Here’s A Closer Look At The Sneakerlah 2019 Merchandise

Posted by & filed under Fashion, Sneakers.

Coming into Malaysia’s biggest sneaker event, the merchandise lookbook is finally released, giving us a closer look at what is on offer this year.

The merchandise list comprises of two t-shirts with Sneakerlah and U Mobile branding, a pair of socks, and a lanyard with a ruler motif.

Prices are as follows:

  • Lanyard: RM 30
  • Socks: RM 30
  • T-shirts: RM 90

All items will be available first come first served at Sneakerlah 2019 at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre this 5th and 6th of October. If you haven’t gotten your tickets, head on to sneakerlah.com.

 

Waffleheads: The Community Leader | With Izam Shariman

Posted by & filed under Sneakers, TV.

What started out as a mission to gather every Vans lovers in Malaysia, has become a full blown community that’s officially recognised by Vans Malaysia.

The founder of Under The Palms MY, Izam Shariman, talks to us about why he started a community for Vans collectors here in Malaysia, and what he aims to achieve with his continuous efforts to unite all lovers of the waffle.

Alif And Sonaone Detail What’s To Come For Def Jam Southeast Asia

Posted by & filed under Events, Music.

Picture: UMG

It’s a historic day for Southeast Asian hip-hop, as Def Jam Southeast Asia held its first press conference here, officiating the label’s presence in the region through a merger with Universal Music Group and Kartel Records. Showcasing the breadth and ability of our talent, we managed to catch up with Alif and Sonaone on what’s to come with Def Jam.

How does it feel like to be the first generation of artists under Def Jam?

Sonaone: It feels dope. I mean like it’s a dream come true. Never in a million years would I ever think I’d be signed to Def Jam. It’s like, it makes me feel like a little kid all over again. Cause like when I first discovered hip hop, I was like around 10, 11 years old, and the first few things you ever hear about from hip hop is Def Jam. You know, they were the first hip hop label ever in the history of the world. They broke artists like Run DMC, the Beastie boys, LL CoolJ and then the list goes on and on and on all the way till today. Kanye West, Jay Z and then like, you know, it’s just, it’s just crazy to be a part of this huge family that has contributed so much to the culture.

Alif: I mean like it came to us as a surprise also, you know, so I’m just glad that it’s the same family that is brought over from Kartel because we established something very strong with them, some bonding and everything. I think that was really important and we’re experiencing the same thing with Def Jam Southeast Asia. So I think that’s pretty cool. And also we already had made friends across the border, like Indonesia with Ariel Nayaka, and the boys from Singapore, and Thailand. And the fact that they are all under this umbrella right now, it’s just like great, you know? It’s like, it was meant to be.

What do you plan to achieve at the label?

Sonanone & Alif: I guess like what we hope to achieve is just to build Def Jam Southeast Asia, build this family, collaborate with each other and then show the whole world what the fuck Southeast Asia got la, cause we got some fire, that the world should see and also with our traditions and culture too. And hip hop is really like a borrowed culture also in the sense that it can be adopted everywhere and anywhere. So that’s why it makes it interesting. 

Picture: UMG

Do you think the atmosphere at Def Jam will be different from the one in Kartel?

Sonaone: The whole family at Kartel is beginning with Def Jam. It’s the same family, but obviously the family’s bigger now. Yeah. It’s a bigger family. I mean, atmosphere wise I think, you know, having a bigger team, more support, you know, the support from Universal and Def Jam, both of them are powerhouses in the music industry worldwide. And Def Jam being such an iconic brand in hip hop, I think that that the atmosphere is definitely going to be beneficial for sure. You know, like it’s not going to be too different from what we’ve already had with Kartel. I think now things would just be moving a lot faster, a lot more smoother, bigger, more resources. And I think, yeah, you just gotta get ready for some fucking wild shit la. That’s all. We also don’t really know what to expect. All we gotta do is just work, work, work, and then like, you know, hopefully, you know, hopefully we can get the whole world looking this way.

Do you think you’ll collaborate with other artists from the Def Jam LA during the time that you’ll be here?

Sonaone: I mean right now I don’t want to focus too much on like, you know, Western, the Western side of things, cause we were trying to build something regional first, you know? So they’re like, we wanna see what you got. So this is the time when we build strength in this region.100%. So like if we’re looking at collaborations, we’re looking to collaborate with, our neighbors, you know, like Singaporeans, Indonesians, Thai rappers, Vietnamese rappers, Filipino rappers, because the time has come where the world’s getting so much smaller you know? You can DM your favorite artist, and chances are they’ll see it and reply. You know what I mean? So the world is in such an accessible place right now that it would make sense to start with your neighbors. You know, like ask for some sugar, maybe they’ll give you some bread, and then the next thing, you’ll build a neighborhood and the neighborhood is the whole world and you can just walk down the street, and next thing you know, you’re in New York. 

