Aaron x SneakersnStuff asics GT-II Seventh Seal

Aaron's gone to great lengths to get this highly limited collab shoes made between asics and Scando sneaker powerhouses Sneakersnstuff.

The Stockholm based store has been turning out some interesting collabs for some time, and in this rare shoe the GT-II has been given a great overhaul with some fantastic detailing and a quality nubuck upper.

Chequerboarding on the inner liner, and alternate monochrome chess pieces on each heel are part of the story in a shoe that was inspired by the Swedish movie 'The Seventh Seal' from Ingmar Bergman which follows the journey of a medieval knight and his game of chess with Death.  I haven't seen it but I'm guessing it's not a comedy?

Getting hold of these great looking shoes is not easy as it's reported that only 158 pairs were made available for release so congrats to Aaron who has clearly made all the right moves to get them.

In Their Shoes; Colette, Paris.

I've been able to chat with some fascinating peeps around the world through my In Their Shoes interview series, and in this latest instalment I'm delighted to chat with Guillaume Salmon, head of PR for Paris fashion powerhouse Colette.

In terms of style, Colette is part of a select core of stores that have an immense influence on a global scale and having the chance to discuss this is a real honour.

As you might expect it's taken hard work to build Colette's name and stature, and I think you can get a sense of the focus and clear vision that goes into the store from Guilaume's short, succinct yet clear answers which I found quite revealing.

IDYSM: Hey Guillaume, tell us a bit about yourself.

Guillaume: hello, I am PR for colette since 2002, I am 36 years old and I am lover of Paris and..Brittany.

IDYSM: Colette is one of the world’s leading concept stores, what makes it so unique?

Guillaume: You should give me the answer, no? I think, to be more serious that after more than 16 years, we are still able to give you, week after week a view on what’s going at 360°: from fashion to street, from art to beauty, from hi-tech to design, etc.

IDYSM: How do you keep Colette at the forefront of contemporary style?

Guillaume: we are still curious and greedy about everything. We always think about the day after and never about the success of the past. We look forward, not behind.

IDYSM: Colette is renowned for offering the best of the best – what does it take for something to get the store’s seal of approval?

Guillaume: It’s probably the most easiest way of the world. If we like, we do, if we don’t, we don’t. Easy, no?

IDYSM: Colette’s presence in the sneaker game is highly regarded around the world, with a pretty incredible array of premium brands and styles.  Who is your average sneaker customer?

Guillaume: a entire generation grew up with sneakers, so we can say between 12 and 45 years old.

IDYSM: It’s said that merely being stocked in Colette can give a brand or style of shoe an instant credibility.  What shoes and trends have Colette helped pioneer?

Guillaume:  I think, by the past, that the All star and New Balance had a nice come back

IDYSM: Collabs are another story altogether – and a Colette shoe collab is something that always gets the sneaker heads excited.  You’re very selective about who you work with, what criteria do you look for when working on a collab?

Guillaume: If we like the project, the brand and the credibility. If it makes sense, or not..

IDYSM: Which collab shoe are you proudest of and why?

Guillaume: oh, so many, it’s difficult to choose, but for personal reason, probably our first collab with Timberland.

IDYSM: So where do you stand on how your customers treat their purchases, do you want shoes kept on ice to maintain their look, or to be well worn and well loved?

Guillaume: they are free to do what they want once they bought them, we have nothing to say.

IDYSM: What styles and trends are hot on the streets in Paris right now?

Guillaume: Paris was always and is still a nice mix of different trends: hip-hop, rock, hipster, classic, simple, fashion…

IDYSM: What does the rest of 2013 hold for Colette?

Guillaume: the venue of a great brand, Shinola, an art-Drive-Thru at Miami with The Alchemist during Art Basel, a collab with Pony and 1000 of others things that you can follow on our website and social media.

IDYSM: I always like to end my interviews with this question…what’s on your feet right now?

Guillaume: the collab that Norse Projects did with Vans and Kvadrat, at the beginning of September. The chukka ones…

Guillaume portrait courtesy of @jerome spleen

Sydney Swap Meet; Sydney

 

We're taking a break from Hong Kong today to instead feature an event that took place in Sydney yesterday.
A big hats off to my new mate Ed, a man who single handidly decided to give something back to his beloved Sydney sneaker scene by staging the Sydney Swap Meet, an event that brought sneakerheads far and wide together to share their love of kicks.
Based in Surry Hills yesterday afternoon, the event brought out a colourful mix of kicks and peeps who despite their differing tastes were all brought together by their shared love of sneakers.
It was a great afternoon offering up some fantastic shoes which was helped by the good folks at Sneaker Freaker, New Balance, as well as Sydney stores Espionage, Capsule and Half Sleeve.
Here are some of my select shots from the event, which I hope is the first of many for Sydney (and I'll throw up more images on the IDYSM Facebook page too).
Back to Hong Kong tomorrow - see you then.

Highs and Lows x Lacoste

 

A good collab always gets my shoe senses tingling, and I was very intrigued by this interesting drop from Perth store Highs and Lows and Lacoste.
Named the 'Marceau', these exclusive boots (available in eggplant and burgandy) mark the store's 7th anniversary.
Embossed HAL and Lacoste detailing will adorn each of the 30 numbered pairs being made in each colourway, that are sure to have got shoe lovers Australia-wide in a hurry to land a pair!
For more info check out Highs and Lows now.

ASOS Black x Puma Collab

I love a good collab, and I go nuts for a great one, so I'm pretty excited right now about the ASOS Black x Puma range that's about to drop some of most exciting collab product I've seen in a LONG time.

Comprising of quality apparel and accessories, the range offers premium menswear product that would benefit any wardrobe, and as you can see from the lookbook images above the product is HOT!

To get you into the groove of the range here are a couple of film links to trail the launch here and here shot by film-maker Ben Newman.

This is definitely one to keep an eye on, and with any ASOS related purchases I would appreciate you using the banner at the top of my site - it takes a lot of work to keep this whole thing going, and purchasing anything from ASOS through IDYSM clickthroughs helps me generate some income so all support greatly appreciated!

adidas originals x Opening Ceremony; Sydney

I love a good collab, and was delighted to be invited to last nights exclusive evening celebrating the launch of the adidas originals x Opening Ceremony collab that is getting a lot of peeps rather excited!

It all kicked off at the adidas Originals store in the Sydney City Westfield and as usual I popped in to snap the sights of partygoers, and the great product including some bold and beautiful paisley patterns on the apparel, and some equally great shoes including the transparent OC Dress Rubber Lace Ups.

Music played, Absolut Vodka provided the refreshments and the happiest man on the night is a man who is no stranger to these events.  Nicknamed The Don, the bearded sneaker lover (see above) is a serial sneaker shopper who loves nothing more than a good collab - I've seen him at previous adidas events, and he also recently got his hands on some Yeezy 2's - this guy can't let a new drop pass him by!

Yet again he was there to add another pair of cracking kicks to his 120+ pair collection as he like many of you found it impossible to resist this great collab - check it out now, exclusively at the adidas Originals store at Sydney City Westfield.