Church of Kicks; Sydney

Jordyn & Alexis; Melbourne

Kindred spirits, students Jordyn and Alexis combine some sneaker love with some sass and style on the  streets of Melbourne, that is bold, honest and no fuss.

For Jordyn (left in 2 shot), she has also found a kindred spirit in the Nike Free.  A shoe that combines comfort and style in equal measure, she has become as in love with the model of shoe as she is with leg tatts, she already has an extensive collection and doesn't plan to stop just yet.

As for Alexis, she is and always has been a Vans devotee, and has a bustling shoe collection including kicks from Nike, Asics, Comme and of course multiple pairs of Vans in differing colours.

She's more of a newcomer to the tattoo world with lesser work than Jordyn, but between them these girls are locking it down with a commitment to what works for them. 

In Their Shoes: Orlando @ Suelas De Goma

In the latest of my 'in Their Shoes' interview series, Orlando from Barcelona based sneaker blog Suelas De Goma was kind enough to take the time to chat with me.

My work has a strong following throughout Spain so I thought this would be a great chance to hear more about the scene in this amazing country and as a fan of his site I was keen to hear how Orlando's work started, his thoughts on the sneaker scene and where he see's trends heading in 2013.  Enjoy!

IDYSM: Hey Orlando, thanks for taking the time to talk to IDYSM.  So, first up, what is Suelas De Goma?

Orlando: The blog suelasdegoma.com was conceived in april 2007 as an online magazine specialized in casual footwear and premium sneakers, aimed at collectors and enthusiasts of footwear. 

Nowadays our media includes information on the latest fashion, design and entertainment which represent a lifestyle.

I created suelasdegoma with the purpose of bringing fun and information to the world of retail, in which I have been working for 15 years as a sales rep for several fashion and footwear brands.

Eventually it was the customers who considered my work to be useful and attractive to them. I have managed to get my own space in the sneaker world thanks to the editorials I have created with the effort and help of brands like adidas, and of my team, Jose, Inés and Neko.

IDYSM: Have you always been interested in sneaker culture, and to what level?

Orlando: In my case, one could say that my passion for sneakers grew on me. When I was a kid I had many toys, but never had too many sneakers. It was not something I was particularly interested in until I was like 15, when I saw in the local sports shop a pair of AJ1 which only one of my classmates was able to buy, lucky guy!

Years later, when I started representing Sole Technology in Barcelona, my passion for sneakers went off the charts. Receiving dozens of boxes with samples cannot just leave you indifferent.

IDYSM: What does sneaker culture give to the world?

Orlando: Sneaker culture is part of how we understand and live our lives. Brands edit all sorts of sneakers and consummers choose them according to the way they were raised when they were kids. You can start out buying a pair of basic sneakers because you don't have much money but eventually, as time goes by, if you are somewhat interested, you may find out that behind every sneaker there is a story, and you may feel identified with some of them and feel a lot happier. This is what makes you pay more attention to special editions, as well as to quality and sophisticated materials. The world of footwear presents many advances year after year. Not even apple can keep up the rhythm! (lol)

IDYSM: You cover all aspects of sneaker culture around the world, so how do you stay on top of what’s happening in the game globally?

Orlando: My job keeps me in close contact with professionals of fashion and footwear, and there is a long list of favorites I visit daily including more than 15 blogs and websites which are world referents in fashion, footwear, technology and motor. I select for SDG what I consider most relevant.

IDYSM: Please describe the sneaker scene where you’re based.

Orlando: Our sneaker community is a small one, and very specialized and interested in new launches. At the moment we have in Barcelona two of the most important sneaker stores in the world, 24 Kilates and LimitEDitions, which give us access to the limited editions and to Consortium. Barcelona has been a referent so far, but very soon Madrid will be internationally recognized thanks to the great job of its stores. adidas, asics, jordan, nike and new balance are part of the local sneaker-head collective, while brands like vans are a lot more expanded among young consumers.

IDYSM: Where is the sneaker game at right now?  Do you think the boom Vans and other low cost vulcanised shoes has passed, and if so, where’s it heading now?

Orlando: I suppose that, due to the economic crisis and to a change of cycle, in the last 12 months there have not been releases as powerful as those in previous years. There has been an excess of collabs and packaging has not been much taken into account. Brands must go back to getting people line up in front of the stores, and those lines must be a party! We must get the thrill and the magic of sneakers in the 80's and 90's back. The Ewings are back, that IS magical.

