Nike‘s relationship with the Lance Armstrong Foundation is no passing fad; since 2004 the brand has helped raise more than $80 million to fight cancer using innovative products and designs specially tailored toward athletes. Helping to strengthen this bond and catch the eye of your competition is a new take on the Nike LIVESTRONG Vapor Jacket first released this past December as a key piece of the Holiday 2011 Collection. This ultra-lightweight 100% polyester jacket features a scuba hood with built-in drawcord, hemmed cuffs, and the LIVESTRONG logo on the zipper pull, each working to keep you safe from the elements. The chest and hip pockets also zip shut and blend into the jacket’s new ring print in either a Wolf Grey/Varsity Maize or Black/Varsity Maize colorway. Check out detailed photos after the jump before heading to a Nike retailer or their online store.

Since becoming its host in 2009, comedian Jimmy Fallon has made his show “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” an impromptu platform for debut on the latest gadgetry. This morning was no exception as media/press from around the globe gathered for the announcement of Nike+ FuelBand. With ?uestlove‘s steady drumming as introduction, Fallon made a quick “welcome” statement before having Mark Parker, CEO of Nike, along with Nike+ developer Trevor Edwards among others, to take the stage for overviews of Nike+, NikeFuel, and the new Nike+ FuelBand. To comprehend the application, Nike also asked cyclist Lance Armstrong, American sprinter Carmelita Jeter, and basketball star Kevin Durant to iterate their personal usage of these new products. Then it was onto to live demonstration and try-outs with Nike+ technicians onsite.

Photography: Yu-Ming/Freshness

On October 2nd, 1996, professional cyclist Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer. On January 8th, 1997, he started the Lance Armstrong Foundation to provide support and hope for the millions of people around the world affected by cancer. By 1999 Lance was already back on his bike, and starting from that year to 2005, he won the Tour de France a record seven times. Nike has been a longtime supporter of Lance Armstrong and his foundation, now known as Livestrong. It’s a partnership highlighted by a full line of workout gear, and of course the yellow Livestrong bracelet launched in 2004. Today, the mission remains the same: to inspire and empower. On the fifteenth anniversary of the Livestrong foundation, Nike presents 15 ways to Livestrong. Check out the list after the click.

Among the newest Nike shoes to be released under the familiar yellow and black of the LIVESTRONG imprint is the LIVESTRONG Free Xilla. The shoe combines lightweight support with ample cushioning, along with the simulated barefoot ride that the unique Nike Free technology delivers. Other features include a mesh inner sleeve, as well as an innovative dual-pull lacing system for a snug, secure fit. Deep flex grooves throughout the outsole provides maximum flexibility, mimicking the foot’s motion in barefoot running. In short, the LIVESTRONG Free Xilla will handle your toughest workout. Available now at NikeStore.com.

Style: 456452-071
Color: Black/Varsity Maize-White

Delved right into the start of AMGEN Tour of California this weekend, Team RadioShack prepares to win the week-long cycling competition in brand new uniforms. Designed in part by Shepard Fairey of Obey, along with his design agency Studio Number One, the new appearance of Team RadioShack conveys a message of unity, energy, and speed. Asked by Lance Armstrong, Fairey and Studio #1 Art Director Casey Ryder took the iconic Red/Black theme of Radio Shack, along with elements of Armstrong’s legacy, not just in cycling but particularly his LIVESTRONG initiatives in the fight against cancer. The result was a graphical representation of all that matter to the members of Team RadioShack, Studio Number One, and Shepard Fairey himself. The new team aesthetics will cover not only cycling uniforms, apparels, but the team tour bus, support vehicles, and the bikes themselves. In the meantime, AMGEN Tour of California will start this Sunday, May 15th, at Lake Tahoe.

It’s been another busy week of collaborations, art, design, cars, shoes, and everything else that makes up our world. We can’t touch on everything here, but here’s a recap of a few of the bigger stories of the week. First off, the trailer for the soon-to-be-released Freshness-exclusive mini-documentary The Three Kings was released this week. Supreme also made news, with the release of a suit done in collaboration with Adam Kimmel (and announcing a Japan benefit T-Shirt). And in Miami, sneaker boutique Sole Fly featured an in-store event with legendary Jordan designer Tinker Hatfield, which was a testament to the man’s integral role in sneaker culture. In other Nike news – from the SB department – was the release of the new Eric Koston One, in three colors. And from the Sportswear division, Nike unveiled a remodel of the Bowery Stadium space into an installation devoted to the 1970′s era basketball, titled the Spirit of 73. An interesting collaboration between bagmaker SAGLIFE and FUTURA was announced this week too, drawing on the artist’s history with cycling culture. And arguably the most notable bag collection this week came as part of the new Indigo capsule collection from Onitsuka Tiger, which includes two beautiful bags. Takashi Murakami, who has transcended categorization as simply an artist, was the subject of a new vinyl figure done by sneaker artist Mike Leavitt. And finally, Freshness covered the opening event of the newest visvim F.I.L. location in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, which showcased the store’s artfully done buildout, as well as the attendees and new product. Check out details of all of these stories after the jump.

