BE@RBRICK And Royal Selangor Quadruples The Size Of Its Arabesque Black Collaborative Bearbrick

Posted by & filed under Lifestyle.

Let’s talk opinions. If you ask us, do we want a 400% BE@RBRICK lying around the office space? Yes. But do we NEED a 400% BE@RBRICK lying around the office space? Absolutely. Unequivocally. Yes.

And the best way to do that we feel, is with this big unit here, the Royal Selangor X Medicom Toy BE@RBRICK 400% “Arabesque Black.” Finished in a highly polished pewter surface, the etchings are all engraved with curviliniear arabesque motifs derived from steel engraved scrollwork of the 19th century America and Europe.

The structure is hand assembled, and complete with moving parts for increased movement options.

Interested? The upsized model comes with a pretty penny. Measuring 28cm tall, the Royal Selangor X Medicom Toy BE@RBRICK 400% “Arabesque Black” will be available to pre-order at a price of RM 4,900 each. Head on to the Royal Selangor website for more info.

 

 

Eating A Lot Of Satay Won Us The Last Round | One Joyful Ride EP02

Posted by & filed under Lifestyle, TV.

After running up the stairs and taking selfies with buildings, the two teams are presented with another set of challenges, scavenge 5 tourist collectibles in Pasar Seni and eat a lot of satay (100 sticks) at Jalan Alor.

Gathering their wits from 2 city boys who have never ventured into Pasar Seni, woefully losing to Straatosphere, the Malaysians made up on their errors by doing what we do best, chowing down on plates upon plates on food before taking this to their home turf.

Watch the 2nd half of the Malaysian leg here, and stay tuned next week as we travel down to Singapore to see what Straatosphere has in store for us!

We Challenged Our Neighbours, Straatosphere To A Series Of Challenges | One Joyful Ride EP01

Posted by & filed under Lifestyle, TV.

Out of the blue, Nike has summoned us and our friends across the Causeway, Straatosphere to compete in a mix of challenges that tests the physicals, sprinkled with a bit of wit and map knowledge, all in a pair of Nike Joyrides.

Needless to say, the shoes carried the teams comfortably, up the stairs of Batu Caves (same can’t be said for the stamina), and finding the perfect spot for a selfie with KLCC. Watch the 2nd episode by clicking this link!

A Closer Look At The Joe Chia X FDMTL Denim Collab

Posted by & filed under Fashion.

 

First announced on Joe Chia’s Instagram, the eponymous label has collaborated with long time denim maker FDMTL Denim from Japan to create a travel friendly collection that places its focus on utility.

The capsule took formation in a very short span of time, having gone under the drawing back in April 2019 with samples shown to the Parisian public at the Paris Fashion Show in June and making its way to consumers in November.

6 pieces make up the capsule collaboration, ranging from 2 t-shirts, 2 shirts, 1 packable sweater and 1 short pants. The collection places FDMTL denim’s trademark boro prints over its apparel for several reasons. Speaking to Joe Chia’s co-founder, Melissa Deng, said this, “Yea. I think with FDMTL, when we talked to him as well, they’re moving into a little bit more printed as well because with Boro, for one, it’s very pricey and second it’s a very limited skill right now when it comes to crafting the pieces. So it’s very different from before, but it was also very important that we introduced that today. So for us it’s mixing the past, present and the future together. The past meaning the skill set from the past and bringing it to the present where it’s a bit more accessible and wearable for people who might not be used to something that is in the Boro way. 

Fans of the label might notice that this collection leans towards the simpler side of things, and there’s perfectly good reason for that. “It actually looks simple, but it’s not that simple. You know what i mean? It happens at the same time, because you can find a lot of small details, in terms of cuts, found in the pants, the accessories, or the metals that we used. Very specific and carefully selected for this simple pants. But we always believe simplicity is the hardest thing to do. And of course at the same time, we think about traveling, and we also think about when you can wear this collection together during your holiday. Like you don’t want to look too edgy all the time, you can be a little bit more chill, but at the same time, you can celebrate the traditional Boro,” said Joe Chia.

Men of the hour: Gaku-san (FDMTL) and Joe Chia

Every piece of the collection is made out of 100% cotton to retain breathability and the price ranges in the realm of RM 700 – RM 1099. The entire collection is available to purchase at Isetan The Japan Store now.

10 Years On, Kyoto Protocol Is Still In Full Force

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A decade is not a short span of time. The landscape of Kuala Lumpur has changed, a new government has been elected, and the city continues to beat its heart to the rhythm of the people. Ten years too, is a long enough duration for a new band to have been born, conquered the indie scene, had a chart topping hit, gone on a Japan tour, produced several albums and continues to shatter the ceiling of what our Malaysian indie bands are capable of performing when they put their heart and soul into their craft. Ten years in, and we’ve finally caught up with Kyoto Protocol to talk about their journey, their view of the scene, and what is to come for the legendary band.

