You’re Missing Out If You Haven’t Heard Of Ramengvrl

Truthful, brash, extra. These are all words that can be used to describe Putri Soeharto, otherwise known to everyone else as Ramengvrl, and with songs like ‘CA$HMERE’ and ‘I Am Me,’ only serves to exemplify those adjectives even further.

But unlike the likes of Cardi B, of whom she’s somewhat compared to at times, Ramengvrl speaks about her surroundings, the culture that made her, liking herself, compiled with chockful of references to Indonesian culture. This localisation is made crystal clear in her single Go! (I can be your), opening the song with, “Baby I can be your Gojek,” and then hooking with “I can take you to Surabaya” at the end of the song that provides a refreshingly Southeast Asian take on common scenarios often undertaken by Western R&B artists.

Primarily though, Ramengvrl aspires to be a rapper, as announced with other singles mentioned above. ‘CA$HMERE’ speaks about wealth, or lack thereof, in a niche society of people that talk big, and spend money that they don’t have to put on a facade. The song title is synonymous with the material, which is soft wool often found in higher end jackets and coats. A New Orleans’ bounce forms the underlying music that hooks onto you instantly. She cites references from songs like Lemon by N.E.R.D or G-Eazy’s No Limit, as inspiration is drawn from these two songs. Hence, ‘CA$HMERE’ was born, and to great success.

Numerous comparisons have been drawn with Ramengvrl and Rich Brian, of whom ply their trade in the same genre, and both to immense success when it comes to fielding the Indonesian name to the international stage. And if Ramengvrl continues to push incredible levels of work and talent, she’ll get there in no time.

 

 

Jin Hackman Raps Up 2018 With More References Than Ever

Another year, another wrap up, and 2018 presented itself with a great deal of events, from the small, all the way to the big. Starting off with a Netflix reference talking about the show ‘The End Of The F*cking World,’ the cold January climate, and a shoutout from Michelle Yeoh from the Star Trek set. Not forgetting too MasterChef UK comments on how rendang chicken should be crispy, and MyBurgerLab’s Nasi Lemak burger, as well as the historic moment that changed Malaysia as it is, the 14th General Election.

Picture From Left To Right: Anuar Roslan and Reddi Rocket

 

Jin’s managed to pack every moment, meme, and event into a 3-minute act, and with the help of fellow DJs Reddi Rocket and Anuar Roslan, just graduates the song from a one-off into a track you’d save into your playlist. Give the song a listen, and see if you can spot all of the easter eggs!

For other works of Reddi Rocket, Lunadira and Daaliah dropped a cover of Amine’s ‘Caroline.’

 

Carhartt Collaborates With Timex On A Special Edition Camper MK1

Reflecting the brands’ utilitarian background

Carhartt seems to be on a roll these past few months, and with successful collaborations with Nike and Converse, the brand goes three-for-three with renowned watchmaker, Timex.

Utility has always been at the forefront, and this collaborative timepiece speaks volume it. The Camper MK1 is a re-release of the first Camper model from the 1980s, derived for civilian use where it was once adopted by the US Army for its convenience, functionality, and durability. The watch is swathed in a custom colourway and comes with a fabric strap, quartz movement, and water resistance up to 30 metres. Carhartt’s logo replaces the 3 inside the dial, ensuring bystanders know that this is a collab by Carhartt.

Pre-orders are open at Crossover starting today and is shipped by 21st December, while a physical drop will happen this Saturday at Crossover stores. It’s still not too late to cop your Christmas gift!

For more on watches, Bell & Ross just released an exclusive to the Malaysian market that is limited to just 120 pieces.

Here Is The Office’s Top Sneaker Picks Of 2018

You’ll probably have heard this twice or thrice if you’ve been following Mr Foamer Simpson or Complex Con(versations) but it’s true. 2018 has been a good year for the footwear industry, and we’ve seen plentiful of collabs ranging from the overtly hyped, to the relatively muted. With this in mind, the office has had a thought of what their top picks are, and have come up with some very interesting, fairly unique choices.

Bryan Chin – Chief Editor

Brain Dead X Converse Chuck 70s

Crazy design that is pretty much out of this world, but still manages to keep the essence of what a Chuck Taylor is.

