Monday, January 26, 2009

Project Nike.

These rockets don't have anything to do with Nike running shoes, but you should check them out here on wikipedia so you don't buy a retro missile on ebay by mistake.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Piggy Shoes.

A No-Look Pass to Laughter!

R.I.P. Marvin Shawte 1921-2009.


It was reported that Marvin Shawte passed away this morning. I personally never followed his work very closely, but he is said to be the first cartoonist to regularly feature sneaker themes. These are the only two examples I could find. Most of his work could be considered "old timey." Shawte was influenced by memories of The Great Depression and saw Velcro as "the devil's zipper." He believed nothing good came without work and publicly denounced Velcro numerous times in his cartoons. Velcro actually sued Shawte in 1959, but apparently his health was so questionable at the time the lawsuit was dropped and not pursued later.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Sneakers O'Toole.

Uh Oh 2K9.


One of my favorite basketball posters remixed. After I was done messing around in Photoshop I saw someone else did a modern version of this as well at bustabucket. Oden is wearing Buck's number for crying out loud! Too perfect. I would definitely donate ten cans of food to cop a 2009 version. Twenty to stand in line and get it autographed? Sorry, that sounds like too much work. If you missed the Blazers talking about their sneakers to Dime Magazine click here.

s-iPhone.

So much heat on that wall! If you share the drunken enthusiasm of the people in this ad, you can get your very own sneaker phone on ebay for under ten bucks.

Time for a New Job?

If everyone wore fresh kicks, the infamous "shoe-banging incident" may have never happened.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Dunks Tat.

If you're going to get a Nike tattoo, don't just get a swoosh... I do not have the original source of this photo.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Tinker Painting.

Here is the first look at the Tinker Hatfield tribute painting. This picture is the painting in the very rough early stages with almost zero detail. This image is going to be put to use on something interesting for sneakerheads in a limited run. I am considering giving a special round out to early followers of this blog... stay tuned.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Hipster's Wet Dream.

Sneaker Slueth!

Recieved this strange photocopy Saturday which appears to be the front and back of a lace lock. No note or return address. Could this mysterious image be hinting at a mystery pack release? Nancy Drew Dunks? Hardy Boys Blazers? Please post if you have any info.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Keys to the Campus.

Doernbecher Jordan by Tony Taylor.


What would your story look like as a sneaker? You probably remember these Jordans dropping last year in November. I thought this was a cool look, but an article in the Oregonian reveals the meaning behind the design which made me appreciate it more. You can read about it here.

Remembering The Pacific Swoosh.

For those who don't know, The Pacific Swoosh was "the swoosh" made between The Portland Airport, Multnomah Falls, Nike Town, and back to the airport. It used to be if you were from out of town with a layover you would get in a taxi and request The Pacific Swoosh. You would drive to see Oregon's tallest waterfall in the scenic Columbia Gorge, drive downtown to Niketown, then drive back to the airport in time to catch your flight. Some claim that they could receive The Pacific Swoosh without requesting it, just based on wearing fresh Nike gear into PDX and stepping into a cab. With the opening of the Portland Airport Nike Store in 2004 and the gutting of Niketown's elaborate displays, the Pacific Swoosh has since been retired to sneaker legend.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

WE BUY DUNKS



Last year there were a lot of "We Buy Dunks" signs popping up. I haven't seen any around lately. Could this be attributed to the economy?

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Sneaker Anatomy

A lot of sneaker sites like to interview designers on how they got their cool sneaker-design jobs. It seems like their answers always focus on extremely hard work, creativity and dedication. If you prefer the "fake-it-till-you-make-it" approach, this handy cheat-sheet is sure to have you designing at Adidas in no time. Refer to a shoe's "foxing" a couple of times in your interview and you're on your way...

Sneaker Heaven or Sneaker Hell?

Kids collect old sneakers to break World Record.

Spizike PiƱata



The Spizike unfinished, hanging from the shoelace support wire.

The finished product out at Nike.
                                                   
Shoes are made to be destroyed. I made this pinata as a conversation piece. The inside is lined with classic Spike and Mike posters. There are four more shoes in the works. They are more complex and are taking forever to make.
An Air Force 1 in the beginning stages. 

REWARD FOR MISSING SNEAKS.

Dj Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince won the first Rap Grammy in 1988 for "Parents Just Don't Understand." I am going to go ahead and assume they were wearing sneakers with these outfits. I can't find a picture or video of their shoes. What kicks helped hold up the 1st Rap Grammy? 
Rockin' fives with no laces.

USA! USA!

Shirt made with Nike Patent for first visible Air Sole.
The US Patent Office is a great way to see the breakdown of some of your favorite sneakers. Charlie's Sneaker Pages explains the history of sneakers in detail and also has direct links.

The Burning Question.

"The bigger they are..."

Really makes you think.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Sneakerhead, Son of Man.

Painted for Mark Smith at Nike. In Magritte's original "The Son of Man," the green apple represents temptation. In this version it is a green Dunk.