While it is less ceremonious than its early February counterpart, which received plenty of publicity thanks to the Commander in Chief’s special edition. The Jordan Spiz’ike in University Blue and Vivid Orange is, never the less, an edition to sought for. A hint of referral to the design of Jordan Spiz’ike – NY Knicks Pack by Spike Lee, the soften colorways of blue and orange is certainly a welcoming hint for the Spring season to come. In premium leather, suede, and that ubiquitous elephant skin pattern, the Jordan Spiz’ike in University Blue and Vivid Orange will be available on Friday, February 24th, through Jordan Brand dealers.

Jordan Spiz’ike
Style: 315371-415
Color: University Blue/White-Italy Blue-Vivid Orange

Release Date: February 24th, 2012 (Friday)

In conjunction with the disclosure of Gorillaz x CONVERSE collaboration, the maker of the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star and Jack Purcell also announced the new lineup of its “Three Artists. One Song” music project. In this first installment of 2012, CONVERSE tapped the talented James Murphy, the polymathic Andre 3000, and of course, Gorillaz, for the creation of an original song. Exact details have not surfaced yet, though it didn’t stop Gorillaz‘s Murdoc Niccals from talking about it in his latest secret podcast, which you can hear in its entirety below.

The first major collaboration of the year, CONVERSE finally unveiled its new project with Gorillaz, the famous virtual band. The collection consists of four distinct CONVERSE Chuck Taylor All Star in High and Oxford forms. Each covered with unique graphics solely for this project by Jamie Hewlett, Gorillaz co-creator. In reference to the cover art on Gorillaz‘s self-titled album, one design features a fragmented camouflage in all-over print fashion. Militarism styling is found on another design, this time with Hewlett’s Pazuzu caricature on an all-black backdrop. Hewlett also created a special lining, a collage of Gorillaz’ albums artworks, for both. In addition, two other designs, in black with High Cut style and white in Oxford form, both featuring sketches of band members Stuart “2D” Pot, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, and Russel Hobbs at play. Thus, completing the Spring 2012 Collection on a high note.

All four designs will be available through select CONVERSE retailers and CONVERSE online store on Thursday, February 23rd.

Release Date: February 23rd, 2012 (Thursday)

In highlighting London’s colorful past and vibrant culture, vodka distillery ABSOLUT enlisted Jamie Hewlett (of Gorillaz and Tank Girl fame) to condense the city’s vibe onto a limited edition art bottle. Like Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Jean-Michael Basquiat, Louise Bourgeois, and others before him, Hewlett touched-up the bottle with his own signature depiction of London’s past d00 years, first as the backdrop of Dickensian novels, the Dandyism and Savile Row styling at the turn of 1900s, to subsequent raise of hippie, Ska, Punk and 80′s chic in the last century. Celebrating the city’s wealth of tradition and heritage, the ABSOLUT LONDON Edition Art Bottle by Jamie Hewlett will be available through department stores Harvey Nichols and Selfridges on March 1st. In conjunction to the launch, ABSOLUT will be giving away 50 bottles through its Instagram starting tomorrow, February 9th. For more details on its availability and a chance to win one, simply visit ABSOLUT UK Facebook page for more information.

It might be a re-telling of a well-worn franchise though upcoming summer blockbuster The Amazing Spider-Man will a “first” for the many riding on its success (or failure). For director Marc Webb, it will be his first major film since the indie romance comedy (500) Days of Summer. While both veterans of the film industry, The Amazing Spider-Man will still be the first sci-fi action flick for Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. Last but not least, it will be a first for the fans too as this re-telling chronicles more on Peter Parker “becoming” Spiderman. Includes Rhys Ifans as The Lizard, Campbell Scott, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, and C. Thomas Howell, The Amazing Spider-Man opens in theaters on July 3rd.

This coming New York Fashion Week, the townies from “South Park” will take the Big Apple by storm thanks to designer Marc Jacobs and brand president Robert Duffy. Featuring Eric Cartman, Randy Marsh and Butters Stotch from the gut-busting animated series “South Park”, each caricature bared it all with the exception of carefully placed message “Protect Your Largest Organ” on a trio of cotton tees. The strip tease is actually to raise awareness on skin cancer (skin is actually the largest organ on your body) and the proceeds from t-shirt sales go to The Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group at New York University. All three are now available for US$ 35 each at Marc Jacobs retail locations and online store.

In addition to becoming the next creative director for American heritage label Filson, designer Richard Chai will also take a collaborative role in creating a capsule collection with footwear maker Palladium. Fashioned from Palladium Pampa Hi and Pampa Tactical, signature editions with roots back when Palladium was the supplier for French Foreign Legion. Each appointed with premium fabrics, such as felted wool and corduroy, thus inline with Chai’s “urban nomad” design theme for his Fall/Winter 2012 Collection. Both are set to be available in October 2012 but will be seen on the runway tomorrow, February 9th, as Chai presents his collection for New York Fashion Week.