Picture: UMG

Yeah. So I mean like definitely it’ll be great if we could collaborate with, you know, artists from Def Jam US. But I don’t think that’s a priority right now. Like, you know, we gotta we gotta build up what we have here first.

Alif: And we’re like proud of proud of our region, you know, we want to be able to meet them and when the time comes for us to collaborate,  we’ll also wanna bring something to the table, you know, because right now obviously is like one sided. Obviously Def Jam US is like the biggest on top. Everything that is influential in the hip-hop industry mostly comes from that side of the world, right? So I think we’re so proud of our region that we want to be strong so that we meet up, you know, we can talk on the same level. And exchange ideas it’ll just be great.

adidas Remasters The F50.6 Tunit For Use In The Present

Posted by & filed under Sneakers, Sports.

Picture Credit: Prodirect Soccer

With A Little Twist

Speed has always been a key factor in many plays on the pitch, and with wingers needing every possible upgrade they can get, their boots too, have gone through numerous rounds and upgrades, all in the pursuit of speed. So, in an occasion that caught everyone by surprise, adidas have decided to remaster the one of the grandmasters of the speed boot, the F50.6 Tunit.

The Tunit from the 2006 release had a wealth of features never before heard in a boot prior to it, featuring interchangeable parts at almost every level, from the upper, sole, chassis, and studs. The updated version doesn’t carry over this ability to customise however, but instead is replaced by an X19 plate, hence tying its lineage further; a marriage of old tech, and new.

However, much of the original still retains however, from the synthetic upper, the immensely long fold-over tongue, and the use of the original release colourway just screams 2006. In any case, the F50.6 Tunit showcases just how much technology has progressed, and how the F50.6 is so ahead of its time, it’s still a relevant playing choice, even by today’s standards.

The adidas F50.6 Tunit is available to purchase on adidas.com at a price of RM 1100. Worth it for the throwback?

Criticism In Fashion: Where Do We Draw The Line?

Posted by & filed under Featured.

Written by Shazwan Zulkiffli

A week ago, I was on my way to Sentul Depot to catch a few bands at the House of Vans event at Sentul Depot and I noticed a group of boys who went out of their way to look good and neat: neck chains, trousers chains, steel bracelets, chequered vans, t-shirts on shirts and solid 90s mid part haircut to top it all off or in other terms, a group of ‘E-Boys’. I mean, it’s nothing new ain’t it? It’s a usual sight at a gig, where everyone just wants to dress to impress, or living up to the stereotype, no matter if you’re a skinhead, hip hop fan or a skater. 

Flash forward to a few days ago, I saw a photo of the same group of kids (or different batch of boys wearing similar apparel) being shared on Twitter with a condescending caption, and an unsavoury nod to the mentally-challenged. 

These kids were being roasted online for what they were wearing and their personal taste in fashion. The roast was joined by thousands of Twitter users including a few that can be considered as influential figures on a platform that contributed to the post getting thousands of retweets and likes. What’s more disappointing is that most of these negative comments came from users that are much older than the boys, quite presumably a decade older than they were.

It’s pretty ironic to see people in this age group talking shit about how teens dress up these days. If you’re 25-30 years old this year, you might remember your own glorious years of expressing yourselves through fashion. During ‘our’ prime years, we’ve witnessed a few subcultures move at the same time, which resulted in a clash of all these cultures at places like Bukit Bintang, Pertama Complex and Berjaya Times Square (these three were the IT places back then). At one corner, you can see the emo kids with their thicker-than-your-mum’s eyeliners, Bootboys with shaved heads, bootleg Fred Perrys and Doc Marts on the other corner and B-boys with their baggy shorts and t-shirts at the center demonstrating their breakdance skills to RUN DMC and Too Phat’s Anak Ayam. 

Or if you’re into the first wave of indie scene at its peak, this photo will remind you how you were like back in the day: 

I mean, we were all part of a trend, a movement, even a clique before we settled into our own established style. We were once young enough to just follow what our brothers and sisters wore, or what our idols were wearing on JUNK, or on Myspace. We hated the fact that the Baby Boomers thought that we were freaks, outcasts, ‘penyembah setan,’ ‘ikutan barat’ and so on. Are we finally, slowly and ridiculously, turning into the very people we despise? Were they right all this while, or we’re just finally succumbing to the mundane-ness of life that we resort to bullying kids to pamper our own self esteem?

