Editorial

Y-3 LAUNCHES THE BRAND NEW ORISAN SNEAKER

Thurs, 22 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

adidas and Yohji Yamamoto return for the next installment of Y-3’s Fall/Winter 2020 collection. Testing the boundaries of aesthetic convention, the brand-new Y-3 Orisan sneaker is a progressive runner with a bold look.

Inspired by Y-3’s progressive approach to design, the Y-3 Orisan sneaker boasts an expressive silhouette brought to life through a transparent layered effect and exaggerated heel. Featuring sheer mesh, suede accents and leather details, the sneaker’s upper is simultaneously striking and understated. Meanwhile, the low-cut silhouette’s boost midsole and rubber outsole complete the aesthetically avant-garde look.

Never ceasing to challenge preconceived notions of footwear design, the Y-3 Orisan is available in three bold color make-ups. First, a black colorway with contrasting white accents and an all-white colorway both leverage Yohji’s quintessentially monochromatic palette. Then, a predominantly white colorway with contrasting cyan and red accents, rounds out the offering.

The Y-3 Orisan will be available in-store and online from 29 OCT 20.

NIKE AIR MAX 95 HALLOWEEN: HORROR’S GOLDEN AGE OF TERROR

Weds, 21 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A stripy jumper and a brown fedora don’t exactly sound like obvious attire for a horror icon, but ever since Freddy Kreuger was first sighted chasing the hapless Tina Gray around a dingy boiler room during the opening credits of A Nightmare on Elm Street back in 1984, his signature ensemble has been firmly scorched into collective conscience as a true symbol of terror.

And now, some 36 years after Freddy’s first outing, his trademark garb has been immortalised in sneaker form thanks to some ultra-detailed Nike Air Max 95s. Dubbed by some as ‘the Freddy Kreuger’ or more formally known as the Air Max 95 Halloween, Nike combine Sergio Lozano’s classic design with a few not-so-subtle nods to the Elm Street dream-invader. The red and olive rippled uppers echo his tattered jumper, that silver detail on the tongue is a nod to his razor glove, and the visible air bubbles come in a particularly bloody shade of red.

With the almighty Swoosh tipping their hats to the Springwood Slasher, and Halloween just around the corner, SEVENSTORE pay homage to the golden age of terror in a dissection of iconic villians to mark the occasion of the Nike Air Max 95 Halloween.

Freddy Kreuger — A Nightmare on Elm Street

Starting things off with the main man, Freddy Krueger is the child-murderer-turned-dream-weaver who haunts the nightmares of teenagers in the fictional town of Springwood, Ohio. Inspired by a whole host of sources—from Klaus Kinski’s in Herzog’s Nosferatu remake to an angry old man who confronted director Wes Craven in his youth, Freddy is the polar opposite of your typical horror villain.

Played by the classically trained Robert Englund, not only is he a fair bit shorter than his fellow merchants of misery, but he’s also got a sense of humour, and whilst Leatherface and co can barely string a sentence together, Freddy drops Roger Moore-esque one liners with every kill.

As the sequels went on, Freddy only got more outlandish, and due to his status as a figment of dreams, there was no limit to how daft he could get. In one film he was flying about like the Wicked Witch of the West, in another he transformed into a shisha-toking caterpillar. And like the best baddies, he can seemingly never really die—meaning film producers can keep churning out sequels and reboots until the end of time.

Parodied by The Simpsons and name-checked by everyone from Jeru the Damaja to Catatonia, Freddy has long since outgrown the horror genre to become, without sounding too dramatic, nothing short of a pop-culture phenomenon, as recognisable as Elvis or Michael Jordan.

Leatherface — The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Up next is Leatherface from Tobe Hooper’s low-budget masterpiece, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Arguably the film that began America’s obsession with the slasher genre (along with Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes a few years later), Texas Chainsaw combined exploitation grindhouse gore with some clever marketing tactics to become a huge commercial hit.

Sold as a true story, the film tells the uplifting tale of a group of teenagers who get caught up with a family of cannibals deep in the Texan wilderness. Whereas in most horror films the bad stuff happens at night, this film gives its victims (and viewers) no respite, and a good chunk of the action takes place in the middle of the day, right under the blistering sun.

Leatherface is the youngest of the family—a hulking lummox in a blood-splattered apron relied on to bring in fresh meat with the help of a 13lbs Poulan 306A chainsaw. He’s hardly Mother Theresa, but as he’s only acting on orders from above, he somehow seems a little less evil than some of the other unsavoury characters listed here—and considering his family tree, it’s not really much of a surprise to see that he spends his days chasing after lost teens with a mask made out of human-skin dangling off his face.

Michael Myers — Halloween

Before Halloween, horror films were either set in a remote back-country wilderness filled with toothless inbred murderers (Texas Chainsaw, The Hills Have Eyes and The Cars that Ate Paris), or unattainably swanky country manors, ballet schools and cliffside villas (see pretty much any British or Italian slash-em-up from the early 70s). Halloween flipped the formula by taking place in amongst the tree-lined avenues of American suburbia, proving nowhere was safe from knife-wielding dodgy-dudes.

The knife-wielding dodgy-dude in question was none other than Michael Myers—locked up at the age of six after murdering his sister, escaped and at large in the town of Haddonfield, Illinois, 15 years later. Unlike the wise-cracking Krueger, Myers isn’t much for chat, and when he’s not stabbing teenagers, he likes nothing more than skulking around washing lines and peering from behind hedges in his blue overalls and an ill-fitting rubber mask he nicked from a hardware shop.

For such a famous film character, Myers has very little in the way of actual ‘character’, and that blank, expressionless mask is the perfect visage for his emotionless killings. The story goes that with little in the way of budget, the man in charge of art direction was left rifling through the shelves at a local magic shop for something that’d work to create Michael’s signature look. He returned to the set with two options… a clown mask, or a cheap two-dollar Captain Kirk mask. James Tiberius Kirk won out, and with a bit of spray paint and a few quick modifications, the melted features of William Shatner became one of the most recognisable faces in horror.

Jason Voorhees (and His Mum) — Friday the 13th

Perhaps the perfect example of the never-ending, increasingly far-fetched nature of a horror franchise, Jason Voorhees cast a dark shadow over the 1980s, appearing in sequel-after-sequel of critically-panned blockbusters which made a mint thanks to the rise of video rental and home VCR systems. He appeared in 3D, he fought with Freddy in a bizarre crossover film, and he even went to space—not bad for a kid who drowned in a lake when he was eleven.

Although the image of Jason lurking about in a hockey mask has firmly cemented itself in the cultural canon (Jason even bagged an MTV Lifetime Achievement Award back in 1992), it wasn’t until Friday the 13th Part III that he donned his famous mask (in Part II he opted for the humble sack-over-the-head). He wasn’t even in the first film (unless you count a quick flashback and a particularly harrowing dream sequence), with his mother responsible for the slashing, axing and general blood-spilling which kick-started the seemingly endless series. A middle-aged mum in a chunky cable-knit jumper might not sound too terrifying, but Pamela Voorhees was still scarier than the amped-up cyborg Jason of the later films.

Ghostface — Scream

17 years after the first Nightmare on Elm Street, Wes Craven created another ultra-successful horror franchise—Scream. Building on the self-referential themes of 1994’s New Nightmare (which saw the cast and crew of Nightmare on Elm Street playing themselves during the doomed production of a new film) Scream featured protagonists who were fully aware of the slasher tropes, and a villain who’d clearly spent a bit of time in the horror aisle of their local Blockbuster.

Dressed in a simple shop-bought costume, ‘Ghostface’ shared Krueger’s penchant for witticisms, racking up a hefty phone-bill by taunting his victims with pop quizzes on classic horror—simultaneously resuscitating the genre in the process. Following the straight-to-video boom of the early 90s, when endless sequels and countless cheap knock-offs flooded the shelves, Scream poked holes in the clichés whilst still delivering the all-important knife-jabbing. The fact that it eventually became a long-running series itself, inspiring a whole new wave of watered-down post-modern slashers (as well as providing the basis for the Scary Movie catalogue), only added to the irony.

Just like the killers he was imitating, Ghostface quickly became an iconic character—and now sits up there with Freddy and friends in horror’s very own Mount Rushmore. There are plenty more notable bogeymen out there (and tomes could be written about Italy or Japan’s contributions to horror)—but as far as sheer cultural reach is concerned, this shady bunch still reigns supreme. The fact that all five of ‘em reportedly have films in some stage of production only shows their enduring appeal. Just remember—never, under any circumstances say, “I’ll be right back,” and whatever you do, don’t fall asleep.

The Nike Air Max 95 Halloween is available to register to purchase through our in-store raffle or on SEVENSTORE Launches now.

adidas MÜNCHEN: WHAT IS MUNICH?

Tues, 20 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

First introduced in 1976, the München is a revival of classic adidas decoration. Landing in the Bavarian capital, adidas flourish in a slice of German culture for the next edition to their sought-after City Series collection. Dressed in a royal blue suede upper, the sneaker comes with notable adidas gold-foil branding, signature three stripes and a gum sole unit.

If there is one person that symbolises what Munich is about when it comes to love for the city, art in the city, and the creative community of the city, it is Mixen. A native of Munich, Mixen was raised in the heartland and now occupies the fields of creative, skater, teacher, and graphic designer. Humbling and low-key, his influence and impact on the scenes in and around the city hasn’t gone unnoticed. From being part of Munich's best and most beautiful independent skate shop SHRN, to his creative endeavours as a graphic designer and illustration hustle as #derbutter, to a long list of other crafts and activities - Mixen is Munich.

As a true connoisseur of Munich's football scene, he adds another skill and passion to his already stunning ensemble of cultural traits that connect him with the city and adidas' iconic City Series.

To celebrate the release of the adidas München, SEVENSTORE teamed up with the Munich-raised, Tokyo-based Adrian Bianco, Munich-native and creative, Constantin Tran and Mixen, to ultimately find out WHAT IS MUNICH? through the words, images and artworks that make the city.

The adidas München is available to register to purchase on SEVENSTORE Launches now.

Hey Mixen, can you please introduce yourself to the SEVENSTORE? Who is Mixen, and what is he doing in Munich and Bavaria?

Servus, I am Michael, but everyone calls me Mixen. I am a graphic designer, artist and teacher, and I was born and raised in Munich and I live and work here as well.

How would you introduce Munich to us? If the town was a person, what would he/or she be like?

Munich is one of a kind. Clean, safe, green and beautiful. On the one hand, people here are kind of posh and conservative, but on the other hand, we are proud and brave, with a slice of anarchy. We are a bit grumpy, but when we like you, we are friends forever. We eat a lot, and we are famous for our beer, and we love to drink it. Munich is not a person, maybe it is a dachshund, haha.

And what makes this city so unique to you? What is the essence of Mixen in Munich?

The main thing is the river Isar. It is the vain of Munich. The water is clear, and you can have a dip when you want or go for a surf at the Eisbach. The essence of Mixen in Munich is hops, malt, yeast and water, haha! No, just kidding. I don't know, it feels like I melted together with the city over the years. It's my home, you know.

From Football, Food, Skateboarding, and Art, you have your eyes and hands on many different passions. How did all of this start, and would you say they are all connected in a way?

It started in a small town in the Munich outback, and since I am interested in Football and Skateboarding, I am deeply connected with the city because both happened there. Football was my first love and still is. Then I got introduced to skateboarding when I was a teen, then worked at a Skateshop (Goodstuff, RIP), and that opened the doors to everything. I met a lot of people and slowly started with the nightlife and so on. Food and cooking are a big part of my life as well since I moved to Munich a long time ago. All these influences formed me as a person, and I always try to put something out of that into my work because I feel really comfortable with it.

How would you describe the skate scene in Munich, and what role does SHRN play for this scene and city?

Now it is cool, I guess. I mean, there are a lot of skaters out there, young and old and more or less everyone is cool with each other. When I started skating, there were two core shops in town (Boarders and Goodstuff), and it felt like there were "Boarders-Skaters "and "Goodstuff-Skaters ". There was no beef or anything but a strange vibe. It left a big gap when both shops went out of business, but fortunately one of my best friends opened SHRN (Soo Hot Right Now) with two other friends and we had a new venue for shopping nice stuff and hanging out. I think we still are an important part of the Munich skate scene and we try our best to keep that vibe alive. The only thing missing is a skate hall.

Let's talk about football, Mixen! Munich is famous for its one amazing and passionate Football team. About what team are we talking here, and how did you lose your heart for it?