IDYSM: What makes Suelas De Gome different to sites like Hypebeast, Complex, Freshness etc?

Orlando: Suelasdegoma must stand out from the rest of websites and blogs for its originality and interesting content. As a blog with few commercial constraints, I feel free to express my opinion and explain things other webs and blogs do not talk about because it is not politically correct or just because they do not know about them. At the beginning we became known the world over because of our exclusive photo sessions. However, now this is not enough because it is a concept that has been vastly followed by brands, blogs and webs. We have had to rethink how to be different once more. And during the first trimester of this year you will see the results.

  

IDYSM: What are you most looking forward to in 2013?

Orlando: I honestly believe that 2013 is the end of a hard period in which nonetheless we have been able to create projects we could have not created before. It has been tough making our way to the top, but after all only those who make it get to see the awesome view. We must help those still on the way up.

IDYSM: I have to ask, what’s on your feet right now?

Orlando: Right now I am wearing adidas Torsion Allegra Collegiate/Silver/Black, very comfortable.

* Image courtesy of Hugo Urizar - www.Frechphoto.com  

Kim; Melbourne

Originally from Korea, Kim is a student in Melbourne studying nursing so that she can transform the life of others, but it seems that in the process her life is being transformed too.

By her own admission, coming from Korea she has been something of an introvert but since coming to Australia she is learning to express herself, and as you can see from her outfit Kim is embracing colour in a big way.

Her shoes play a key part of this transformation, and Kim has developed a passion for Nikes, which from a practicality point of view cater for her everyday activities, but also inject the colour and style that her new personality embodies.

Ryan; Sydney

When Ryan decided to make the move across the world from the UK to Sydney he was left with a very difficult decision to make - which kicks from his beloved 30 pair collection would be bring? 

How he could choose I don't know, but he managed to pack just 2 pairs, which if he's anything like me would not have been an easy thing to do.

It didn't take long for Ryan to get over the heartbreak of leaving his collection behind though as he has thoroughly embraced the scene in Sydney which he feels is completely different to that in the UK.  He picked up these classic All Stars in Oz, and as you can see they work with his edgey look perfectly.

He's now fully acclimatised to life Down Under, with him claiming that everything is better in Sydney than in the UK, except for 1 thing...kebabs.

Bondi Skater; Sydney

Joey; Sydney

Bristol in the UK is usually known for being the birthplace of music gods Massive Attack, Street Artist extraordinaire Banksy and cider drinking.  It's also where Joey is from, someone who is making a bold statement in his new home of Bondi.

Joey is a hairdresser at Sydney's Chop Shop and he's all about making clear statements with style as you can see from his shirtless look that showcases some serious inking!

He's influenced by skate culture so it's no surprise that Vans are his shoe of choice.  The pro's are they go with everything, the cons - well they don't seem strong enough to keep up with him when skating or raising hell, as these 1 month old Sk8 Hi's testify.

In Their Shoes; 43 Ein Halb

Thanks for the kind words about my new 'In Their Shoes' interview series - it seems like you guys are really enjoying hearing the stories from some fascinating sneaker peeps around the world, and in this latest instalment I caught up with Mischa from influential German store 43 Ein Halb.

Germany has played an important part in sneaker history, and Mischa (above left in the pic) keenly embraces the past, present and future of the sneaker world as you will find out below.

IDYSM:  Hey Mischa, thanks for taking the time to talk to IDYSM.  So, first up, what is 43EinHalb?

Mischa: Hey, you’re welcome! Thx for having us here. 43einhalb, translates to 'the shoe size 43 and a half', is the common shoesize of Olli and me, and when we started our shop in June 2011 it was the best name for our “baby” we could imagine.

IDYSM: How and why did your relationship with sneakers start, and where is it at now?  Are you a huge collector?

Mischa: It all started in the mid 90's. I have a big bunch of brothers (3) and also a twinbrother. When I started to look at what I was wearing, I always wanted to have something different my brothers had so Trainers were always fascinating for me and I chose to start collecting in around 1995.  In 2003 Olli and me started “sneakerblog.net”, the first german spoken Blog around sneaker culture in Germany. Later we changed the name to Sneakerized as a online magazine for Sneakers, which all happened before 43einhalb was born. 

