Interview with Satoshi Suzuki – Owner, Loopwheeler
Produced by: Dan Hwang (DAN H.)
Loopwheeler is a brand built on a foundation of quality craftsmanship that has earned them a partnership with NIKE. Nike Sportswear has seen the illustrious heritage of Nike come alive with vigor and excitement, thanks in no small part to Loopwheeler. The partnership sought to use the elegance of Loopwheeler’s design process to both revive and reinvent some of Nike’s most historic pieces. For further insight into the Loopwheeler X Nike project read the interview.
> Nike
> Nike Sportswear
> Loopwheeler
Feature continue after the jump…
Shanghai’s first and longest running Skate/Streetwear shop, FLY, has been in business 10 years now and it’s come a long way. Being one of the pioneers in the game as far as China goes, owner, Jeff Han, has even had his face and story featured on a pair of Nike SB Blazer’s otherwise known as the Milk Blazer’s. The shop recently underwent a renovation to celebrate 10 years of existence and now looks better than ever. With a wide assortment of products that includes Nike SB products as well as skate decks and hardware, FLY is definitely your one stop shop for all of your skateboard needs while in Shanghai.
FLY – Fumin Flagship
1F No. 704 Changle Road | 
Map
Jing’an District, Shanghai China
TEL #: +86-21-5467-0061
More photos below…
Interview with Ric Chiang (蔣先威) & Jay Chou (周杰倫) of PHANTACi
Interview by: AJH
Translated by: Poe
Produced by: Dan Hwang (DAN H.)
Situated in the trend setting neighborhood of Taipei City’s Eastern District (東區), where shoppers would find landmarks such as Taipei 101 skyscraper and stores like Undercover Taipei, is PHANTACi. More than just a simple urban fashion retailer, PHANTACi has the unique distinguishment as the only store with Nike’s “Tier 0″ account on this island nation.
A partnership between famed musician/actor Jay Chou (周杰倫) and his long time friend Ric Chiang (蔣先威). PHANTACi is the materialization of the 2 owners’ life-long interest with urban culture, from its cloistered stance from mainstream culture to its limitless potentials for individual expression. These 2 ideals played important roles in the store’s unique name, an amalgamation of the words “phantom” and “fantasy”.
Since its founding in 2006, PHANTACi has not only become the event space of many Nike product premiere events. It is now hub where Taiwan-based and international artists showcased their collaborations, such as the “I Can’t Brake” exhibition to promote fixed gear culture. To understand PHANTACi’s plans for both near and long term, plus its insights on the Taiwan marketplace, Freshness sat with both founders for a brief chat.
PHANTACi
1F., No.63, Lane 223, Sec. 4, Jhongsiao E. Rd., | 
Map
Da-an District, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
TEL: +886 2 8773 1426
Could you share with us how PHANTACi, the store and its name came about?
Ric: In its earliest form, PHANTACi was just a small store Jay and I started. We wanted to it to focus on things that we like, trends we thought that were interesting. Including, of course, lots of sneakers. However recently, we begin to test PHANTACi as a brand on the global arena, especially after our collaborations with Nike and others. As for the name PHANTACi, it was Jay’s idea. By combining the ideals he like about urban culture, along with his multi-facet roots in the music and movie world. He thought we should combined the words “fantasy” and “phantom” together. It is a bit mysterious and a bit playful take on the definitions of the 2 words.
*Note:* “Fantasy” was the title of Jay Chou’s second album.
Feature and Interview continue after the jump…
Interview with Tom Chung, Owner of ACU
Interview and Written by: Tom Bradley
Produced by: Dan Hwang (DAN H.)
Founded by a group of longtime friends, ACU has given life to the fledgling Chinese streetwear market. Western ideals are infused with Eastern values as the brand develops into an internationally renowned label. With a few collaborations under their belt, ACU is forging a new identity for their community and changing the market as a whole.
ACU
Shop#15, 139 Changle Road | Map
Shanghai, China
Interview and Feature continue after the jump…
NSW- Apparel
Written by: Poe
Produced by: Dan Hwang (DAN H.)
Sports wear, a term synonymous with today active trends and jet-setter lifestyle. A category even luxury fashion houses have embraced, integrated into their lineup and showcased with their own interpretation at the seasonal fashion week. But just a few decades, the term induce an image of uniform from local football clubs or amateur baseball teams. It was not until some 60 years, when one’s everyday activities started to dictate their senses of style, that sport wear went beyond the fields and courts. In the ensuing years, the advent of synthetic fabric and other technical improvement propagated sports wear even further into what is now a common sight. With the official revealing of the new Nike Sportswear apparels last month, Nike wants to push that envelop once again. This time, by infusing even more performance into every details of the clothing.
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Interview with Jimmy Wu, Director of INVINCIBLE
Interview and Written by: Tom Bradley
Produced by: Dan Hwang (DAN H.)
Taiwanese clothing boutique INVINCIBLE is more than a store. It is a lifestyle, an attitude, and a state of being. For the creators of the location, the brands they carry and the space they occupy are steeped in their personal beliefs about art and fashion. These hip loners are not concerned with the popular market, opting to do projects they believe in aesthetically versus those poised to bring the most monetary gain. Yet with such a distinctly individual style they might find themselves squaring off with the international hype-beast sooner than they think.