We are talking about the Lions, 1860 Munich, my first love! I lost my heart in 1993 after a relegation match that 1860 dramatically won. I had no clue which league they were, but I was impressed by the passion of the fans and this old, small, inner-city stadium. They relegated from the 3rd division to the 2. Bundesliga and then straight to the Bundesliga and then I fell in love forever!

Your team plays in the 3. Bundesliga, a bit away from the oversaturated glamour and glitter of the big leagues. How much do you enjoy watching these games and what makes them different and enjoyable compared to the big stadiums and primetime games?

I don't care, man! The Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga was nice to have, but we were homeless through all these years playing at the Olympia Stadion and the Allianz Arena. I never believed that we would come back to the Grünwalder Stadion one day. That's our old but beautiful stadium in Giesing, in the heart of the city. There are a lot of pubs around, and it is the place where everything started for 1860 and where we won our only championship in 1966. Seeing them play there again is the best thing ever.

When we all were a little younger art seemed a bit detached from the young and wild, especially in a city like Munich. Now we have skateboard wilding, creative multi-talents like you and your friends riding through the city. What has changed in Munich and how hard or easy is life as an artist here?

For me nothing really changed, it was, and still is hard for artists here because everything is fucking expensive and space is limited or is just used for commercial reasons. But we never give up here, and that's what makes it cool in a strange way. You have to work hard to get shit done here. Most people have more than 2 jobs but fuck it, I've never lived anywhere else, I don't know any other way, you know. The city is small, and everybody knows each other. I think I am well connected here and that's cool because we can support each other and help out or collaborate on projects. I like that a lot.

Is there such a thing as Munich dress code? And if so, what would it look like?

Obviously, it is Lederhosen and a Trachtenjanker haha! I don’t think there is a dress code, but people like to wear clothing from brands based in Munich like A Kind Of Guise, Public Possession, Beastn or SHRN. 1860 fans are wearing the club's merch with pride too.

With adidas being born and raised in Bavaria, how much of an impact does the brand have in your city? What are the passion points you connect with the three stripes here?

The first thing for me is football, on and off the pitch. The second thing is that we have adidas Skateboarding at the shop and one of our team-riders (Daniel Ledermann) is doing well for them. I think a lot of people have their own connection with the three stripes like FC Bayern has being sponsored by them for ages, or your first football boot was by adidas.

And with the adidas München City Series coming out, how happy are you with this silhouette and sneaker representing your city? I can imagine you’re quite happy with the sneaker's colour?

I like the adidas classics like Samba or Gazelle, and yeah, I also like the colour of this one for sure, haha! I would love to see an adidas Munich in our city colours, black and yellow too.

So tell us about the three artworks you did for the adidas City Series and the Munich release? What were your thoughts behind it, what do they express?

I love the graphic design Otl Aicher did for the Olympic Games in 1972 here in Munich. You can still see some stuff at the Olympia Stadium and Village and at some other places in Munich. For me, the whole communication and graphic design for this event is iconic. I always wanted to do a homage to the sports posters from him. As I said, I always try to put my interests into my work, so I decided to use pictures I've made from our town hall, a beer pint and a floodlight of the Grünwalder Stadion. Then I made two illustrations, one from the shoe, one with the adidas logo and did a München typography with my "derbutter "handwritten font. I am really happy with the series, and I hope you like it.

Finally, Mixen: WHAT IS MUNICH?

Munich is my home and my castle and worth a visit.

…and what is next for you?

I am a young father, so I try to hang out with my family as much as I can. I try to do more #derbutter merch (www.derbutter.com) and I do more stuff for SHRN and freelance illustration and graphic stuff. I hope that I can get my cookbook finished someday as well.

Thank you for your time! Servus

Thank you for having me and cheers to you and all the scousers out there!

Special thanks to Constantin Tran, Mixen and Adrian Bianco.

COMING SOON: OVERBREAK SP

Tues, 20 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

With a continuation of resurgence from the Daybreak silhouette, Nike have created a futuristic hybrid, entitled 'OverBreak SP'.

Eye-catching at a glance, Nike have tapped into their favourable ISPA collection to surface the same midsole used in the OverReact for the OverBreak sneaker. A hybrid of plush foam cushioning combined with one of the brand’s popular running models, the Daybreak.

The OverBreak is comprised of a panelled upper incorporating suede and leather fabrication, true to the DNA of its originator. Nike’s signature swoosh branding appears on the lateral and medial sides with OverBreak branding featured on the tongue tab. Contrasting colours of purple and brown complete Nike's latest hybrid creation.

The Nike Overbreak SP is available to register to purchase through SEVENSTORE Launches now.

DR MARTENS X MEDICOM TOY

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Dr. Martens celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the 1460 boot with a special collaborations projects incorporating 12 world-renowned brands, labels and creatives. Number 10 falls to Medicom Toy, with a rework of the original boot alongside six bespoke Bearbricks.

Known for their collectable Bearbricks, Japanese cult favourite Medicom Toy uses these canvases to channel modern creative expression. Their collaborations can span art, design and subcultures and for this collection the spotlight is on all three as they look back on Dr. Martens six-decade heritage.

The limited edition 1460 boot is not just a one-off. It’s a first. Co-designed by the creators of the Medicom Toy label, it’s one of their only non-figurine collaborations. A completely debossed upper and ‘@’ stamp on the side is both subtle — yet instantly recognisable to Medicom Toy enthusiasts. Nodding to the brand’s signature Bearbricks, the boot has been crafted with a fleece lining and fluffy laces — included in both red and blue. The Medicom recognisable logo is stamped on a branded debossed upper — framed by the Dr. Martens standout DNA.

Along with 1460 boot, the collaboration includes six bespoke Bearbricks. Taking cues from the wearer’s in each decade, the 60’s is where Dr. Martens began, showing off a buzzcut and infused with Ska influence. The 70’s Bearbrick is loud, brash and ready to challenge the norm. The 80’s goth Bearbrick is all leather, lace and fishnets, while the 90’s flannel, Docs and an unwashed attitude can only be grunge Bearbrick. The vibrant Kawaii movement inspires the colourful 00’s Bearbrick, with the 2010’s Bearbrick sporting a beard and plaid touches. Together, they’re a tribute to the alternative subcultures that have made Dr. Martens the brand they are today.

The Dr. Martens X Medicom Toy collaboration will be available in-store and online from 31 OCT 20.

COMING SOON: NIKE AIR FORCE 1 SKELETON

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

In the true spirit of Halloween season, Nike are set to launch a vibrant nod to the Air Force 1 silhouette as just one of the several releases that pays homage to the night of haunting.

Crafted in a colourful orange leather upper, the Air force 1 Skeleton comes with panelled design of the Air Force 1, including classic swoosh branding and a perforated toe box. Taking away from the original, bone graphic printing is featured across the lateral side of the sneaker which appears white in the dark.

Underfoot, the chunky Air Force 1 midsole is crafted from translucent glow-in-the-dark rubber, concealing a full-length Nike Air unit. The sneaker is complete with embroidered Nike Air branding to the heel, lace closures and an insole adorned in bone graphic printing.

The Nike Air Force 1 Skeleton is available to register to purchase through SEVENSTORE Launches now.

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO: MONCLER SHARES WARMTH CURATED BY MATTHEW WILLIAMS

Weds, 14 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Within a time of uncertainly, Moncler bring together their closest collaborators to curate a selection of playlists to share warmth to the world.

Moncler Shares Warmth is a campaign of playlists from the brand’s past, present and future. In keeping with the DNA of Moncler; born to protect and keep warm in the most adverse conditions, the campaign speaks solidarity in warmth and offers that sense of hope in the current uncertain world.

The playlist houses friends and family of the Moncler realm, such as Remo Ruffini and Genius collaborator’s Craig Green, Hiroshi Fujiwara and 1017 ALYX 9SM’s Matthew Williams. Williams’ selection of songs run along a route of hazy indie to washed out R&B, incorporating artists Frank Ocean, Joy Division and Post Malone.

Listen to Moncler Shares Warmth | Curated By Matthew Williams below:

COMME DES GARCONS SHIRT X FUTURA: TO SOME, FASHION AND ART MAY SEEM LIKE THEY'RE A WORLD APART

Weds, 14 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Comme des Garçons SHIRT and Futura. An iconic fashion house with numerous sub-lines and offshoots collaborating with a New York-raised graffiti-artist-by-trade. I mean, let’s be honest, these two seem a million miles apart at face value but the closer you look the more they have in common. If you consider the history of both parties, which is something we’ll touch on in detail, then it begins to unravel and the paradox becomes clearer.

With the fashion calendar always operating ahead of itself, this collaboration was inaugurally teased back in January during Comme des Garçons’ Autumn/Winter ‘20 show. The collection acted as a further reinterpretation of modern men’s tailoring with a plethora of button-up shirts clad in patchwork and others sporting lattice designs and buckle detailing. As an operating branch of Comme des Garçons’ mainline brand, SHIRT is centred around the idea of developing building blocks for your wardrobe, such as button-up shirts, tees and bottoms. The show acted as a springboard to unveil collaborative projects with the likes of ASICS and, as the title suggests, New York-raised graffiti artist, Futura, born Leonard Hilton McGurr.

With the Comme des Garçons SHIRT and Futura collaboration in mind, art and fashion are two fields that are intrinsically linked, they play into the hands of one another. Clothing brands have been tapping into the art world for a minute now and artist collaborations are no stranger, especially to Comme des Garçons SHIRT who, in 2018, tapped into the work of the late, great, Jean-Michael Basquiat. The crossover between these two worlds far and deep which is something we will explore as we go further.

Comme des Garçons is a Japanese fashion label started by Rei Kawakubo in 1969 who is not formally trained in design but, instead, studied fine art and literature at Keio University. She later went on to work in the advertising department of a textiles company and, in 1967, began freelancing for magazines as a stylist. Two years later, she began designing and making her own clothes under her eponymous label, Comme des Garçons, French for ‘like the boys. The label was officially established in 1973 and Kawakubo began operating commercially under the Comme des Garçons brand from that point onwards. There are countless sublines under the brand including Homme Plus, Play, SHIRT and BLACK, as well a host of others by different designers. The industry perception of the brand was like a bit of an outsider; they specialised in anti-fashion, austere and sometimes deconstructed garments that were often black, grey or white which led to the Japanese press calling Rei and her followers ‘The Crows’. These pieces strive to challenge the form of a traditional garment and question the preconceived ideas of gender and the male and female body, often blurring the lines between the two.

Comme des Garçons are well-renowned for their carefully curated collaborations that extract DNA from both parties. Some of the most notable are with the likes of Nike, Converse and Supreme, as well as a slew of others under their belt, from mainstream brands to smaller labels. One of the more poignant collaborations that speaks to the topic in question is with one of the world's most famous calligraphy artists, Pokras Lampas. He fused together the ancient art of calligraphy with street graffiti and coined the term ‘Calligraffiti’. These commissions celebrated the 15th anniversary of Dover Street Market and could be found in some of the following international locations: New York, Beijing and Tokyo.

There may be some people who only recognise Futura as a graphic font but, lo and behold, it’s the pseudonym used by graffiti artist Leonard Hilton McGurr. McGurr, who we will refer to as Futura from here on, began painting on New York’s subway system in the 1970s and would go on to become a pioneering figure of an underground movement. Futura became synonymous with abstract street art in the 1980s while other graffiti artists were focused on lettering. Despite his popularity, the scene was still relatively underground and Futura was unable to sustain himself on this alone and was later given a break and asked to produce artwork for several releases on Mo’Wax Records. Arguably, this gave Futura the notoriety he needed to continue perfecting his craft and transcribing his art to a broader audience. As a graffiti artist by trade, his work transcends beyond that to album covers for the likes of The Clash, canvas, clothing and footwear, as well as a host of other creative mediums. Through working with the minds behind A Bathing Ape, UNDERCOVER and Supreme, Futura has been operating in the same circles with those associated with Comme des Garçons SHIRT. He’s no stranger to having his work featured across unconventional platforms, especially for an artist, but his work with the likes of Medicom and Nike has eventually led to this stepping stone.

To some, fashion and art may seem like they’re a world apart but they are closer than you realise. The two fields are deeply intertwined and closely linked with one, but one thing they do explicitly share is self-expression; they are both creative outlets for those who partake in them. There is a considerable amount of overlap between the two, from collaborations with modern artists to re-appropriations of classic artwork, and the craftsmanship practised by those who produce our clothing often goes unappreciated; the artisans behind traditional dyeing methods, leather tanneries and intricate seamstresses. With all things considered, this is no new trend. The origins of this partnership - fashion and art, that is - can be traced back to the late 1930s when two very prominent figures at the time, Elsa Schiaparelli collaborated with Salvador Dali to design the Lobster dress. If you consider the individual processes behind art - a painting, for example - and fashion - let’s say, designing a dress - the complexities are the same, therefore they warrant an alike level of respect. Although, some find this link harder to swallow and see the connection as tenuous. There is a level of snobbery among some who believe an art form does not extend beyond a painting, sculpture of mural, for example. After all, fashion is a human expression that still stirs emotion, whether good or bad. You don’t have to look far beyond much of Alexander McQueen’s work, before his late passing, to appreciate this.