Mademoiselle Yulia‘s 2011 electro-pop anthem “Gimme Gimme” is not only a catchy musical observation on consumerism. It is also a declaration of modern female empowerment, through rapid succession of wants in life where just decades ago would not be conceivable, at least for a girl. While Mademoiselle Yulia will not acquire the majority of desirable listed on her very stylize wishlist (at least for now), the talented Japanese entertainer and trend setter will most likely have an endless supply of her favorite jaunty outfits and shoes, courtesy of her good friend, the indomitable fashion designer Jeremy Scott. In the most recently photoshoot session for adidas Originals by Jeremy Scott, Mademoiselle Yulia took part in creating her own signature look as well as a brief glimpse into Spring/Summer 2012 Collection. In the meantime, some of the items are now available at select adidas Originals retail locations around the globe.

In our most recent RE-Fresh segment, we highlighted the significance of the Nike Cortez, not only within the company’s lore but the progression of running from its start as an amateur sport to professional athletic events here in the U.S. Now, some 40 years later, that most identifiable model during the early part of Nike’s history will be available once again as the Nike Sportswear Track & Field Collection. Celebrating both the past and the present with Nike Lady Cortez and Nike Cortez Classic, both notable facsimiles to the original designs, from the iconic herringbone tread pattern, the EVA-layer midsole, to the upper options of either full-grain leather or weatherproof three-layer. Though replicated to the exact details of the original aesthetically, Nike updated the construct and materials for greater comfort plus durability.

As part of the Track & Field Collection, both the Nike Cortez Classic and Nike Lady Cortez are available now at select Nike Sportswear, including its 21 Mercer flagship store in New York City.

Nike Sportswear – 21 Mercer
21 Mercer Street | Map
New York, NY 10013
TEL #: 212-226-5433

Several trajectory updates and course corrections later is the Nike Zoom Kobe VII System for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game. As with all other Nike Basketball offerings, including the Zoom KD IV and LeBron 9, Kobe Bryant‘s signature edition underwent a visual overhaul. Inspired by space exploration along with the legacy of having the “right stuff”, a galactic pattern of nebula, supernova, and distant stars adorned the upper. In the spirit of Kobe’s “black mamba” moniker, an appointment of a snake-like constellation slithered its way onto the sockliner, as well as “mamba mission patch” on the heel counter.  Finally, similar to all other Space Exploration Pack from Nike Basketball, the semi-translucent outsole eerily glows in the dark to light up the night time sky.

The Nike Basketball Space Exploration Pack for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game will be available on Saturday, February 25th, at select retail locations and NikeStore.com

Release Date: February 25th, 2012 (Saturday)

Celebrating a lineage space exploration and the upcoming 2012 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando, Nike unveiled its commemoration collection featuring  aforementioned Nike Flight One, Nike Dunk, as all as this galactic themed Nike Foamposite One.  Imprinted with the hypnotic graphic of galaxies, distant star systems, and Supernova, the Nike Foamposite One also pays homage to one of the most popular NBA player to date – Penny Hardaway, who started his career with the Orlando Magic.  On a polyurethane midsole and Zoom Air unit at the heel, Nike Foamposite One remains a head turner long after its introduction thanks to the unique upper, one which challenge conventional design at the time, a poignant similarity when the NASA Space Program first took shape at Cape Canaveral some 50 years ago.

The Nike Space Exploration Pack for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game will be available on Thursday, February 23rd, at select retail locations and NikeStore.com

Release Date: February 23rd, 2012 (Thursday)

Making a dramatic entry drenched with water droplets, Olympus finally introduced the OM-D E-M5 Digital Camera last evening. Its the first camera from Olympus’ new OM-D line, a series with lineage as far back as the 1972 Olympus OM-1, then the thinnest SLR camera available. Fashioned out of durable magnesium alloy, the mirrorless camera is the latest to join the ever growing Micro Four Thirds offerings from Olympus. And while it is more expensive than the Olympus PEN Series, the E-M5 also offers more feature. A 16.1-megapixel Live MOS Sensor, working in tandem with the TruePic VI image processor, offers utmost picture clarity even at low-light situations. The sensor also allows a maximum ISO range of 25,600 for a faithful color reproduction and an auto focus system capable of continuous shooting at 9 frames-per-second. One other unique feature is it’s 5-axis image stabilizer, a world’s first. In living up to its retro form factor, the E-M5 employs a new electronic viewfinder with a refresh rate of 120fps. Plus, a tilting 3-inch touchscreen OLED display for less strenuous viewing.

Comes in silver or black, the camera is virtually dust and water proof, a testament to Olympus’ craftsmanship. Fully adoptable to all Micro Four Thirds-compliant lenses and additional accessories to come, Olympus is pricing the E-M5 at US$ 999.99 for body only, US$ 1,299.99 with M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12-50 mm f3.5-6.3 EZ lens and US$ 1,099.99 with M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42 mm f3.5-5.6 II R lens. The camera will be available for purchase in the month of April.

• 16.1-Megapixel Live MOS Sensor
• Olympus TruePic VI Image Processor
• Micro Four Thirds
• 5-Axis Image Stabilizer
• ISO 100-25,600
• FAST (Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology) AF System Capable of Continuous Shooting at 9fps
• High-Resolution Electronic Viewfinder with Refresh Rate of 120fps
• 3-inch Touchscreen OLED Display
• Waterproof & Dustproof Construction

Release Date: April 2012