BAPE Commemorates Its 30th Anniversary With New Limited Edition Prints

BAPE has remained a relevant player in the realm of streetwear for three decades now thanks to its plethora of trendy apparel releases, wealth of sneaker releases and collaborations and more. And to celebrate its 30th anniversary this year it has made its presence felt with new initiatives, the latest of which is comprised of limited edition prints that are being launched via its BAPE GALLERY™ category.

BAPE GALLERY™ tapped 12 artists around the world and had them reinterpret the brand’s signature icons and logos. Adam Lister, Alvaro Ilizarbe, Arkiv Vilmansa, Eric Inkala, Jasper Wong, Lilkool, OSO DE AGUA, Sam Taylor, Simone Legno of tokidoki and Tomotatsu Gima reworked the Japanese streetwear stalwart’s camo graphics, BAPE head and more with multi-colored ensembles, their own signature characters, colorful mosaics, abstract patterns floral imagery and more.

Each of the 12 designs come individually signed and numbered, all of which are limited to just 300 units each. If you’re looking to spruce up your home decor, you can now shop the art pieces via the UK.BAPE.com store. Prices range from £220-£330 (approx. $274-$411 USD). Check out a closer look at each design in the gallery above.

In case you missed it, COMME des GARÇONS and BAPE unveiled their SS23 collection.

Ed Templeton and THE SKATEROOM Link Up for Limited Edition Decks

THE SKATEROOM closed out 2022 with a vinyl-inspired set of decks by German artist, Gregor Hildebrandt. While it’s almost halfway into the new year, the art collective has followed from one legend to another through a new limited edition collaboration with skater and photographer, Ed Templeton.

The capsule is based off of Templeton’s Wires Crossed series. Created between 1995 and 2012, Templeton describes the collection as his life’s work, as he chronicled the often misunderstood life of skaters — from their triumphs, injuries, relationships and emotions. “I was a drifting kid who had no aim, but then I found this thing that put me around these great people,” Templeton said when first recalling his introduction to skateboarding. “The act of skateboarding is secondary to the community,” he added.

Each set is an edition of 50 and comes as a triptych. For those looking to purchase, the decks are available to purchase for $750 USD via THE SKATEROOM. Ten percent of the net revenue supports Free Movement Skateboarding, which seeks to empower refugees in Athens through skateboarding.

SKATE LIFE: Toyota Taps Into The Skateboard Community For Latest Project

Having launched a collaborative collection comprising of a selection of garments and an exclusive BE@RBRICK figure last year, Toyota enlists Japanese multimedia agency STARBASE Inc. once again to introduce the fourth installment of the PLAY HIACE series. Brought to life by New York-based forefront film photographer Jiro Konami, the campaign channels youthfulness staying true to its “Drive Your Teenage Dreams” ethos.

Shot in the car manufacturer’s home city of Tokyo, Konami captures three emerging skaters; Luis Mora, Kyonosuke Yamashita and Takuya Ishizuka as they do what they do best. Set to the backdrop of a customized matte black Toyota HIACE, the skaters’ board of choice is an original Toyota deck as they don the latest selection of hoodies.

You can find more information on the latest “Drive Your Teenage Dreams” collection through Toyota’s Instagram.

ART LIFE: Futura and Takashi Murakami Release Collaborative Screenprints /Sean Wotherspoon Skates in the Latest Prada x adidas Originals Sneaker

Futura is currently presenting hand-painted light sculptures at the Noguchi Museum in Queens, New York as part of an installation running through February 28, 2021. The works feature the iconic graffiti artist’s atmospheric, aerosol creations on a selection of Akari light sculptures designed by the late and influential sculptor, Isamu Noguchi. 

To commemorate the presentation, the Noguchi Museum is offering collaborative print editions designed by Futura and Takashi Murakami. Titled intermezzo TFBLK and intermezzo TFWHT, both editions arrive in an edition of 100 with 50 of each hitting the Noguchi Museum’s website and on-site at the Museum shop. The release of the second set of 50 will be available in Japan only through Kaikai Kiki Gallery.