Benjamin Teoh – Videographer/”From The Thread” Host

Yeezy 500 “Blush”

Hated it at first but grew on me like mad. Details are crazy on the shoe, pretty comfy, best looking dad shoe in my opinion.

Julian Leong – Project Manager/”Sneakernomics” Host

Daniel Arsham X Adidas Futurecraft 4D

Futuristic. A colorway that can be worn easily, mixed with details that tie in with the concept of ‘Future’ with a 4D sole. The entire concept was executed perfectly.

Yim Kian Seng – Creative Director/”Cool Story Bro” Host

Carhartt x Nike Air Max 95

While I don’t really like the Air Max 95 silhouette, the collab manages to imbue all of Carhartt’s signature elements into the shoe. Dope concept.

Safwan Sarimin – Head of Video

Acronym X Nike Air Presto Mid “Racer Pink”

Been a long time fan of Acronyms, and the brands use of bold colours triggered my senses to like it, hence the “Racer Pink.”

Carmen See – Graphic Designer

Converse Chuck 70s

Not shoe of the year, but shoe of the century.

Joshua Desmond – Head Of BDM

Travis Scott X Nike Air Force 1 “Sail”

I like the Travis Scott AF1 Sail. For a non extreme sneakerhead it’s a familiar silhouette. I like the gum sole. Easily styled. But mostly the shoes isn’t super showy. The attention is in the details. I like the fact you can change the Swoosh. Fun and a small touch of customisation/personalisation.

Amir Johari – Videographer

Adidas Consortium “Workshop” Falcon

An alternate design for the Falcon which features a sock-like ankle construction that makes it comfy for me to wear. Minimal mash up of white Primeknit upper & suede panel with yellow detailing on the offset rounds up the shoe nicely. Aggressively minimal.

Nabil – Editor

Sean Wotherspoon X Nike Air Max 97/1

Dude, when this first released I lusted over them. I hated the fact that I couldn’t get them then, and it’s made even worse that I couldn’t get them now. If I had any spare cash lying around, this would be a definite cop for sure.

Isaac Yeap – Fashion Writer

ASICS X Kiko Kostadinov Gel Delva 1

The perfect dad shoe for me. Kiko’s managed to bring the best out of ASIC’s high performance qualities coupled with abstract design from the world of Kiko. Everything from using different parts of ASICS’ catalog from the GEL-FUJI Trabuco 7’s upper with the GEL-KAYANO 24 heel tooling with a mesh cage that covers the stripes, is stylish as fuck, without sacrificing its performance.

For the best sneaker releases this year, click on over here to see the top 17 releases of 2018.

Neymar Jr. Enlists Edmond Looi To Design Another Goku Custom

It’s been a good year for homegrown sneaker customizer, Edmond Looi. Just as we thought the year was great enough for him, he proved us wrong.

This morning, Edmond shared with his followers and friends his latest work, a customized Off-White x Nike Air Presto with a Goku theme behind it. We know, he’s done it before, but this time, he did it better, for a very special client, Paris Saint-Germain F.C striker, Neymar Jr. Edmond received a message from Neymar’s manager through Instagram late October and after that, everything else was history. Edmond improvised from the previous Goku Presto custom by adding the Presto tab on the tongue with a star pattern on it to represent the ‘7 Dragon Balls’, black metal eyelets to the cage, and changed the “AIR” wording on the strap to “GOKU”. Edmond’s Goku custom can be seen featured on Neymar Jr.’s Instagram story today (19/12).

The office applauds Edmond’s efforts and hard work which got him where he is today in the sneaker customizing industry. Drop by Edmond’s Instagram profile at @edmondlooi and show some love with some comments of ‘Power Level over 9000’.

Uniqlo Reckons You Can Wear The Brand 24/7 In Their Spring/Summer 19 Preview

By Isaac Yeap

As Winter in the West is almost coming to an end, fashion labels around the world have already started releasing their Spring/Summer 2019 collections. For Malaysians, the word ‘Spring/Summer Collection’ breathes a sigh of relief as we can finally purchase clothes that we can actually wear in this searing heat of a climate. 

