Vimby was out at UNDFTD L.A taking coverage of the Puma x UNDFTD 24k Collection release. There was about 60 kids online waiting for days to get these sneakers and only sold out in 3 hours. The kind people over at UNDFTD gave out burgers and drinks from McDonald to keep them happy, thats real customer service right there. Check the video out to get a clearer/closer look at the Puma 24k Mid's.
A new Air Jordan commercial featuring Chris Paul, Rip Hamilton, Carmelo Anthony, and Joe Johnson. The commercial is very dramatic and straight to the point, this commercial is very very inspiring.
The Hundreds are hard at work at the head quarters working on a magical collaboration. In the picture (above), and in the video (below) Andy, Jubal, and professional skateboarder Paul "P-Rod" Rodriguez are discussing a much-anticipated collaboration between brands. All three of these guys stopped by the Hundreds headquarters this afternoon to bang out some more details and foundational issues before they embark on the first loose sketches. I’d like to give you a window on some of that private process…
This segment profiles the artist known as KAWS, former Graffiti (tag) artist turned painter and designer of limited edition toys and clothing. This segment also features some cool clips of KAWS' art, displayed in Pharrell Williams' Miami Home and Kanye West's latest album cover and billboard.
You can catch his next exhibition, "KAWS, The Long Way Home," February 21,— April 04, 2009 at the Honor Fraser Gallery in LA
http://www.honorfraser.com/?s=upcoming or http://www.honorfraser.com
"I just started simply through graffiti and drawing on my skateboard and painting on walls and getting that small recognition," said KAWS, known to his family as Brian Donnelly.
KAWS graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York with a BFA in illustration in 1996. After graduation, KAWS briefly worked for Disney as a freelance animator painting backgrounds. He also contributed to the animated series 101 Dalmations, Daria and Doug.
He began his career as a graffiti artist growing up in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Later moving to NYC in the 1990s, KAWS started subverting imagery on billboards, bus shelters and phone booth advertisements. These reworked advertisements were at first left alone, lasting for up to several months, but as KAWS' popularity skyrocketed, the ads became increasingly sought after.
In addition to NY, KAWS has done work in Paris, London, Berlin and Tokyo.
In the late 90s, KAWS began to design and produce limited edition vinyl toys, "an instant hit with the global art toy-collecting community,"especially in Japan, where this genre is well respected and widespread. More toys and later clothing were made for Original Fake, a recent collaborative store with Medicom Toy, in the Aoyama district of Tokyo where an original limited edition product is released each week.
KAWS has also participated in other commercial collaborations with Takahashi for Undercover, snowboard projects with Burton, and sneakers with Nike and Vans.
His most recent collaboration was with Comme des Garçons.
KAWS' acrylic paintings and sculpture have many repeating images, all meant to be universally understood, surpassing languages and cultures.
One of KAWS' early series, Package Paintings, was made in 2000. This series, entitled The Kimpsons, subverted the famous American cartoon, The Simpsons. KAWS explains that he "found it weird how infused a cartoon could become in people's lives; the impact it could have, compared to regular politics."
In addition, KAWS has reworked other familiar icons such as Mickey Mouse, the Michelin Man and the Smurfs.
Through all of his projects, KAWS has successfully blurred the line between fine art and mass-produced merchandise. He uses his products to allow his imagery to infiltrate a larger audience than that of the fine art world.
The artist is currently an active member in both the commercial and fine art communities.
His work is included in the traveling exhibition "Beautiful Losers," which started at the Cincinnati Contemporary Art Center and will be traveling through 2009 throughout the US and Europe.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS (forthcoming)
Plastic Culture, Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston, Great Britain
The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield, CT
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Album Cover, 808s and Heartbreak, by Kanye West Also check out: http://www.original-fake.com
John Carluccio directed this ill doc on the state of the sneaker game and the branding of companies. Ill concept and even better execution. Below is the trailer with a synopsis on the film.
WARNING: This film doesn’t exist?
Branding, addiction, sneaker culture and legal infringement are explored when artist/designer Ari Saal Forman mash-ups the lively Newport cigarette brand into a cool “Nike-like” sneaker.
Shot at the height of the sneaker movement in 2006 and in present day, the short film reveals how trends quickly turn and how these urban expressionists compete even harder to stand out. Sneaker collectors soon face their own (cigarette like) addictions and Ari gets a legal gag for his clever design.
