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OFF-WHITE is a fashion label founded by DJ and fashion designer Virgil Abloh in 2012, following his reappropriated art experiment, PYREX VISION. The current designs range from patchwork to graphic t-shirts, and all of them feature the company’s now trademark stripes, noticeably embossed on its back along with its name “WHITE.” As well as, being carried by various retailers worldwide, OFF-WHITE opened its first location and flagship store in Hong Kong.
CAN MAKE “ YOU THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE THROUGH DESIGN.
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Virgil Abloh’s relationship to Nike began long before he first visited the company’s world headquarters in October 2016 to start a new collaboration. As a teenager, living in Rockford, Illinois, he and his friends sketched shoe ideas and mailed them to Nike. “We were enamored with Air Jordans,” says Abloh, who is now 36 and based between Milan and Chicago. “Michael Jordan was larger than life — he was Superman to me. My entire design background and ethos came from the ‘90s.”
Virgil Abloh
In a way, Virgil’s Air Jordan 1 design could be considered the flagship sneaker of the pack. Speaking with Nike about himself and his childhood friends, Virgil revealed “We were enamored with Air Jordans. Michael Jordan was larger than life — he was Superman to me. My entire design background and ethos came from the ‘90s.” Speaking on the design, Abloh went on to note “The Jordan I was done in one design session. I work in a very like dream-like state. I see it, and it’s done.” The shoe features “AIR” typography on the midsole, as well as an orange hit on the heel, which seems to imitate a price sticker. The lateral Swoosh also appears to be pinned onto the upper instead of fully stitched. Virgil penned individual slogans like “AIR FLACKO” for A$AP Rocky and “AIR CANADA” for Drake on the midsole of pairs that were gifted to celebrity friends.
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Nike AJ 1 “Chicago” PREPARED FOR TAKEOFF Two years in a row, Virgil wore his Air Jordan 1 designs to the Met Gala in New York City, rocking the “Chicago” version in 2017, then lacing up the The moment Michael Jordan defied the game and stepped on the floor in the Air Jordan I, a legacy of performance and sneaker culture was born. Despite league rules, nothing would keep this shoe from getting airtime. Moments of greatness on the hardwood led to a new era of style off the court as this silhouette lifted everything it touched to new heights.
Virgil Abloh x Nike Air Force 1 According to Nike, Virgil rebuilt a pair of triple-black Air Force 1 Low shoes during his first visit to the brand’s Beaverson campus. He used an X-ACTO knife to dissect the shoes, and markers to draw on them, then gifted the sneakers to OFF-WHITE staff to wear. “By the time I made my first trip to Beaverton, I immediately wanted to make something,” stated Abloh to Nike. “In my brain I’ve seen every iteration or color of an Air Force One. So where does that leave you?,” Virgil mentioned to GQ. “I wanted to make something that stops you from mindlessly scrolling.” Abloh’s “GHOSTING” Air Force 1 design was released in Berlin via a Nike SNKRS scavenger hunt, where SNKRS app users could use augmented reality to unlock and purchase the shoe.
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The first basketball shoe with Air became a force that transcended its days on the hardwood. A groundbreaking performance shoe when it launched, the Air Force 1 just as quickly found an unshakeable place in sneaker culture. To this day, the classic white on white iteration remains the ultimate canvas for urban expression, and a defining icon of NYC and beyond.The Ten: Nike Air Force 1 takes this icon to an all new level with a truly reductive approach that maintains the undeniable feeling of the white on white classic.
Virgil Abloh x Nike Air Max 90 “SNKRS
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While the Air Force 1 and Air Jordan 1 align more with what we know about Virgil’s personal sneaker tastes, a Virgil Abloh x Air Max 90 comes as a bit of a surprise. The same design story continues here with Nike’s Beaverton address prominently shown on the lateral side, along with “SHOELACES” branding again
Early on, Virgil gifted his DJ “mentor” Benji B with a pair, among others. “Our Heatwave campaign is all about our community, showing them just how deep our sneaker brand
and inventory catalog runs. For this week’s sneaker theme, we wanted to pull the curtain back on high-fashion and streetwear sneakers inspired by classic silhouettes. Our goal is to educate fans, both new and old, on the DNA behind their favorite kicks.�
Our first decent glimpse of the remade Presto came courtesy of A$AP Nast on Instagram, before Frank Ocean wore the kicks during music festival Panorama NYC. The sneaker itself subscribes to the same reconstructed design methodology of those we’ve previously peeped, with Abloh again throwing in some guerilla “AWGE” and “NAST” customization tweaks for good measure.
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Nike Air Presto
Virgil Abloh x
WHAT’S YOUR SIZE? To welcome the new millennium, Nike changed fit forever with the Air Presto. The seamless, stretchable upper freed the foot for natural movement while its minimal cage acted to maintain structure and fit. The shoe’s comfort was paramount and the Presto quickly became known as “the t-shirt for your feet.” The “t-shirt” moniker has since stuck and eventually led to the shoe being offered in unconventional small, medium and large sizing to emphasize its unrivaled comfort.The Ten: Nike Air Presto presents a maximalist take on this early 2000s icon, with additional design elements jammed right back into the cage and across the heel, all the while maintaining the characteristic t-shirt-like fit.