INVINCIBLE
1F., No.3, Alley 35, Lane 181, Sec. 4, Jhongsiao E. Rd., | Map
Da-an District, Taipei City, Taiwan
TEL #: +886-2-8771-9958
> New Balance & INVINCIBLE: The MT580 Exhibition
Interview and Feature continue after the jump…
NSW- Footwear
Written by: Poe
Produced by: Dan Hwang (DAN H.)
Look into the definition of the word “classic”, you are bound to find other word associations such as “standard”, “tradition”, “established”, or “timeless”. It is generally something that’s been tried and tested. Something where its validity won out against time, trends, and critics. More importantly, it is not something that needs alteration or improvement. However, a product’s standing as a “classic” gives designers at Nike all the more reason to modify it. Again, it is that never ending quest to exceed the demands put on each Nike’s products. A motivation that has resulted in exciting hybrids like Air Max 90/360 and Air Jordan Fusion. The debut collection of Nike Sportswear (NSW) encapsulated the same motivation. After all, as the company puts it, “why reissue when you can re-master?”.
Feature continue after the jump…
NSW- General Overview of the Collection
Written by: Poe
Produced by: Dan Hwang (DAN H.)
It is suitable to state that no other brand in contemporary history of athletic lifestyle has infused so much influence as Nike. So on this, the 36th year of the label’s existence, the Beaverton-based company could easily rest on its numerous laurels in the past. However, its inborn nature – to create tools that exceeds the demands of all athletes, will not let it. It is this concept, so instilled in Nike’s DNA, of which the countless innovations, from the ubiquitous Nike Air to the most recent Nike SPARQ, all came to fruition. Out of this – of heritage and conceptions, you will find what Nike called “The Re-Evolution” of 8 iconic Nike products – the core of the new Nike Sportswear line.
Feature continue after the jump…
With the advancement of communication and faster transport method, the world we currently live in is just getting smaller, with lifestyles intersect with one another. With this in mind, on this, our 5th year in operation, Freshness is setting on a new project – Freshness Asia.
Available in 2 languages, Japanese and Chinese, the 2 new sites will mirror the same intent of the original English version – An informative, in-depth platform on urban and contemporary lifestyle, whether be the arts, the culture, the products, and everything in between. Each will not only be an outlet on relative news from around the world. But also include concise local information and updates respective to each of the regions and the readers within it.
So, feel free to browse and look around at the 2 links below or the mini banners at the right side. And if you have any suggestions or questions, drop us a note at asia@freshnessmag.com.
Interview and Written by: Tom Bradley
Produced by: DAN H.
Interview with Mark Graham of ilovedust
ilovedust is a design collective working in stylized solutions for products and brands of all sizes. They recently worked with the globally recognized Jordan Brand on a special release of the iconic Air Jordan I basketball sneaker. The AJ I is largely considered to be among the most sought after, revolutionary consumer products of the 20th century so it is only fitting that classic American jean maker Levi’s would put its spin on the footwear icon. Lending gold rivets and denim tailoring to Jordan’s trailblazing silhouette, LEVIS drapes the AJ I in timeless cool, adding the attractive Air Jordan III “elephant print” design cue to further endear the shoe to sneaker heads everywhere. Freshness took advantage of the rarely provided interview opportunity afforded by ilovedust and the AJ I x Levi’s experience has been made even richer as a result.
> ilovedust
> Nike – Jordan Brand
> Levi’s Strauss
Complete interview after the jump…
The name PhuEk! or Phu! in short is a self-created lingo. Entirely imaginative and not based upon adherence to actuality. 3D art is his pursuit, especially in vinyl customizing. Phu!’s Phuturistic concept is a manifestation through his artistic form of thought and personalized treatment in which he exercises the habit of recycling. And it’s with this Phuturistic niche, Phu!’s customed vinyls have been commissioned and showcased in various international exhibitions and shows worldwide.
Please introduce yourself
I’m Phu!, a toy customiser from Singapore. I received my formal education in Visual Communication at a local Art college for three years. Although I was also trained in other area such as painting, toy customising is my niche. And I have a day job as a Creative Director in a publishing firm.
Full interview after the jump…
Produced by Debre/ Freshness Japan
Edited by Poe
Photos by Aki, Debre
Whether its high-end fashion to urban apparel, the city of Tokyo is a canvas for designers and brands to showcase their latest as well as experimentation of untried ideas. In comes Levi’s ®Japan, with its F.L.U. collection. The collection address concepts and trends found on the streets of Tokyo as well as urban centers around the world, intermingle with the heritages of Levi’s®.
Juxtaposed against this backdrop is Ewan Reynolds, the multi-talented designer who co-directs F.L.U. with Takahiro Okazawa. Reynolds was also responsible for the interior of Elesco, F.L.U.’s new flagship in Aoyama district of Tokyo. On the side, Reynolds established PLAYFORD, a label that explores the mixture of athleticism and urban culture. Freshness had the rare opportunity to talk with the busy designer on a number of subjects recently, including the the upcoming collection of F.L.U. and the theme of Elesco. Here is what he has to say…
> PLAYFORD LTD.
> Elesco
> Levi’s ® Strauss Japan
Hello, please tell us about yourself
Hello, my name is Ewan Reynolds. I direct, design, and operate my design firm, Playford Ltd. I’m also the Co-Creative Director of Levi’s® F.L.U. line.
Full interview after the jump…
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