This is a collection that has been designed to stand the test of time. These two unique powerhouses from different walks of life and respective fields have come together with a mutual respect for each other's work and, in turn, created a capsule collection for the ages.

With the aforementioned in mind, Futura leaves his imprint on the collaboration through original artwork of his handpicked by Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons. The partnership spawned from an initial meeting Futura had with Rei and Adrian Joffe at Dover Street Market last year to discuss a small collaboration for Comme’s ‘Black Market’. From there, Futura selected a couple of original pieces from his archive and handed over the creative reins to Rei and Joffe.

This season's collaboration with Futura is a further extension of Comme des Garçons relationship with art, despite it being abstract of sorts. Forget the traditional notions and conceptions of art, such as paintings and sculptures, and look to the performance-art experience of Kawakubo’s runway shows. The synergy between the two seems so clear and almost inseparable. From the atmosphere and the set design to the styling and clothing itself, it all communicates a message and invokes emotion, much as art does. In 2017, Andrew Bolton conducted an art exhibition showcasing 150 Rei Kawakubo and Comme ensembles, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The result was a testament to Kawakubo’s career and the enormous, yet often subtle, influence she has had on fashion. In this instance, the lines between art and fashion blur as the garments are displayed in a similar, museum-like environment. It’s not just fashion crowds who flocked to Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between, it’s appreciators of all-kinds.

The capsule collection consists of 12 pieces with Futura’s work decorating all of them, including a coach jacket, bags, graphic t-shirts and button-down shirts. The original artwork was reinterpreted by Kawakubo and her team but still retains everything that is unique about Futura’s graffiti-esque style. In true Comme des Garçons SHIRT form, the collaboration does not compromise on quality in any way or shape. The prints on each piece are of the utmost quality and are Made in France by skilled craftsmen.

Taking the aforementioned into account, this is a wholesome embodiment of modern-day collaboration whereby two parties come together and combine their distinctive skill sets to produce something wholly unique. In this case, what brings these two in conjunction with each other is an underlying rebellion and deviance, Comme des Garçons and Futura are both rooted in these. But, by handing over creative control to a graffiti-artist-by-trade leads to collaborations that will remain culturally significant for years to come.

The Comme des Garçons SHIRT Futura collection is available in-store and online now.

CONVERSE X GOLF LE FLEUR GIANNO SUEDE

Tues, 13 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Converse team up with Tyler, The Creator’s GOLF le FLEUR* in a unique mashup of trail-hiking and vibrant ‘90s style.

When it comes to Tyler, The Creator, you expect the unexpected. The GOLF le FLEUR* Gianno delivers on that promise with an entirely unique design. Inspired by '90s silhouettes and Tyler’s love for trail-hiking and BMX, the Gianno blends Converse's sportswear heritage with the playful, unexpected style of GOLF le FLEUR*.

The two new colourways of the Gianno sneaker elevates from the original with a premium platinum suede. Bringing outdoor function to the streets, the partnership showcases a geometric tread and bulkier outsole inspired by hiking shoes. Both sneakers are finished with an EVA midsole for extra comfort and reflective detailing from front to back.

The Converse GOLF le FLEUR* is available in-store and online from 13 OCT 20.

7 OF THE BEST BAGS FOR YOUR DAILY NEEDS

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Fundamental for the development of ease, bags have and will always continue to be an essential for each and every individual. Travel, shopping, a night out, or that casual walk – bags are not only convenient for keeping belongings safe, but offer that extra upgrade to your daily outfit.

Having been around since the 16^th century when clothing had no pockets, bags were a common fixture to hold your belongings. Besides a functional item, bags became a garment accessory in the 20^th century as they were selected to match clothing or shoes. Going hand-in-hand with one another, bags and clothes progressed through innovative production, materiality and fabrication, in keeping with an ever-changing world of trends to draw in the masses of high-fashion aficionados, outdoor trekkers and streetwear natives alike.

The landscape of the contemporary accessory blurs the lines of gender, driving for a balance between form and function. SEVENSTORE have digested a selection of bags that assert technical fabrication, durability, elevated design and focused engineering to uplift your day-to-day.

HOMME PLISSE ISSEY MIYAKE – SMALL PLEATS BAG

Homme Plisse Issey Miyake builds on interpretations of luxury year-on-year. The Small Pleats Bag is constructed with the iconic pleating technique is a luxury attachment for the high-end outfit. Suited for small essentials like your phone, wallet, passport or tickets to the next show at fashion week.

CRAIG GREEN – FOLD BAG

Craig Green is a leading purveyor of all things utility and function, the Fold Bag is another addition to his innovative offerings. Adjustable and versatile, this bag can be used to accompany your commute to work or for that extra bit of luxury when hauling essentials around.

AND WANDER – SIL SACOCHE NYLON BAG

And Wander sits on the peripheral of fashion and outerwear. The Sil Sacoche Nylon Bag is reinforced with forward-thinking fabrication to hold your wallet and phone, protecting them on your weekend hikes in the peak district.

VISVIM – CORDURA 20XL BACKPACK

Visvim’s Cordura backpack is an efficient essential to add to your luggage. Catered for all environments, the 20XL Backpack takes a hold of your heaviest accessories, protecting them all in one place. A comforting classic suitable for your laptop or a long days walk in the wilderness.

COMME DES GARÇONS SHIRT – FUTURA ALL OVER PRINT TOTE BAG

The Comme des Garçons SHIRT Futura All Over Tote Bag is a timely reminder of CDG’s ability to upscale and refine a staple accessory. Dressed in bold colour graphics, this artwork emblazoned tote bag would be the fitting fixture for a Sunday trip to the gallery.

OFF-WHITE C/O VIRGIL ABLOH – LOGO NYLON CROSSBODY BAG

Virgil Abloh’s Off-White occupy a heavy dosage of branding with their Logo Nylon Crossbody bag. A statement piece of streetwear luxury, ideal for roaming the streets for your favourite shops.

C.P. COMPANY – CHROME LENS WAIST BAG

The C.P. Company Chrome Lens Waist Bag is born on the grounds of form and function. Crafted with durability in mind, this lens-adorned accessory can hold all your small needed goods for that socially distanced pint in the pub.

COMING SOON: adidas MÜNCHEN

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

adidas continue their ongoing nostalgic spirit with another addition to the ever-growing City Series collection.

The time, it is the turn of the Bavarian capital, München to take centre stage. Home to the Champions of Europe and the popular, Oktoberfest – the München edition has been reintroduced to the adidas mainline for the first time since appearing in Gary Aspden’s Spezial collections.

First released way back in 1976, the adidas München arrives in in its modern form with a colourway of royal blue. Decorated with a plush suede upper, the shoe houses adidas’ famous three-stripe detailing, gold-foil branding and a classic gum sole unit.

The adidas München is available to register to purchase on SEVENSTORE Launches now.

PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE – (RUNNER) IS A RAF RETROSPECTIVE

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

On the announcement of Raf’s (RUNNER) capsule, misdirection was in the air. Teased with just the collections name on Instagram back in January, it spun a whole generation of ‘please don’t touch my Raf’ streetwear heads waiting for the follow up to the maybe played out, definitely brilliant, Ozweego collaboration.

It felt like a while since Raf had satiated the hunger for his take on sneakers – the hype around his final adidas collaboration largely drowned out by the sound of heels-on-runway as he led the western boot back into the spotlight with Calvin Klein.

And with RUNNER, Simons ventures into athletic(?) footwear without ties to an athletic partner, leaning into high fashion with a capsule that swaps out soles, heels and genres. ‘Blending high fashion and streetwear’ is probably the most tired boiler plate for literally anything in the fashion industry over the last decade, and it doesn’t mean putting £400 price tag on a hoody or producing a ‘premium’ leather New Balance rip off. To achieve it, you need to understand the essence of both disciplines, and use these building blocks to make something new. Something new is going to look strange at first, as we adjust to it – as our brains wrestle with incongruous shapes, we read show notes, consume references, and ultimately bend our comfort zone to meet it - because something genuinely new is genuinely exciting.

That’s to say there’s a big part of (RUNNER) that feels like a rug pull – are they sneakers, or are they Chelsea boots? Are these heeled loafers? Can I do a 10k in these? When viewed in a vacuum, they look like 'fashion' fashion. Opaque, hard to reconcile. Looking at the collection as a whole, though, and the progression from classic to experimental silhouettes makes each one feel wearable. Start looking up a few references, and it all starts to feel like there’s a runner shaped hole in your wardrobe.

The ANTEI and CYCLON sit on the same layered, sculpted midsole, but represent both ends of the (RUNNER) spectrum. Where the ANTEI looks like a traditional sneaker, albeit a futuristic one, the CYCLON’s tumbled leather upper with a stitched toe cap and back zip is 70% dress boot. The ORION is the perfect foil for the SOLARIS 2 – the simple leather cupsole's less adventurous tastes can revel in where a high leather boot with a multi-coloured, tech-midsole-inspired heel is a bridge too far. In this comparison, we see distinct eras of Simons’ career pushing through – it’s Jil Sander vs Blade Runner, and somehow it makes sense.

‘For me, things are always evolving, and such evolution is necessary’, said Raf in an interview with Wallpaper in 2013 – a statement as evident in his early collections as it is today. His constant evolution has heavily shaped the modern era of men’s fashion, too – from his introduction of slim suiting in the mid 90’s to paving the way for overt youth culture references – so maybe it’s Raf who needs to answer for every cartoon collaboration that makes no sense.

Virginia Creeper back in 02 is remembered for signature twists on collegiate America. Commenting on the duality of nature, acid washes evoke the idea of rot, and earth tones across varsity jackets, sweatshirts and hoodies nod to natures power over human constructs. "I don’t want to show clothes, I want to show my attitude, my past, present and future. I use memories and future visions and try to place them in today’s world" - with Runner, in leather boots and sneakers Raf is again twisting pillars of American menswear – this time questioning our relationship with the foundations on which every outfit stands, rather than with the planet on which we build these foundations.

Spring Summer 18 saw Simons’ take on replicants, a neon-lit collage of pop culture references, splicing film and music, East and West, New Order and Blade Runner. A show that encapsulates Simons’ Ethos: creating substance in an industry that tends to be a spiral of self-gratification. “When it's only clothes, that is not satisfying enough for me. I don't think I could do this for ten, twenty years if that was all. It also has to be about a psychology or a mentality or a concept” – (RUNNER) is definitely that. With plans to develop the line as the seasons progress, it will come as no surprise if along the way it spawns the next major footwear trend.

This whole article is a long way of saying (RUNNER) is the culmination of everything Simons has accumulated over his life and career, from record stores in Antwerp and Margiela shows to Jil Sander, Dior and Calvin Klein. It’s this rich, varied experience that makes him one of the few designers with the ability, truly, to ‘blend high fashion and streetwear’. Any kind of cultural crossover requires authentic input from both sides - he’s lived the underground club scene and right now he’s making Miuccia Prada cut holes in knitwear. That ticks both boxes, right?

The Raf Simons RUNNER collection is available in-store and online now.

CONVERSE X UNION CHUCK TAYLOR ALL STAR

Thurs, 08 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Following a highly-popular Jordan release, Union LA have partnered with Converse to re-imagine the Chuck Taylor All Star silhouette.

Inspired by late 1700’s French toile, New York interior designer Sheila Bridges created her iconic print, Harlem Toile de Jouy. The design brings modern Harlem into the pastoral aesthetic with scenes that celebrate African-American culture. The collaboration between Converse and Union showcases such work, translating it to the clean and classic Chuck Taylor All Star canvas.

With canvas covered in intricate stories via print graphics, the collaboration is dominant with a white colourway, white laces and a white sole unit. A ‘UN/LA’ brand tab is fixated to the canvas upper, and underfoot, the sole unit is finished in a bold orange colour scheme.

The Converse X Union Chuck Taylor is available in-store and online now.

OFF-WHITE C/O VIRGIL ABLOH ODSY COLLECTION

Thurs, 08 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Off-White is an exploration of conceptual design with a focus on bold typography and hard-hitting prints that navigate the realms of today’s market between streetwear and luxury.