IDYSM: How diverse are your customers, and do you find that sneakers have the ability to bring together different kinds of people?  

Mischa: We see every day that sneakers connect all kinds of people, from the youngest customers at the age of 0 to older customers of 75+.  Everybody likes comfortable footwear and that’s the reason they wear it.

IDYSM: Germany obviously plays a pivotal part in sneaker history after giving birth to both adidas and Puma, how influential is Germany still in the sneaker game?

Mischa: While the whole movement of wearing sneakers during your leisure time started in the US Germany has provided some big inventors for the world of sneaker culture.  Today there are lots of very strong brands that are act international but have their origins in Germany which I think is about German reliability.

IDYSM: What other territories’ sneaker scenes excite you the most at the moment and why?

Mischa: We are into the old classics, we love them, but also we see the new concepts and we love them too.  At a certain time you start to think outside the box and there are some cool new concepts we love to feature on 43einhalb.

IDYSM: How hard is it working in retail now with internet shopping being such a dominant force?

Mischa: For us both have their advantages. On the one hand you have the local retail store where you can speak, discuss and dream together with your customer.  Its always a pleasure to have straight edge thinking guys in our store – this exchange is priceless.
On the other hand with our onlineshop we can reach the whole world.  Look at us, we’re in Germany, your in Australia and we’re having a interview, how cool is that!

IDYSM: Looking at the product you stock there seems to be a lot of retro styles – do you think the sneaker scene can ever afford to breakaway from it’s past?

Mischa: Yes – we have some new concepts like the New Balance 890, ON Running from Switzerland or the new lunar stuff from Nike, also some new asics stuff will follow so we're working towards mixing the retro with the new stuff.

IDYSM: What do you expect to see happening with the sneaker scene in 2013?

Mischa: 2013 will be the year of retro running from adidas Tech Super, Allegra and some more Torsion models. Also the Air Force Sneakers will have a revival and new stuff like like the Flyknit, 890er and some other cool models will generate big interest.

IDYSM: I have to ask, what’s on your feet right now?

Mischa: I'm rocking the DQM AM90 Bacon.

* Image courtesy of Mischa at 43 Ein Halb

Futura; Melbourne

Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to Melbourne to spend some time with an iconic figure.  

A man whose unique art has captivated streets around the world for decades, and a man whose artistic flair has also seen him conquer the sneaker and streetwear worlds too.  Of course, it's the one and only Futura.

In Melbourne as part of the Hennessy x Futura Limited Edition collab that has seen the world leading cognac company partner with this graffiti figurehead, Futura was in town to celebrate the release of his personally designed limited edition bottle with street art walks, signings and a party.

I'm in the process of putting together a video about the day, but in the meantime here are some stills of the great man who was rocking classic All Stars through his trip, a shoe picked up in Moscow during a recent visit.  His last visit there was in 1984 and the shoe reminds him of the trip and the place so was a sentimental reminder of yesteryear for an artist who has always been known for looking to the Future.

In Their Shoes: Angel aka. Vagrant Sneaker

From London straight over to the US - as IDYSM's global start to the year gathers more momentum!

I get to meet some amazing people on the street through 'I Dig Your Sole Man', and as the site's name and reputation is developing an ever-growing international following I've also been lucky to make contact with some fascinating people in far flung places relating to the sneaker game and contemporary fashion scene.

In this new series entitled In Their Shoes I'll be interviewing people whose work in the sneaker/fashion game inspires and interests me, and has a unique story to tell, and I'm very proud to introduce Angel as the first in the series.  

Angel and I seem to have a lot in common as a few years ago we both started passion projects that offer unique content relating to the sneaker game, and also fuse a love of photography with a love of kicks.  Angel is on the frontline of shooting product, and uses his incredible skills to showcase kicks as works of art in each and every shot.  He's a super talented guy, and has worked hard to get his skills out there, and aside from being a great shooter he's also a great interviewee so please read on to see more about his work, his world and a whole lot more.

IDYSM: Hey Angel, thanks for taking the time to talk to IDYSM.  So, first up, tell us about your work.

