sneaker Archives | BY THE LEVEL

Saucony Shadow 6000 ‘Irish Coffee’ Pack

Posted on November 26, 2015November 27, 2015 by bythelevel

Saucony rework the classic Shadow 6000 silhouette in to three new colour ways inspired by Irish Coffee.

The collection pays homage to a man named Joe Sheridan, who in 1943 introduced the now hugely popular drink of Irish Coffee to a room full of abandoned travellers. Drawing inspiration from the key components needed to create the tipple, the classic 90’s runner arrives in three rich colour ways of black, light brown and a tonal off white, representing the coffee, Irish whisky and cream respectively. Each shoe has been constructed from a buttery Wolverine suede on the upper, all sitting on top of a white EVA midsole and lugged gum outsole for extra traction in the slippery conditions.

I’m always up for a new pack release from Saucony, especially when it comes with an interesting concept behind it. With a lot of brands however, I do sometimes find that the more interesting the concept the more complicate the design, to a point where the shoe is barely wearable. The Irish Coffee pack not only has a good story behind it but is also well executed from the colour to the materials. Each minimal colour way is as wearable as the next, complimenting the sleek shape of the ever popular Shadow 6000.

You can expect the Saucony Shadow 6000 ‘Irish Coffee’ pack to be arriving the week commencing 7th of December at select UK retailers.

Nike introduces the Air Max Zero

Posted on March 21, 2015March 21, 2015 by bythelevel

In the build up to one of the biggest sneaker celebrations of the year – Air Max day, the internet came ablaze with a teaser suggesting the arrival of a new Air Max silhouette from Tinker Hatfields design archives. Nike now lift the lid on the design as they present the Air Max Zero. The one before the 1.

Contrary to beliefs, the perfection of the Air Max 1 wasn’t put together in one go, rather it was the result of several design attempts. One of the earliest concepts was what we now know as the Air Max Zero, which was perhaps too technologically advanced at the time of its design with a majority of the materials and technology needed not yet available. In light of this, the design was reworked into what would eventually become the Air Max 1 and from that an icon was born.

Despite being put to paper before the 1, the zero unknowingly held 3 decades of footwear innovation within its design, from the now popular sock liner to the application of the external heel strap which was not seen again until the release of the Huarache in 1991. For 29 years the sketch laid dormant within Nike’s ever growing archives, lost amongst the success of every Air Max model introduced since, until recently the Nike Sportswear design team stumbled across the sketch whilst searching for new inspiration for the second annual Air Max day celebrations.

Nike designer Graeme Mcmillan was tasked with bringing Hatfield’s vision into the modern day, a tough ask to say the least, despite the original sketch already being well ahead of its time. All the stops were pulled for the Zero, applying the latest technology from Nike, including the newly introduced Phylon Air Max 1 Ultra outsole which was debuted on the recent Air Max 1 Ultra Moire, bulk reducing fuse uppers that offer stability as well as a monofilament yarn mesh giving maximum breathability. Once again pushing the boundaries of innovation, the Zero is sure to be an instant hit and we fully expect to see more adaptations of the style to come.

The Nike Air Max Zero will be available to pre-order tomorrow (March the 21st) nike.com/sportswear and available from selected Nike Sportswear retailers on Air Max Day itself (March the 26th).

Nike present The Holiday Sneakerboot Collection 2014

Posted on October 8, 2014November 19, 2014 by bythelevel

Nike take cues from humans ability to adapt to change in their latest release for Autumn/Winter 2014, as they introduce new adaptations of classic styles in the ‘Sneakerboot’ Collection.

With the weather deteriorating and the UK population reaching for their winter wardrobe, the time is right to be considering footwear options and Nike have seemingly come up with a solution. Traditionally I prefer a slightly slimmer shape when it comes to footwear, so I’m not 100% sure if these are for me, but I do admire Nikes commitment towards innovation and forward thinking performance design.

Reworking iconic running and basketball silhouettes into ‘weatherised powerhouses’, the Sneakerboots design provides a trio of benefits – warmth, visibility and dryness. The shoes original outsoles remain to ensure the same levels of comfort are achieved, whilst internal linings give your feet that extra layer to fight the cold. Additional features include water resistant properties with each pair constructed from a mixture of premium materials.

The pick of the pack has to be the Air Max 90 Sneakerboot, which maintains its iconic shape with added features in the highly visible, highly durable upper, the classic Air bubble for extra cushioning and waffle patterned rubber outsole for extra traction. The release also includes Sneakerboot renditions of the Lunar Force 1, Air Max 1, Roshe Run Hi, Lunar Fresh, LunarElite Sky Hi, Air Trainer SC and the Dunk Sky Hi, arriving in Autumnal colour treatments. We will let you make up your mind on these, but one things for sure… if you’re looking for a warm, dry and comfortable shoe for the winter months, the Sneakerboots are for you.

