Nike's Phil Knight On How He Became A Believer in Advertising

This as an awesome, candid interview with Nike Founder and Chairman Emeritus Phil Knight. Touching on all things from the origins of the famed shoe brand, into dealing with athlete controversy (re: Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong), Knight gives a really interesting perspective on his personal and professional relationship with Dan Wieden, and the ad business in general.

Major Weekend Headlines; DADT, North Korea Backing Down, And I Get New Shoes

The 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal was easily the biggest piece of news over the weekend.  And it's about damn time.  The folks who are saying this will now cause a distraction with their armed forces is high.  I'm not doubting that there will be some redneck officer who is going to start some trouble with an openly gay soldier, but I'm going to guess those incidents will be few and far between.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/12/19/darrah.dadt.repeal/index.html

North Korea is lowering their arms momentarily after making a public statement, saying they would NOT be attacking South Korea over alleged drilling conflicts.  Days ago N.K. took the opposite opinion and said they would keep up the current hostility, but my guess is they got distracted when Kim Jong found something else to look at:
http://kimjongillookingatthings.tumblr.com/

Personal highlight...was gifted a pair of Clae Strayhorn, half sneaker half work functional.  The best of both worlds.

Nike's GreenXchange A Market For Sustainability Models

Why is that shoe so special? Well, it is the fact that they are constructed from 100% recyclable materials, including white leather, along with synthetic leathers, rubber from Nike Grind recycle material, polyester, and used EVA.

The need no introduction company Nike has partnered with a variety of companies to create an open forum for sharing IP on sustainable business models and techniques to build more conscious functionality. Nike has partnered with nine organizations, including Yahoo, Best Buy, Creative Commons, IDEO, Mountain Equipment Co-Op, nGenera, Outdoor Industry Association, salesforce.com, and 2degrees to form the GreenXchange, a Web-based marketplace that Nike claims will allow "companies [to] collaborate and share intellectual property (IP) which can lead to new sustainability business models and innovation." In other words, it's a giant think tank for corporate sustainability.

According to the Sustainable Responsibility section on Nike's corporate site, "Nike sees Sustainable Business and Innovation as an integral part of how we can use the power of our brand, the energy and passion of our people, and the scale of our business to create meaningful change."

Powerful words and moves from one of the leaders in environmentally friendly business. Hopefully this continues to shake off the sweat shop horrors the brand once faced.

Friday Sneaker Picks...

Two Nike classics and an adidas exclusive....


adidas Y-3 Honja Low

My favorite nike's of all time AirMax '97s....shown here silver on white.

Super hot pair of Nike Blazer Hi's. Red sole, suede front, and an awesome print.

The Nike ID iPhone App

Only a matter of time until fresh sneakers came out o the iPhone....

Sportswear giant Nike has a nifty application in the App Store that allows you to create custom sneakers and order them straight away, with just a couple of taps. The app is in fact a mobile extension of NIKEiD, a program that allows customer to order personalized Nike shoes straight from the manufacturer. And an excellent extension it is.

The free app (iTunes link) has been available on the App Store since the beginning of this month, but surprisingly there hasn’t been a lot of coverage about it. Even despite this excellent video about it (embedded below).

The software program allows you to select flashy looking sneakers that were custom designed by others and purchase them straight away, but there’s a lot more to it than that. For instance, you can dive into your photo library and select any image, after which the NIKEiD iPhone app will automatically detect which colors are in them and let you choose two for your own custom shoe. Or you can just use the Color Picker to select two colors you like.

Evidently, you can filter the results even more based on your specific needs (e.g. only shoes for men, unisex basketball clothing, etc.). Using the My Locker feature you can also save your favorite designs and access those you’ve customized on the NIKEiD website. Once you’ve selected a custom design you like, you can shake your iPhone to shuffle the colors, but you also get some options to genuinely personalize sneakers with your name, a custom logo or whatever you like.

Did I mention you can buy designs straight from the app?