Angel: I run a popular blog that started in 2009 based out of New Jersey called www.vagrantsneaker.com that focuses on certain trainer models.
It allows me to have a voice that I can share with others, and it’s not just another blog that copies and pastes either, it has original content by way of photographs and writing in a manner thats not just off PR releases.  The writing is very honest and to the point with as much detail as I can give to help the reader best understand the product.
There’s also www.angelsviewfinder.com which was supposed to host my portfolio and other things related to my photography, but I have since put it on hold because the format that it’s in now is not what I want. So, I look to take other avenues this year and see what I can find that will be suitable to present my photos in a professional portfolio.

IDYSM: I’m guessing we have a shared motivation of fusing a love of sneakers with a love of photography.  How and when did it all begin for you?

Angel: Back in 2007 a friend of mine who collects sneakers was showing me his collection and what sites and stores he used to go to make purchases.  Looking at his collection I saw some interesting color-ways and materials that sparked my interest.  After that, I went in full swing and did my research about the current state of sneaker collecting and wearing. Through that, I came across a wdywt thread at Crooked Tongues. There, I saw some really nice trainers people were wearing and it also had some interesting photographs by certain people that inspired me in doing the same. I started with an iPhone 3G, than two Panasonic point and shoots and finally my current DSLR, the Nikon D3100 with 5 different lens.

IDYSM: I’ve admired your beautiful sneaker shots for some time and I’ve always wanted to know, is your goal to make each shot showcase sneakers as art pieces?

Angel: Thank you for the kind words Lester. Yes, that is the goal and always has been. As with any art piece in a museum, I also value the quality and workmanship that goes into building a shoe/sneaker. Being passionate about them as I am, I want to present them in their full glory. Something people will look at and talk about as if they are looking at a painting. So when similar collectors around the world view my photos, they get one of the best interpretations of what we appreciate and love. In the same token, It’s probably the best way to honor the worker/s that put so much energy into providing us with good products for our feet.

IDYSM: I’m guessing you’ve admired kicks and their cultural influence for some time, how did this love affair with kicks begin for you?

Angel: Not everyone will see a sneaker like I do. So by providing them with an unseen perceptive, it sparks an emotion and appreciation that wasn’t there before. Someone that may have seen a photo of a shoe in a magazine or website, will have a different outlook with my photos. That’s when I knew I had something I could build on. Now I think the influence and power my photos carry, have made an impact in current sneaker photography. Yes, there were others doing it before me but no one stuck to it and tried to do something with it as passionately as I have.

IDYSM: Has your work allowed you to develop a pretty sweet collection, and does your shooting mirror your own tastes?

Angel: It has and at the same time, it’s a curse. Because I appreciate all brands, I tend to like a lot of stuff they put out. It’s so hard to try and not buy something that is striking to me, but I’ve learned to control it nowadays. So I try to stick to limited/exclusive shoes and buy some general releases that I think are worth it in my opinion. For instance, New Balance’s “Made In USA and Made In England” lines are amazing. Those are prime examples of perfect general releases worth spending your hard earned money on. There are others too, but those are my favorite.

IDYSM: Tell us about where you’re based and what’s happening in the scene there at the moment.

Angel: The tides are changing now out here. A city and country dominated by basketball shoes has now seen a huge shift to classic runners. Brands like New Balance, adidas, ASICS and Nike are making huge waves out here with their lifestyle line of trainers. This is something you wouldn’t have seen years ago. I remember back in the 90’s when my friends were saying I was wearing ‘old man’ shoes because I had NB 574’s on or when they were making fun of my ROOS. Now, runners are everywhere. It ‘s like crack.

IDYSM: What’s your favourite shot in your portfolio and why?

Angel: Man, you have me on a spot here.  There is one that I always keep going back too. One that is now important to me. The New Balance M1300CL “Steel Blue” photograph you see tells a journey of my comings. It expresses the story of my love for New Balance back when I was in high school, my first official photography job of shooting shoes for Ronnie Fieg and KITH (not the shoe in the photo), the beauty of shooting outdoors and what I have coming for 2013.    

IDYSM: If you could shoot any era/person/event/shoe – what would it be and why?

Angel: For me, it would have been the 80’s.  I so wish my interest in photography spanned more then 4 years. There were so many cool things happening back then, that influence today. Especially in the sneaker culture and fashion arenas. The punk scene though would have been my thing as a photographer. The amount of story telling happening back then was fantastic. There’s nothing more interesting to me then that in the 80’s. The music scene in general was something special.