Abloh’s translation of his distinct design output has nurtured from his experience within architecture and having that interest to fuse to two aspects into one coherent language. The idea of “Everything in quotes” is distinguishable and gives an ironic feel to the Italian brand, but it is the benefits of appealing under the high-fashion domain that has catapulted Off-White towards a youthful consumer movement.

A stand out parameter of the Off-White brand is footwear, in particular, the ODSY sneaker range. The ODSY 1000 is an amalgamation of design; taking cues from running spikes, walking boots and traditional trail shoes, the sneaker forms a unique, innovative hybrid of materials from all of the aforementioned silhouettes. Emblazoned with Off-White branding such as the signature “SHOELACES” quotation, arrow design markers and a mimicking of the brands industrial belt, the sneaker represents a laid-out industrial feel throughout, much like the ongoing collaboration between Abloh and his re-interpretations of Nike silhouettes.

Adorned with a chunky midsole, the blend of materiality on the ODSY 1000 upper comes in the form of mesh and suede overlays. Complete with a brand patch to the tongue and embossed detailing to the sneaker’s standout sole unit, it is finished with an intricate lace closing system.

As the ODSY 1000 is a typical foray into the world of chunky sneakers, the ODSY 2000 gives off a touch of running. Sitting on a sole of small spikes, the lower profile opts for an upper comprised of suede, mesh and leather overlays with accentuating Off-White branding throughout. The sneaker’s streamlined look is complete with an “OFF” rubber tongue label, colour-blocked design and an additional plastic heel clip.

The latest collection of Off-White c/o Virgil Abloh is available in-store and online now.

OPEN EYE GALLERY: THE TIME WE CALL OUR OWN

Thurs, 08 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Back in March SEVENSTORE was halted by the uncertain times of lockdown, plans were put in place for special events and curations which were set up with partnerships throughout Liverpool and beyond.

One of those collaborations was with the Open Eye Gallery – a platform to create, share and champion photography as a way to communicate, collaborate and learn. Taking the lead on socially engaged photography, Open Eye Gallery bring together different voices, photographers and communities.

SEVENSTORE have generously supported the Open Eye Gallery with their launch of a new season of 12 weekly live-streams around The Time We Call Our Own – an upcoming exhibition that brings together photographic projects from across the world that document a collective sense of time, place and identity. The events will be streamed on their Twitch channel every Thursday evening at 6PM. There is also an accompanying public Discord community of chat rooms for discussion, sharing memories, and broadcasting playlists put together by participating artists.

The eight instalment of The Time We Call Our Own is Sonidero City w/ Mirjam Wirz on 08 OCT 20, 6PM-7PM.

Across Latin America, people gather around DIY sound systems, called sonidos. Each weekend, people congregate to dance to Cumbia music, and broadcast greetings (via the MC) to friends far and wide.

In her book Sonidero City, Mirjam Wirz follows the sound systems around the streets, courtyards and living rooms of Mexico and Colombia. Sonido refers to both the loudspeaker system and the communities that grow around them — the DJ, MC, technicians, family members and wider neighbourhood. For this event, Mirjam will give a walk through the project, in conversation with Jacob Bolton.

All events are streamed to twitch.tv/openeyegallery, followed by a public chat on Open Eye Gallery’s Discord chat room community. To join the Discord, follow this link and download Discord on desktop or mobile: https://discord.gg/CqqC55h

The seventh instalment of The Time We Call Our Own is Harold Offeh: When Was The Time I Could Call My Own? on 01 OCT 20, 6PM-7PM.

Responding to the themes of the exhibition The Time We Call Our Own, Harold Offeh delves into his own back catalogue of photographs. The images, mostly shot on disposable party cameras in the early 2000s, explore his emergence through the space of the queer night time.

Blurry selfies, street parties in San Francisco’s Castro district, going to drag bars and dressing up for student house parties. Performing to camera with actions and gestures, Offeh will present an animated slideshow of images accompanied by a soundtrack and audio commentary.

Offeh’s first live online performance reflectively examines the relationship between photography and self-actualisation.

All events are streamed to twitch.tv/openeyegallery, followed by a public chat on Open Eye Gallery’s Discord chat room community. To join the Discord, follow this link and download Discord on desktop or mobile: https://discord.gg/CqqC55h

The sixth instalment of The Time We Call Our Own is Stephanie Francis-Shanahan’s ‘if we can't all dance, I don't wanna be a part of ur world :))))’ on 03 SEPT 20, 6-7PM.

London-based artist Stephanie Francis-Shanahan is interested in joy, and how we can use it as a form of resistance to keep ourselves well. Before lockdown, she had started a series inviting people to come to her room, dress up in her wardrobe and dance to their favourite song whilst she documented it. Now, she’s inviting people to submit a 30-second video of them in their own home, which she’ll mix into a new work, ‘if we can't all dance, I don't wanna be a part of ur world :))))’.

OPEN EYE GALLERY EVENT 6 STEPHANIE FRANCES-SHANAHAN from SEVENSTORE on Vimeo.

The fifth instalment of The Time We Call Our Own is Tobias Zeilony presents: Maskirovka on 20 AUG, 6-7PM.

After the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, Tobias Zielony spent two years photographing the underground queer and techno scene in Kiev. The title of the project, Maskirovka, refers to the ‘green men’ in the Crimea, disguised Russian soldiers. It also points towards the masks used by protesters to protect themselves from tear gas, and cover their identities. In this event, Tobias will guide people through the project, accompanied by music.

All events are streamed to twitch.tv/openeyegallery, followed by a public chat on Open Eye Gallery’s Discord chat room community. To join the Discord, follow this link and download Discord on desktop or mobile: https://discord.gg/CqqC55h

The fourth instalment of The Time We Call Our Own is Save Some Space: Saad Shaffi (24 Kitchen Street), Chris Torpey (Bido Lito) and Emma Warren on 13 AUG, 6-7PM.

Across the country, many music venues are involved in embittered struggles between property developers and planning departments on one hand, and partygoers and DJs on the other. These spaces form a vital part of the civic fabric, offering time and space for often marginalised communities, yet they continue to be closed down in redevelopment initiatives that favour the short-term profits of unsustainable luxury housing.

Liverpool’s 24 Kitchen Street is one such space, a multi-arts venue and club surrounded by encroaching developments: on 13 AUG 20, co-owner Saad Shaffi will go in conversation with Chris Torpey (Bido Lito) and Emma Warren (author of Make Some Space and Total Refreshment Centre family member) to talk about nighttime economies, nocturnal cultures and the civic fabric.

The third instalment of The Time We Call Our Own is Andrew Miksys: Disko (Watch Party) on 06 AUG 20, 6-7PM.

Many parties in Lithuania take place in former soviet offices, prisons and municipal facilities. Andrew Miksys’ Disko chronicles clubbing in the ruins of the USSR. He toured the country throughout the 2000s, finding parties and getting to know the people who ran them. On 6th August, he’ll host a guided tour through his book and the landscape of post-soviet Lithuania, charting the people and places that make up the scene.

To join the Discord, follow this link and download Discord on desktop or mobile: https://discord.gg/CqqC55h

The second instalment of The Time We Call Our Own is Oliver Sieber: Imaginary Club (Watch Party) on 30 JUL 20, 6-7PM.

Oliver Sieber’s Imaginary Club networks people from across the world of various styles and subcultures. Despite the diverse range of looks, affinities and locations, all the people and places share a common marginality.

Shot across Japan, Europe and the US, the series shows the global propagation of styles — across borders, scenes and subcultures. On 30 JUL, Open Eye Gallery will host a watch party, streaming a video made from the series on their Twitch channel and inviting everyone to share memories and impressions on their public Discord community.

To join the Discord, follow this link and download Discord on desktop or mobile: https://discord.gg/CqqC55h

The first instalment of The Time We Call Our Own is Amelia Lonsdale & Her Mum: Getting Ready (Watch Party) on 23 JUL 20, 6-7PM.

Amelia Lonsdale met curator Open Eye Gallery Adam Murray through University. One day, she brought in a series of photographs taken in the 1980s by her mother and boyfriend at the time. Dedicated New Romantics, they would make most of their clothes themselves and then photograph each other before they went out. ?In her project 'Miles and Other?'s Smiles', Amelia Lonsdale presents a selection from the archive, charting a chapter of UK DIY fashion.

In this conversation, Amelia and her mother Yvonne will talk through generational approaches to fashion, identity and getting ready. Yvonne and her partner's archive of DIY fashion was a private undertaking, produced with each other, for each other. In contrast, many of the photos we make of ourselves and our friends today are made public, posted on Instagram or other platforms, for an audience. How does this audience change the way we construct our identities through fashion?

After the conversation, everyone is invited to a public chat on Open Eye Gallery’s Discord community, where we’ll be streaming a playlist from the New Romantic era, picked out by Yvonne Taylor.

To join the Discord, follow this link and download Discord on desktop or mobile: https://discord.gg/CqqC55h

This event is part of The Time We Call Our Own, led by Open Eye Gallery and supported by SEVENSTORE.

WACKO MARIA X CARHARTT WIP

Weds, 07 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

For Fall/Winter 2020, Wacko Maria have collaborated with Carhartt WIP, creating an 18-piece capsule collection which sees iconic Carhartt WIP pieces reinterpreted by the Tokyo streetwear brand.

Established in 2005, Wacko Maria makes music the basis of their foundation, proposing a style that offers a sense of romance and glamour. With the Carhartt collaboration, familiar Wacko Maria design elements such as leopard printing and embroidered black letter motifs are incorporated, casting classic Carhartt pieces in a new, progressive light.

Throughout the capsule, leopard print continues to be a prominent feature, with two iterations of the classic Detroit Jacket showcasing a printed lining and embroidered ‘Guilty Parties’ branding. Two colourways of Wacko Maria’s Skate Pant are also executed in Carhartt WIP’s robust cotton-twill fabrication, with the collection rounded off by reworks of the classic American Script T-Shirt and the Chase Beanie –marrying a world of streetwear, workwear and skateboarding.

The Wacko Maria X Carhartt WIP collection is available in-store and online from 10 OCT 20.

NIKE AIR FORCE 1 LOW WHEAT

Weds, 07 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Nike head back into their archives with a re-release of the iconic 2001 Air Force 1 Wheat/Mocha colourway. Originally a Japanese exclusive, the latest rendition will be available to the wider market, providing an elevated staple sneaker for the upcoming winter months.

Introduced in 1982, the Air Force 1 redefined basketball from the courts to the streets. It was the first basketball sneaker to house the Nike Air unit and has become a staple to the masses as well as a significant streetwear icon.

The Air Force 1 Wheat is an advancement of the original, arriving in a neat suede nubuck, the Wheat colourway encompasses a full autumnal look with Nike’s signature swoosh logo running across the lateral and medial sides. Additional branding is located at the tongue tag along with embroidery at the heel. Underfoot, the sneaker is comprised of a gum midsole, created in a semi-translucent colour to compliment the dark tones of the upper.

The Nike Air Force 1 Wheat is available to register through SEVENSTORE Launches now.

STUSSY AUTUMN/WINTER 20 COLLECTION

Tues, 06 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Stüssy was born on the beaches of California in the 1980’s with immediate success attributing trends in the hip-hop and surf/skate scenes. Embraced by street and punk subculture, Stüssy’s ascent into the mainstream has become a regular fixture in projecting laid-back casual trends for all.

For their latest Autumn collection, Stüssy fuse together a collection of muted colours associated with daylight, earth and fire. These autumnal tones are accentuated through timeless, thoughtful, bold printing and rich fabrications.

Corduroy and denim combine for a perfected button-down shirt, cardigan stripes bring that element of smart casual back to basics and Stüssy’s scope on the label's eight-ball motif is ever-present throughout the collection. Striped long-sleeves and patchwork jackets round off a range of low-key, considered designs.

The Stüssy Autumn/Winter collection will be available in-store and online from 9 OCT.

LATEST IN: VISVIM

Thurs, 01 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Traditionalist, menswear aficionado and founder of Visvim, Hiroki Nakamura started the brand in 2001 after becoming embroiled into an obsession with vintage Americana, the Japanese Edo period, French workwear and Amish patchwork fabrications. Since then, Visvim and Nakamura have dipped their toes into each technique, framework and time-period to provide a collection encompassed by the past, but for the future.

Nakamura’s love for specific production, manufacturing and design has developed his own definition of fashion through the medium of Visvim. Centuries of collecting, research and developing have led Visvim to this point and an offering of Nakamura’s ‘Future Vintage’. Where long-lasting traditions are used to create a timeless collection of clothing and footwear, Nakamura taps into the use of futuristic materials to guide him through innovation. GORE-TEX and waterproofing materials of tomorrow blend effortlessly with Visvim’s select vision of utility, military and workwear uniforms.

