[Freshness Gallery: CLOT x Nike AM1 NL Premium - 'Kiss of Death']
In collaboration with youth culture promoter unit Clot and Hong Kong sub-culture icon MC Yan, Nike has created the Air Max 1 NL Premium. The first footwear project developed out of Hong Kong, Air Max 1 NL Premium pays homage to Chinese culture, the spirit of modern Hong Kong and the Air Max evolution.
Interview by Tom Bradley
Produced by Liquidrice
Photos Astoria VIII
Define: Astoria VIII
Astoria VIII is dedicated to designing custom, unique sneaker art. We formed Astoria VIII with the ambition of creating unique works which allows the individual to differentiate themselves from the masses and as a tribute to sneaker design in general.
Interview continues below…
Produced by DAN H.
Interview by Thomas Bradley
Photo by Nike SB
Barcelona�s Sants Station serves as both a national and international hub of commerce, servicing the city as a its largest train station. However, it also stands as an O.G. skate spot on the ever growing Barcelona skate scene.
> Details shots of Nike SB “SNT” Barcelona in The Freshness Gallery
Freshness is honored to present the SBTG Retrospective – Collected Works 2003 – 2006
SBTG has been applying his skillful brush work to barren footwear since ’03, producing over 109 different styles of his patterns and colorways. In collaboration with Methamphibian another 12 pairs is added to his portfolio – 121 pieces all together. The number ups some more digits when looking at the number of pairs produced from each style. Many are 1of1 with a good number reaching 24 pairs. As SBTG rocks out more pieces we will continue to collect his work in the Freshness Gallery.
> Freshness Gallery: SBTG – Retrospective – Collected Works 2003-2006
Produced by DAN H.
Written by Poe and Debre
Founder, CEO, head designer… Takashi Imai holds many titles within MADFOOT!. But perhaps the most suitable title for him is “sneakerhead”. His passion for sneakers didn’t start at the inception of MADFOOT! His interest started when he was a child, when his father brought the monthly Japanese magazine, RUNNER, home for him. Soon, he was canvassing neighborhood sporting goods stores, searching for sneakers pictured on RUNNER’s bi-annual footwear features.
Once entered high school, Mr. Imai’s passion led him to series of part time then full time jobs, as store clerk and then manager, all at sneaker retailers. 5 years ago, he, with the support of his friends, branched out and formed MADFOOT!
Produced by DAN H.
Written by Poe and Debre
In December of last year, Freshness kicked off an introduction of Tokyo’s street culture, fashion, and brands with a feature on MADFOOT! and its store SUPERFECTA!. This month, we’re bringing our reader an up-close look at this unique sneaker brand and its flagship store.
SUPERFECTA!
Located right in the heart of Harajuku, SUPERFECTA! opened July of last year. Situated on a recessed plot of property, the store is somewhat concealed from line of sight. However, once found, you would not mistake it with any other stores in the vicinity. Packed with sneakers, from MADFOOT! as well as Nike, Converse, and etc… The store is also crowded with collaborations and limited editions of all sorts, from the previous season to the current, like the varsity jacket collaboration with MASTERPIECE. A recent addition is the decoration of painted sneakers, on loan from the recent X-Color exhibition (Japan’s first ever graffiti exhibition), on the ceiling above the store.
A few other interesting items are MADFOOT!‘s own sneaker cleaning swipes, with packaging that mimic Mountain Dews’ logo and the super comfortable leather stools (at USD$ 2000 each!) made by design firm NGAP, that imitate a package carton.
SUPERFECTA!
4-28-8
Jingue-Mae,Shibuya 150-0001
Tokyo, Japan
TEL: 1-03-5775-7095
www.madfoot.jp
Google Map (Japanese Only)
Produced by DAN H.
Interview by Thomas Bradley and Debre
Edited by Poe
From a humble start, as a small shop (on the 5th floor of a building) in Ebisu part of Tokyo, Devilock has become an influential brand within the street culture of Japan. Celebrating its 10th year, Devilock today not only produce urban fashion apparels, but sponsor a music event series, “Devilock Presents:~Filter~“, a MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) event “Devilock Presents: SHOOTO THE Devilock“, and of course this week�s street art exhibition, VISUALL Taiwan.
Freshness was fortunate enough to chat with the founder & the driving force of this celebrated brand, Noriaki Endo, to talk about Devilock, punk music, MMA, and etc�
> Devilock (Japanese Only)
> Freshness Feature: Devilock – The Store
> Freshness Gallery: Devilock
More after the jump
Produced by DAN H.
Written by Poe
Situated in the tranquil residential street of Meguro area of Tokyo is the flagship store of Devilock. The store is about 10 minute walking distance from the Naka-Meguro station (on the Tokyu Rail�s Toyoko Line or Tokyo Metro�s Hibiya Line) Opened a little over a year ago, the store is simple in design and layout, adorned with Kosta’s painting (seen in the VISUALL exhibition) and variation of Devilock’s mascot – Palm Boy. The store is densely packed with rare and hard to find Devilock goods
Devilock
1-15-4 AK-2 Building, 1-B | 
Map (Japanese Only)
Aobadai, Meguro-ku 153-0042
Tokyo, Japan
TEL #: 1-03-3496-6464
www.devilock.com
> Freshness Feature: Interview with Noriaki Endo – Devilock Founder
> Freshness Gallery: Devilock
More after the jump
Produced by kookies
Written by and photos by kookies
Additional images provided by: The designers of the Year of the Dog AF1
The Year of the Dog Nike Air Force 1 was released not too long ago. I was very lucky and got a chance to talk to the designers of the sneaker. The team of three, have done many projects with Nike in the past, which include the; Nike Dunk Low SB (Shanghai), Nike Dunk Low SB (Shanghai Steamer), Year of the Phoenix Nike Air Force 1 Low, and many others.
> Details shots of Year of the Dog AF1 in The Freshness Gallery
Written by Thomas Bradley
Stash and FUTURA’s new spot is the pinnacle of what they’ve been doing for years on the clothing/sneaker shop scene. Combining a clean yet exciting design aesthetic with quality product has been a hallmark of the duo’s work since the beginning. The glass sneaker wall allows the shopper to actually see what they have in the back, ruining the break time excuse “let me check in the back” for many a sneaker shop employee.
However, its really just the history of the brand and the range of the work that makes the shop a must see for any shopper who appreciates solid, provocative design. From the spray paint touched walls to the cargo camo cover draped on the back staircase, the shop just fills your lungs with who its creators are artistically. This spot is surely a fortified position in the battle for Manhattan. They miss the old New York.
Recon | NORT – NYC
359 Lafayette Street | Map
New York, NY 10012
TEL #: 212-614-8502
www.reconstore.com
> Freshness Gallery: Recon | NORT – NYC
More photos after the jump
An Interview by Thomas Bradley
Trust Nobody
Carrer Tallers, 1
(Almost in the corner with Las Ramblas)
Barcelona, Spain
www.trustnobody.es
The name. Let’s hear how and why?
The name was suggested by someone involved with the project ’cause with the years you realize that every time it gets more and more difficult to trust the people around you. Because we don’t like to grow up and look around with distrust but this seems to be the best way to avoid sadness. We like the philosophy and the sense of humor within that name: Trust Nobody.
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