After a long wait, finally our very own Hotwheels Proton Suprima S car is here! First of all we would like to give a big applause to Amzar Zulkefli from #CustomDerhaka for making this awesome piece. After treating our eyes to his huge array of custom D.I.Y toy cars we couldn’t help but enlist his expertise to make our own unique miniature vehicle.
Initially we asked him if he could imprint our logo and colouration on the original national car, which is the first Proton Saga built way back in 1985. We envisioned a MASSES miniature car to exude retro vibes and a national identity. However the plan didn’t go well as there were no frames he could morph into a Proton Saga so we opted for Plan B, resulting in Amzar converting an Original Hotwheels Ford Focus RS into a Proton Suprima S mini.
Although it’s not quite the OG of Proton automobiles we think but the car turned out to be a rather sexy and minimalist gem! Check out some snapshots of its conversion to the finished product below!
Last but not least, you can also request your very own custom Hotwheels cars from Amzar Zulkeflitoo, whether it is for a birthday present, wedding anniversary, family gathering, engagement… you name it and he’ll do it! Kudos to Amzar again for this custom piece; we really can’t thank you enough.
If you’re part of a band and have always wanted a good platform to gain some exposure, the House Of Vans is now providing that opportunity! Vans has partnered with TAPAU.tv to give Malaysian musicians the chance to play on the main stage at the Singapore stop of the House Of Vans Asia Tour, in conjunction with its celebration of the footwear guru’s legacy.
If you are a musical veteran, aspiring rock star or a newcomer to the Malaysia music scene, this is your opportunity to get some recognition for your musical talent and support some international music acts at the legendary House of Vans events.
From 6th until August 12, 2016, vote for your favorite bands and send them to House Of Vans Asia tour – Singapore Successful. We will select the best 3 musicians based on the panels judge from Tapau.TV and 1 band with the highest vote to be battled on the 3rd of September. Successful Applicants & detail announcement of the Competition will be announced on August 17, 2016. Stay tuned for more information and keep practicing because practice makes perfect!
Musicians Recruitment
22/7 – 6/8/2016
First Round Public Voting
Date: 6 – 12/8/2016
First Round Judging Panel Screening
Date: 12 – 17/8/2016
House of Vans Malaysia Musician Wanted Competition!
Date: September 3, 2016
Time: 8PM onwards
Eastpak Malaysia presents their latest FW16 Collection that retraces 21st century fashion for inspiration, featuring the brand’s latest fabric and colour combination. With several series such as Into the Out as well as its cousin Into the Out Nylon and the Seasonal Colours, consumers will have a hard time deciding from the wide variety of choices. Apart from that, the latest Fall’s luggage line up will also be available in selected World Of Sports stores worldwide.
Nasty Inc, a Kuala Lumpur-based brand that prides itself on crafting unique one-of-a-kind streetwear clothing for the mass culture, has released their new collection this past weekend.
“We are thrilled to showcase the first release of our Spring Summer 2016 collection to the public eye”, says co-owner and CDO of Nasty Inc, Mr Nasty. When asked about the inspiration behind the designs he mentioned:
“As you will see in the first drop, we will showcase progressive designs combined with characteristic detailing in a very modern style. With new materials and method of construction we are waiting for this season’s opening to achieve cohesion and visually pleasing aesthetics.”
“Many Malaysians, especially in urban KL would know about Fahmi Reza and his figurative work featuring the notorious clown, and so forth. I’ve tried over the years to keep our designs progressive and this time would like to also touch upon the notion of defiance and freedom. Hence the “Thief” was born. This allows me to express my thoughts on the current state of affairs whilst testing society’s normalcy. It is our way of pushing the envelope.”
For those who are interested in this latest collection, do head over to their website to check it out! Lastly, don’t forget to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more info.
Stüssy Kuala Lumpur and Raising The Bar is bringing the swag by flying over New York hip-hop enthusiast Homeboy Sandman to Malaysia for a live performance! He will begin his solo tour in conjunction with the release of his latest album “Kindness For Weakness” at Kuala Lumpur on 6th August 2016 from 9pm – 11pm at Playspace Damansara Perdana. The show will also see the supporting acts of homegrown talents Home Court and Xes Xes Loveseat.
The New York homeboy is currently an emcee signed to Stones Throw Records. Someone who prides himself on musical growth and evolution, he was raised in Queens NY, had academic stints in New Hampshire, Philadelphia, London and Long Island and bartended at the legendary Lennox Lounge in Harlem, which is where Shaft used to drink. In December 2006 he decided to focus on his musical passion. His first album came the following year once he’d already been chosen as a coach on MTV’s MADE, featured in preeminent print hiphop mags XXL and The Source, and perpetually championed on foremost online hubs.
Since signing with Stones Throw Records in 2011 – by way of Jonwayne – Homeboy Sandman has released a string of records on the imprint such as his “Subject: Matter EP,” “Chimera EP,” and fulllength, “First of a Living Breed.” 2014 saw the release of “White Sands,” a collaborative project with the UK’s Paul White, and “Hallways,” an LP featuring production from Jonwayne, Knxwledge, J57, DJ Spinna and Oh No. Since, his accolades have extended beyond the realm of the hip hop specific and Rolling Stone has noted his
“skill for wordplay that keeps you hooked.”