The latest collection of Visvim is a continuation of Nakamura’s authentic efforts for long-lasting effect. The Lhamo Shirt takes hints from the Japanese Kimono and traditional shirting in a presented a new idea washed in denim dyes. To accompany Visvim’s fast-moving trajectory of workwear is a nod to modern interpretations of classic footwear styles including rejuvenated runners and a conventional Brigadier Boot.

The latest collection of Visvim is available in-store and online now.

NIKE KILLSHOT SP

Thurs, 01 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Originally released in 1979, the Nike Killshot was a performance silhouette suited to tennis and squash courts. Now it’s a re-invention of the classic withstanding a foray into contemporary menswear and shifting from its sport-like status.

Characterised as an athletic shoe of the ‘70s, the Killshot made a return in 2009 with new fabrication, made from a leather upper with suede overlays throughout. Earlier versions showcased a mesh upper, making it more comfortable during activity.

The Killshot may not be recognised as most-sought after Nike sneakers of recent times but it provides a sure easy-wearing offering, suitable for almost any outfit, much like its counterpart the Air Force 1 – popular because they go with anything and everything.

The newest selection of Nike Killshot’s are presented in a variety of three colourways. This time, an embodiment of the ‘70’s classic court sneaker, the new Killshot is constructed with an upper comprised of mesh panelling, suede overlays and a foam tongue tab for extra comfort. The sneaker is finalised with an all-white sole unit and signature swoosh branding, playing on timeless retro design hues.

Shop the Nike Killshot SP in-store and online now.

LATEST IN: AND WANDER

Weds, 30 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

And Wander is the outcome of fashion experience, exploration and a love of the outdoors.

Through a refined collection of contemporary apparel, founder’s of the brand – Keita Ikeuchi and Mihoko Mori have delivered a sense of style and function to outdoor wear. Formally of Issey Miyake, the duo have taken a visual design insight from their past workings and applied it to clothes catered for every environment.

The And Wander ethos considers the perspective of the consumer. What is needed the most? What fabric works best for each setting? How can we get the best out of it? All of this and how can we make it look good, ultimately show that quality and function is the main goal, whatever the design. From working in high-fashion to setting Japanese brand, And Wander, Ikeuchi and Mori set out to improve the lives of people outdoors, having spent many weekends taking backpacking trips and not being able to find suitable clothing. And Wander is the result of wanting clothes to the best they can be for the environment they inhabit.

The latest collection of And Wander is an elevation of its predecessor - be it new fabrics or innovative sewing techniques, the concept of creating fresh garments with a contemporary feel comes into focus. Products are functional for outdoor activity as well as urban life, and become a signifier for inspiring a certain fashion sensibility.

The latest collection of And Wander is available in-store and online now.

POSTAL X JASPER JAMES VOL 2. DANNSA

Thurs, 24 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

POSTAL derives from the heart of Dundee, a passion project set up by founder and designer, Nel showcasing a tight collection of embroidered slogans and graphics onto a carefully crafted range of wardrobe staples.

The newest POSTAL collection walks familiar ground, with the second installation to an ongoing partnership with Glaswegian DJ, Jasper James. Jasper has developed himself as leading tastemaker around the world’s vibrant house music scene, having played some of the world’s most respected clubs, immersing himself through Glasgow culture, their ever-expanding music output and finally fashion.

Entitled, Vol 2. Dannsa, the new POSTAL collaboration magnifies an influence of 90’s brands, rave scenes and warehouse parties of that era to merge the collaborative minds of Glasgow’s Jasper James and Dundee’s Nel for a distinct mix of two cities. SEVENSTORE sat down with Jasper James to discuss the partnership, the distinct link between music and fashion, as well as his affinity with Glasgow’s music scene.

SEVENSTORE: Can you tell us a little bit about the collection & how the collaboration with POSTAL came about?

Jasper: The designs were based around 90’s brands and graphics connected to the rave scene and warehouse parties of that era. We also took inspiration from what people were wearing and the clothes people were sporting back then.

The collaboration with POSTAL first came about when I met Nel in Dundee, I was playing a gig at the Reading Rooms which has now shut down - rest in peace. But yeah, I was playing there and he arrived with a few T-shirts for me from the POSTAL brand and I really liked the tees, the fit of them, the designs on them. I think the ones he gave me at the time were based around early 90’s Air Max colours, so I liked what he was doing, on top of that there was a bottle of Buckfast in the bag, so he kind of sealed the deal.

He contacted me and basically said he would love to do a collaboration. He got the impression I was kind of into my fashion or whatever so, it was always something I kind of wanted to explore but I didn’t really know where to start. POSTAL and Nel gave me the perfect platform to kind of explore some designs, I suppose.

SEVENSTORE: The inspiration from the collection draws on brands and graphics from the 90’s rave era, why was that such an iconic decade for not only music but fashion?

Jasper: I think the 90’s was certainly important for music and dance music in particular because it was a relatively a new thing, I think in the late 80’s acid house and house music was beginning to come out of the states and kind of entered the UK. There was a whole acid rave scene from the late 80’s leading into the 90’s as well as a lot of illegal warehouse raves creeping up with more nightclubs - the music was a new exciting thing.

There was obviously an element of drug taking and there was a sense of unity and maybe a sense of freedom as well, and people were working these mid-week jobs, going to a rave and letting loose, really getting immersed in the dance music culture. Music and fashion have always been quite closely related, I suppose. They both tie in with one another.

Me being a 90’s kid and brought up in the 90’s, I loved the fashion back then. All about baggy jeans and I was a skater, so I was into all that clobber. The whole kind of 90’s rave tribal-type fashion, you’ve got old labels like Nervous Records, who had some character-based designs and that was something I tried to implement in with the POSTAL collab, with the kind of character it’s inspired by old 90’s tribal-type, character fashion. So that was something to explore and incorporate in this collection.

SEVENSTORE: The first collaboration was a huge success, what motivated you to work with POSTAL again?

Jasper: After the first collection. I wasn't really expecting much to be honest. Obviously, this was kind of a new thing to me, I didn't know if it was going to sell well, that was never really part of my thinking anyway. I was just happy to get involved a little bit in the design process and try and create something that I would wear and that I liked.

I was actually in Ibiza at the time of the first drop and I thought maybe it’d sell 10 or 20 T-shirts or whatever, I didn’t really expect a great deal to be honest and Nel messaged me saying that it’d all sold out within like five minutes and I kind of didn’t believe him at first. I was drinking a Bloody Mary in Pikes at the time so I phoned him up and was like, ‘Are you kidding me on or what?’ and he was like ‘No, no, they all sold out’, so it was a good surprise. I was buzzing after that, I couldn’t wait to get on board for another collaboration.

I think it kind of started off with the first collab and Nel would sell the stock online, after the buzz about the first drop it got stocked in some stores like SEVENSTORE and all around the UK. So, it was real buzz for both myself and Nel, which we have been looking forward to working together ever since. Just been waiting for the right time and the right designs, we didn’t want to rush anything.

SEVENSTORE: Can you tell us a bit more about the design process?

Jasper: The design process was based on 90’s brands and graphics connected to the rave scene and warehouse parties of that era. With this collection we wanted to keep it fun and done a lot of digging of pictures online, looking at what people were wearing back then. There are a few hidden nods to old 90’s brands popular within the culture.

SEVENSTORE: What learnings did you take from the last collection when working on this latest capsule?

Jasper: We wanted to change the theme for the second collab and move on from the first one which was a bit more spacey, a bit more serious and almost Techno night poster graphics. We also wanted to create something that had a music element to it.

Keeping it fresh, which was actually the most difficult part for me because I could have easily stuck in the same vein as last time and did something a little bit more serious and less playful like this collection is. That’s what was great about having Nel on board because he’s obviously more from the fashion side of things and has more experience, and he was like ‘We really need to change it completely and do something completely fresh’, and I was hesitant at first but we managed to knock heads together and come up with something that we both felt was fun and interesting. But I felt there was kind of a lot to live up to after the success of the first collab, I’m just hoping it does as well as the first one.

SEVENSTORE: Links between fashion and music have always been strong, how do you think they connect in today’s world?

Jasper: Music and fashion have always been closely tied, with DJ’ing and music I get to express myself through the music I play at clubs and it’s exactly the same as fashion. People go out to a dance event and put on their outfits and express themselves, the way they choose fits best for the way they are feeling. So, this is something that has always been around, I don’t think it’s any different now – you walk into a nightclub, you’ll see a range of different outfits across the board, some good, some not so good. But yeah, fashion and music has always been closely tied together.

Growing up with music and fashion I was always looking at what my favourite rappers were wearing in music videos, like the Wu-Tang Clan with Wallabees, I was just taking bits and bobs from everything my idols were wearing basically. Nowadays, it has all changed as you have social media, so you can easily just go on, have a look at what your favourite artists are wearing and you don’t have to wait for a music video to come out anymore.

SEVENSTORE: Do you have a favourite piece from the collection?

Jasper: Yeah, yeah, I do have a favourite piece from the collection. It is the shirt that I am wearing in my latest post, it’s like an off, really light pale blue. It looks like grey in photos but when you actually see it, it’s actually quite a unique colour that I haven’t seen on many clothes before. This was something I am really proud of, I love a summer shirt, although I realise we are bringing this out in the winter so I won’t be getting to sport it around Glasgow very much. But I will have it packed for next year.

SEVENSTORE: How has the current pandemic affected you? and how would you best describe the situation in the music industry.

Jasper: Well obviously there’s no gigs at the moment happening anywhere, so I’m basically jobless at the minute but I’m trying to keep positive and hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve been in the studio a lot more and this has gave me a kick up the backside to re-wire my studio and get my head stuck into music which is where I’m happiest.

I’m hoping things get back up and running soon because if not, I don’t know if you guys are taking any jobs at SEVENSTORE? I’d be a great security guard.

Obviously, stuff isn’t good in the music industry at the moment, but everyone is in the same boat. People are just trying to remain positive that we will get back up and running soon and find some measurements that have to be put in place so we can get back up and running. I don’t know what that is, whether it is doing tests or checking temperatures, but we’ll find a way because we need to get back to it.

SEVENSTORE: What has kept you motivated during this period?

Jasper: At present it has been working in the studio, getting my head stuck into music. I’ve been trying to collaborate with as many folk as possible and I plan on keep trying to do that because everyone is in the same boat and have a lot of time on their hands, especially producers and artists. So yeah, I’ve just been trying to arrange studio days and get my in different genres and exciting projects that can hopefully be shared with the world at some point.

SEVENSTORE: Glasgow is widely known for its music scene and has had a instrumental affect over the last decades, what is it about the city that inspires you on a musical level and a fashion level?

Jasper: Glasgow’s always inspired my musically, obviously Sub Club has been instrumental to my life and my career in general. Going there from a very young age and watching the likes of Harri & Domenic or Optimo play their residencies really kind of inspired me to go out and try and make something of myself in that world.

Being from Glasgow and seeing people can succeed from where you’re from in the music industry, made me think, ‘Why not give it a shot?’. But obviously being from Glasgow there is a really high-standard in my eyes, I think some of the best DJ’s in the world are from where I’m from and that’s not me being biased. Going down to the Sub Club on a Saturday night and seeing the residents work their magic week-in, week-out are still some of the best nights I’ve ever had to this day.

In terms of fashion in Glasgow, you just need to look around you and there is always going to be stuff that inspire me on that level. People tend to be pretty well dressed, not everyone of course, there is also some shocking outfits.

The POSTAL X Jasper James VOL 2. Dannsa collection will be available in-store and online from 25 SEPT 20.

LATEST IN: RICK OWENS DRKSHDW

Thurs, 24 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Rick Owens is a leader in design, an industry maverick and a name that incites a darkly coloured scope on an ideal sense of what fashion should be.

His DRKSHDW or Dark Shadow line was launched in 2008, channelling gothic, avant-garde ready to wear uniforms from an influence of brutalist design and religious education. This distinct design language is like no other; perfecting styles of oversized T-shirts, drop crotch drapery and a cluster of premium denim pieces shadow a plethora of familiar Rick Owens shapes and fits.

DRKSHDW’s multi-layered aesthetic has gained an international cult following, much like the Rick Owen’s mainline. His ability to stay true to his roots with an ever-expanding vision of punctuated drapes and heavy soles has cast the American-born designer into the elite league of today without being deterred by the changing of modern trends.

The latest Rick Owen’s DRKSHDW collection is available in-store and online now.

CONVERSE TWISTED PLAID SKIDGRIP

Weds, 23 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Converse edits, evolves and elevates a new collection of recrafted Skidgrip silhouettes through an expression of traditional fall fabrics and patterns.