The Holiday ’14 Nike Sneakerboots will be available at select Nike Sportswear retailers and online at nike.com from October 15th.

Nike ACG Wildwood

Posted on August 30, 2014November 28, 2014 by bythelevel

One of the cleanest silhouettes to emerge from Nike’s ACG (All Conditions Gear) range and also one of the original releases, is the ACG Wildwood which debuted back in 1989. This Autumn/Winter sees new colour ways in the versatile outdoor shoe and they have arrived at Bristol’s 5Pointz.

The shoes feature a leather and nubuck mix on the upper which sits on top of a polyurethane midsole which homes the Air-sole unit providing added cushioning and support. The shoe lives up to its ‘All Conditions’ title with the ‘sawtooth’ grip across the toe area, providing extra grip and stability when tackling harsh terrain.

The pair in focus is the ‘Cargo Khaki/Hyper Pink’ colour option which combines earthy tones on the upper with the more vibrant pink and blue detailing on the tongue, sole and swoosh.

The Nike ACG Wildwood is available now at www.5pointz.co.uk

(Images: 5Pointz)

Sneaker Freaker x Nike ‘Genealogy of Innovation’ Book

Posted on July 25, 2014December 14, 2014 by bythelevel

Hot on the heels of Nike’s ‘Genealogy of Innovation’ exhibitions, the sportswear giants link up with Australia’s Sneaker Freaker to publish a 200+ page retrospective book on the brands rich history in footwear design.

The limited edition book documents Nike’s evolution from 1971, when Phil Knight introduced the first shoe to bear the ‘Swoosh’, up until modern releases in the Magista and Mercurical Superfly and everything in between. Covering 200 game-changing designs in shoes and football boots, the book unearths rarely seen design sketches that have contributed to the brands development over the past 40 years. Interviews with Nike designers including Tinker Hatfield and Nike football design director, Denis Dekovic, give an exclusive insight into the design processes and the development of some of the most noted footwear releases of all time.

The Genealogy of Innovation book is unfortunately not for sale, however Sneaker Freaker are giving away copies of the book to 10 lucky winners. Visit sneakerfreaker.com to be in with a chance of getting hold of a copy.

Crepe City 11 – 26/7/14

Posted on July 25, 2014December 14, 2014 by bythelevel

Now in it’s 11th event and continuing to expand, the UK’s largest sneaker festival, Crepe City, returns to East London this weekend.

Kicking off this Saturday the 26th of July, the event showcases the best from the sneaker community, as well as independent clothing companies. With over 200 stands featuring the rarest and most limited trainers from sellers across Europe, this certainly isn’t one to miss for sneaker lovers and fashion followers alike.

Crepe City 11 also sees a world exclusive Air Jordan exhibition to commemorate the ‘Year of the Jordan 6’, which will include a display from the worlds biggest and rarest Jordan collectors. Alongside the clothing market, Crepe City will also be teaming up with A Number of Names as they host their annual sample sale.

As if this wasn’t enough, the day will be topped off with music provided by the likes of Hannah Faith, Siobhan Bell and many more. There will be sneaker customisation, a Jason Markk sneaker cleaning stall, food, drink and best of all – sneaker giveaways!

Be sure to head down to Crepe City this Saturday the 26th of July.

Location:

Old Truman Brewery

91 Brick Lane

London E1 6QR

Tickets cost £3 on the door. Be sure to get there early to avoid missing out!

HUF Quality Footwear Presents : The Dylan

Posted on July 8, 2014December 29, 2014 by bythelevel

HUF present their first signature shoe from team rider and one of the most noted names in world skateboarding – Dylan Rieder.

Working closely with the man himself, the aptly named Dylan features a low-profile rubber cupsole, cutaway sidewalls for enhanced flexibility and a reinforced midsole for stability. Arriving in two separate colour ways the shoe offers a distinct aesthetic, designed and constructed with quality in mind for a sleek finish. The ready to skate shoe also includes a mesh sock liner, airflow channels along the custom PU insole for breathability, padded ankle collar for increased comfort and support. The look is completed with a perforated toe cap and custom debossed logo on both the heel and tongue label

The Dylan is now available to pre-order from the following stockists, going on sale from Friday the 11th of July;

www.routeone.co.uk

www.flatspot.com

www.slamcity.com