That is also inclusive of the current king of affordable basic-wear, UNIQLO, which now, champions their products as LifeWear, taking inspiration from the Japanese values of simplicity, quality & longevity. We got an exclusive look to their 2019 Spring Summer Collection last week to check out what do they have to offer for the coming year.

A bungalow in Bangsar sets the stage for the show. The house is then divided into 3 different settings (office, living room lounge, & activewear) to showcase the up & coming apparels worn by models. Reason here being that according to Uniqlo, LifeWear can be used in all occasions, and at all times. Interesting pitch.

Each setting features a rack of clothing that showcases a teaser of what to expect from the brand coming 2019. At the living room lounge, it features the latest design of AIRism, UNIQLO’s take on breathable clothing, paired with light knits, polo shirts & UNIQLO’s signature EZY Cotton Pants that comes with stretchy fabric, for added comfort.

Moving on to the Office setting, the collection features staple work wear with a formal yet casual flair. All of those can be found in the form of KANDO Jackets, which is a material lined with Airdot fabric with anti-microbial & odor functionality, perfect for our Malaysian hot & humid weather. Aside from the KANDO series, UNIQLO also features the EZY Ankle Pants which is similar to the EZY trousers but with a more contemporary fit, non-iron (Wrinkle Free) Shirts, & 100% rayon blouses for women as also part of their office wear.

Finally, we head to the Activewear section, which oddly enough featured at a kitchen setting. The Activewear rack features several water resistant jackets that comes in bright summer-y colors like red, blue, green & yellow, coupled up with bright & bold prints from the UT collections.

This showcase also featured some of the best collaborations by UNIQLO for the year 2019. Amongst them are the UNIQLO UU collection with Christophe Lemaire, UNIQLO X Ines De la Fressange, & UNIQLO x Hana Tajima. However, those features are extremely limited to the basic items instead of showcasing the full collection.

Overall, we dig the concept with scenes of real life application & settings. However, the showcase of clothing was extremely limited & definitely slightly disappointed with the lack of UNIQLO UU in the showcase as we were both extremely excited to check that out firsthand, but nevertheless, it was a great event in demonstrating the different technologies UNIQLO has to offer in their arsenal of clothing.

Masses Picks: 17 Best Sneaker Releases Of 2018

A year filled with continuous sneaker releases, and we have finally reached the end of 2018. Uusually during this time of the year, a question arises among sneakerheads, ‘What was the best release of 2018?’ and with an abundance of shoes being released practically every week, it’s almost impossible to determine which is the best since most releases were strong in their own elements. The office has decided and we managed to sum up the best releases of the year, so here it goes:

17. Nike M2K Tekno ‘Phantom’

As the ‘dad shoe’ trend strides in, Nike released a new silhouette known as the Nike M2K Tekno. Initially released only for women’s, the Swoosh eventually decided to release the silhouette for men’s sizing after underestimating its popularity. Amongst the colorways released, the OG colorway dubbed the “Phantom” is arguably the best one among all, due to its sheer simplicity. Retailing at RM389, all pairs sold out the moment it dropped.

16. Adidas Yeezy 500 ‘Blush’

The Adidas Yeezy 500 ‘Blush’ seemed foreign to many and wasn’t accepted instantly, however, once on-feet photos surfaced, sneakerheads were out to find a pair for themselves. Resell value started at around RM1,000 but eventually climbed up all the way to RM1,800 per pair and even higher prices for bae (read: small) sizes. Even without ‘Boost’ as a selling point, the silhouette in the ‘Blush’ colorway managed to win the hearts of sneakerheads with its own unrivaled aesthetics.

15. size? x Vans ‘Factory Floor/Patchwork’

It was tough to choose either one, so we proceeded with both pairs. Dubbed the “Factory Floor” and “Patchwork”, the concept behind each pair is based on prototypes and raw materials. The “Factory Floor” features various materials throughout the silhouette where each material references the scraps found on the factory floor while the “Patchwork” represents the initial process of building and designing a pair of sneakers using various materials where these materials are used on sample pairs or prototypes to assist employees to design the end product. Underrated, we believe this release deserves more recognition than it did.

