A consolation prize to the majority of us who couldn’t get our very own pairs of 2011 Nike MAG comes in the form of what else but LEGO bricks. A concept devised by LEGO-meister “Orion Pax” just before the Nike MAG charity auction came to a close yesterday evening.  Majority of the bricks came from the LEGO Space collection while the brightly colored Hover Board set-up is from LEGO Town and other miscellaneous sets.  And like its larger (and more expensive) counterparts, this pixelated version also lights up!

On the heel of Star Wars: The Complete Saga, the Blu-Ray box set with “Death Star-size” contents and all 6 space epics by George Lucas, A Bathing Ape (BAPE) launches its collaborative t-shirt collection to much fanfare. As a bonus to those waited for the release, BAPE organized a special launch events at both BAPEXCLUSIVE store in Aoyama and BAPE Harajuku location. Featured movie props, outfits and memorabilia, all from the original “kidult” NIGO’s personal collection. To truly marked the auspicious occasion, the Sith Lord himself, Darth Vader, and his loyal cohorts of Stormtroopers joined the festivities this weekend while galactic bounty hunter Boba Fett kept an eye out on possible rebel sightings. In the meantime, the BAPE x Star Wars Collection is now available at select BAPE store locations around the world, including BAPE New York in SoHo.

BAPE – New York
91 Greene Street | Map
New York, NY 10012
TEL #: 212-925-0222

This coming Thursday, September 22nd, will mark a new chapter in retailer/brand Supreme‘s history as the New York City icon opens its first storefront in Europe. To have the complete assortment of “wishes and wants” as with its retail locations in the U.S. and Japan, Supreme London will also feature a new in-store art installation by Mark “Gonz” González. Spread across a 2-floor layout with majority of the sales floor on a basement level, the new space is just block away from transit hub Piccadilly Circus, retailers BAPE London, HIDEOUT, and around the corner from bike shop Tokyo Fixed. With already so much publicity surrounding the store’s opening, don’t surprise if there is a line-up in front this Thursday morning.

Supreme London
2/3 Peter Street | Map
London W1F 0AA England

Opening Date: September 22nd, 2011 (Thursday)

With freshly made taiyaki on sale, who wouldn’t want to line up? Over the weekend, hundreds of Berliners took to the streets with one goal in mind, to be one of the 150 lucky souls to own the “Made For” Berlin pack. In celebration of its Berlin Store’s 10th anniversary, adidas Originals created a combo of ZX 9000 and Colorado windbreaker to be sold at the Mitte location only. But festivities not only included the exclusive product launch, each of Colorado windbreaker a seal of certification and numbered right at the point of purchase. In the meantime, patrons went to the mini-flea market at the store’s courtyard for some more rare finds. Stay tuned for more information on other 10th Anniversary celebrations, including ones in Tokyo and New York.

Photography: Julia Schoierer

While any appreciation of Hello Kitty merchandises is largely fawn upon unless you’re a prepubescent girl here in the West, the expressionless mascot’s popularity permeates a wide swath of society in Asia. Such popularity spawn a collaborative collection, ONE PIECE x Hello Kitty, that is set to launch this holiday season. Organized by Hello Kitty parent company Sanrio, along with Toei, the Japanese entertainment giant which owns distribution rights to ONE PIECE, the project already signed on some 20 licensees to create 300+ merchandises under the new mash-up concept. The first slew of products will be available starting this November with subsequent releases continuing on till next year. via: Fashionsnap

After an assortment of previews and teases, the fabled Japanese label Loopwheeler finally opened its third retail location in Japan’s second largest city, Osaka. Situated at the city’s busy Central District (aka Chou Ward), the new storefront is in good company with the Marc Jacobs Osaka flagship just a few doors down. Like all other Loopwheeler flagships, the new Osaka location bears the signature of Wonderwall‘s Masamichi Katayama, a close friend of Loopwheeler proprietor Satoshi Suzuki.  While the store is no bigger than most walk-in closet in the U.S., the special designs and other unique offerings speak volumes for the fanciful retail space instead.  For duration of the next few weeks, expect more specialty items to be offer exclusively by the Osaka location.

Loopwheeler Osaka
4-12-23 Minamisenba | Map
Chuo-ku, Osaka Japan
TEL #: 06-6484-6708

For the majority of us who aren’t sales mongers or fanatical A Bathing Ape devotees (see here), BAPE New York is offering its Pirate Store sales event once again this weekend. Starting this Friday, September 2nd, shoppers will have another opportunities to purchase BAPE items for men, women, and children, all at 50% off original prices. Plus, the event will offer archived BAPE products, originally available in Japan only. And without Hurricane Irene this time around, the Pirate Store will stay open for the duration of Labor Day Weekend.  Doors open at Noon daily and close at 7 pm.