Inspired by the endless possibilities of textiles and weaving, the Skidgrip Twisted Plaid styles explore conventional materials and uncover new, vibrant expressions. Tartan gets a punk- inspired twist. Glen plaid colours outside the lines. And the distinct textures of knitwear and collegiate fleece come down to street level. What started as an experiment resulted in cohesive, elevated and boundary-pushing designs. It’s a collection of two new classics bound by one common thread: discovery.

Both sneakers accentuate a low top silhouette through vibrant colourway fixings. An Ortholite insole holds the foot for elevated comfort with finalised vintage white stitching and Converse heel branding.

The Converse Twisted Plaid Skidgrip is available in-store and online now.

NEW SEASON: RAF SIMONS

Tues, 22 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Raf Simons delegates through the medium of nostalgia, taking on general inspirations of youth culture and subculture rebellion. This essence of youth has been an ever-present fixture and correspondingly appears in the Belgian designer’s new Autumn/Winter 20 collection.

Entitled ‘Solar Youth’, Raf Simons turns his hand to elegant and vaguely sci-fi proposals with an obvious foray into youthful interpretations. The collection fuses long coats and oversized knits with a collection of intricate accessories projecting patchwork messaging of ‘We Are The Future’, ‘They Can’t Stop All Of Us’ and ‘SOLAR YOUTH’, emblazing his ever-growing nostalgic trajectory.

Familiar silhouettes feed to the usual Raf Simons vision, depicting a sense away from the normal world and into another. T-shirts adorn ‘Life On Mars’ references and speak volumes in showcasing that post-apocalyptic feeling. As well as the extra-terrestrial signifiers within the clothing, Raf Simons added to that extra sense of space by including David Bowie instrumentals to his runway show back in early 2020.

The new Raf Simons collection is available in-store and online now.

THE NIKE AIR MAX 95 NAIJA

Tues, 22 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Naija means the new Nigeria — a sharp and punchy word coined by the West African’s nation’s youth as a way to distance themselves from the Nigeria of old. Pronounced with attitude, Naija describes the unique character found in the country's food, its film and most definitely its football, where the beloved Super Eagles play in lush green shirts which sell out in seconds.

As Nike bottle up the wild geometric flavour of their recent ‘Naija’ kit for a particularly potent Air Max 95, here’s a brief primer on the country, it’s culture and those green football shirts...

Sometimes known as ‘the giant of Africa’, Nigeria has a population of over 200 million people from more than 250 ethnic groups. Nearly four times the size of the United Kingdom, it’s big and it’s busy. In Lagos, Africa’s largest city, the streets are crammed with bright yellow Volkswagen vans running bus routes bumper to bumper, whilst the capital of Abuja is one of the fastest growing cities in the world.

Uniting this massive, diverse population is a passion for football bordering on the religious. Restaurants play repeats of old matches to packed crowds, whilst kids can recite English Premier League stats faster than any BBC pundit. In a nation plagued with corruption, football is life, and although the average Nigerian is more likely to support Liverpool than their local club, the love for the Super Eagles, the country’s international squad, runs deep.

Originally known as the Red Devils due to their red shirts, the Nigerian team became the Green Eagles in 1960, when independence from Britain meant a new green and white state flag (with an eagle in the middle) for the country, and a matching green kit for the team.

After reaching the final of the African Cup of Nations for the second time in a row in 1988, the Green Eagles evolved into the Super Eagles, setting the stage for what many see as the team’s golden age in the 1990s. After years of struggle, they finally qualified for the World Cup in 1994 and in the run-up to USA ‘94 were ranked 5th in the world. After topping their group (winning games against Bulgaria and Greece), they met their match in a ponytailed Roberto Baggio, who pushed their second round match against Italy into extra time with only minutes to spare, before sealing the deal with a penalty kick.

Dashed hopes aside, the Super Eagles quickly garnered attention, and even in an era with no shortage of adventurous kit design, their heavily-patterned shirts stood out (no easy feat considering a combination of green and white is near-enough camouflage against a well-kept pitch). The ‘94 World Cup kit set the precedent for Nigeria’s audacious shirts, and a deal with Nike later in the year only pushed things in a bolder direction, paying homage to the team’s nickname with a stylised feathered pattern on the sleeves.

Other classic Nike designs followed; the oversized eagle crest of 1996… the thick white stripes worn in France ‘98… the fresh mint green of Korea ‘02... all different, yet all distinctly Naija. When the Swoosh lost the contract as kit supplier in 2002, things took a turn towards safer, more reserved jerseys, but after a series of off-the-shelf designs, Nike returned in 2015, and for the Super Eagle’s 2018 World Cup campaign, were keen to make their mark once again.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the hunt for inspiration took the design team to Nigeria, where they jumped head-first into the country's culture. Football isn’t the country’s only passion, and Nigeria has a fair few strings to its bow.

Firstly, there’s the music. Thanks to its diverse population, Nigeria is a vast cauldron of sounds and styles, and like all the best music scenes, never stays still for long. From jùjú to fuji, yo-pop to waka, genres ebb and flow as new instruments are added to the mix. Fela Kuti merged homegrown flavours with American jazz and funk to create afrobeat, whilst Burna Boy blasts from car stereos from Kano to Kirby.

Film is huge too, and ‘Nollywood'—the title often given to Nigeria’s film industry—is one of the largest in the world, reportedly producing over 2,500 films a year. A million miles from the bloated excess of Hollywood, Nigerian films are more no budget than low budget, with directors relying on cheap equipment to create something out of next-to-nothing (hence Nollywood, as in ‘Nothing Wood’). The industry got its start when travelling theatre groups started filming their performances in the late 1980s, and thanks to the rise of consumer video cameras and affordable VCR players, expanded at a rapid rate. In the peak of the video-era, films were churned out in a matter of days (with scripts written on the go and actors wearing their own clothes), but quality has slowly overtaken quantity as a new wave of more cinematic directors has risen through the ranks.

And then there’s Scrabble. This might sound slightly unlikely for a country that speaks no less than 500 different languages, but in Nigeria, Scrabble is serious business, and it currently stands as the top ranked nation in the world. The wordy board game first entered the country in the holdalls of returning scholarship students in the 1970s, and since then has become a national sport, played everywhere from the pavements of Lagos to specially-built Scrabble academies. Far beyond just a taxing past-time, this passion for Scrabble has meant that Nigerians make up over a quarter of the world’s top 100 players.

So where were we? Oh yeah, those shirts. To say that Nigeria’s love of straight-to-video films and good ol’ fashioned board games influenced the 2018 Super Eagles’ jersey might be an overstatement, but if it could punch above its weight in these unexpected fields, then why couldn’t its football team have the best shirt on the planet?

For a lot of people, the 2018 Naija jersey was exactly that. With a no-holds-barred attitude, the shirt took the feathered pattern from Nike’s initial ‘94 design and turned it fully up to eleven, turning more than a few heads in the process. Design blogs loved it, Skepta (whose Nigerian roots recently saw him appointed as a chief in his parent’s hometown of Ijebu Ode) wore it, and punters bought it, with the Nike website receiving over three-million pre-orders in the first hour. The fact that the Super Eagles didn’t make it beyond the group stages seems almost irrelevant. This year’s design only went further, combining the classic green, white and black colourway with a hand-drawn pattern inspired by traditional agbada robes.

It’s this distinct design which is found on the Air Max 95 Naija — a unique take on the AM95 which harnesses the running sneaker's unmistakable rippled uppers to highlight the striking graphics of the Super Eagles’ home kit in full force. First released just a year after Nike’s groundbreaking debut Nigeria shirt, the Air Max 95 has always been unlike any other sneaker, making it the ideal canvas for the brand’s equally forward-thinking 2020 Naija kit (the fact that both designs are firm favourites with discerning UK crowds makes the link even more logical).

Echoing the shirt’s singular pattern, the Air Max 95 Naija sees wave-after-wave of contrasting green mesh and nylon sitting on a black midsole. The sneaker's visible air is displayed to full effect, whilst inside, a Nigerian Football Federation logo is stamped on a lime green footbed. Sharp and punchy, it’s Naija through and through.

The Nike Air Max 95 Nigeria is available to purchase through an online raffle on SEVENSTORE Launches now or though our in-store raffle.

STEVEY RYDER AND THE NIKE AIR MAX 1 LIMEADE: FILLING IN THOSE MEMORIES OF THE PAST

Weds, 16 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Nike draw on the rich legacy of the Air Max 1 Lemonade from 2006’s Powerwall pack to deliver a green infused, ‘Limeade’ iteration. Entitled, the Nike Air Max 1 Limeade ‘Pine Green’, the sneaker is a showcase of retro-intent, playing on the classic silhouette for a scope on the future trend of footwear.

To commemorate the Air Max 1 Limeade ‘Pine Green’, SEVENSTORE spent an afternoon with Stevey Ryder AKA Solelove1, in his hometown of London to talk about his affinity with Air Max and how retro silhouettes have become integral in transforming a new innovative path for the sportswear giants.

Stevey has become one of the sneaker industry’s specialists, with a collection dating back to the 80’s. His desire and collective spirit to chase the next rare pair of Air Max has put himself alongside some of the world’s most devoted Air Max connoisseur’s and is now regarded as a ‘Master of Air’ by Nike.

The Nike Air Max 1 Limeade ‘Pine Green’ sneaker is available to register to purchase through an online raffle on SEVENSTORE Launches now or through our raffle in-store.

The Nike Air Max 1 Limeade ‘Pine Green’ sneaker is available to register to purchase through an online raffle on SEVENSTORE Launches now or through our raffle in-store.

adidas ORIGINALS GAZELLE VINTAGE

Weds, 16 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Liverpool is a city of two teams, two rivalries and two distinct colours that sit close to the either end of the spectrum. It is either Liverpool Red or Everton Blue.

The relationship of the city is built on a passionate backdrop of football fans, culture and rivalry, with the latter stemming from the deep-threaded opposition of Liverpool and Everton. Both of which are contained in close proximity, ultimately dividing the city between two colours.

The significance of football culture has transcended its way onto the terraces since the 70’s and 80’s, and nowhere has it been more apparent than the city of Liverpool. Adidas’ significant part in nurturing such casual culture has led to a magnitude of releases and colourways influenced by cities all over the globe with Liverpool being one.

To honour the red of Liverpool and the blue of Everton, adidas have released two distinct Gazelle Vintage sneakers accentuated in each colourway. The Gazelle is constructed from the DNA of 60’s training shoes, giving a nod to the first launch when red and blue were the only colourway options. Slim and lightweight, a suede upper dominates, with the ever-present adidas three stripes and gold-foil branding.

Shop the latest Gazelle Vintage sneakers in-store and online now.

LATEST IN: C.P. COMPANY

Tues, 15 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

C.P. Company stems from the development and designing prowess from former founder, Massimo Otsi. His integral and intricate approach to garment construction has become significant in shaping the brand and keeping them afloat in a competitive marketplace.

The Italian-outerwear specialists build each and every collection from the working knowledge of their unique archive. This offers up design that converges a sense of past, present and future through garment manipulation and dissection. Renowned for garment-dyed fabrication, the brand continues to roll out innovative offerings with a scope on their ever-growing need to experiment new techniques and fabrics. Instantly recognisable to the eyes of the consumer, C.P. Company draws on inspiration from military styling to bring together a carefully crafted collection of Goggle jackets, Popover Smocks and arm lens adorned Overshirts.

C.P. Company continue to push the parameters of the outerwear landscape year-on-year, pushing themselves ahead of the pack in terms of quality, fabrication and progressive thinking.

Shop the latest C.P. Company collection in-store and online now.

DYNEEMA METROPOLIS 020 JACKET

C.P. Company take a step back into 1998 with a reissue of the Metropolis Jacket in new found Dyneema glory. Unique in detail, the Metropolis 2020 release shows a distinct modern interpretation of Urban Protection.

GOGGLE SKI MASK

C.P. Company add an extra degree of protection to their outerwear realm with the Goggle Ski Mask. A technical knit for full-face protection will adjustable signature Goggles for extra defence.

NYCRA DOWN FILLED GOGGLE JACKET

C.P. Company’s innovation through the outerwear sphere takes a step into sustainability with the Nycra Down Filled Goggle Jacket. A winter-ready foray into the future.

LENS SLEEVE CORDUROY OVERSHIRT

Outside of a pristine collection of outerwear, C.P. Company provide an array of casual elements to their catalogue to sit alongside the winter warmers.

