Boston’s Bodega is teaming up with Saucony for round 5 of their ongoing collaborative series. For this go-round, the release is made up of the Master Control, Jazz 91 and Grid 9000. The Master Control runner, originally released in 1991, is dressed with a burgundy perforated toe and finished with bright blue at the midfoot and dark tan at the heel panel. That same tan hue is repeated on the heel of the Jazz 91, a mash-up of classic ’80s styles featuring a Jazz O upper fused atop a Shadow 6000 midsole. Ripstop and suede construction is highlighted by a colorway dominated by varying shades of blue. Rounding out the list is the Grid 9000 in beige with hits of blue throughout. First released in 1994 as a Japanese exclusive, the shoe offers superior stability, with special details including a nylon sockliner and contrast tongue pull. London’s Foot Patrol will have all three styles in-store and online starting February 1st, 2012.

Foot Patrol
80 Berwick Street | Map
W1F 8TU, London England

Release Date: February 1st, 2012 (Wednesday)

Saucony and BODEGA certainly have a synergy, and whether it’s based on shared Massachusetts roots or not, every collaboration that sneaker fans get from these two has cohesive appeal, whether from a strong theme influence, or just unique color schemes matched to construction blends that speak to understated quality. Saucony fans have had a wealth of BODEGA collaborations to choose from over the past year, with the release of a Master Control collection, and a Spring 2011 collection featuring the Jazz 91 and the Shadow 6000. Now the Boston-based boutique has teamed up with Saucony on a release of the GRID 9000 Elite – a shoe that brings classic Saucony running construction together with an ACG-like modular panel construction. A relatively dialed-back color palette is well balanced by a mix of texture and textiles, with emphasis on a premium suede upper, a neoprene sockliner, and a gum brown sole. Truly solid, and an item for both collaboration connoisseurs and those looking for a Saucony that has a bit of an outdoorsy throwback aesthetic. The shoe will be available February 2012; check back for details, and check out images after the jump. via: Crooked Tongues.

New Balance is launching a brand new sneaker model, ML581, which is based on their popular 574 sneaker. The classic runners are tweaked to give the new style an outdoor twist. To help launch the ML581, New Balance reached out to its partners across the globe. Key boutiques were chosen from different regions, including mita sneakers in Tokyo and Kasina in Seoul from the East, along with BODEGA in Boston and 24 Kilates in Barcelona from the West. Although the basic silhouette has not been altered drastically, the side panels and tongue are made from a one-piece material, creating a sock-like fit. Outsole designs are also revised to provide better traction and offer durability to tackle the mountains. These sneakers will drop on Saturday, January 7th, however, mita sneakers are currently taking pre-orders of these limited editions.

Truth. It is a word we hear often but perhaps it is not spoken as often these days. In fact the cigarette industry and smoking is ripe of lies and contradictions. This is where truth comes in and sets the record straight with their premiere truth1585 Collection. truth will be partnering up with Staple Design and eight key retail stores across the country to launch this capsule collection. Each boutique will be stocking one of eight t-shirt designs speaking on the truth about nicotine, smoking and cigarettes in general. Keep your eyes on Reed Space, ALIFE, Goliath, BODEGA, BURN RUBBER, MAJOR, TRUE and UBIQ who will be stocking the truth1585 Collection very soon. truth also created a short video interview with each of the boutique’s founders and staff about the reasoning behind participating in this project and what smoking means to them personally.

The crew at Boston’s BODEGA have put together their Fall/Winter 2011 Lookbook. Shot by Fiona Boyd, the images ably demonstrate why autumn is the preferred fashion season for so many. Some will cite the cooler temperatures allowing for the opportunity to pile on the layers and accessories, some will say it’s all about the outerwear, while others still will point to the darker colors. BODEGA’s lookbook showcases all of those facets, with classic fall apparel ranging from field jackets to shawl collared sweaters to moc-toed boots, and featuring brands like Norse projects, Yuketen, Stussy Deluxe, Acronym, Shwood and more. All items in the lookbook are available now at BODEGA’s brick-and-mortar and online store.

BODEGA
6 Clearway Street | Map
Boston, MA 02115
TEL#: 617-421-1550

Boston’s BODEGA has teamed up with Gravis Japan on the “Day Tripper,” a limited edition A-frame backpack, to celebrate Bodega’s five-year anniversary. The bag is culled from the Gravis archives, featuring details drawn from vintage hiking backpacks: rugged oversized brass zippers, reinforced adjustable straps, two large interior compartments and plenty of pockets (as well as a padded laptop sleeve). The exterior, meanwhile, is an attractive combination of heavyweight Melton wool in navy with tan corduroy at the bottom. Limited to just 150 pieces, each bag is individually numbered, with retail set at $165. Look for the Day Tripper to drop on Saturday, September 3rd, at both BODEGA’s brick and mortar store and webshop, as well as select Gravis retailers in Japan.

