Using Tokyo as a pivotal source of inspiration, PROJECT Wooster highlights Japanese designers and exposes their mastery in crafting product that transcends culture and time. Based on the successful partnerships of the inaugural Project Wooster, look for the launch of Nick Wooster collaborations with brands that he feels represent the best in class of each category. Enjoy!

PROJECT Wooster February 2012 Preview is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Jonathan Zawada is a visual artist and a graphic designer who works across – and between – the two disciplines. ”Kindred Spirits” is a collection of print works from Zawada that explore the value of the image in a disorienting world where visual culture is defined by an assortment of images out of contex. The exhibition features collages, Photoshopped pieces, custom coded image distortion algorithms and more. Check out the exhibition running through February 25th at colette.

Jonathan Zawada “Kindred Spirits” Exhibition is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

The Converse skateboarding team recently hit the road to visit Italy and Germany. The result was new footage of Kenny Anderson, Tom Remillard, Sammy Baca, Julian Davidson and more who are featured in this video presented by Thrasher. Check out the team as they visit the local international spots above. Enjoy!

Converse Skateboarding in Italy and Germany is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Retail store MR PORTER caught up with Mr. Domenico Dolce and Mr. Stefano Gabbana for an exclusive behind the scenes interview while at their Fall/Winter 2012 show. The two designers talk exclusively about their new collection and what you can expect in 2012. Enjoy!

Dolce & Gabbana Behind The Scenes Interview is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

After their Paris stop at colette, Dee & Ricky took off to Amsterdam to throw their PONY pop-up block party. Dough’Nut got the opportunity to catch up with the two young designers for a small interview at the shop. Check it out. Enjoy!

Dee & Ricky x PONY Pop-Up Block Party Interview is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

As the music industry becomes less and less about music its good to see Independent Record Labels still surviving like Stones Throw who recently celebrated their 15th Anniversary. The event was held last week at The Exchange in Los Angeles and featured by performances by label head Peanut Butter Wolf,  Beat Junkies, Mayer Hawthorne, and many more. The LA based record label has been home to MF Doom, Madlib, the late J Dilla, and many more. Congratulations!

Source: LA Weekly

Stones Throw 15th Anniversary Event is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Kicking off last Friday night at Forth Worth’s Modern Art Museum, KAWS unveiled his latest show entitled Focus:KAWS. The exhibition displayed everything from colorful pieces to monotone sculptures as well as works from this year’s Armory and Honor Fraser shows. Attendees included Hiroshi Sugitomo, Ed Ruscha, Kehinde Wiley and Rosson Crow and be sure to catch KAWS during his next up in Atlanta, GA.

More pictures can be found over at Arrested Motion.

KAWS “FOCUS:KAWS” Fort Worth’s Modern Art Museum is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

We now have photos of what looked to be a memorable night for those that were lucky enough to be there for the opening of Supreme London. Fans showed up of course along with some international personalities, ending the night was a performance from Ghostface. It is great to see the influential brand spread their global reach even further.

2/3 Peter St.
London
W1F 0AA
United Kingdom

Thank you to Hypebeast for the images.

Supreme London Store is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

To describe the U.S. Open of Surfing properly, I’d have to misquote LL Cool J’s, 1991 hit single, Mama Said Knock You Out…  “They call it a comeback, but it’s been here for years…”

Surfing–Much like the surf which the sport rides upon, its popularity ebbs and flows with the times. The U.S. Open of Surfing knows this more than any other Southern California surfing event. It was caught in a rip tide for years. Since 1959, the U.S. open of Surfing, formerly the West Coast Surfing Championship, has been a beacon for surf culture in So.Cal. Not only is the event itself an important marker for the sport, its been held for over half a century, but the location itself is just as notable. Home to the Surfers’ Hall of Fame as well as the Surfing Walk of Fame, Huntington Beach is one of the early West Coast surfing haunts. Iconic event in an Iconic venue. But even with all that heritage and history, the U.S. Open of Surfing was still on the verge of a collapse.

In comes Nike and its subsidiaries Converse and Hurley in 2009, and in less than three years, the event has seen a complete 180. The event went from being described as  ”dire” and “retired” to “hot like fire”.  It’s burning hot. I recommend slathering on the SPF 100++ little Asian lady style.

