When one thinks of Japanese-exclusive sneaker releases these days, images of the old days of the internet, extravagant special edition packaging and searching eBay in a frenzy come to mind. But aside from the super-limited collabos and otherwise top-tier releases, the AP market has quite a few designs that US sneakerheads would be forced to import, perhaps most notably in the running range. One example is the series pictured above in its third iteration, none of which have managed to make it Stateside over the past five years. The Nike Zoom Speed Cage+ 3 AP would probably be a hit over here too thanks to a breathable, lightweight construction and the still relatively unique visible Zoom Air in the heels of a Chicago-style colorup. You can click through to see more of this exotic foreign model, and let us know if this stars-and-lillies-emblazoned, asymmetrically-colored design is something you’d cop from a US Nike Running retailer, or if they’re better left to the patrons of Nike Harajuku in fashion forward Tokyo.
| Tweet |  | Comments (3)  |
After a couple of collections centered around Japanese running clubs kicked off the Nike LunarSpider 2 last October, it’s almost like the rain came down and washed all the new colorways out. But with spring approaching, the sun will rise to dry all the paths where you might want a lightweight runner with eye-grabbing style, and Tokyo’s Nike Harajuku just got three new colorways in stock that fit that bill perfectly. Each pair uses a very similar colorblocking pattern, with white/red/black and yellow/blue/black coming through along with the addition of a black/silver/blue makeup for wide sizes. These aren’t common at US retailers, but does their distinctive look and feather-light, super-breathable construction warrant an import?
| Tweet | |
‘TY’ has become synonymous with expressing gratitude in this world of tweets and TXT messages, and we’re betting the guy whose initials share those letters is pleased with his output from the Nike Air Force 1 Bespoke Experience’s latest tour of Tokyo, Japan. T.Y.’s AF1 Bespokes don’t bear his name as many others have, the only lettering on these reserved for ‘AF-1′ on the tongue and what looks like an abbreviation for his home country on the right heel tab. This relative lack of text ensures your attention is directed to the black magic patent leather that makes up the upper on these orange and yellow accented Bespokes, though the true standout feature might be that material’s contrast against the traditional gum brown sole we’re used to seeing more often paired with nappy suedes. Click through so you can see more angles on these and let us know how they compare to the best Air Force 1 Bespokes we’ve seen from Nike Harajuku.
| Tweet | |
In the world of Nike Air Force 1 Bespoke showoffs, we move from a model whose digi-camo print underlay was ostensibly designed to obscure them from sight, to another model that makes no bones about its desire to mimick a wild animal pelt. This new AF1 Bespoke designed during the latest round of limited appointments at Tokyo’s Nike Harajuku was designed by someone named ‘M.T.’, whose initials show up on the iridescent patent leather heels of these insane Uptowns. There’s also a couple of laser-cut ‘Mickey’ dubraes on the laces, but the animal you’re most likely to notice here isn’t a mouse but rather the cheetah-colored zebra horsehair that makes up most of the upper. The rich purple suede Swooshes do a great job of bringing everything together; where would you rank them against the other Bespoke Air Force 1s we’ve seen of late? Click through to see some more photos and leave a comment, and schedule your appointment with 21 Mercer today.
| Tweet | |
The latest Nike Air Force 1 Bespoke showoff comes from the ultra-premium customization service’s latest tour of duty at Nike Harajuku in Tokyo, Japan. That’s where a guy whose name might be confused with some kind of newfangled high definition video cable came through and crafted his pair with a pixelated ‘camo’ pattern that’ll do anything but fit in. HDPN’s AF1 Bespokes start with that tonal boxy graphic in a range of oranges and browns, and uses that as a base upon which a variety of colors from the middle of the visible spectrum are added. The colorway itself manages to be cohesive while the combination of camo and patent leather overlays is somewhat jarring; do these give you any ideas of what you can create after making an appointment with 21 Mercer in New York? Click through for some more angles and stick with Sneaker News for the latest Bespoke Air Force 1s.
| Tweet | |
Tokyo got another taste of the Big Apple during the last week of August as the Nike Air Force 1 Bespoke experience once again descended upon Nike Harajuku. This typically 21 Mercer-exclusive ultra-premium customization service provided the Japanese consumers with an unusually luxe array of materials, and we have three very different examples of what they created. They range from a low-key tonal brown that stands out for its use of natural cork to a glittery black patent-on-volt look with plenty of colorful pixelation in between. Have a gander at all three, let us know which one you think is best and hit up Nike Sportswear in New York to schedule your appointment today.
| Tweet | |
Halfway around the globe, New York City-based cultural influencers DJ Clark Kent and photographer Jonathon Mannion, who were in town for Mannion’s photo retrospective at Stussy Japan, stopped by Nike Harajuku for some overseas Nike iD sessions. As expected, DJ Clark Kent selected the Nike Air Force 1 Low, while Mannion went on the experimental offensive and selected the Nike Air Max 90 Hyperfuse – one of Nike iD’s most recent inclusions. Another item to note is the apparel worn by the guests of honor; Clark rocked a throwback Nolan Ryan Astros jersey, while Mannion proudly wore the Stussy x Lafayette t-shirt that was made specifically for the gallery event. Check out the entire Nike iD experience below and let us know what you think. via FRESHNESS.
| Tweet | |
Liberty of London’s latest collaboration with Nike Sportswear has been considerably larger than in previous years. Both in terms of the number of releases and the chunk of calendar it’s taking to get them all to retail, this new Liberty x NSW pack tops all earlier efforts, and a new batch has just hit Nike Harajuku in Tokyo. We’ll start our look at this new trio with the Nike WMNS Dunk High Skinny, which features the same almost Dalek-like pattern as the Blazer Lows that also just arrived. There’s one more Blazer to complete the set, a Mid in a bright swooping design that was also a part of an AF1 Low, and you can see all of them by clicking on the jump below.
Nike WMNS Dunk High Skinny Premium
Sail/Aura
386316-103
Nike WMNS Blazer Low Premium
Birch/Birch
454471-200
Nike WMNS Blazer Mid Premium
White/White
403729-102
| Tweet | |