“In August 2020, FUTURA2000 was scheduled to have a solo exhibition at Kaikai Kiki Gallery in Tokyo, opening on what would have been the eve of the 100 meters gold medal finals at the Tokyo Olympic Games,” said The Noguchi Museum in a statement. “That exhibition has been rescheduled to August 2021, but this correlating edition—a symbolic gesture of Futura and Takashi’s relationship and a cultural dialogue between Japan and the United States—finds a natural home as part of the Noguchi Museum’s collaborative ’Futura Akari’ exhibition on view through February 28, 2021.”

The sale of the prints is limited to one of each per buyer. All prints will be shipped flat, unframed, and are available to ship internationally.After leaving Nike in 2019 and revealing his partnership with adidas in January 2020, Round Two co-owner Sean Wotherspoon has leaned fully into the Three Stripe life, releasing a sustainable Superstar “Superearth” in August and now taking to his Instagram to show off a new Prada x adidas Originals sneaker. Via a short skate clip and small selection of both on/off-foot shots, Wotherspoon provides our most detailed look yet at the style, a stripped-back silhouette that seems to pull its overall shape from archival Prada trainers while using new-age materials for a mix of past and present.

Dressed almost entirely in white and silver, the shoe’s upper uses translucent TPE and mesh for a ghostly, revealing look. Of note are the silver Three Stripe graphics appearing under the quarter panel, and thick, milky ruber bumpers on toe and heel alike. Although it’s hard to tell, midsoles appear to be filled with BOOST cushioning. The shoe’s most notable detail, however, is the red Prada stripe that runs up the heel — the shoe’s only diversion from its white and silver palette, save for a red stamp on the insole.

A release date for this new Prada x adidas Originals collaboration has yet to be announced, but will likely surface soon. In the meantime, you can watch Wotherspoon’s skate clip and peruse the photos above.

ART: View the Action-Packed Winning Images of This Year's Red Bull Illume Competition

The Red Bull Illume Image Quest competition is one of the most illustrious competitions for photographers specializing in action sports. This year, 60 finalist images were selected from a record-breaking 59,551 images submitted. Category winners were then selected and announced during an event at the LUMEN Museum in Italy where all 60 finalist images were placed on view. It took a panel of 50 photo editors and digital experts to review the original batch of 59,551 images. Categories included Best of Instagram by SanDisk, Innovation by Sony, Lifestyle, Moving Image, Masterpiece and more.

Ben Thouard ended up taking home the Overall Winner honor for his captivating underwater photo of athlete Ace Buchan while he surfed in Teahupo’o.

“I’ve dedicated the last few years to shooting underwater, looking for new angles and a new way to shoot surfing and waves,” says Thouard of his work. “Tahiti has some of the clearest water in the world. This photo was shot during a free surf session right before the WCT event in Teahupo‘o. This is Ace Buchan kicking out from the barrel through the wave, a technique to escape a close-out wave. Luckily I was right below, breathless with my waterhousing waiting for this moment.”

View at select winning images above, then head over to Red Bull Illume’s website to learn more about the contest and this year’s winners. Those looking to take a piece of the action home can purchase Red Bull Illume’s 2019 Photobook, which features a 260 of the top images submitted to this year’s competition.

PHOTOS BY VISUALSKATEBOARDS.COM

It is always great to get to create with people from all different types of cities. Last summer I had the opportunity to make some photos with Rina Toeda. So when she mentioned she was going to be back in L.A. recently I immediately asked if she would like to make some more photos. Fortunately for me she said yes. 

I was able to get a room at the Shangri-La in Santa Monica for our shoot. I love the textures the rooms have along with the natural light it gets. But when she was showing me outfits she wanted to shoot in I had an idea. With one of the choices being this mesh black one piece I wanted to see what we could come up with just using a wall lamp as our light source. 