The Nike U.S. Open of Surfing is now arguably one of the best sporting events in Southern California. With FREE BMX, Skate, Surf, Music and Fashion, and with an attendance of over 500,000 half naked individuals of the toned and untoned persuasion, this week-long surf competition held annually during the summer, it also boasts North America’s only combined six-star World Qualifying Series (WQS), is a summer winner.  Did I mention it was FREE?

World class athletes at the top of their games going head to head for your viewing pleasure, how do you say no?

As a member of the media, attending these events often remind me of summer camp. Spending a few nights away from home and going on little tours and adventures and learning new things. Everyone piling on a bus to get from point A to point B adds to the whole camp feel. And let’s not forget about the “classes” aka presentations where we learned about all the cool new Nike innovations in surf, skate, and snow. Throw in hanging out with cool kids from around the world: Susie Bubble, Kevin Braddock (The Manzine), Max Bergius (Art Wednesday), Yale Breslin, Phil Oh (StreetPeeper), etc. and our camp counselors, mine was the lovely Jacie Prieto, it’s a recipe for fun.

I attended my first U.S. Open of Surfing last year and had a great time. Round Two was even better…  with a minor exception.

Susie Bubble Trouble

You can take the girl out of London, but you can’t take London out of the girl. Here’s fashion writer/blogger and my new eating partner in crime, Susie Bubble, or Bubble Trouble. She brought a lot of sunshine to the U.S. Open of Surfing with her colorful outfits and lovely smile. Just don’t ask if she’s a Harajuku girl or Susie Bubble will give you a karate chop to the head. Lesson learned. Ouch!

Max Bergius (Art Wednesday) + Simon Wainwright (Nike UK)

Max Bergius, Founder and Editor of London publication Art Wednesday and Simon Wainwright from Nike UK, are ready to go. Max gives us the thumbs up as we gear up for our rounds of product presentations.

Max Bergius (Art Wednesday) + Simon Wainwright (Nike UK)

Simon moves in for his close up and Max sits back and relaxes during our trip to the Nike+Hurley+Converse space 255 where we’ll meet skateboarder Paul (PRod) Rodriguez and learn about the new PRod 5 shoe. Max looks refreshed, relaxed, and ready to touch some professional athletes. Lots of them.  I must find out how he keeps his skin so radiant.

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Surfer Carissa Moore

Last year’s U.S. Open of Surfing Women’s Champion, Carissa Moore. With her amazing attitude and sunny disposition she should change her name to Sunshine. Be sure to pick up a Nike 6.0 bikini that Carissa had a hand in helping with. Nike designer Kristin Reiter took loads of Carissa’s feedback to make the bikini even more surf ready. By the way… Have you seen Carissa and the girls of the Nike 6.0 Surf Team do their thing in Leave a Message? Click on the link and take a look.

Surfer Laura Enever

Laura Enever is a fashionista surfer girl. The melon hued cover-up and big sunglasses speak for themselves. Be sure to check Laura out on the Nike Women’s “Make Yourself” Campaign.

Skateboarder Paul Rodriguez

Paul Rodriguez aka PRod: New dad and a gentleman skateboarder offered some insight into his ideal skating locations. When he’s looking for a good staircase he looks for a smooth runway. When it comes to handrails and ledges, PRod likes perfect 90 degree angled corners. “They also need to be 1-1/2 feet high and 10 feet long.”  He enjoys smooth concrete and loves good marble.

Paul likes to skate the DWP building in Downtown L.A. because “the marble benches are the perfect angle and height.” Unfortunately, security has been beefed up, but it all depends. “Sometimes we can skate there for hours, sometimes we get chased off in 2 minutes. You never know with that place but its great.”

“The ARCO now the Wells Fargo Building in Downtown L.A. has great railing.”

If he could skate anywhere in the world… “I saw some amazing black marble ledges in China somewhere. I want to skate that. I love marble. And the Macba in Barcelona is a great place. The stone is so smooth, the ledges are great. You can skate all day. Just skate and enjoy.”

Thanks Paul. By the way, your hair looks amazing.