BODEGA
6 Clearway Street | Map
Boston, MA 02115
TEL#: 617-421-1550

Release Date: September 3rd, 2011 (Saturday)

BODEGA and Gravis have gotten together to produce a limited edition A-Frame Bag. Built with water resistant wool and corduroy, the spacious heritage backpack features ergonomically contoured shoulder straps, padded air mesh back panel, large main compartment with internal mesh pocket, separate laptop compartment, two side saddle pockets and a lower front pocket. A printed snakeskin lining provides a stylistic flourish. Retailing at $200 and limited to just 140 units (with ten going to Japan), the A-frame Bag is available starting today, August 16th, at BODEGA locations in Boston and Harajuku, Japan. The bag will soon be available through BODEGA’s online store as well.

As always, much to discuss from the week’s news; we have a familiar theme this week: sneakers – with an interesting collaboration between Nike SB and artist Goeff McFetridge, plus the unique Black Cat, Good Luck-Bad Luck pack, which includes some highly unique Footscape Woven models, two of which are collaborations with Boston boutique Bodega. Nike also released the Spring 2011 collection from the Jun Takahashi-designed Gyakusou line, which is as amazing as the first one from last Fall. In a Massachusetts-centric project, Boston-based Concepts got together with New Balance to release a nautical-themed version of the 999, along with a few sailing inspired accessories; we also got release info about the Converse x Givenchy shoe this week, which is just the latest in a series of collaborations with couture fashion houses. Rounding out the sneaker news, we offered a recap of SneakerCon DC this week as well, in a video put together by adidas Originals. Supreme released a collection of shirts this week, which as always, merits at least a mention (though the product wasn’t as quite as quick to sell as some releases). Staying with the New York theme, Freshness recapped the opening event for the new flagship Oakley store in Times Square. And finally, this week brought episode two in The LeBrons, the animated series created in part by LeBron James. Check out the details of all of these stories after the jump.

Part of the new Air Footscape Woven trio titled “Black Cat, Good Luck – Bad Luck” from Nike and Nike Sportswear, this Air Footscape Woven Chukka in Shale/Hazelnut-Black colorway is the outcome of design sessions between Boston-base BODEGA and Nike. The ONLY collaboration of the 3 designs, it incorporated 2 types of suede – a texture or “hairy” variant as base and a perforated one as the upper, weave together by a large cross-stitch panel. Finally, all constructed on top of a gum-rubber outsell. Based on the “Black Cat” theme mentioned earlier, a cat-eye logo is embroidered onto the tongue tab along with markings for BODEGA on the sockliner. Details to come later regarding release dates and locations of availability, meanwhile, more colors from the “Black Cat, Good Luck – Bad Luck” pack to come later.

Saucony have maintained their position as the runner’s shoes and have not dabbled heavily into lifestyle aspect, yet the brand proves to be a diamond in a rough as you can see from the Saucony x Bodega Spring 2011 collection. The basics are all there and it only takes few tweaking of the fabrics and colorways to hold its own in the current over-saturated market. Bodega took matters into its own hands by revising four versions of the Shadow 6000 models and a single Jazz91. Complex uppers of the Shadow 6000 is simplified by unifying the tones, fading away the numerous panels. On the contrary, the Jazz91 retains its classic runner aesthetic by using a combination of nylon and leather materials on the uppers. Crooked Tongues currently stocks all of the sneakers on their online store.

Fast fashion and trends are dominating the market right now and it has filtered into the sneaker scene as well. Not every collaboration has a well thought out concept and execution can be questionable at times. However Bodega and Reebok are dropping a bomb that have been brewing under the radar. Nicknamed the Cotton Mouth, the AXT sneakers are designed by Avenue Q actor Terry Blay. A special interview performed by SNEAKER FREAKER with Blay reveals the history behind his relationship with Bodega and it undoubtedly adds dimension to the collaboration. As far as the actual sneakers are concerned, it is a beige pair with vivid red inner lining. Perforated collar and gum soles accent the otherwise neutral color scheme and each pair is boxed with a Terry Blay mug, mints, lip balm, cologne and dress-up sticker pack. Keep the Saturday, March 12th free if you plan to cop these limited kicks.

Bodega
6 Clearway Street | Map
Boston, MA 02115

Bodega have been dropping hot collaboration items this year and they intend on continuing that tradition for 2011. For the upcoming collaboration, Reebok Night Sky was chosen, which is a good change from the usual athletic sneakers. Outdoor boot style kicks are garnished in gray suede and blue ripstop material on the uppers. Gun metal gray D ring lace loops compliment the footwear and there are three round laces, blue, cream and gray colors packaged with the shoes. Gum soles ensure much necessary grip and it is balanced by similar toned inner lining. No official release dates are announced but these are scheduled to drop sometime in 2011. via: SF