NPR, meanwhile, has highlighted his “artful, hysterical, disobedient hip-hop that you can dance to” and Pitchfork has straightforwardly dubbed him “one of the best pure lyricists around.” Homeboy Sandman has written for The Huffington Post and Gawker and if he had an opportunity to give a speech at a huge rally he’d take that too, so more than anything else he just wants to spread his own message to the world.
Go ahead and have a listen to some of Homeboy Sandman’s tracks below:
Eyes
Life Support
Not Really
For those who are interested in going to this StüssyKL party featuring Homeboy Sandman you can purchase your pre-sale ticket (and save RM15) via online until 6th August. You could also buy the ticket at the door, but note that tickets are in limited supply. Go grab your tickets now or you’ll miss out on this awesome party!
You can also check out his full interview with massappeal here.
We’re halfway through 2016 and it’s not an easy job to keep up with the sneakers releases since Malaysia is stepping up its game in the sneaker scene. Without a doubt, adidas is surely on the uphill road now to be able to compete with Nike. While the two giant sportswear brand are getting ready to face each other off, other brands such as Converse, Puma, New Balance, Vans, Asics and HUF also did a great job in 2016.
Check out our top 8 releases that are available locally so far in 2016, in no particular order.
Nike Air Presto Flyknit Ultra
Originally released back in 2000 and widely accepted for its breathable mesh upper, Nike recrafted the Air Presto by adding in their latest Flyknit innovation with the snug fit of a sock. This hybrid silhouette was widely accepted because of its fast forward looks while still maintaining maximum comfort that Nike describes as a ‘t-shirt for your feet’.
You can find more about the Nike Air Presto Flyknit Ultra here.
Converse One Star ‘Hairy Suede’
The One Star remains an iconic pair for every skater out there. Converse has reconstructed the One Star with a Nike Lunarlon insole and premium material for greater comfort and performance. The One Star will be every kid’s go-to sneaker with its low-key minimal looks and top grade materials, getting the best of both worlds.
Renowned website Highsnobiety even did a video of the Converse One Star, check it out here.
Crossover X Puma Blaze of Glory ‘Roses’
Being one of the leading retail stores in Malaysia, Crossover Concept Store put the local sneaker scene under the limelight by collaborating with Puma to release the Velvet Twin Pack, featuring the Blaze of Glory and Disc Blaze. Thanks to the seamless design and the perfectly filled colour coordination, this pair of sneakers received a warm welcome from fellow Malaysians during the release.
No further explanation needed on this pair as almost everyone knows what it is. Following the innovation of Primeknit and BOOST technology, the NMD variants constantly became the hottest sneaker in town. With the NMD being sold out instantly on every drop with sneakerheads queuing up to three days before the actual release date, you can bet that the NMD wave will still be continuing for quite some time.
Nintendo X Vans Collection
Vans is back at it again, this time with the collaboration with Nintendo and the results was pretty much satisfying. The combination of the 8-bit classic and sneakers will provide both gamers and sneakerheads the ultimate pleasure for their feet. Check out the full collection here.
ASICS Tiger X Reigning Champ Gel-Lyte III
This pair remains by far one of the coziest shoe collabs for this year as the sneaker contains a terrycloth material that are widely used in Reigning Champ clothing. Reigning Champs’ principle of ‘Respect the details. Master simplicity’ can also be seen represented by the open embroidery stitching around the heel wrap area.
Ronnie Fieg x New Balance 998 (Made in USA) “City Never Sleeps”
Ronnie Fieg remains one of the biggest influencers in the sneaker scene nowadays and any collaboration would attract quite an amount of people queuing up for the purchase. This 998 featured Fieg’s craft on using the finest material and tri-colour. While the retail price sits slightly higher than average Made in USA 998, people will definitely get top tier quality from this pair of sneakers.
HUF Classic Lo ‘Black/Gum’
HUF is slowly gaining attention with their progress in recent years. The Classic Lo is arguably one of the best shoes to skate in as it’s crafted for skaters. The minimal style and suede material gives a touch of luxury while still maintaining the skater vibes of this pair.
After opening their previous pop up store in KLCC, Nerd Unit co-founder Ronald work with Evan to expand their retail footprint further with a new flagship store within the historic state of Malacca.
Check out the full video below:
Nerd Unit products are available at Nerdunit Flagship Store Subang SS15, Parkson KLCC, Fabspy Mid Valley, Boundlezz Sungai Wang Plaza, LOKA Nu Sentral, Major Drop Sunway Pyramid, Locallab Penang and Nerdunit Flagship Store Melaka. If you’re too lazy to go out shopping you can do so online via their website here.
Stakes Shop has something to show you guys with their recent release of “MESSAGE: HOME”, a 6 minute and 5 second short video for the “Savantgarten Bootlegged” series.
