Uniqlo UTxJapan Game

As an old school video gamer, I approve of these tshirts. Love those old 8-bit vector graphics.

hipsters

But after punk was plasticized and hip hop lost its impetus for social change, all of the formerly dominant streams of “counter-culture” have merged together. Now, one mutating, trans-Atlantic melting pot of styles, tastes and behavior has come to define the generally indefinable idea of the “Hipster.”

An artificial appropriation of different styles from different eras, the hipster represents the end of Western civilization – a culture lost in the superficiality of its past and unable to create any new meaning. Not only is it unsustainable, it is suicidal. While previous youth movements have challenged the dysfunction and decadence of their elders, today we have the “hipster” – a youth subculture that mirrors the doomed shallowness of mainstream society

Funny read at AdBusters calling hipsterdom as the end of western civilization. Although placing hipsters beyond fashion fad and in the context of prior "youth movements" is a stretch.

bbc lookbook

Flip the pages here.

you know what i got this summer

Hiroshi Fujiwara, pioneer of Japanese streetwear design and all around renaissance man, showcases his latest summer purchases on honeyee.

nigo

Interesting story on Nigo in Conde Naste. He's an intriguing character. I saw him DJing the Teriyaki Boyz performance last month in NYC. He's 35 but he looks like a little kid (toss Pharell in the same boat) Small stature, big cartoony clothes and over the top bling. Not the most skilled DJ and not much charisma. But he got the loudest cheers from the crowd just because he is Nigo - General of the Bape movement. This article paints his personality as fitting the image. I always wonder about people who obsessively collect anything. I admire their focus and attention to detail but is there something missing inside that compels them to collect?

According to Nigo, A Bathing Ape is short for a Japanese saying "a bathing ape in lukewarm water." It's a reference to the young generation being spoiled, pampered and too complacent.

The fashion world is fickle and longevity is rare - especially for a street brand. Right now Bape is walking the tight rope - clinging to its exclusivity while watching its popularity blow up worldwide. I've been to his store in NYC and it is crazy. A little too cartoony for me and way overpriced but I have to respect his hustle. I would rather not see Bape overexposed but it might be too late with every cookie-cutter rapper getting Baped out. Loved Hiroshi Fujiwara's (the Godfather of the Japanese streetwear explosion) quote, “I just wonder how he feels when he sees ugly people wearing his clothes. If you go to the countryside in America and people are wearing Bathing Ape, that’s not very cool.”

funny shirt

Shopping in Japan can be entertaining - especially when they fashion some humorous english.

80s babies

Went down to the village and unknowingly walked into orientation weekend for NYU undergrads. We had a nice chuckle dodging herds of wide-eyed kids roaming the streets and dragging their beleaguered parents in tow. Even more humorous to me were the 80's babies. Kids (many who weren't even born in the 80's) dressing 80's hiphop - skinny sagging jeans with obnoxious colors. Credit (or blame) the Retro Kidz or Kanye.

uniqool

The World.Uniqlock campaign was launched a month ago (give me a late pass) to spread Uniqlo globally through music, dance and fashion. The site features dance movies and allows visitors to register their blog and add their clock. A map shows how many users have connected with the site. Cool stuff.
















Also check out the Uniqlo Mixplay series. You can create some music by choosing from a selection of beats characterized by a figure wearing Uniqlo clothes and moving to their beat.

air max 1 premium squares

Its been a long couple months since I fed my sneaker obsession. Copped these Air Max 1 Premium Squares on a good deal in NYC. Dig the pattern and the fresh colorway. My wife wants to count up shoes in our respective closets and see who's got the most. Results to follow.

uniqlo UT Project / mixplay

Love tshirts? Uniqlo's UT project is a new concept store created by Kashiwa Sato in Harajuku. T-shirts are packaged in transparent cannisters and UT Project has enlisted a number of well known designers. I'm looking forward to checking them out when they hit the US flagship store in Soho.

sneaker appreciation - air max 1 premiums

Yeah, I love my dunks and AF1's...but in the retro running shoe category, I'd like to show some love to the Air Max 1. Often overshadowed in the past by the beloved Air Max 95's, this shoe was the forefather of the whole line when it debuted in 1987. I recently rediscovered them when I copped a pair of Air Max 1 premium "Terra Huaraches" featuring a leather and suede upper and speckled midsoles. Extra comfy and I love the colorways.