Feiyue Sneakers Bringing Back The Digicrest Shoe World

At long last, a new sneaker post. This find comes from the coolhunter, as do many things that are beyond the comprehension of your standard hipster. These babies are low cut, relaxed and real sick. Feiyue Shoes not only are real sick and casual, but have an awesome story behind them too...

Take a brand that has history and tradition. Inject some freshness and collaborate with a hip artist. Formula – Success. One such example is the re-birth of Feiyue Shoes from Shanghai. Originally created in the 1920s, Feiyue became famous in the 30s for its association with the martial arts. Freiyue symbolizes the dual elevation of both body and mind. Feiyue actually translates to “flying forward”. Fast forward to 2005 and you have Patrice Bastian (a major sneaker freaker) who decided that these shoes could lend themselves to being the new item du jour. They were flexible and light by nature and had a great retro feel. With the services of graphic designer Charles Munka, the new image of Feiyue was created. It has since then gained momentum for being original yet classic and incredibly comfortable. Keeping up with the trends of today, you can choose between fresh, unadorned white, grey marle, artist prints or limited-edition designer styles.

Lots of different designs in both simple canvas as well as leather, Feiyue has a sick story and the stye to go with it.

A Restaurant With Sneakers On The Desert Menu?

Looking at a hard copy of Scuderia’s menu, there’s one item that is necessary to mention. It’s tucked under the dessert list: “Le Scarpe di Scudera – Limited edition hand painted sneakers made to order. Ask a manager for deets.” What? Sure, Scuderia aims to be hipper and younger than its sister spot, Da Silvano, and we admit to a weakness for restaurant apparel, but we’re talking $6 Wo Hop shirts, not $895 custom kicks! Then again, if a sneaker shop can serve collard greens, why can’t an eatery sell sneaks? (courtesy New York Magazine)

This article proves why I should be living in New York...I could be getting custom made sneaker's at Solefood while getting my fill of Sylvia's fried chicken.

Kobe Bryant Is Selling Ankle Insurance

As a die hard Laker fan, I could talk for hours about the love- hate relationship I've had with Kobe Bryant over the last decade. I could also go on about how I think he has put out some of the uglier shoes over his career, dating back to his horrid adidas sneakers in his early career.

But today, I want to praise him for fully stepping into his role as the most marketable basketball player of the modern era (enter Lebron James argument, which I could make too but for the sake of this post I needed to take a side). 

Nike has always been the king of viral vids starring their greatest athletes, and NotMyBrokenAnkles.com is just the latest installment of their creativity.

For a walk down memory lane, check out Kobe leaping over an Aston Martin an then a snake filled pool.

Inside the NIKEiD Bootroom

A great find from a great man,  the Rumba.  Step inside Nike's custom boot making facility and see the making of Cesc's Tiempos, Ronaldo's Mercurials and Rooney's T90's.

Air Jordan Countdown Pack 11/12

The Air Jordan Countdown is continuing as Nike keeps chalking off the list in their last run of production on the famed line of sneakers.  The 11/12 pack was originally set to release on December 26 but it looks like Sneaker Files is now saying that Nike has changed the release to December 20.  Either way, the Jordan 11 and Jordan 12 are some of the most coveted sneaks in the collection so I'm sure the holiday market will be splashed.

Reebok Opens '80s Themed Store In NYC

Courtesy of NY Magazine:

Reebok launched its first-ever pop-up shop on Saturday, in a two-story, 3,000-square-foot art gallery on Bowery. In honor of next year's 20th anniversary of the Reebok Pump, the neon-splashed space is inspired by eighties New York style and stocked with vintage sneaker styles. The limited-edition designs were inspired by the men's Pump and women's Freestyle shoes, which a Reebok spokesperson called "eighties staples." Stocked with T-shirts printed with "169 Bowery," hoodies by Reebok and Rolland Berry, and waves of candy-colored footwear, the pop-up will introduce a different New York–themed item each week, from a "Bodega NYC" shoe printed with the image of an ATM machine to Coney Island–inspired men's Ventilator sneakers. Reebok also enlisted guest designers to collaborate on sneakers, like graphic artist John Maeda, Dean of the Rhode Island School of Design. Limited-edition footwear starts at $90. 