Be sure to pick up the new PRod 5. It’s an amazingly comfortable shoe. And if I was a real skateboarder instead of one of those wimpy non-trick flipping skaters, (I bruise easy), I’d wear them all the time. In fact… for those of you who don’t know… Skateboarding shoes are ideal for everyday wear due to the cushioning. Skaters deal with so much shock and impact from the tricks they do, they need to combat that with shock absorption and cushioning which is key. And let’s not forget board feel… Every shoe that bears Paul’s name is something that he works on personally with the Nike SB design team. “I’m there, I’m in it. I work hard on each shoe as it represents me.”  Already in the works.. the PRod 6 and 7… To be continued.

Phil Oh (StreetPeeper)+Yale Breslin+Colleen Nika

Bloggers conversing on the streets of Newport. Phil Oh (Mr. Street Peeper), Yale Breslin and Colleen Nika. I’d like to think these three are taking about Action Sports or about the 255 space we just visited and our new purchases. (I picked up a new pair of Stefan Janoski SB shoes and some socks.) But they’re probably avoiding eye contact with Phil, who looks likes he might be allergic to the sun. Yale: “Colleen don’t look.. don’t look.” Colleen: “Oh no! I totally looked!” Phil: “Where’s the bus? I need to keep this Asian blossom skin white as rice.”

Converse Skateboarder Kenny Anderson

I love Kenny. I met Kenny Anderson last year during the U.S. Open of Surfing and we’ve managed to keep in touch with sporadic hit and run hellos throughout the year. Not only a great skater but just an all around rad dude. But as I take Kenny’s photo I get he sense he’s still nervous I’ll steal his board as he clutches it defensively to his chest even after a year later. I guess its true… They forgive but they don’t forget.

Skateboarder David Loy

David Loy isn’t the biggest fan of signing autographs though he’s more than happy to. But given the option to skate or sign, he’d rather be in the bowl, ripping up some Coastal Carnage and making friends with the bowl shark which I’ve dubbed “Toothless.”

“I’d rather be skating more than anything else…”

Skateboarder Tom Remillard went on to Win the Coastal Carnage event where Tony Hawk came  out of retirement to go head to head against Christian Hosoi and Lance Mountain. I wonder what Tom will spend his $15,000 on? Hopefully an IRA. I’d recommend staying away from the stock market and possibly investing in some gold.

Surf God Kelly Slater

My Baywatch dreams have finally come true. I’ve met, photographed, and touched Kelly Slater… ever so gently. This man is a surf god. But apparently his magical surf powers don’t rub off on you. (See bottom of this post.) Kelly went on to win this year’s Men’s Nike U.S. Open of Surfing. After a decade, this man still kills it.

Kevin Braddock (The Manzine), Simon, Max and Susie

This is the only photo I have of the reclusive and exclusive Kevin Braddock aka The Manzine aka Jean Claude Van Damme’s stunt double aka Jack of All Trades. If you see this man and he talks to you… consider yourself lucky. If you see this man and he saves your life, you’d best consider him a friend for life. Kevin + Joy = Friends Forever.

Beauty Queens

We discovered that the Miss Orange County pageant was being held on the grounds of our hotel and had to go and take a peek. Lots of bronzer, glitter, boobs and hooker heels. But among the beauty beasts I found these girls sitting on a bench hanging out.  (*Note: On a whim I entered the pageant and was crowned Miss Orange County and have been enjoying my reign. I’ve visited the elderly at an old folks home and have taken part in the opening of a local In-n-Out Burgers. I helped make the fries and yes, I wore a hair net.)

Camp Counselors aka Tim Yu (Nike) + Jacie Prieto (Nike)

They’re what you’d wish your parents were like… or at least I do. On a media trip, you’re only as good as your press manager and Jacie is a gem. Last year, Tim took care of me during my stay and this year, Jacie was back in action after giving birth to her gorgeous baby girl.

Whatever you need, Tim and Jacie are there. They make sure you don’t get lost. They make sure you stay hydrated. And if you need that special one-on-one athlete time, they’re there to make it happen.

