea put forward by a shoe developer at the Asics head offices in Kobe in 1988 to prevent the tongue from slipping inside while running. Long-distance runners started taking to this new idea, and the split tongue system was used in gel-lyte III and later in gel-lyte speed.

The Numbers

500 Pairs Worldwide, 48 pairs in Australia/New Zealand, releasing this Saturday 5th September.  Laced will have the only 8 pairs in Queenland.  $220.00 per pair.

Chalk up another dope range from Hellz - according to them this range was designed to celebrate women who escape the mundane and predictable in every facet of their lives. Drawing upon cross-cultural sophistication, and a diverse, Aztec-inspired color story, the fall 09 ‘Style Warriors’ range truly embodies the aspirations of iconoclast women.  Purchase here.

The Fall 09 range from New Yorks Married to the MOB has just checked in and the standout piece is the Detention bomber jacket - wool body, quilted nylon sleeves and tonal back embroidery.  Several new pieces feature the MOB Lips logo and there is the usual array of bold logo tees.  All are available now in our online store.

Continuing with the 60th anniversary releases the latest drop of Adidas Originals contains a good mix of classics.  Lows, highs, black and whites or colours - fans of the 3 stripes are spoilt for choice at the moment. See these and more -  GUYS & GIRLS.

Check the latest retro runner from Asics - the Gel Lyte Speed done in a scorching red & yellow combo.  Featuring the unique split tongue design and GEL cushioning system.  Buy them HERE.

via Nahright

This is the first single off Ghostface Killah’s new album…The Wizard of Poetry - In Emerald City drops on the 29th August.

Last Saturday, August 22nd, was our second Australian exclusive New Balance release in a week and the campers came out again to make sure they didn’t miss out. Some of these guys waited 30 hours to get their hands on one of only 9 pairs of the New Balance x Solebox 1500s in the country…now that’s dedication, or crazy, one of the two, or maybe both? They didn’t care about being harassed by Brisbane City Council to get off the footpath, or by the countless questions from people asking what the hell they were doing, which they answered  “waiting for Katy Perry tickets” among other things, which we can’t mention on TV.

Pizzas helped them keep their energy up, and minds focused…

So they could practice their flying ninja moves.

Someone forgot to bring camping supplies…

Look out! BCC have come for revenge!

But it was all worth it in the end…smiles all round.

Once again, massive thanks to everyone who came out and to New Balance Australia for making it happen!

One of our close friends who shall remain fameless (Twizm, of Project 4000 fame…d’oh!) thought the release day was a perfect chance to stunt on everyone in the line and rock up wearing a pair of the first Solebox 1500s… so we rolled him for his shoes and took some comparison shots between the first and the finals. As the story goes, the original New Balance 1500 mold recently broke and they made a new one that wasn’t quite the same shape… The crazy NB fanatics can spot the differences a mile away, but they’re minimal in any case…see if you can tell? In the photo comparison below you can see both slight differences in the shape as well as the materials used. The main changes with the new Solebox 1500s are; a gum sole, nubuck leather on the heel instead of the original suede, leather lining and sockliner, the mesh on the toe box and tongue are different and, of coarse, a slight change in shape. Check ‘em…

New on the left

New on the left

Old on the left

Old on the left

New on the left

New on the left

Old on the left

New on the left

Fabolous - When The Money Go

Jay Z feat Rihanna & Kanye West - Run This Town

Jay Z Blueprint 3 out Sept 11. “Reebok, baby you need to try some new things” - Kanye

Dom Kennedy feat BJ The Chicago Kid - Of All Time

Totally rad SE Quadangle Looptail BMX btw…

Jamie Foxx feat Drake, Kanye West & The Dream - Digital Girl

Ha! I don’t know whether I can take Jamie Foxx seriously?…I just keep thinking of Willie Beamen.

The Fray - Heartless

Didn’t mean for this to be a Kanyefest…it just turned out like that…serious.

Even thought the Air Yeezy has been and gone there is still more to say - the latest issue of Sole Collector has a 12 page article that takes you though every aspect of the shoes inspiration, design and development.  On top of that there is The Ultimate Yeezy - that’s it on the cover - the actual pair Kanye wore at the 2008 Grammys - and now they can be yours.  They will be auctioned off in September to benefit the Doernbecher Childrens Hospital in Portland, Oregon.  You may already be familiar with Nikes work with Doernbecher - for the past 5 years they have released limited runs of sneakers designed by patients of the hospital.  The auction will end September 19th.  Check the vid to hear actor Chi McBride and Jordan Brand Creative Director Mark Smith discussing the project.  Stay tuned to Sole Collector for more details.