The “alive with pleasure” moment that “legally never happened” is presented with before and after accounts.
The Imaginary Zebra, the underdog brand, has been in the making for over 5 years now and I say it's only a matter of time before they blow up! T.I.Z has teamed up with Billy Hong Productions to feature Nesqu!k, a beatboxer, to make a new advertisement for The Imaginary Zebra.
Nesqu!k, the beatboxer in the video, is wearing the Winter OG shirt in a red and green plaid color-way. Get them while they last, so you too can become a pro at beatboxing!!
Gatorade has continued its quest for its new name “G” to stick. We got a hold of this new ad that features the iconic image of Michael Jordan reverse-jamming from the 1987 Slam Dunk Contest that was held in Seattle.
Slow news day? Nah, the picture is a classic, and he’s wearing the O.G Jordan IIs, something we know all your sneaker-fiends go ga-ga over. If you missed the Lil Wayne narrated commercial that introduced “G”, hit the jump for a refresher.
Inspired by James Wan's movie, Mizzee customized a Nike dunk high and it was only right to call "Saw". This custom features black on black chains which runs through out the whole shoe, front to back. It also has black eyelets and a silver door knocker-esque ring (in the back), but he added a little SBTG swag into it to add more flavor into the customs. A croc skin lace buckle takes this shoe to another level.
The right shoe has art based on the reversed bear trap seen where Amanda was in, which also was the promotional movie poster. And the left shoe has artwork depicting jigsaws puppet. This custom is very detailed which makes this one of a kind.
You can contact Mizzee on ISS under the username Mizzee.
This is a first look of the AJ 2K9 thanks to tb1mm on Youtube. As you can see, he wore is once and it has creased a lot, but the comfortability makes up for that (supposedly). I guess, for now, we have to take his word for it and wait till we see it personally.
Few days back we showed you a Nike commercial promoting Kobe's zoom IV low tops, which by the way was pretty sarcastic, but this time around Nike was a bit more serious. With the slogan "If You Really Want It", Nike puts together various clips of triumph and failures that Kobe went through, but in the end comes out victorious.
Kobe Bryant Recommends You Buy His New Shoes or Ankle Insurance Because if You're Not Wearing The New Kobe's Zoom IV You Could Have Your Ankle's Broken By Someone Who is Wearing Them!!!
Close up on the Nike shirt, Nike shoes... this has to be an ad. Or is it?
This is one of the most genius/controversial ad Nike ever made!! Controversial because some people are arguing if this is a commercial of Nike's or a publicity stunt by Taylor Momsen... this was pure genius by the Nike agency.
"Coming Soon" The first Jordan ad of 2009 and the first ad ever for the AJ 2K9s'. These sneaker will hit most, if not all, JB accounts next month, February 14 to be exact.
It seems they kinda copied the movie Hancock. Am I the only one who thinks that? I guess the sneaker itself makes you jump higher and a better player. (lol)
ESPN Top 10 show cases the Air Jordan 2K9 as the 9th best play. But Josh Elliot did not seem to like that ESPN was doing product placements during his job. He repeats that the 2K9 is overly priced at $230, but they will drop to $190 at the allstar weekend.
Rumors have been floating around for quite some time now about a collabo between Gatorade and Jordan Brand. A collabo or some type of Air Jordan paying homage to Gatorade does make sense seeing that Michael Jordan was a proud endorser for Gatorade. Remember the “Be Like Mike” Gatorade commercial from 1992? MJ was rocking the Air Jordan VI (6) in the commercial and rumor has it that Jordan Brand will release a Gatorade inspired Air Jordan 6. Some people say it’s the Infrared 6’s and some say it’s a Gatorade colored AJ6. Only time will tell! Stay tuned for more info…
This video was made on thursday,september 25th, 2008 by Lavish Livez. Kathie Olivas was painting one of her characters on a 4 foot dunny and I got it on camera!! From beginning to end you can see how the character was put to life!
The viral marketing for an upcoming campaign involving LeBron James has begun. In this short video, LeBron James speaks of following his first passion which leaves the door wide-open as the rumors begin to swirl. Among the front-running speculation is that either James will debut a rap single or feature some how in his other sport of choice, football. Stay tuned for more details and mark January 18th on the calendar.