UTILITY POCKET OVERSHIRT

C.P. Company fuse together a perfected overshirt complete with the brands signature garment-dyed fabrication and fundamental offering of protection from the strictest climates.

UBRAN PROTECTION SOFT SHELL JACKET

The Urban Protection line from C.P. Company takes us back to the 1800’s with a heavy-military based influenced. The capsule has featured some of the brand’s most innovative and left-field designs since its incarnation.

CONVERSE X A-COLD-WALL*: A FORCE OF NATURE, REFINED WITH PRECISION

Tues, 15 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Converse introduce a new collaboration with British luxury brand A-COLD-WALL*.

Inspired by earth’s rawest elements and the most powerful forces of nature such as erosion, contrasted with the sharp edges of the city streets and brutalist architecture, the two sneaker designs are crafted with the ultimate focus in modern refinement and technique to produce weather-ready offerings.

Helmed by Samuel Ross, creative director of A-COLD-WALL* and Virgil Abloh collaborator, the limited-edition designs fuse an inspiration from underground street culture and vivid landscapes, combining the worlds of basketball with workwear apparel.

The first of the two releases is the ERX 260, made with burnished premium leather, the sneaker arrives in a grey-violet colourway and a high-top silhouette. Ankle strapping showcases an antique hardware ring that sits upon a scuffed midsole, which is finished with leather detailing and a lace closure.

The next part of the collaboration takes pointers from Converse’s Chuck Taylor and reimagines it though the lens of A-COLD-WALL*. Arriving in a rugged nylon fabrication, the high-top showcases zig-zag stitching and a thick rubber outsole before adding embossed A-COLD-WALL* and Converse branding to elevate the premium look of the sneaker.

The Converse X A-COLD-WALL* pack will available to purchase through a raffle via SEVENSTORE Launches.

FRED PERRY X RAF SIMONS: THE ENERGY AND FREEDOM OF YOUTH

Mon, 14 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Fred Perry and Raf Simons continue their longstanding partnership with another collection divulged in subcultural spirit.

The new collection takes iconic, ever-present Fred Perry fits and re-imagines them with printed photographs taken from the book, 100 Club Stories. The book celebrates the legendary 100 Club, a venue which became famous in the 1970’s for playing host to a whole range of punk bands including, The Sex Pistols, The Clash and Buzzcocks.

From the eyes of the bar staff to the musicians that played the venue, the collection of prints pays homage to London’s punk night life and injects a cohesion between the nostalgic influence of Raf Simons into the subcultures that have built the foundations to Fred Perry.

The Fred Perry X Raf Simons collection will be available in-store and online from 17 SEPT 20.

NIKE LIVERPOOL F.C. UNVEIL THEIR 2020/21 THIRD KIT

Mon, 14 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Nike and Liverpool F.C. have revealed their third kit for the upcoming 2020/21 season.

Taking inspiration from the iconic European nights played at Anfield, the third kit’s design is heavily influenced by the array of chequered flags and banners that decorate the Kop stand for each home game in European competition – a tradition heavily embedded in the club’s history, which has helped create the unrivalled atmosphere at the ground.

For young Liverpudlians who have learnt to sing and sway in unison with their fellow reds, for opposition players and fans that have so often been stumped by the atmosphere of Anfield, the Kop has grown into a cultural icon of its own. Liverpool’s dominance of European football in the ‘70s and ‘80s gained the stand a reputation of its intimidating, raucous atmosphere - paving the new way for a new generation of fans to follow suit with homemade banners, flags and off-the-cuff chants.

The third kit pays homage to such times. Made up in a black and anthracite check pattern, combined with crimson side panelling, the shirt is the third instalment to their new partnership with Nike. The V-neck collar leads onto the delivery of a red embroidered badge made up with the ever-present Liver bird.

The Nike Liverpool F.C. Third kit will be available in-store and online from 15 SEPT 20.

NEW BRAND: CLARKS ORIGINALS, A TIMELINE THROUGH THE AGES

Fri, 11 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

CONVERSE X GOLF LE FLEUR CHUCK TAYLOR ALL STAR

Thurs, 10 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Converse and Tyler, The Creator’s GOLF LE FLEUR come together once again with a summer-infused iteration of the Chuck Taylor All Star silhouette.

Tyler, the Creator brings the bold, youthful energy of his streetwear line to the premium Chuck 70 canvas. The unique design recreates a fan-favorite varsity jacket from a recent GOLF WANG collection, mirroring its bold racing-inspired colors with a distinct tri-panel construction. Quirky details and textured graphics further highlight the aesthetic of GOLF WANG and take the elevated craftsmanship of the Chuck 70 to an unexpected place—which is exactly what you expect from the man behind the design.

The Converse X GOLF LE FLEUR Chuck Taylor All Star Tri Panel is available to purchase through SEVENSTORE Launches.

LATEST IN: UNDERCOVER

Weds, 09 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The 1990’s was a period that fixated gazing eyes on the prolific rise of Tokyo’s Harajuku scene. At the helm were leading innovators and understudies of the iconic Bunka Fashion College including Nigo, Hiroshi Fujiwara and new kid on the block, Jun Takahashi.

Takahashi was in fact still a student at Bunka when he launched streetwear brand, Undercover. His first foray in taking steps on his own, the brand and himself as a designer have risen through the ranks, purveying the essence of ‘Japanese cool’ through the menswear spectrum.

Undercover is a world representative of its founder, with surrealist ideas and a dark rebellious spirit fragmented through an ongoing output of cult-like streetwear. The brand was born from the punk influence of Takahashi and prior to setting up Undercover he played in a tribute band named Tokyo Sex Pistols, taking inspiration from the British punk band – The Sex Pistols. This has cast a clear narrative for what his fashion ethos stands for and the motto ‘We Make Noise, Not Clothes’ is a sure statement of intent, inflicted through a sense of music and disruption.

Undercover has translated a world of influence and made it wearable – a concept of subculture that has been elevated in contemporary, flawless design. Each collection is designed from start to finish by Takahashi himself, emerging from whatever is preoccupying his mind at the time of creation.

The Undercover A/W 20 collection draws on an air of drama with clear reference to Akira Kurosawa’s 1957 adaptation of Macbeth, Throne of Blood. Graphic-laden T-shirts depicting the ‘Fallen Man’ and a heavy dosage of branding fuel the uncompromised dark colour palette that makes up Undercover’s garment collection.

Shop the latest collection of Undercover in-store and online now.

NIKE AIR MAX 1 LIMEADE 'PINE GREEN'

Sat, 05 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

As the journey of the iconic Nike Air continues, the sportswear giants continue to set new boundaries, bringing together old and new design to construct new vision of trends.

Originally released in 2006, the Nike Powerwall pack garnered huge attention with limited size runs, one-off specials and re-introductory silhouettes. The pack consisted of 56 pairs all segmented into different categories, one of those significant pairs was the Air Max 1 Powerwall Lemonade - a sneaker which has stood the test of time, standing in high-regard in the streetwear market still to this day.

In an ode to the Powerwall Lemonade, Nike are set to fill the void from the original release by introducing the Air Max 1 Limeade in a ‘Pine Green’ colourway. A newly updated colour accentuated with the details, branding and materiality once used in the famous Lemonade sneaker.

The Nike Air Max 1 Limeade ‘Pine Green’ is crafted together from a slick mix of leather, mesh and synthetic overlays to round off the look. Catching the attention of many is the monogram, vintage-looking ‘Air’ branding that adorns the sneakers upper, with classic Nike swoosh branding present throughout. Additional embroidery makes up the finer details to the heel and underfoot, the visible Air unit ensures a comforting feel and enhanced look accentuated by a clean white sole unit.

The Nike Air Max 1 Limeade ‘Pine Green’ sneaker is available to register to purchase through an online raffle on SEVENSTORE Launches now or through our raffle in-store.

ADIDAS KÖLN: RETRACING FAMILY FOOTSTEPS WITH DAN SANDISON

Fri, 04 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

adidas KÖLN: RETRACING FAMILY FOOTSTEPS WITH DAN SANDISON from SEVENSTORE on Vimeo.

Köln, like Liverpool, is a working-class city on the banks of an ancient river. It’s famous for its cathedral spires, its mismatched architecture, its sense of community, the sense of humour of its people, and their self-deprecating attitude.

It’s not Berlin or Munich, like Liverpool isn’t London. It is its own city, with its own attitude, its own character, and a sense of its place in the world. it’s working class ethic and roots as an immigrant city, are reflected in the cuisine, the laid-back atmosphere, and the welcoming attitude of the population.

It has been twinned with Liverpool since the 1950s, and is intrinsically tied to Britain through decades of post-war rebuild. It’s rivalry with Dusseldorf, based on football, beer, and industry, is also one that Liverpudlians will recognise and relate to.

FC Köln is the heartbeat of the city. Founded in 1948 as a merger between two local clubs. They play in the Bundesliga, Germany’s top division, and have a fierce rivalry and dislike to neighbouring Fortuna Düsseldorf. They last won the league in 1978, and the cup in 1983 and finished 14th last season. It’s not all doom and gloom though, as Düsseldorf got relegated last year after throwing away a 2-0 lead to in the derby.

SEVENSTORE took Dan Sandison, whose Grandad did national service in the city during the 50’s to retrace some family footsteps and talk through the culture of Köln for the next instalment of the adidas City Series collection.

The adidas Köln City Series will be available online from 05 SEPT 20.

MONCLER GENIUS: EXPLORING NEW TERRITORIES

Weds, 02 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

2 – MONCLER 1952 – SERGIO ZAMBON

Moncler Genius EXPLORING NEW TERITORIES from SEVENSTORE on Vimeo.

Moncler Genius extends its pioneering spirit in 2020 as it continues to enhance its exploration into new horizons. Giving a voice to personal creativity, a symposium of designers were invited to give their unique take on Moncler, and boundaries were broken as the creative hub went beyond fashion into the world of experience.

For the next instalment of Moncler Genius - an urban anthropologist, Sergio Zambon turns to the study of youth movements – both real and imagined–into an opportunity for design. This season, the energy of 2020 clashes with a 70’s pop feel while iconic characters such as the preppy, the hippie and the punk inspire the attitude and items of the collection. From the chino pants to the parka, from metropolitan black to the idea of using blankets as capes, all of it is seen through the Moncler filter. Nylon, heavy satin for outerwear, and the down jacket in every version from upholstery corduroy to print – and blended in an all-inclusive mix that reflects the reality of the contemporary customer.

In order to gain depth and unexpected nuance, the collection is conceived as a collaboration with the whole city of Los Angeles. Through contributions from key LA-based creative players, Moncler gets a touch of the city’s sun-kissed, laid back spirit. Libertine provide rhinestone and glitz used on shirts and sleeveless jackets, UNDEFEATED - the black nylon basics seen anew with a punk twist; Balt Getty devised lively street art patterns and AD.III constructed the industrial metal jewellery worn on top of down jackets.

The colour palette is a mix of emerald, green and Prussian blue with rusty seventies tones and black lit with bright touches of glue pink mixed with orange. Accessories highlight the anthropological mix of styles and decades with seventies flat sneakers, boots, fur hats, plus practical duvet-carriers.

Coming soon to SEVENSTORE.

NEW BALANCE 992 BLACK

Weds, 02 Sept 2020 00:00:00 GMT

New Balance is a brand that relish in the modern-day market, whether it be through forward-thinking design or their ability to enhance a collage of retro releases, their fast design intuitive seems to be leading their ascension into today’s world of contemporary trends.

2020 has been a commanding year for New Balance – a plethora of collaborations and new releases has set the marker for the re-introduction of the famous 992 silhouette. A sneaker that has been a catalyst in showcasing the crossover from running and casual, casting itself as one of the fan favourites alongside the iconic 991 and 990 series.

As the summer draws to a close New Balance continue to ride the momentum of the 992 by introducing a black colourway to the collection. Made up with heritage styling, the sneaker is a premium outfit of suede and mesh, sitting over an ENCAP and ABZORB dual-midsole. Manufactured in the US, the 992 brings together a blend of sporting elite and contemporary fashion to showcase a truly diverse offering.

The New Balance 992 BLK will be available in-store and online from 04 SEPT 20.

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NEW IN: SALOMON

Thurs, 27 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Salomon S-Lab is a step into the future. New innovative ideas, functions and a focus that have all been informed by the past to meticulously construct a range of premium footwear set for every environment.

From dynamic landscapes to the city streets, Salomon shifted their fundamental focus from mountain sports into providing leading silhouettes that have transcended into the contemporary fashion realm of today.