IDYSM: What does 2013 hold for you?

Angel: This year I’ll be celebrating 4 years of vagrantsneaker.com so it’s time for a shift in the way I cover and write about sneaker releases. You’ll also see some new ideas from me as a photographer when I create photos for shoes and products. Things like different indoor stages and creative lighting. It’s time to give my followers something new and exciting to see. I’m just happy they keep coming back to read and see what I have to offer at my blog. Also, I’ll be shooting a Fall '13 campaign for New Balance and they just featured me in their “Excellent Makers” video series. The video is done and approved. I just don’t know when they will be releasing it.

IDYSM: I have to ask, what’s on your feet right now?

Angel: I had a feeling this was coming. Actually, When I’m at my workstation, I’m never wearing anything #onmyfeet. Not even socks. There has to be a time in the day where you have to enjoy your bare feet and appreciate that you have both working properly so you could wear what footwear you love.

As I exit this interview, I wanted to thank you for following my work and having an interest in what I do. It amazes me every time when I find out who’s paying attention to what I’m doing. Especially when it’s from another country. I’m also very fond of what you’re doing here. It’s a more honest approach to what people are wearing around the world and doesn’t require it to be so called “high fashion” to look good. It becomes more apparent to others, and me when you can see a direct approach to ordinary people as they wear their daily outfits. So what you are doing is more important to see than another blog only worrying about what Kanye West  or other celebrities are wearing. Not everyone can afford their cloths, so why try to perceive an image not reachable by everyone? Cheers! ...and Keep the Shoes On Your Feet!

** All images in this post come courtesy of Angel @ www.vagrantsneaker.com/www.angelsviewfinder.com

London Landmarks; The People Pt 2

Clown: Possibly the most Patriotic clown I have ever seen.

The Policeman; Keeping the city safe.

Mime Artist; I've never really stood the appeal of street performers.  This guys trick was to walk really slowly and make it look like he was in a hurry.  Hollywood beckons (I don't think).

Influences of the World; London

With a passport that boasts stamps from Ivory Coast, US, Canada and the UK, Alpha has lived in many locations around the world.  He seems to have picked influences from each country to mould his eclectic approach to style, and regardless of what clothing combination he's wearing he always takes pride having a strong enough sneaker collection to compliment any look.
He has over 30 pairs to choose from with a number of Nike and Jordan shoes, and these Blazers were picked up about 4 months ago and give another example of how this popular 2011 silhouette works with a number of people's styles.

London Landmarks; The People Pt 1

The people of London are without doubt the thing that makes it tick, so here is the first part in my documentation of some key London figures...

Tourist Stall Owner; Giving anyone and everyone the chance to own a little piece of London.  

Doorman; If your name's not down you can't come in.

Evening Standard Sellers: Supplying newspapers to London each night, these guys are out there come rain, shine or snow keeping a city informed. 

The Builder; London is changing and evolving all the time, so builders are a common sight on London streets.

Sharp Sam; London

Welcome back to the conclusion of my latest London season.

Sam is possibly one of the most interesting people that I have met on my travels.  He has an instantly engaging style, and a personal story that covers the globe. He describes Black Africa, Spain, France, Germany, Sweden, San Francisco and now London as places that he has called home around the world, and from each location he has picked up countless influences with which to make his own style.

Inspired by his Father who was a tailor, Sam is now a Designer/Stylist and leads by example with a sharp, contemporary and eye-catching look that he caps off with an English classic, the Dr Marten.

Sam's creative style come's from the adage that 'Art Comes First', and you can check out some of his work here.

Roadtest; Nike Air Max 90 EM Tokyo

The latest in my 'Roadtest' series, I checked out the Nike Air Max 90 EM Tokyo.

The chic colourway fused with the Engineered Mesh technology gives the shoe a distinct look, one that's emphasised further by the glow in the dark heel detail, something that inspired me to showcase the shoe in a mixture of lighting set ups.

As always, my scores for the shoe's style, comfort and value are all listed in the short vid - and you can check out your local Nike stockists for more info on this intriguing shoe.

Bowl-a-Rama 2013 Reportage Pt 4