Check Mate; Singapore

Step by step and shoe by shoe, these close friends have identical tastes.  Check mate!

Waiting In Line; Singapore

It cannot be said that Singapore is not efficient, it's runs like clockwork.  Coming from London I'm used to busy streets with people pushing and barging their way past each other to catch buses or taxis, but in Singapore it's a much more reserved and organised experience, and I spotted the owner of these pristine Feiyue kicks in the most restrained taxi queue I have ever seen.  

Like everything else in Singapore his preppy look is clean and refined and his plimsoll from the French brand were a perfect lightweight shoe to cope with the humidity while at the same time looking chic.

New Balance Party Time; Sydney

Our good friends at New Balance are extending an invite to an interesting event in Sydney tomorrow night.  Info is below, hope to see you there.

SD

Garden of Calm; Singapore

Seconds away from the hustle and bustle of the shopping mecca that is Orchard Road I found this small garden; an oasis amidst a sea of carrier bag carrying designer dedication (I hope you aliteration fans enjoy that sentence as much as I did!).
No sneakers, and not urban style related, but a reminder that Singapore's influences draw as much on it's past, as they do on modern styling and ground breaking innovation.

Yum Yum, Singapore

What I learnt about sneakers in Singapore is that colour is king - no matter what the style, Singaporeans love to inject as much colour as they can into their look, and this guy takes the award for maximising the colour in his trainers.

These colourful High Tops got my attention from quite a distance, but when I got up close I had to admit  that I wasn't familiar with the brand.  It turns out that neither was he, as they were purchased impulsively after he was won over by the colourway and quirky look of the shoe.

The shoes are made by Yums who are a US company was set up in Dallas, Texas by Howard 'Tex' Moon, a famous graffiti artist and designer who is heavily involved with the Hip Hop scene.  He wanted to share his street style in the style of kicks and clothing that used his colourful designs, and Yums are now being worn by a number of big music acts.

Hip Hop has such a strong influence on street style that I expect to see a lot more of Yums in the future. 

Introduction; Singapore

A recent flying visit to Singapore allowed me to get my first taste of the Asian street style scene.  It was only a short trip but it didn't take long to see that despite the pre-conception that Singaporeans are conservative and reserved, they in fact love to make bold and colourful statements with their style.

Singapore is a fascinating city as it mixes it's colonial history with innovative influences to make it a sophisticated, elegant and refined gateway city that has high standards in design, architecture and style, so I hope you enjoy some of my favourite finds over the next couple of weeks.

adidas Originals Work of Art; Sydney

If you like me think sneakers are a work of art, then adidas Originals are running a campaign through May just for you.  Five of Australia’s best emerging artists have been selected to create work for a very special competition which could see you winning some amazing unique, adidas inspired artwork.

Through May each piece will travel across Australia to key adidas Originals stores: 

Cavill Ave QLD, 

Pitt St & QV Building NSW, 

Chadstone VIC 

and Rundle Mall SA. 

And if you make a purchase at one of these stores while the competition is on, you will enter the draw to win the one-off pieces!  Examples of the some of the amazing art is below with some info on the artists - check it out!

BRIDGE STEHLI

Drawing inspiration from her origins in Graffiti art, Stehli’s works embrace classical and contemporary culture by taking inspiration from popular iconography present in animated films, cartoons, comic books, classic literature and childhood picture books.

HANA SHIMADA

Finding joy in accessible formats such as T-shirts, record sleeves and flyers, Shimada’s work regularly adorns these democratic applications. 

JACOB ROLFE

Jacob Rolfe is a visual artist from Melbourne whose practice is often associated with a dark humour and intense metaphor. Working in both small and large scale, his works offer an essence of truth and fragility amongst eccentric fantasy.

JAMES JIRAT PATRADOON

James Jirat Patradoon's frantic images are inspired by hyper-masculine mythologies of biker gangs, rock stars, professional wrestlers, secret societies, and Facebook, offering an irreverent take on the stoic nature of macho pop culture.