It was fun being able to move and position the light as need be. The deep shadows it made in the frame was thrilling to work with. After we had got some photos made in this setting I noticed out in the living room of the suite that there was some good day light so we shot a few more frames to make use of it. 

The mixing of lighting was fun to blend the end results together to make a set of images I was very pleased with. Which is what making photos should be all about. You should be aiming to please your taste for creativity first. That is the most rewarding thing. If an audience starts to appreciate your work well then that is just a beautiful plus to not take for granted. 

FRESH KICKS:

After dropping the peppy “Viotech 2.0,” Nike is reintroducing its OG color blocking scheme on the Air Max 90. Primarily crafted with a suede upper, the bright hits of blue, black, red and its namesake purple create the beloved iteration’s eye-catching motif, highlighted by a mesh collar in teal and orange and black eyestays. The iteration’s grey laces and mesh tongue offer a calmer disparity in the midst of its crazy colors, while branding hits in various hues on the suede brown panel swoosh, orange Air Max emblem, black leather tongue tag and an orange Nike Air logo on the heel. The shoe rests on a white and orange midsole accompanied by a transparent window, with a purple and orange outsole to complete the look.

The Nike Air Max 90 “Viotech” drops August 29 on nike.com for $140 USD, and at select retailers like en.titolo.ch for approximately $185 USD.

adidas Originals and Liam Gallagher have debuted their upcoming collaborative Spezial silhouette, the Padiham LG SPZL.

The minimalist sneaker will release alongside Gallagher’s upcoming album, Why Me? Why Not?, and was previously spotted on foot of the former Oasis frontman at an exclusive gig in London back in June. Today, adidas Originals offers a first look at the duo’s offering, which sports a clean cream suede and leather upper alongside a matching low-profile sole unit.

Gallagher and the Spezial team drew inspiration from the original Padiham SPZL, a silhouette inspired by a vintage adidas style unearthed by Gary Aspden. Using this as a base, the team made the sneaker more neutral and understated. Other features of the design include gold foil branding, a zig-zag cut eyestay, zig-zag leather Three Stripes, and a gum sole unit finished in cream. To rework the original Padiham SPZL’s design, a new tongue featuring Liam Gallagher’s face and dual branding has also been added.

The collaborative pair is a nod to Liam Gallagher’s affinity for adidas, which he wore “religiously” when growing up. Gallagher says that the collaboration with Spezial came about because he “wears the clobber and it’s cool like me.”

Gary Aspden says, “I have known Liam for over 20 years and we have always got on. He is one of the people who have worn and supported what we do with adidas Spezial since day one so this collaboration evolved organically.”

Aspden added, “We made a few tweaks to the upper pattern along with a different tongue — as anyone who is a fan of gum soled, suede adidas trainers, knows it is all about those subtle details. Liam gave comments on each sample until the final version which we held off on showing him until we presented them to him for the first time backstage at his gig in Hackney. We filmed that moment as we wanted to capture his honest reaction. Anyone who has worn the Three Stripes loyally for as long as he has will understand that excitement.”

Pick up a pair of the limited-edition Liam Gallagher x adidas Spezial Padiham LG SPZL at adidas Originals stores and online on August 30.

Following 2018’s Levi’s x Jordan Brand and the recent denim Converse, Nike keeps the denim love coming with another Levi’s collaboration. Two bespoke Air Force 1 silhouettes comprise the “Nike By Levi’s” pack, but most notably, they forecast a whole slew of custom sneakers.

The “Nike By Levi’s” pack encompasses an Air Force 1 High and Low, each reimagined in washed-out pink and indigo denim and emblazoned with all-over Levi’s logos. Tonal outsoles, Swooshes and high-contrast sockliners give the styles plenty of visual interest, with a classic Levi’s back pocket tab stitched onto the heel. Leather tongue tags reinforce the shoes’ workwear motif.