Sitting in the core of the Salomon S-Lab collection is the XT-6 silhouette, originally launched in 2013, the XT-6 has been the preferred footwear for ultra-distance races in the harshest of climates. New materials and colours have elevated the collection, proving to be a hit worldwide and through quality fabrication, the Salomon XT-6 provides a dual density EVA cushioning to ensure soft landings and protection, alongside a light and durable construction.

The Salomon S-LAB XT-4 is another edition to the collection of Salomon trail running sneakers. Born into light and durable construction, it gives out prominent grip and stability alongside its XT-6 counterparts, but offers a slightly different shape and look to the upper. The gradient fade makes the sneaker a recognisable hit through a range of different colour schemes.

The XT-Wings 2 is a reinvented edition of the original. Made in a new-found confidence, the latest version offers up an array of colours and a comfortable footbed to keep you stable in any environment.

Shop the latest Salomon S-Lab collection online now.

ADIDAS JAPAN: CASUAL GUIDE TO TOKYO

Thurs, 27 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Special thanks to Adrian Bianco & Higu

NEW BRAND: CASABLANCA

Weds, 26 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Born out of the sun-baked deserts of North-Africa, Casablanca is the elegant dictation derived from the nostalgic vision of idealist and founder, Charaf Tajer.

Formerly of Parisian streetwear outfit, Pigalle and a consultant to Off-White and Louis Vuitton head honcho Virgil Abloh, Tajer set about to create a new direction of style, a one that tapped into his heritage and vision of life. Casablanca is an embodiment of culture obtained by Tajer’s essence of nostalgia growing up in Morocco, where his parents met and fell in love. The style and expression of the people in Casablanca moved towards silk shirting and powerful colour-palettes – drip feeding its way into the visual language of Tajer and ultimately influencing the foundations of the Parisian, Italian aesthetic that the Casablanca brand possesses today.

This nostalgic spirit formed Tajer’s ideas about what he wants his brand to make, be and stand for. In turn, this comes with his notion of idealism to begin the fusion between leisurewear and high-fashion, perfecting a combination of comfort and elegance. This is all a dissection that signifies the dual-heritage of its founder, and a channel for his world of travel, nature and architecture.

“I want to spread beauty and self-confidence, to express what’s beautiful in the world and about the world, and in all of us.” – Charaf Tajer.

Aesthetically, Casablanca offers a wearable vision of ancient architecture manifested through the line’s palette of rich colours, silks and warming sweaters. Tajer’s affinity to his perfect world also comes under the scope of accentuated fresh tennis whites with pops of pastel colours, for that special idealist Casablanca Tennis Club. It is a refinery of relaxed sportswear that caters for the luxury outing. Casablanca is for wearing when the days are done, but when the night has not yet begun.

Although only two years old, Casablanca has already been making noise through the fashion sphere. Their collaboration with New Balance on the newly introduced 327 silhouette has become one of the most-sought after sneaker partnerships of the past year. To sit with such partnership, Charaf Tajer and his brand were nominated for the iconic LVMH prize this year, cementing themselves alongside previous nominees Craig Green and A Cold Wall’s Samuel Ross.

SEVENSTORE welcome Casablanca with a unique editorial housed in Manchester Tennis & Racquet Club, paying homage to the brand’s idealist world of tennis affiliation.

The latest collection of Casablanca is available in-store and online now.

ADIDAS PARIS: SPORTSWEAR NOMADS

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The adidas Paris will be available in-store and online from 28 AUG 20.

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CONVERSE X FEAR OF GOD ESSENTIALS SKIDGRIP

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Converse and Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear of God Essentials have teamed up once again to revive the retro Skidgrip silhouette. Dating back 110 years, the Skidgrip has seen many reinventions over the years, this time it is through the eyes of Jerry Lorenzo’s childhood in the ‘80s.

With bold, vibrant colours, the Skidgrip was a go-to for surfers and skaters in the late ‘80s – as well as one of Lorenzo’s favourites. The revitalised collaboration repurposes bold, archival prints from the ‘80s which were originally designed in 1987 when the sneaker was commercially known as the Con-Rad. The printing combines blues, purples and reds for a summertime feel - shying away from the minimalist colour palette you’d expect from the usual Fear of God Essentials line.

The Skidgrip takes on High-top collars and a recraft from the OG rubber, catching the essence of Fear of God’s main line but looking down onto touches of the Skidgrip of the late ‘80s.

The Converse X Fear of God Essentials ‘Skidgrip’ is available to register to purchase on SEVENSTORE Launches now or in-store from 27 AUG 20.

COMING SOON: RAF SIMONS (RUNNER)

Thurs, 20 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

For Autumn/Winter 2020, Raf Simons introduces a new line of sportswear-influenced and facilitating footwear, Raf Simons (RUNNER).

Independently designed and manufactured by Raf Simons, the initial range of footwear showcases seven entirely new silhouettes and styles through a number of different colourways. The focus of each and every sneaker showcases an investigation into form and function, and an exploration of shape – particular into how sports sneakers are challenged and re-purposed.

A focus on natural materials - leather and suede on moulded heels mark out the range. Such fabrication is pronounced through efficient technical innovations and strong colour palettes emphasising the overall objective from Raf Simons. Titles of the new range include SOLARIS, ANTEI, CYLON, ORION and 2001, offering a new window into the thought processes behind them.

Coming soon to SEVENSTORE.

NEW BRAND: BRAIN DEAD

Weds, 19 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Brain Dead is force from all over the globe, a foundation from artists and creatives alike in portraying a universe led from a post-punk, underground comics and skateboarding influence. It is a celebration of the spirit of subculture and defined as not one person or one idea, but the space that sits between people.

Spearheaded by Kyle NG and Ed Davis, Brain Dead is primarily housed in Los Angeles but is involved with people all over the world who share an interest in the disruptive world of counterculture. This ethos is driven through the core of the brand with a vast approach to graphic-led products. Made up with collaboration in mind, Kyle Ng emphasizes “A strong graphic tee needs to mean something. They usually convey a small visual representation of who you are”. With that in mind, Brain Dead’s ever-growing graphic collection is the backbone to the brand, delving into a new level of detail and meaning, pushing them ahead of the pack.

The insurgent approach to graphics has passed through the ranks onto new products away from clothing. Brain Dead now establish themselves as a lifestyle brand, investing in functional homeware accessories that have become synonymous with the collective expression of the label.

For their A/W20 collection, Brain Dead have celebrated an offering of relaxed and comfortable fits. As always, collaboration is rife and they bring together artists Gustavo Eandi and Kaloe Kaaikala for the new season. To finalise the collection, the purveyors of disruption shot their latest campaign on the streets of Tokyo with photographer William Goodan, featuring Risa Hosoyo.

The latest collection of Brain Dead is available in-store now.

adidas ORIGINALS X SEAN WOTHERSPOON SUPEREARTH SUPERSTAR

Weds, 19 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

adidas Originals champions responsible design through the lens of respected curator and designer Sean Wotherspoon.

Endeavouring to end plastic waste, Wotherspoon and adidas Originals’ SUPEREARTH initiative takes a new approach to imagining the Superstar sneaker. Each and every facet of the shoe has been re-considered, from the upper to the outsole. The result is a vegan Superstar sneaker that is free from animal ingredients, making this one of a handful of vegan sneakers by adidas.

An expressive update of an adidas icon, the collaborative Superstar sneaker is adorned with floral drawings sketched by Wotherspoon, with embroidered threads emerging from the upper.

An initiative that strives to reduce material waste during the footwear manufacturing process, SUPEREARTH aims to decrease waste through pattern efficiency, as well as the use of products like recycled rubber.

The adidas Originals X Sean Wotherspoon SUPEREARTH Superstar is available to purchase in-store or online through SEVENSTORE Launches from 29 AUG 20.

LATEST IN: MONCLER

Tues, 18 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Moncler is world-renowned leader in outerwear garments, forward-thinking collaborations and a powerhouse of the new generation. Through a change in direction, the Moncler brand is at the top of trends for the new age.

Their continuation into developing fundamental styles has brought about new fabrication and innovative techniques sitting the brand at the top. From the mountains to the streets, Moncler have taken a path through outerwear into a world of streamlined casual fits for everyday looks.

As the mainline of Moncler has transcended from the harshest of climates through the fashion sphere, divisions of the brand have emerged. One of these divisions is Moncler Grenoble. This collection is a progressive outlook into new high-performance wear catered for the bridge between sportswear enthusiasts and fashion natives of today. The diffusion line is aptly names after the Grenoble Winter Olympics in 1968, when the brand landed themselves on the map by providing skiwear to the French Alpine team.

Shop the latest collection of Moncler in-store and online now.

ECRINS NYLON DOWN JACKET

Moncler protects in the toughest of climates. The Ecrins Nylon Down Jacket features Moncler’s premium down fabrication to give out that extra bit of warmth.

DOUBLE LOGO T-SHIRT

Whereas Moncler may be known for their outerwear product, their diversion into casual offers a touch of smartness and layering for the full Moncler look.

VANCOUVER ANKLE BOOT

Moncler equips for every climate. The Vancouver Ankle Boot elevates functional footwear with suede/leather fabrication that sits on the comfort of a Vibram sole unit. Complete with the iconic Tricolour detailing.

GRENOBLE CAMURAC JACKET – BLACK

The Grenoble line incorporates the fusion between sportswear and forward-thinking outerwear design. The Grenoble Camurac Jacket caters for the contemporary fashion consumers ready to take a step on the slopes.

LOGO TRACK PANT

Moncler serves up a technical Track Pant embossed with their logo and complete with neat materiality for free-flowing movement for any activity. Mindfully designed outerwear.

NEW MONACO SNEAKER

The New Monaco Sneaker presents a subtle touch of class to the Moncler ranks, complete with ever-present Tricolour branding and the finest leather fabrication.

GRENOBLE FLEECE JACKET

The Grenoble Fleece Jacket incorporates a technical stretch fleece fabrication with a padded funnel neck feature. A streamlined layering piece for the colder months.

GRENOBLE BEANIE

A mainstay of the collection is the Grenoble Beanie. Suited for a day on the slopes, it comes with the diffusion line’s iconic brand patch to complete the look.

Y-3 SHIKU RUN

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

adidas and Yohji Yamamoto return for the latest release of Y-3’s Fall/Winter 2020 collection. Reimagining the iconography of traditional sporting disciplines and elevating the aesthetics of performance-inspired design, the brand presents its bold new take on a running silhouette: the Y-3 Shiku Run.

Seeking to refine the essential essence of sport, the brand-new Y-3 Shiku Run silhouette merges Yohji Yamamoto’s avant-garde aesthetics with adidas’ performance driven design sensibility. Crafted with premium materials, the Y-3 Shiku Run features a double layer mesh upper with suede accents and leather details. The visually striking upper is then completed with a wrap-around chord system and 3-Stripes branding which peaks through the transparent mesh build. Taking inspiration from adidas’ collection of performance running silhouettes, the midsole employs EVA foam for enhanced lightweight cushioning and a rubber outsole for superior road grip.

Further accentuating the brand’s elevated design ethos, the Y-3 Shiku Run launches in two distinct colourways. The first colourway is made up in black, core white, and ecru, celebrating Yohji Yamamoto’s historically muted palette. Completing the two looks, the second colourway goes beyond monochrome by featuring core white and black makeup, with a subtle-yet-striking hit of red on the heel.

The Y-3 Shiku Run will be available in-store and online from 25 AUG 20.

COMING SOON: RAF SIMONS AW20

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

As another Raf Simons collection rolls around, we’re treated to another interpretation of youth from the Belgian auteur.

For AW20 we leave the figurative highs of rave culture behind for a more literal one, blasting off spacewards to another earth whose cues come from classic Simon’s collections and our solar system circa-1960.

‘Solar Youth’ presents a more optimistic vision of youth culture, one with more structure and uniformity than seasons past, sound tracked by Bowie. by Raf sent his sci-fi mods down the runway with trimmer trouser silhouettes than in recent times – slim-straight tailoring and subtle flares finishing cleanly at the ankle revealing Simons’ new runner.

Another step into the future, the Runner capsule is either a bold redefinition of athletic footwear, or some kind of metaphor for breaking free of his years long adidas partnership. Hybrid sneaker boots take a sleeker guise than ‘winterised’ versions of the Air Max line – minimal, zipped leather boots with stacked sneaker-esque heels.

Tentative hope is scrawled across hand warmers and bags: ‘they can’t stop us’, ‘with eyes open but still nervous’ – sentiment mirrored by knitwear and jackets using zippers to transform from constrictive capes to open, flowing takes on classic menswear. For today’s youth, they can only hope the same metamorphosis is coming in the near future – where the restriction of a summer locked down gives way to a generation of starmen.

Coming soon to SEVENSTORE.