We should let the young, be young, fam. Let them be free from the crutches of uniformity that kills their creativity. Allow them to have their fun, before they slowly turn into bitter and tired adults like us; too young to be jaded, too old to be shameless.

In a few years, they’ll look back at those photos and they’ll laugh at themselves anyway — just like you and I. 

GUESS And 88Rising Will Be Having A Collaborative Pop-Up At APW Bangsar

Posted by & filed under Fashion.

Written by Evely Tan

If 88Rising’s head isn’t already in the clouds, it should definitely be, as the label is set to launch an exclusive collaboration with GUESS

Titled “GUE88,” the collection features a yearbook inspired lookbook, offering a range of embroidered striped T-shirt, a washed out purple bucket hat, bodysuits for the ladies and many more. The pieces will be available in signature 88rising colours including orange, purple, white and black along with the classic GUESS logo and 88rising’s stencil logo. 

The GUE88 Collection pop-up store will be at The Bookmark, APW Bangsar, 29, Jalan Riong, 59100, Kuala Lumpur from 12-13 October, 11AM to 5PM. 

Lacoste Will Be Debuting Its Court Slam Shoes At Sneakerlah 2019

Posted by & filed under Sneakers.

Written by Evely Tan

Chunky doesn’t seem to be going out of fashion soon, hence Lacoste is stepping up its footwear game by introducing the Court Slam; a sleek, yet chunky silhouette that’s suitable for everyday use.

The new Court Slam takes inspiration in archival steps, tapping details from a classic and merging it into streetwear. Based closely on the Tennis 91, the silhouette takes element from the grip of a tennis racket, featuring a leather upper with suede inserts. Balancing heritage and modernity results in a chunky 90s rubber outsole and comfortable padding offering a casual yet sporty style. The colours too, pay tribute to tennis’ roots with the classic court colours of red and white, creating a bold contrast. Finishing touches include the “Lacoste” branding embossed in gold on the lateral quarters and a tonal embossed crocodile on the heel. 

The Court Slam will be exclusively released at SneakerLAH 2019 and will be available at selected LACOSTE boutiques after, retailing at RM479. 

Adidas Takes The Reebok Instapump Fury And Upgrades It With Boost

Posted by & filed under Sneakers.

The Reebok Instapump Fury has had a number of different iterations on it, but nobody could’ve seen this sort of upgrade coming to the silhouette. Of course, as the turn of the day is upon us, adidas have decided to lend its Boost technology to the Instapump to create the Instapump Fury Boost, a major milestone update to the classically defining model

Speaking to the designer of the Instapump Fury, Steven Smith had this to say, “Instapump Fury BoostTM is exactly something we would have tried back in 1994 if we had the technology. We were always experimenting to find the best cushioning system possible. It is great to build a hybrid of the best of both brands’ technologies.”

“When the Instapump Fury was released in 1994, there was no other athletic shoe like it. Even today, it feels ambitiously experimental,” lamented Kelly Hibler, General Manager, Reebok Classic, “Now 25 years later, the Instapump Fury is ready for reinvention. Celebrating the legacy of the Instapump and the cushioning of adidas’s BoostTM technology, the Instapump Fury BoostTM is here for a whole new generation.”

While no official pictures of the shoe have been released, it’s safe to assume it’ll look like Instapump Fury, with more capsules on the midsole, with a strap across the midsole with adidas and Reebok cobranding.

The “Prototype” colourway will release exclusively at atmosCon on 5th of October, with the others slated to release in November and December.

More Colourways Of The Sacai x Nike LDWaffle Are Releasing Tomorrow

Posted by & filed under Sneakers.

The highly coveted Sacai X Nike LDWaffle are dropping in three more colourways tomorrow, including the highly popular Fuchsia/Green colourway, Summit White, and Dark Grey iterations.

For those who aren’t in the know, Nike has collaborated with Chitose Abe of Sacai to come up with a shoe that’s a hybrid of two silhouettes, the LDV and the Waffle Racer, combining these two as you were to overlay them on top of one another, resulting in this unique crossover that’s taken the sneaker scene by storm in 2019.

Looking to cop? The colourways will release tomorrow on the 27th of September on Nike.com, for a price of RM 649. Get ready to catch some Ls.