14. Blends x Vans Sk8-Hi ‘Bones’

Every Blends collaboration with Vans never fails, especially with bones replacing the Jazz stripe. Early of 2018, Blends released another pair of Sk8-Hi with pony hair on the bone sidestripe which sold out instantly. A pair that was slept on, yet fortunate for Vans collectors as they need not compete with sneakerheads worldwide for a pair.

13. Air Jordan 1 ‘Bred Toe’

Jordan Brand released the ‘Bred Toe’ using the same color-blocking (and probably leather) as the ‘Shattered Backboard’ but with bright, lush red instead. The release was beyond successful as sneakerheads started looking high and low for their personal pairs after the release date. With such high demand and limited supply, the resell value shot up from RM1,200 all the way to RM1,800 within months.

12. AFEW x BEAMS x Asics Gel-Lyte III ‘Orange Koi’

The ‘Orange Koi’ is the sequel to AFEW’s Koi back in 2015 during Asics’ 25th Anniversary. For this release, AFEW and Asics included BEAMS into the team to produce the ‘Orange Koi’ and they did not disappoint. Details throughout the silhouette with color-blocking runner collectors can’t resist, it is safe to say that the ‘Orange Koi’ is one of the better releases of the year or even the best release yet to the collectors.

11. Air Jordan 1 ‘Nigel Sylvester’

BMX sensation Nigel Sylvester worked on a pair of Air Jordan 1 with Jordan Brand because he uses Air Jordan 1’s to master his tricks. A detail to highlight from this release is the mini Swoosh logo on the mudguard, which is a first ever for the Air Jordan 1 silhouette. Hand-scuffed marks are observable throughout the pair as it represents the damages done to a cyclist’s shoe when they try to master any tricks which is a great representation of the concept behind the release. This pair is definitely one not to miss for collectors.

10. Off-White x Nike Blazer Mid ‘Halloween Pack’

Off-White and Nike made it in time to release two more colorways of the Nike Blazer this Halloween. Dubbed the ‘Grim Reaper’ and ‘All Hallows Eve’, both the colorway and the nicknames represent the occasion perfectly. Some prefer the ‘Grim Reaper’, some prefer the ‘All Hallows Eve’ but at the end of the day, we can all agree that this was one for the books when it comes to 2018 releases.

9. KITH x Coca-Cola x Converse

Representing four different countries, using four different colorways, and a translucent green sole as a nod to Coca-Cola to represent their bottles, this release was beyond most expectations. One of the Converse 2018 releases which united collectors of different brands together just because the conceptual execution was so damn perfect.

8. Off-White x Nike Air Max 97 ‘Menta’

The Air Max 97 ‘Menta’ is arguably one of the easier pairs to wear on-feet with its two-tone grey upper and tri-colored Swoosh. First teased on the runway of Paris Fashion Week which gained the shoe its own publicity and stirred up hype amongst sneakerheads. The Air Max 97 ‘Menta’ definitely made it on most sneakerhead’s list this year.

7. Off-White x Nike Presto 2.0 (Black)

The Off-White x Nike Presto is almost all sneakerhead’s top three ‘The Ten’ silhouette and when Nike announced that the 2.0’s were releasing, the sneaker scene went wild. Everyone was looking for a plug, or at least finding out every way to get their hands on them. Most sneakerheads preferred the black colorway over the white due to the contrast between the uppers and the Swoosh and also due to its high wearability aesthetics. Some call them the ‘Venom’, while others just call them heat.

6. Travis Scott x Air Jordan 4 ‘Cactus Jack’

Most Air Jordan 4’s are given colorways which aren’t loud but when these released, sneakerheads screamed out of joy. Vibrant blue, with hints of red, white and black reflecting the Houston Oilers, it was a no-brainer for most especially when such an iconic rapper such as Travis Scott is behind the works of it.

5. ACRONYM x Nike Air Presto Mid

The previous Nike Air Presto Mid release by ACRONYM and Nike was a huge success and this time round, it did not fall short. Released in a pack of three, Racer Pink, Dynamic Yellow and Cool Grey, with Racer Pink being the favorite of sneakerheads. This release was easily accepted by both male and female sneakerheads, and most of them bought with intentions to wear instead of reselling which is why this entire pack made it to the list.