Virgil Abloh x As the VaporMax was Nike’s big technology story of 2017, it was no surprise to see this revolutionary design as part of “The Ten,” alongside two other silhouettes from the Air max range. This version of the VaporMax features a heel tab, chunky stitching around the Swoosh, and more of the same touches like an orange price tag detail and shipping address text.
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Nike Air
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Establishing this reconstructed design language, combined with Abloh’s urgency to fulfill a life-long dream, would ultimately lead to The Ten, a collaborative exploration of 10 Nike footwear silhouettes. “What we’re talking about here is larger than sneakers, it’s larger than design culture,” says Abloh. “It’s nothing short of state-of-the-art design. These 10 shoes have broken barriers in performance and style. To me, they are on the same level as a sculpture of David or the Mona Lisa. You can debate it all you want, but they mean something. And that’s what’s important.” The 10 shoes were divided into two themes. The first, “REVEALING,” was designed to look accessible: hand-cut, open-source and reconstructed. It includes the Air Jordan I, Nike Air Max 90, Nike Air Presto, Nike Air VaporMax and Nike Blazer Mid.
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2017’s release has now been backed up by 2018’s ‘SPOOKY PACK’. Paying homage to Halloween, the ‘GRIM REAPER’ & ‘ALL HALLOWS EVE’ are up there as some of the best releases of 2018. Shop all of the latest Off-White x Nike Blazer below and be sure to check back for all of the latest news on these essential releases.
Virgil Abloh
Virgil Abloh has created a whole division of Nike all on his own. The fabled Off-White x Nike collection is easily the hottest commodity in the sneaker community right now. As part of the original TEN, the Off-White Blazer is one of the crown jewels in the collection. The OG colourway was one of the best pairs to release from ‘THE TEN’ when it initially launched in 2017. Utilising Abloh’s signature deconstructed aesthetic, this shoe featured an oversized Swoosh that encroached onto the midsole. This was complimented perfectly by the OW branding on the inside of the shoe and an understated colour palette.
Nike Blazer Mid
For the OFF-WHITE Blazer Mid, Nike’s Swoosh logo is once again exaggerated, extending onto the shoe’s midsole. Speaking with Business of Fashion, Abloh explained “That shoe exemplifies making a product interesting by only changing a design element by three percent. The swoosh logo of that shoe overlaps the sole without it detracting away from the iconography, which makes it more interesting and wearable.
A pair of the sneakers with samples tags was originally leaked by Huffington Post contributor Michael Tommasiello.
Nike Air Max 97
Rewind 20 years prior to the release of Nike’s Air VaporMax and Zoom Vaporfly 4%, and you’d be in 1997, the year the Air Max 97 was introduced. Abloh’s 97 design came as an “Ultra” version with a seamless one-piece upper and lightweight fit.
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Virgil Abloh
Per la prima volta, l’unità Air era completamente visibile nella Air Max 97. Altrettanto futuristica di quando venne lanciata, la Silver continua a ridefinire il look dello stile sportivo ad alte prestazioni. Con l’inconfondibile design rifrangente e le linee sinuose che si snodano sulla tomaia, questa silhouette sarebbe diventata una vera e propria icona nella cultura italiana, dalle passerelle di Milano ai club e alle stazioni di tutto il paese.
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V rgi
Nike React
The Nike Zoom Vaporfly silhouette was first shown as part of Nike’s Breaking2 initiative. The Zoom Vaporfly offers a carbon fiber plate in the sole, providing a rebound effect to improve response when running. In September 2017, Virgil Abloh sat
down with Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge to discuss stamina, innovation and the overlaps between fashion and running. In the summer of 2017, Kipchoge nearly ran a recordbreaking marathon wearing the ZoomX Vaporfly Elite.
Virgil Abloh
Nike Zoom Fly
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that impressive Nike x Off-White “The Ten” collaboration. Similar detailing makes an appearance which looks especially striking against this iconic shoe. Be sure to leave us a comment and let us know your thoughts on this release. The low profile and unassuming look of the Converse Chuck Taylor gets a completely modern makeover at the hands of Off-White founder, Virgil Abloh. This stylish rendition showcases those industrial-inspired design influences which are synonymous with the brand.
Abloh
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“SHOELACES” insignia is another homage to industrial design influences which is synonymous with the OffWhite brand. A red coloured synthetic cable tie finishes the look – this can be removed but we’re guessing most sneakerheads will proudly keep this feature attached.
There’s plenty of hype for the OffWhite x Converse Chuck Taylor All Star. This silhouette launches in the wake of
“VULCANIZED” lettering comes planted across the midsole as a not-so subtle reference to that rubber coated technology. A translucent material extends across the upper with Converse print hitting the inner lining. This is visible through that clear white upper and makes this especially exclusive.