Click here for the photos.

Nike's Latest Environmental Effort: Air Jordan XX3

Nike is releasing the Air Jordan XX3 with a different spin than the other iterations of the classic basketball sneaker. The potentially last Jordan model to be released is being constructed using almost no adhesives at all, and is being constructed like a jigsaw puzzle. Being sewn together and not glued is part of the "Nike Considered approach," that uses environmentally-preferable materials, reduces toxic chemicals and curbs waste.

Hannah Jones, Nike's vice president of corporate responsibility, told Fortune that the Air Jordan XX3 demonstrates that environmental considerations need not require compromises in design or performance. Her hope, she said, is that the new sneakers will influence not only other Nike shoes, but the rest of the footwear industry, too. She said the Air Jordan XX3 is the equivalent of "a Tesla, not a Prius," referring to the $98,000, all-electric, luxury sports car being made by Tesla Motors.

"Too often 'green' means less of a consumer experience," Jones said. "If you sacrifice performance or style, you're doing a disservice to the consumer and to the sustainability movement."

Click here for the full article about the Jordans.

Head over to this article to find an interesting graphic describing the different recycled materials used to make different parts of the Nike Pegasus, a running shoe at the forefront of the "Nike Considered" movement.

Clicking on the top image will take you to CNN's video player to watch Hannah Jones discuss the making of the new Jordan.  (Thanks to CNN for removing their video embed option)

Worn Again Bringing Recyclable Goods To The UK Fashion Scene

I love getting recommendations towards new companies who bring both a new look to the shoe market, as well as a environmentally conscious perspective.

In response to my article the other day about Nike remaking sneakers for Steve Nash, I was fortunate enough to receive a message from Cyndi, an entrepreneur from England who runs Worn Again. Worn Again takes used textiles and turns them into shoes, hand bags, and other fashion accessories.

Using old materials such as car seat belts, prison blankets, bicycle tires, parachutes, firemen’s uniforms, and more, Worn Again has developed a footprint in the eco- friendly goods production category.

To quote from the site:
Worn Again is a social business which was set up not only to transform consumption and manufacturing patterns through production of goods made from recycled materials, but also to generate income for Anti-Apathy, a registered charity, kicking sustainable lifestyles butt since 2002.

In terms of business model, environmental impact, and overall fashion sense, Worn Again is definitely a brand to look out for.

My personal favorite from the Worn Again collection, the Bike Hi men's sneaker.

Nike Recycled Footwear Makes New Shoes For Steve Nash

This was news a little while ago, but AdAge got the inside story from Nike's Senior Creative Designer for Running, Kasey Jarvis about making a recycled pair of sneakers for Phoenix Sun's star Steve Nash.

Anyone whose been to Niketown recently knows they have bins located around the store where you can donate old shoes. The beaten up running shoes are being recycled for two purposes:

1) Make new shoes out of old material
2) Use the rubber to create playgrounds for children

Either way, it's nice to see notorious sweat shop runners Nike at least pretend to have some conscious. Click the photo to connect through to AdAge's 3 Minute News page.

Nike Air Max 95 Fresh Water

Though it won't be a fully comprehensive set of coming sneaker releases, I had to squeeze this one in because of my affinity for the mid- 90's Air Max collection.

The '95 and '97 Air Max lines have always been a highly sought after collection of Nikes, probably only trailing Air Jordans and Air Force Ones in terms of street popularity.

The above Air Max '95 Fresh Water design is set to hit stores in April 2009, according to Sneaker Files. We are just starting to get peaks at Nike's summer plans for next year, and this is definitely one of the hottest leaks I've seen.

Upcoming Sneaker Releases

Checking back in with the world of sneakers, here's a few special edition release dates for you:

Wood Wood x Converse 1HUND(RED) Chuck Taylor

The Converse 1HUNDR(RED) campaign extends through the year and has called on Dutch brand Wood Wood to collaboration on the latest Chuck Taylor. Having a monochromatic feel to it, the sneakers are made up of gray canvas, suede, 1HUND(RED) red eyelets, and custom tagging. Furthermore, other details include the Wood Wood star map patter lining the inside of the sneaker as well as branding on the tongue. Release is scheduled for October 1st, 2008 at a select accounts.