How has the journey been for the past ten years and being able to celebrate it with a show for the fans? 

Fuad: Just being able to pull off the 10th-anniversary concert was a blessing in itself. First and foremost, it has always been and will always be about the fans. I’m glad they had a ball of a time. Secondly, I think this milestone for us as a band makes us really appreciate what we’ve done over the past decade. It’s this appreciation that will drive us as we push forward into new territory. 

How do you think the genre of alternative rock or the music scene has changed in these ten years? (in Malaysia) 

Fuad: This is a toughie! Recently I’ve come across a lot of new-ish revival movements which tug at my nostalgic heartstrings e.g. Milo Dinosaur and emo, HACKTICK and pop-punk; Masdo and pop yeah yeah. There’s also more chillwave, the best of which to me is Lost Spaces. At the same time, there are a lot of comebacks from the stalwarts like Butterfingers and OBS. Perhaps if could summarise: we’re starting to see more diversity in the indie scene. 

Side shout outs: to the psychedelic boys Golden Mammoth and Margasatwa. To Malaysia’s own Fleetwood Mac, Billie Blue & The Nowhere Men. To our very own singer-songwriters like Brendan De Cruz. To the avant-garde, like LUST and Skits. To the rappers like Airliftz and Zamaera. To the neo-souls like Lunadira. You make Malaysia a better place, with many different flavours of the musical cake. 

Do you still see “Kyoto Protocol” as a group of angsty but fun-loving guys, or has it evolved into something else completely? 

Fuad: I, for one, am more sanguine. I think we’ve definitely matured. It’s a sound that was encapsulated in The Pen Is Mightier and it is liberating. I feel we are even less bound to the confines of genre and I look forward to crafting more good tunes. 

Picture Credits: JUICE

With the numerous gigs, opening acts, and festivals that you guys have performed so far, which has been the most enjoyable one for you guys? 

Fuad: The Urbanscapes in 2013 will always be extra special. We went down in history as the first act to play on both days of the festival after Two Door Cinema had to cancel their appearance. 

10 years in, does Kyoto Protocol want to explore into something else lyrically and musically? 

To us, it’s been 10 years of exploring. The next 10 will be typified by the old adage: the only constant is change. 

Who are your current favourite artists or bands that have influenced your music? 

Individually, we all listen to fairly different stuff and are influenced by various genres and artists, ranging from Grunge and Pearl Jam to Queens of the Stone Age, to Perfect Circle, Dave Matthews, Classic Rock like ACDC, notwithstanding Shaq’s love of the Musical Opera like Phantom and Cats. My personal influences have grown to include a bit more disco stuff that was the soundtrack of my childhood e.g. “Get Down On It” by Kool & The Gang that eventually morphed into “Jelita”. 

What do you guys think of the current music scene now? Is it expanding, is it stagnant, or is it declining? 

A huge signal of intent was the changeover at The Bee. It’s evolving to becoming a dedicated live music venue from previously being part restaurant, part bar, part performance space. There are also various microcosms that are sprouting in Klang Valley with Merdekarya being a good example. They’ve done very well to carve out their niche. 

What can we expect from “Kyoto Protocol” in the near future?

We’ve got stuff up our sleeve that we can’t wait to share with everyone. New songs, a comeback of a huge festival; new tour dates. We’re a better-honed unit now and with the power of Breaking Music backing us up, we’re ready to start running. 

Also… surprise, surprise! #KPturns10 was actually a rockumentary all along. The release date will also be announced soon along with the accompanying live album on streaming platforms and physical media. I believe this live album could be one of the very first from a local independent band. 

All the more to keep in touch with what we’re up to at http://www.kyotoband.com

Undercover Partners Up With Nike Once Again To Unveil A Winterwear Line

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Written by Evely Tan

After the success of the Undercover X  Nike Daybreak, Jun Takahashi is looking to expand the collaborative effort, this time designing a line of winterwear items that takes inspiration from chaos and balance of the technological age.

This collab gives a nod to the ever-evolving nature of our modern world, delivering bold silhouettes designed for every moment in changing conditions. It’s the latest statement from Takahashi’s Undercover- offering audacious looks with the ethos “make noise, not clothes”. 

