When photos surfaced last week of the 20th Anniversary of Reebok’s iconic Pump basketball sneaker, many saw the heel release as a new feature.  While old sneakerheads may have realized it was like that back in ‘89, even fewer know how RBK designer Paul Litchfield, whose credits also include Hexalite and ERS cushioning systems, came to the ultimate design.  Take a look at some really interesting photos after the jump, including several wacky prototypes like the one pictured above and a few good looks at exactly how Pumps provide extra support with their internal air bladder.  via SF

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Nike Sportswear has just released a Quickstrike Pack of three Nike Match Classic sneakers. The Match Classic for those of you who are unfamiliar, was one of the first tennis shoes that Nike ever released and was retroed earlier this year when Nike Sporstwear collaborated with Hiroshi Fujiwara of fragment design and Jun Takahashi of UNDERCOVER. These three new colorways do not feature the fragment design and UNDERCOVER graphics wrapped around the midsole but instead they feature a slight vintage treatment. They are available now at various Nike Sportswear retailers including Nos.

Style: 358044-200
Color: Dark Cinder/White-Challenge Red

Style: 358044-600
Color: Varsity Red/White-Varsity Maize

Style: 358044-001
Color: Black/White-Matte Silver

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Sneakerness took over Zurich for its May 2009 show, thrust into the spotlight by two dope Nike Air Force 1s.  One was a custom, the other Bespoke, but neither style paved the way for this month’s meetup in Vienna.  The usual swapmeet stuff dominated the proceedings, but an appearance from Bobbito Garcia and a Nike iD installation added a little something extra.  Speaking of something extra, what the Vienna show lacked in AF1s it made up with a Sneakerness x KangaROOS collaboration.  Check out a ton of photos of the event after the jump.  via SF

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When fall comes and stuff starts to decay in such a beautiful way, it’s a natural time to look toward vintage and subdued fashions that match the changing environment.  With this duo of Nike Vandal Highs, they achieve that old-school look, but we’d hesitate to call them ’subdued’.  A black pair with yellow accents and two shades of purple on the strap isn’t too crazy and definitely has an old school vibe about it, as does the much brighter magenta pair with a metallic silver Swoosh.  Both of them are available now from Schuh-You.

Style: 325317-501
Color: New Magenta/Metallic Silver

Style: 325317-072
Color: Black/Midwest Gold-Sail

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The other pair in this duo of vintage drops had us thinking of the Horseshoe in Columbus, Ohio.  The Sail/Black counterpart to that red pair is less the Wolverine to the reds’ Buckeye and more like the Yankees to their BoSawx.  The Nike Blazer High VNTG is back, using that same tumbled leather in the delicate grey ‘Sail’ shade along with a yellowed sole.  This pair opts for a cooler accent colour, but everything else is the same.  Then again, that’s like saying the Yanks and Sox are just two baseball teams, so you might wanna get both pairs and stage your own ALCS.  These beauties are available now from shaolin8 on eBay.

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It’s not everyday that we get a look at a pair of kicks this old, rare or intriguing. What you are looking at is an early prototype for the Air Jordan 1 that was obviously changed quite a bit before releasing in the final form that we have come to know and love. This prototype sample features a number of glaring differences from the eventual retail version, most notably a significantly higher cut around the ankle, a completely different midsole and outsole and an alternate shape for the mudguard section of the toe as it makes its way up to the lower eyelet holes. Also of interest, you might be wondering about the “BIG JOHN” printing on the heel section of the ankle. Apparently, this sample was made up specially for Nike’s sales manager back in January of 1984, who went by the nickname of, you guessed it, Big John. Keep reading after the jump for a look at some more pics of this incredible sample including some side-by-side comparison shots with the actual OG Air Jordan 1 in the same colorway. Big thanks to zoopreme700 for the pics and the heads-up.

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Nike Vandals come in a variety of fabrics but nylon is definitely the first one to come to mind.  This tendency birthed a whole series of Nike Dunk High Vandals, which are basically Dunk silhouettes hewn in nylon with a ribbed strip wrapping the shoe atop its midsole.  Those same ribbed strips are present on these Vintage (and all) nylon Nike Vandal Highs, but instead of a vertical ribbing, these go with a diagonal cut for an ever so slightly different look.  There’s a magenta pair with metallic silver and a tri-coloured strap.  That canvas strap is repeated on a black and gold pair, but its purple stripes help that one escape joining the Steelers bandwagon.  Expect these at Nike Sportswear retailers next month.

Style: 325317-501
Color: New Magenta/Metallic Silver

Style: 325317-072
Color: Black/Midwest Gold-Sail

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Not sure if this actually qualifies as magic, but somehow the classic Nike Blazer High design with vintage treatments manages to look perfectly modern.  This pair goes with a nice grey tumbled leather upper and a bright red smooth leather Swoosh to match the heel embroidery.  It’s a rich look that would have any Ohio State van salivating, but they manage major crossover appeal to anyone who wants the weathered look by way of yellowed tongues and midsoles.  They seem to have white laces, interestingly enough, so you’ll have to get those dirty for yourself.  First, though, you’ll have to cop them from 95Soleman on eBay.

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