4. Union x Air Jordan 1

Released in November in two different colorways with similar color schemes of the “Black Toe” and the “Storm Blue”. The aesthetics of the collaboration was meant to celebrate DIY culture and vintage hunting, highlighted by the exposed stitching and dual-colored uppers. The vintage retro vibe apparently resonated well with everyone after a while, after people turned it down when Union secretly dropped it at the Rose Bowl Thrift Market.

3. Daniel Arsham x adidas Futurecraft 4D

As futuristic as Adidas Futurecrafts already are, Daniel Arsham took it to the next level. The Primeknit upper mimics the green 4D-printed midsole color while Arsham adds hidden UV-light branding on the toe box and stripes on the side panels. The office agrees that this pair has to be the best, or not one of the most futuristic collaborations of the year.

2. Nike React Element 87 ‘Sail’

We know Virgil Abloh started the see-through trend with ‘The Ten’ through ‘The GHOSTING’ pack, however Nike’s new silhouette which placed a heavy emphasis on the see-through concept broke necks everywhere. The innovative design allowed wearers to change their sneaker colorway by wearing different colored socks which was fun and fresh to sneakerheads. The OG colorway, also known as ‘Sail’, is deemed the best and cleanest colorway among the others. Why is it number two, you ask? Yes, while this may be a game changer, the next silhouette we think surpasses even that.

1. Nike AM1/97 ‘Sean Wotherspoon’

The winner of this list is not a surprise. Do you recall the struggle to cop this pair back in March? It was chaotic and prices were already inflated even before they released. A hybrid between Air Max collector’s favorite silhouettes, the Air Max 1 and Air Max 97, using unique materials such as corduroy and velvet, accompanied by patches which was an interesting detail to add, who wouldn’t want a pair for themselves?

The background story of the pair itself, including Wotherspoon’s associates who helped him with the design and colorway, sweetened the deal even more. Nike decided to go big instead of going home with this one, and they wow-ed the global sneaker scene with their marketing. It is safe to say that there won’t be another pair with such impact releasing in the near future and this is why the Nike AM1/97 ‘Sean Wotherspoon’ wraps up the list at number one.

Picture Credit: Piotr Bratosiewicz

From The Thread EP2 With Hugh Koh Of Pestle And Mortar


Pestle and Mortar (PMC) co-founder, Hugh Koh comes on the show to share insights about the state of PMC now, expanding collaborations across international waters, and discusses his take on a few scandals that have happened in the past year.

Stay tuned for more of From The Thread every Tuesdays and Thursdays, bringing you news and differing perspectives on the fashion scene.

Hype Clothing Goes Full Military In Their Fall/Winter 2018 Collection

Military themes aren’t new but it all boils down to the execution of said looks on certain pieces, and Hype Clothing has a fair few hits on its latest Dust To Ashes collection. Inspiration, peculiarly, comes from the Gulf War between US forces and the Iraqi military in 1991.

One of the highlights of the collection include 3D printing meant to emulate embroidery-like patch on its MA-1 Bomber Jacket. the patch in question, a flying eagle, is said to represent the supremacy of allied forces over the Iraqi forces. Again, we can only wonder as to why it is what it is.

Most of the collection is unisex, save for a few pieces that are specifically for women’s, particularly the aforementioned bomber jacket and long line t-shirt. Price range starts from RM89.90 all the way to RM199.90. Apart from the odd symbology referencing an international war, the apparel in the collection is made with commendable quality.

 

Take for example the jacket and pants. Clad in navy Multicam camo, both clothes were constructed from full ripstop fabric with slightly oversized cuts for a more comfortable wear, and we gotta say, we’re very impressed with the pants. Hype Clothing’s ‘Dust To Ashes’ collection is available now at select retailers and online at hypeclothing.com.

‘1 Out Of 100’ Yung-1s I WDHANFTSY

Recently, Absolute Vintage UK collaborated with Adidas to release their iteration of the Yung-1s, complete with Tartan print upper and priced at a ridiculous 28£ per pair. Julian ‘Sunflower’ Leong managed to get a pair and breaks down the story behind it with Bryan ‘Rambutan’ Chin in the video above.