BAPE New York Pirate Store
BAPE New York
91 Greene Street | Map
Floor 2
New York, NY 10012
TEL #: 212-925-0222

Event Date: September 2nd, 2011 (Friday) – September 4th, 2011 (Sunday) | Noon – 7 pm

With Hurricane Irene bearing straight towards New York City last Friday, many were dumbfounded when they saw the line in front of BAPE New York. Evident from past events, New Yorkers love great deals and would do virtually anything for them, even with a massive hurricane approaching. In fact, the queue became so long for the BAPE New York Pirate Store that management had to re-direct the gathered crowd to another direction during the sales event’s second phase. The store would’ve continue throughout the weekend too. Unfortunately with mass transit shut down and its vicinity near the flood zone, BAPE decided to postpone the Pirate Store event till this weekend. Of course, you can be sure there will be a line again.

MEDICOM TOY is celebrating their 15th anniversary and they have prepared a special event just for its fans called, MEDICOM TOY 15th Anniversary Exhibition at Parco Factory in Parco Shibuya. The exhibition showcases the numerous projects they have worked on in the past and it chronicles the history of the toy maker. Apart from the exhibition, they have worked with various Tokyo based brands for an exclusive collection that will only be sold at the exhibition, which ends on Tuesday, August 22nd. Collaborators include BAPE, Stussy, Hysteric Glamour, Oakley, New Era, Rootote and Genbei, with each brand using the famous BE@RBRICK as the main graphic theme.

The vinyl protagonists in Beastie Boys‘ most recent music video Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win certainly resurrected many interests, especially among collectors of vinyl action figures. A 2 year endeavor that involved NIGO‘s holding company, NOWHERE Ltd. and A Bathing Ape, the action figures of Mike D., MCA, and Ad-Rock were to marked their 1998 single, Intergalactic. With only 1000 sets made and for sale through retail outlets in Japan, the action figures quickly became an urban legend of some sort. That was till the music video with Santigold confirmed their existent. Now, the hip-hop trio will sell off their very own stash to benefit 2 charity organizations. In mint condition, each figure stands at 11.5-inch in height and packaged in a 16 x 12″ metal container. Dressed in shirts, pants, and shoes, the set also includes:

• 3 Doll Stands
• 3 White Jump Suits
• 3 Safety Goggles
• 3 pairs of Work Boots
• 3 Safety Vests
• 3 Belts
• 3 Japanese Decal Stickers
• 3 Extra Hand Attachments

If the interchangeable outfits look familiar, that is because they were the trio’s costumes in the music video for Intergalactic. In addition, they will throw in a 2-disc version of Beastie Boys Anthology: The Sounds of Science as bonus. 97% of proceeds (the rest 3% goes to operating cost) from sales will go to Pablove Foundation and Alex’s Lemonade Stand, both charitable organizations for the fight against childhood cancer. Truly a great deal for an ever greater cause.

A penchant for bring artisans and designers together, Kenmei Nagaoka’s D&DEPARTMENT PROJECT is much like a town hall meeting where the 2 seemingly similar yet very different competences have continue dialog with one another. With this as a foundation, Nagaoka recently approached the venerable COMME des GARÇONS for his GOOD DESIGN SHOP concept. Envision an emporium of the old, selling everyday items of the new, the COMME des GARÇONS GOOD DESIGN SHOP is a rather random retail concept with a rather eclectic offerings. But where as with many other comprehensive collections that tend to overwhelm visitors. Nagaoka’s curation approach is almost gallery-like, transforming a rather cluttered visage into something very palpable for all consumer types. The COMME des GARÇONS GOOD DESIGN SHOP is located at the 2nd floor of Gyre Building Omotesando, opens daily from 11 am to 8 pm. images via: HB

COMME des GARÇONS – GOOD DESIGN SHOP
5-10-1 Jingumae | Map
Gyre Building Omotesando 2nd Floor
Shibuya-Ku 
Tokyo, Japan
TEL#: +81-03-3406-2323

MEDICOM TOY is partnering up with Star Wars for a limited edition Stormtrooper BE@RBRICK in 400% size. Only 800 units of the figure will be sold in Japan and these are sold exclusively at Stussy, Isetan Shinjuku INTERNATIONAL CREATORS and Project 1/6 stores. Furthermore each purchase of the figure gives the collector an opportunity to win one of 100 limited ‘I Have A Bad Feeling About This’ t-shirts made by Stussy. The t-shirt is not sold separately and entry can be made by filling out the entry form packaged with the BE@RBRICK. Launch of the figure is scheduled for Saturday, August 13th 2011 simultaneously for all stores.