Just because Livestrong is too often associate only with a cliche rubber bracelet, and a popular Yellow/Black/Grey Nike colorway, it’s good to remind ourselves that the foundation creates “a relevant, vibrant cancer movement based on evidence and by investing in strategic solutions.” No societal effort to fight sickness and disease has ever enjoyed such popular coolness, with such a proactive message. Of course, part of the momentum results from Nike pushing a huge amount of Yellow/Black/Grey product. And Lance and Livestrong are also a Nike dream come true: one of the greatest athletes ever in one of the most grueling sports, who famously runs marathons and makes athletics a part of his personal life, plus that feeling that by buying, you’re doing something good. Whether it’s all that nonsense, or just the appeal of the Livestrong colors, Spring 2011 is going to bring a full collection of footwear from Livestrong: a Nike Air Max+ LAF, a Lunarhaze+ LAF, a Lunarfly+ 2 (in yellow/black/white and blue/grey/yellow), and a Trainer 1.2 Low LAF. Plus, for women, a Air Max+ LAF, an Air Lunarhaze+, an Air Lunarhaze+ 2 LAF (also in two colors: black/silver/yellow and green/silver/yellow), and the Free Hypertr II LAF. Preview images haven’t been released yet, but there is a full preview video, which gives a full 360 rotation of each shoe. Check out the video after the jump. via: BikeReviews.com.

Oakley, the lifestyle-encompassing eyewear maker, is launching a quarterly magazine titled ONE ICON. The online magazine will cover the athletes, artists, and personalities who are part of the broader Oakley family, in photos, videos, and editorial content. As Oakley draws more and more on the personalities and creativity behind the artists and athletes it endorses, ONE ICON will be an interesting perspective on what fuels Oakley culture.

Issue one is now out, and features some of Oakley’s most recognizable athletes, including Shaun White and Lance Armstrong, along with the artists and photographers that round out Oakley’s family. Several screenshots are below, and the full magazine is available here. via: Oakley.

There is still a while to go for the physically and mentally taxing Tour de France, and sadly, Lance Armstrong is out of the running. However, with his good work with LIVESTRONG and stunning performance from his career, his stories live on. For those who have been keeping an eye on the LIVESTRONG releases recently, the bicycle print is one big player in the line-up of kicks, be it subtle or bold. However, like any other sneaker line-ups, some will never see the light of day on racks. Here is a sweet pair (pun intended), a unreleased Nike Sweet Classic High LIVESTRONG promo sample that is up for bidding on ebay.

With the exception of pristine mountain air, there is nothing innocent about tomorrow’s Stage 7 on Tour de France. From the town of Tournus to the remote ski destination of Station des Rousses, the treacherous introduction to The Alps is marked with a total of 6 climbs – three category 2, two category 3, and one category. The brutality of the route will start at the 40 km mark. Afterward, there will not be any level roads. Instead, the cyclists will have to deal with the see-saw effect of ascent and descent through mountain passage.

It is also on the route’s practice run Lance Armstrong realized an allegory, a similarity to the battle against cancer. Aside from the ever-changing landscape of their physical well being, cancer patients have to deal with the emotional toll and psychological state, all issues too familiar to Armstrong during his battle with cancer. So on the route to Station des Rousses tomorrow, there will 2 armies hitting the road, one of the riders in the peloton, the other of the thousands of cancer patients and survivors Armstrong will be riding for.

Officially announced during the later half of the 2009 Le Tour de France, Team RadioShack is a brand new professional outfit in contingency to win the title this year. Though the first time in the Tour, most sports analysts considered the team to be a formidable competitor, mainly because the “human factor” behind it. Team RadioShack’s manager is none other than Johan Bruyneel, the man who led U.S. Postal, and more recently, Astana, to a total of 9 Tour de France wins. Then there are the riders, 8 of which are from Team Astana, including Levi Leipheimer, Chris Horner, and Andreas Klöden. Lastly, there is the co-owner and lead rider for Team RadioShack, Lance Armstrong.

In its continue sponsorship of Lance Armstrong’s quest for the 8th Tour de France title and his LIVESTRONG campaign for the fight against cancer, Nike expanded the LIVESTRONG Collection this month for greater availability and wider product range, including the new LunarGlide+ 2. An exception to the long-standing yellow/black color scheme for LIVESTRONG however, this LunarGlide+ 2 is in Dark Grey and Varsity Red, an exact coordination to Team RadioShack uniforms. So take a closer look at the next telecast of Tour de France, you might just spot Armstrong wearing it on his rest day. Or you just own one out right from NikeStore.com.

Style: 408922-067
Color: Dark Grey/Challenge Red-Varsity Maize-Black

Perhaps number 13 is the charm for Lance Armstrong! Announced just days before the start of Le Tour de France, the record-holding cyclist announced, via Twitter (but of course), that this run, his 13th Tour, will be his last. But don’t just count the 38-year old out yet. His physical stamina and mental readiness are such that he’s in 4th overall place after the Prologue Time Trial on a rain dampen Saturday and today’s crash galore Stage 1.