Nike folded in its sub-brand Converse by including OG basketball silhouette the Chuck Taylor All-Star. With “VULCANIZED” branding on the sole, the high-top silhouette gets the OFF-WHITE treatment, complete with branded hits on the laces and an OFFWHITE zip-tie.
Be sure to let us know your thoughts on this release which arrives as part of the Off-White x Nike “The Ten� collection.
Following delays, the Off-White x Converse Chuck Taylor All Star finally gets a confirmed release date. This style is scheduled to go live on May 12th! Keep it locked to our Twitter feed for more updates and stockist alerts on the run up to launch.
Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star
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Air Max 1 Air Max 95
“Safari”
“Viotech” “Jade” “Elephant” “Animal Pack”
atmos is a prominent Japanese streetwear and sneaker boutique based in Tokyo, Japan, founded by Hidefumi Hommyo in 2000. Alongside its sneaker and streetwear offerings, atmos also sells its in-house label both in-store and online. atmos initially began as a miniscule retail store in the narrow backstreets of Ura-Harajuku in Tokyo before gradually expanding over the years in influence, stocking major brands such as Nike, adidas, ASICS and PUMA. atmos was formalized several years later, quickly establishing itself in the nascent Japanese streetwear scene with a number of highly coveted collaborations. atmos currently has six shops in Tokyo and one in Osaka, as well as its only international outlet in New York City.
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It’s the vibrant hits of turquoise across the Swoosh which makes this release so sought-after. To complete the look, a contrasting white midsole sits underfoot complete with a visible Air Unit in the heel. The Nike Air Max 1 Atmos Elephant 2017 is back by popular demand! Are you hyped for the re-release of this iconic and hugely sought-after exclusive? As part of the upcoming Air Max Day celebrations, Nike delivers a serious treat for
Japanese based Atmos were responsible for this masterpiece. Opting for the popular safari vibe, elephant print hits the mudguard and lace surround in a sleek combo of black and grey. Black suede is utilised elsewhere as well as a white base for the toe region.
Leading the votes by a long shot, the Atmos ‘Elephant’ was the clear winner. Now we can look forward to one of the most distinctive Nike silhouette’s ever released. This is expected to be a challenging cop, but stay glued to our social media pages and we’ll provide exclusive stockist updates.
Elephant all you devoted fans. It was during last years anniversary that Nike gave sneakerheads the rare opportunity to vote for their favourite ever Air Max. The stakes were high as Nike promised to re-release that silhouette in 2017.
The atmos x Nike Air Max 1 Safari is scheduled to release soon via the following retailers.
The atmos x Nike Air Max 1 Safari is the latest collaborated variation of the high profile silhouette. Nike have teamed up with atmos once again for this Safari variation following their rich history. The duo have a long and fruitful relationship and we’re sure this latest sneaker from them will be just as successful as the last.
We’re anticipating this will be a very popular release that will sell out quickly, so if you want to make sure you get your hands on a pair, keep an eye on our social media pages for release reminders.
Nike Air Max 1
This edition of the Air Max 1 is dressed in a Tan based colourway with hits of black and white complementing the design. We have already seen this print been used in some of Nikes top models such as the AM 90 and the Huarache. It features a tan based upper with a nappy suede toe box instead of the traditional mesh. A safari print is visible on the mudguard region while branding is visible on the tongue, back heel and mudguard area. A set of black laces, a white midsole and a translucent outsole completes the look.
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Released for Air Max Day 2016, this Air Max 1 is a reissue of the classic Safari colorway by atmos. However, here we see a few tweaks to the original design, including a hairy suede toe box and a translucent outsole. Because the original version is so coveted and rare, these had no problem selling out quickly. These styles are supplied by a premium sneaker marketplace. Stocking only the most sought-after footwear, they source and curate some of the most hard to find sneakers from around the world.
One of the world’s great sportswear brands, Nike produces tens of thousands of pairs of sports shoes each year. Conceived in 1962 by Bill Bowerman and Philip Knight, the actual name Nike followed in 1978. The brand’s trademark ‘tick’ or ‘swoosh’ is now instantly recognisable the world over. The label constantly innovates on new designs and reissues its classic ones - in doing so, Nike has developed a cult following.
“Safari”
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STIDERC Free University of Bolzano - Bozen Faculty of Design and Art Bachelor in Design and Art - Major in Design WUP 18/19 | 1st semester foundation course Project Modul: Editorial Design Design by: Leone Ormellese Book | SNKRS Supervision: Project leader Prof. Antonino Benincasa Project assistants Maximilian Boiger, Gian Marco Favretto Photography: Tobias P. - @Hypetobs Ethan Klein Nike THE SOLE SUPPLIER Sean Go Bram van triest Paper: Munken Polar Rough 120 gr Curious Skin Nero 270 gr Curious Metallic Acciaio 120 gr Satin Translucent 170 gr Fonts: Gilroy Helvetica Printed: Bozen-Bolzano, January 2019 Inside pages – Digital Print | Canon Cover – UV Packaging – UV
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