The highlight of the collection features a 3-Layer fishtail parka in either red or black with loud white branding prints, wording like “CHAOS” and “BALANCE” alongside multiple zip pockets providing utilitarian details. The pullover hoodie includes a black and white colourway with zips on the chest and sleeves area, while the prints includes a big swoosh and Jun Takashi’s branding. Pocket tops and cargo pants of black and beige top off the collection with similar zips detailing, brand labels and wording prints imprinted at the sleeves and pockets.

Shoes are included too, with Undercover reworking the Air Max 720 and React Boot.

The Nike x Undercover collection will be available on the 30th November at Nike.com, retailing between RM335 – RM2,685. 

adidas Has Just Served Us The Pinnacle Ultraboost With The Ultraboost 20

Posted by & filed under Sneakers.

The adidas Ultraboost has long been in the game and is a very well known silhouette from all walks of life, from your aspiring hypebeast to your grandparents. Now, after countless iterations, design variants, and collaborations, adidas believes it has designed the peak Ultraboost silhouette, using help from space. Bold claims.

Drawing parallels with the space shuttle, each component of the Ultraboost 20 has been fine tuned to serve a specific performance-driven function to its very best, allowing athletes to increase their performance.

Top to bottom, we see that the new, advanced Primeknit upper now features a technology called Tailored Fiber Placement (TFP), a technique that allows precision combing of the fibers down to the millimeter, almost perfecting the structure while still retaining its lightweight properties. The Boost has been optimised to capture the energy in every stride and returns it at the toe-off to propel the runner forward. A Stretchweb outsole works together with the Continental rubber to provide maximum traction on all surfaces. The Torsion Spring has been lightened for better landing support and a more refined transition, propelling runners forward. Lastly, the 3D Heel Frame retains, cradling the heel and locking it firmly in place.

More signs of the collaboration include the I.S.S U.S National Laboratory patch on the tongue, as well as coming in an exclusive launch colourway that features an iridescent Boost midsole.

Aside from the shoe, the brand is also planning to send Boost up into space to study its structure and abilities without the disturbance of gravity, enhancing and fine-tuning the material to provide the best feedback possible. adidas have also created an exclusive workout program with insights from EXOS, a world-leading human performance lab to emulate an astronaut’s training program.

Globally launching on 6th of December, the shoe will be priced at RM 780 and will be made available at Sunway Pyramid, Pavilion, KLCC, Gardens, Mid Valley, Publika, and Sky Avenue Genting.

HYPE Clothing Updates Classic Wears In The Latest “Signature” Collection

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Written by Evely Tan

HYPE Clothing updates classic looks with technical updates in their latest FW19 offering dubbed “SIGNATURE.”

The range includes a selection of outerwear, shirting, pants, headwear alongside a few accessories for both men and ladies. The collection’s palette is applied across the neon through custom-milled fabrics such as water repellent fabric garment-dyed cotton twill and others to create a lived-in feel. 

The full collection is now available at all HYPE stores and hypeclothingstore.com with price ranging between RM89.90 to RM199.90

Let’s Face It, Li-Ning Is A Serious Sneaker Contender And Here’s Why | WDHANFTSY

Posted by & filed under Sneakers, TV.

Li-Ning’s participation in New York Fashion Week 2018 was a big surprise, and while the apparel designs were good, the shoes were the real highlights of the show.

Bringing in 5 designs in one go, the Essence 1 and Essence 2 presents a futuristic outlook on what a shoe can be, resembling space like footwear while the other 3 models, the 2020 ACE, the Furious Rider ACE, and the Arc ACE are all NYFW exclusives, and aren’t available to purchase sans a limited drop in China.

Looking at the designs and complexity of it all, it’s easy to mistake the model in the luxury category competing against the likes of Balenciaga and Versace, but the quality far exceeds the sticker price of the shoe, which is estimated to be in the low RM 600s.

It’s not easy to be blown away by shoes, but Li-Ning have done an absolutely fantastic job doing so.

Jetcetera Visualises Unrequited Love In Their First MV, “Damn Johnny”

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Written by Evely Tan

Jetcetera, a five piece band from Klang Valley is back with a new music video release for their single; “Damn Johnny”

This release dubbed Jetcetera’s first ever official music video release which narrates their sophomore single “Damn Johnny”. 

The band portrays “Damn Johnny” lyrically and musically with a rollicking fun tune and a contemplative of a longing yet non-potential romantic interest towards a socialite. Towards the end, the girl then decides to just screw it and enjoy her time with her good friends as her romantic interest takes a turn for the dumps and leaves. 

In this situation, “Johnny” is defined by Jetcetera is an all-consuming temporary high whose affection and intimacy you crave no matter the time and place. 

Check out Jetcetera’s “Damn Johnny” official music video and stream the track on all streaming platforms now.