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Converse Japan All Star Turndown LC OX

Aaron Hope — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:00:57 +0000

Converse has significantly expanded their selection of themed Chuck Taylor releases in the past few years, but one of the very first alterations this beloved classic ever received was the dual-layered design that allowed you to expose the inside color by folding the outside into a collar. So while this isn’t the first time the One Star has offered a Chuck with an ankle collar as a key feature, the Converse All Star Turndown LC Ox is indeed a unique expression of this American classic’s DNA. These come in at a peculiar-to-Chucks midtop height thanks to a leather-laced turned-down collar that accents the ivory or mossy brown leather uppers with red and blue beads. The latest example of Converse Japan‘s envelope-pushing approach blends Native style with an OG silo, but would you buy them if US retailers had a stock?

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adidas Y-3 Black Savage

Aaron Hope — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:00:06 +0000

When you think of non-traditional enclosures, examples like the Footscape’s asymmetrical lacing system, the Reebok Insta Pump Fury and Puma Disc Blaze are probably right at the top of the list. But none of those can hold a candle to the latest release from ever-innovative Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto‘s long-running collaboration with adidas, the Y-3 Black Savage hightop. Sporting a Tricolore sole with more teeth than your average hacksaw, this shelltoed boot-inspired design utilizes an elastic cord lockdown system like the one Yamamoto used on the Y-3 Sneak, another model we expect as part of the spring/summer 2012 collection. If you can’t believe your eyes, click through for more proof that these are indeed a real design, and you’ll find them at top-tier retailers like Ssense.

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Kinetics x adidas Originals Superstar 80s ‘Animal’ – New Images

Brendan Dunne — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:00:49 +0000

Jeremy Scott has been doing the animal inspired thing for adidas Originals for a minute now, but if you’re looking for a pair without all kinda wild additions hanging off the edges, then the Kinetics x adidas Originals Superstar 80s ‘Animal’ might be the one for you. Showing up on a classic shell-toed silhouette, the design here is a bit of a cross-breed with the leopard print horse hair matched with the scaly snakeskin of the side stripes. 2011 was certainly a big year for this sort of safari’d out sneaker, so can models like the Kinetics x adidas Originals Superstar 80s ‘Animal’ help carry the trend in 2012? Let us know what you think and hit the jump for extra shots of this upcoming collabo from adidas Originals. via Kenlu

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atmos x Reebok Workout 25th Anniversary

Aaron Hope — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:30:54 +0000

While it’s great to see a world-encircling list of sneaker boutiques try their hand at designing 25th anniversary pairs for the classic Reebok Workout, there’s no doubt that this model’s OG will remain its most famous look. So you can slap wild colors and materials on it or borrow a signature aesthetic from other veterans, but at the end of the day, nothing says ‘Workout’ like white leather. In that sense, the atmos x Reebok Workout is the closest to this model’s essence, although a quick trip out after sundown will confirm that these were in fact created by one of Tokyo’s best. Daytime gives you the iconic look, but at night you’ll pick up on the store’s signature glow-in-the-dark construction for a release that perfectly reflects both its source and scribes; are these the single best Workout 25 out of the entire set? A few more shots await your click on the jump below, and be sure to stick with Sneaker News for five more revelations from the Workout Plus’ 25th Anniversary mega-pack before the February 15th global launch.

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Subcrew x Vans OTW Alomar

Aaron Hope — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:00:27 +0000

The Vans OTW Collection has brought us a nice variety of skate-inspired casual sneakers since its inception a couple years back, but one thing they haven’t lived up to in the Off the Wall legacy is collaborative frequency. Vans as a whole is one of the industry’s most cooperative brands, but to this point, their OTW group has only shown off preview images of upcoming projects with the likes of Lupe Fiasco and Mr. Cartoon in the wake of the In4mation Bedfords that dropped in late 2010. Today we have word of another drop that’ll likely be limited to the immediate area around the guest designer’s headquarters, a Subcrew x Vans OTW Alomar that’ll make those who can’t get them quite jealous with a rich tonal red mix of suede and patent croc skin. The textural contrast extends to a busy red-on-white patterned sockliner that has us wondering what Freegums’ LeBron 9s might have looked like in an alternate palette. Click through to see the latest example of wild animal application in 2012 and stick with Sneaker News for updates on Subcrew’s OTW Alomar. via UrbanLook

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NIGO x Converse Addict

Aaron Hope — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:30:21 +0000

As you might expect from a guy who’s known for reinterpreting American classics and shifting Stateside trends with his releases from the Far East, A Bathing Ape founder Nigo was well ahead of the game when it comes to the Converse Addict Chuck Taylor All Star series. Nigo showed off a pair from the second season of Addict Chucks a good while before they dropped at select Japanese retailers in late 2009, and it looks like the upgraded, Vibram-soled super All Stars made a serious impression on him. Fast forward two and a half years later and we see that there’s a new set of ~~BAPE~~ Nigo x Converse Addict All Star Highs, both of which switch up the medial zipper trend and go for a lateral entry so as not to disturb the Chuck’s signature medial ankle patch. Brown and white pairs will arrive at select retailers on March 10th, so stick with Sneaker News for word on their availability.

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mita sneakers x Reebok Workout 25th Anniversary

Aaron Hope — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:30:05 +0000

For those out there who hoped it never would end, is[n't] it a good thing that the Reebok Workout is going just as strong after 25 years as the Paula Abdul samples J.Cole borrowed for his hit single by the same name? The answer is an obvious ‘yes’, and seeing these 25th anniversary collaborative designs starting to roll in means proof positive that this shoe can handle more than that (still amazing) OG white leather/grey accent look. Coming on the heels of Solebox’ shipped-on-ice fishscale previews comes the mita sneakers Workout, a tribute to rugged workwear crafted in wheat heavy duty canvas with corded boot laces thrown in to complete the blue collar look. We expect additional colorways to be rolled out almost daily for the next bit as we look through the entire 15-pair collection, so check out this edition after the jump and stick with Sneaker News for the rest of the 25th Anniversary Reebok Workout collection.

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