For those who missed out on their “MESSAGE: HOME” screening last week, feel free to click on the video below (only viewable on laptops/desktops). For a better audio experience, please do watch with earphones/headphones on.
For those who are interested in purchasing one of their products from the “Savangarten Bootleged” series, do check out their official website.
Seven-man local ska punk band, Johny Comes Lately has released their latest music video “Ayuh Bangkit”. The song came to be when Ebi’s brothers who are avid local football fans asked them to write a tune they can sing along to during Malaysia’s football games at the stadium.
Being a ska reggae fan, he immediately wanted to write a song that was inspired by bands such as the Harry J All Stars, Desmond Dekker and many more, whose songs football fans in the UK continue to sing in their stadiums.
“I remember going to a football game when I visited London and heard Chelsea fans singing along to The Liquidator and it immediately gave me chills on how ska music blended so well with football culture. We recorded the song to inspire not only sports fans, but the whole nation in general to spread positivity among youth because “BILA SATU KITA TAKKAN PECAH,”says Ebi (Bassist/Vocalist).
Without further ado, go ahead and check out Johny Comes Lately’s “Ayuh Bangkit” music video below:
For more information and updates about the band, do follow their official social media accounts on facebook, twitter and instagram.
Disclaimer: The English version is an authorised translation of the original article in Mandarin for informational purposes only. In case of any discrepancy, the original Mandarin article by Ah Nel can be found here.
Have you ever thought that the shoe you’re wearing now is way more than a shoe? It is an invention, innovation, creation and effort by a professional team. This is especially true if you’re wearing Vans.
Vans was founded in 1966 and it is one of the OGs of skate-oriented footwear, having been around nearly as long as the skateboard itself. So how did a skate shoe brand like Vans dive full throttle into the whole sneaker scene?
Everything started in 2005 when Vans collaborated for a breathtaking collection with Marc Jacobs that innovated upon the ordinary slip-on. Above: Vans X Marc Jacobs in 2005. They took inspiration from the TV.
They collaborated for the 2nd time at 2007.
Take note that other competitive brands Nike, adidas and Converse also have renowned designers like Hiroshi Fujiwara, Yohji Yamamoto and John Varvatos. Marc Jacobs was the creative director of LV during that time.
Now we get to buy a shoe, which was designed by a high-end fashion designer at a very affordable price. That’s how Vans got into the streetwear fashion scene.
Vans started to get in touch with high-end fashion and streetwear fashion simultaneously.
Supreme was kinda the thing back in 2000, but still mostly within the streetwear and skateboarding circle. People who were not really in that circle weren’t aware or else couldn’t care less about this subculture.
The rebellious attitude has always been Supreme’s hallmark while also representing New York skate culture. What Supreme and Vans did are pretty identical, both of them fit in easily and engage in collaborations for almost every season.
I always thought they started their relationship back in 2004. But after doing more extensive research was, it was said that both brands started collaborating back to 1996.
The very first Supreme Vans Old Skool happened in 1996.
Vans started to help Supreme out when they were still new, even though Supreme was not hyped back then as it is now. The relationship was positive and symbiotic, which was likely due to the fact both brands spoke the same tone, in a sense.
Fast forward a few years later and Supreme is the head of the hype train now; it is now their turn to help Vans. In 2007, Supreme hooked Vans up with Neighborhood (NBHD) to produce the shoe depicted below. Everyone should know this; NBHD is really famous for their quality jeans.
Supreme x Neighborhood x Vans “Troops of Tomorrow” Collection, 2007.
After they associated with NBHD, they also liaised with Wtaps too.
Vans X Wtaps, 2015
Never heard of Wtaps? It’s Shawn Yue’s favorite brand.
In 2012, with the hand of Supreme, Vans collaborated with CDG and Supreme. How easy it is for these 3 brands to come across one another, producing a full collection including t-shirt, shirt, cap and sneakers.
2012 Supreme x CDG capsule collection
This Vans really drives me crazy.
Well, this release became a big thing and people were queuing up overnight at worldwide stores to cop one for themselves.
Cute Takashi Murakami
The collaboration with Takashi Murakami in 2015 can be said to be a climax point for Vans. I believe this collaboration was also hooked up by Supreme.
Supreme x Takashi Murakami.
Takashi Murakami is a big deal. He’s the one who brought LV back to life, back when Marc Jacobs was taking care of the brand.
This collection included sneakers, clothes and decks. The resell price is quite decent but too bad the market demand is very low. A diligent effort on designing this collection and they almost used up the best design they had.
Even the distribution point had to be decorated with their concept. Yes, they are that particular.
Well, everything has to be taken down after a month’s worth on display. I know this because I have to take down the one in my shop too! How I wish I can sneak it back to my room, but we need to submit a video as proof of destroying it or else we are considered to be breaching the contract.
Yes, they are that strict.
Until next time, there are many more interesting stories about Vans I haven’t mentioned and we will talk more about it in the next article.
Nintendo X Vans Collection
Above: Vans X Marc Jacobs in 2005. They took inspiration from the TV.
They collaborated for the 2nd time at 2007.
Vans X Wtaps, 2015