KISS x Vans Sk8-Hi - Dressed to Kill


In 1975, legendary rock group KISS released the album “Dressed to Kill” which featured the classic hit, ”Rock and Roll All Nite”. To honor the group, Vans and KISS teamed up earlier in the year and displayed a few designs, the latest are these Sk8-Hi’s which are inspired by the album’s cover. The sneakers consists of artwork on the sides of the sneaker along with the words “Dressed to Kill” written on the outer sole. Release is scheduled for Spring 2009.

Today's info brought to you from Sneaker Files.

Sneakers Go Guerilla In NYC

I was lucky enough to spend some time in the Big Apple recently and it revitalized my personal love for New York City… a sneaker store on every block! I love my sneakers and I love the community, but most importantly, I love the way the sneaker community markets itself in NYC.

Despite the fact that you can walk through SOHO and stumble upon 6 shoe stores per block, most of them reek of this ego and arrogance that has begun to plague the sneaker community. I’m all for niche marketplaces and a sense of pride when it comes to a sometimes taboo desire, but a large part of the sneaker community has become so obsessed with holding their space from popular culture, that they fight off anyone who isn’t “one of their own.”

However, certain stores and clans of ‘heads are still doing it right, and they are putting their names out in all the right ways. Normally I’d like to say I sniffed out a hot sneaker spot with my sixth sense, but I first found Classic Kicks first through a postcard style piece in a music shop uptown; postcard ad, check. Then as I worked my way through hipster spots in the east village and then SOHO, I then saw a 2x4 foot plastered between hundreds of movie ads; postered walls, check. As I got hot on the trail of this shoe spot, I got final word from a local who clearly knew what I was thinking for. A gentleman sitting outside a café drinking espresso (uber hip) saw me window shopping next to his seat. He stopped me and told me I’d be interested in a store one block over. When asked why he stopped me, he said a noticed my shoes, (Nike Dunk Lows Dirty Denim). So, word- of- mouth; check.

Finally I stumbled into Classic Kicks and there I was, sneaker heaven. The fresh smell of canvas, patent leather, and nubuck was in the air. Classic Kicks blends the clean- cut, Japanese anime, Technicolor look with New York urban soul, and quickly carved out a soft spot in my heart. Made its way into my top list of spots in this country’s major markets. I walked away with a fresh pair of Fila first editions, and I’m happy to report that guerilla style, street marketing is alive and well in the Big Apple.

Sneaker Finds

I know I've been lagging on weekly sneaker picks, so I decided to make this one a bit more personal and find sneaks from my favorite spots around the country.

Dave’s Quality Meat in New York is my absolute favorite shoe store in this country. And since I’ll be in Manhattan in a couple weeks, I figured I’d give them a shout. They teamed up with Nike SB to design some Blazers and Dunks in honor of the upcoming Olympics, where BMX racing will be featured as an event. The gold is in tribute to famous BMX trick rider Woody Itson and his signature 24K Gold Hutch Trickstar bike.

I grew up scrounging through the high stacked piles of fire hazard worthy Sportie LA on Melrose down in Los Angeles, so I figured I’d check in with them and see what limited editions they were working with right now. Yes the NBA season is over, but they are featuring a classic pair of adidas Campus 2s decked out in Laker décor that really touches my gold and purple heart.

As a local San Franciscan, I had to bring up Huf down in Hayes Valley. And since I’ve been having some great laughs at the expense of Stuff White People Like, I figured I’d fulfill the stereotype of #96 and show off these TIER 1 NBJ A22s by New Balance.

*No offense to Undefeated in LA which challenges for the #1 spot, but your site is really bothering me today; the alignment of the content is off, the radio won’t turn down, and it’s a bit too frustrating for me right now.