Furthermore, the duo of Air Force 1s is accompanied by the rollout of a project dubbed “Levi’s By You.” Utilizing Nike’s “By You” program as a base, the initiative grants fans the power to reinvent the same two Air Force 1 models and the Air Max 90 with their own selection of Levi’s fabric and trim. From leather to denim to corduroy to sherpa fleece, the shoes can be revamped in a variety of ways.

Design your own sneakers on Nike’s Levis By You site and mark your calendars for August 26, when the duo drop the “Nike By Levi’s” pack at the stores below.

size? continues it’s summer run of pulling from the archives, this time with Reebok and its “Ree-Cut Running Club” initiative. The Classic running silhouette of the Rebook Bolton originally served as a peak performance shoe but now inherits a lifestyle look with “Madras” plaid on the tongue and underlays.

Debuted in ’90s, the Reebok Bolton — named after a British City under the same name — has been reconstructed a couple of times to-date. Today, it arrives in the lens of a size? reiteration, with supportive suede panels around the toe, heel and eyestays. The leather builds the sidewall Reebok branding, remaining a part of the shoe’s prime fabric. Continuing its efforts as a running shoe, Reebok’s longstanding Hexalite cushioning technology with a lightweight EVA midsole are inserted for premium comfort and support.

The size? exclusive Reebok Bolton “Ree-cut Running Club” will be available on size?’s website and in size? stores on Saturday, August 24 priced at £80 GBP (approximately $97 USD). They will be available in both men’s and women’s sizes.

New Balance is getting in on the chunky sole trend with its latest Fresh Foam More model in the high-top version. The footwear brand calls it an “ultra-modern mashup combining massive plushness with wild head-turning style.” And they’re absolutely right, this silhouette is as funky as it gets for the athletic wear label with its Frankenstein-style upper and super robust midsole.

Like the imposing silhouette’s first iteration (originally dubbed the PRJ 2.0), the Fresh Foam More employs a meaty sole unit for maximum cushioning, set beneath a mildly techy upper. Graph line details give the shoe a geometrically stylized look which is accentuated by the vibrant panels of yellow, red and silver. A black striped detail with branding also gives the iteration a sleek update. Additionally, NB calls the “Summer Fog” and “Sulpher Yellow” arcade colors which hints at the silhouette’s retro yet futuristic feel.

The shoe is available now at New Balance’s official shopping site for $179.99 USD.

After recently showcasing its patchwork-clad “MONALISA” pack, Vans has returned with a new special silhouette that celebrates Anthony Van Engelen‘s skateboarding career: Vans AVE Pro. It’s been nearly 15 years since Engelen released a signature cupsole model, and this one is the most technically advanced one yet.

The signature sneaker blends classic fabrics with functional textiles, utilizing a mix of LuxLiner™ mesh overlays and premium suede. Putting together details like crisp white laces, tonal rubber eyelets and black side stripes, the silhouette offers a clean and modern exterior that hides a bevy of advanced materials like Duracap™ underlays and RapidWeld™ no-sew technology.

Below the mesh uppers, light grey suede panels sit at the forefoot and the heel for added traction against grip tape. All of these features sit atop the progressive UltimateWaffle cupsole, equipped with an internal shank that enables flexibility around the forefoot. Another layer of impact cushions and a full-length Ultracush midsole round up the features of the sole.

In the development of the shoe, Van Engelen worked with Vans’ design team every step of the way, testing and reiterating until they came up with something worthy of the his name. Van Engelen mentioned in a statement, “with the AVE Pro — my first cupsole in 15 years — we achieved a completely transformed upper with Vans’ Rapidweld technology and improved the grip and board-feel in the sole overall. This shoe for me was a natural progression toward making a durable, technical skate shoe. Not only does it deliver a lighter, longer-lasting shoe for skating—but it’s an important step in innovation for Vans to pursue as the leader in skate shoes.”

The Vans AVE Pro will be available worldwide on August 22 at vans.com.