Russ Bengtson from Complex Magazine aka The Bengtson

Russ Bengtson was out with Converse and to watch some skateboarding action in the bowl for some Coastal Carnage. You can see a glimpse of his shoes in this polaroid… they’re Nike. Russ has to wear white AF1’s every day for a month. Apparently he and Nick Schonberger (Selectism) have some sort of weird pact. I hope it doesn’t end with aliens and drinking grape kool-aid, but knowing Russ…

Beach Madness

This was the day before the surf final. On Sunday its absolute mayhem. You can easily spot the shore and plenty of sand but come Sunday, you’ll be fighting with the ocean and hundreds of thousands of other attendees to even get a few grains of sand uncomfortably wedged into your swimsuit bottom. It’s that packed. Not recommended for people suffering from claustrophobia. Seriously.

Tween Beach Life--- Totally

I caught these little Tweens on a beach outing on Friday. “Shouldn’t you be in school?”  Little girls: ” Yuck. NO WAY. It’s summer vacation!”

Being an overachieving Asian, I spent my summers taking extra classes. Clearly I missed out. Totally. Bummer.

Skateboarder Eric Koston

I ran into Eric Koston outside of the Converse Coastal Carnage area. We were both denied access. His snub was obviously more significant than mine but we made the most of it. I.e., we were texting and calling on our iPhones trying to get in. In the meantime, I took Eric’s photo.

Eric Koston likes Hello Kitty. Or at least he pretended he did when he signed my polaroid. Just a few months ago Nike launched the Eric Koston shoe in Los Angeles. I had to excuse myself last minute from the press event due to a business trip out of town. Apparently there was an Eric Koston bobble head on display somewhere during that event. Dang. I love a good bobble head. And the Eric Koston shoe looks amazing.

Lars, Simon, Turid = The Berlin Crew

Lars, Simon, and Turid aka the Berlin Crew. They like their sun hot, they like the beaches beachy, and they like their beers cold.

Surfer Julian Wilson

Here’s Julian Wilson striking his best, “Hmm. Maybe I’ll go surfing today” pose. In our mens’ surf presentation we learned about boardshorts and the new Nike Legacy surf boardshorts are amazing. Made from poly recycled material, 11 plastic bottles make up one pair of shorts and with 4-way stretch and practically stitch free and the bonus coating on the fabric that makes water beads right off of it all I want to know is where’s my pair?? Plus, Julian’s mom’s artwork featured on the shorts makes them extra special, especially to a guy who believes that “Family is everything.”

Olympic Snowboarder Danny Kass

When Olympic Snowboarder Danny Kass isn’t busy showing off his perfect chompers, he’s busy avoiding sharks by opting to stay out of the water and sticks to carving his way down the sides of some big mountains. Fresh powder is his best and only friend.

We learned about the Zoom Force 1 for snow and the amazing amount of Nike technology that goes into making the perfect snow boot as well as the sneaker influence and Nike heritage that went into Danny Kass’s signature shoe. It all comes down to board feel, which is a key for success. “If you can’t feel the board, you’re deadmeat.”

If you’re interested in learning how to snowboard like Mr. Kass here, here’s a few pointers from the man himself. To start is a 2-3 day process where you’ll need to stock up on the proper gear. “Try all your gear on the day before and walk around to work out the stiffness or at least get use to it.” There’s a small learning scale and the ultimate goal is to ride down the side of a mountain. Danny recommends getting a snow boot that’s softer and go up in sizing by 1/2 a size. “Make sure it feels right.” He’s also a big fan of “velcro anything.” Velcro straps make things tighter, which I like.”  Danny also likes different detailing touches when it comes to his own snow boots. “Two tongues, keeps your pants up, colorways, strapping systems, lacing systems, everything. I’m into it.”

Keep your eyes out for a special quickstrike release coming out soon featuring artwork by Danny Kass who worked with the graphics and design team. “I’m not really good at art or the best at it but I have a feel for it and the fact that Nike let me do this says a lot.”

Snowboarder Annie Boulanger

Annie Boulanger. A snow bunny with an eye for fashion. Annie helps the Nike Team when it comes to the design of the Womens Snowboarding Collection.  She’s smart, opinionated, and if her last name was a tad different I’d be calling her “The Baker.” Boulanger is so close to Boulangerie, French for Bakery. I could just imagine her making up tricks with awesome bakery themed names like “The Baker’s Dozen”, “Hot Cross Buns”, “Pain au Chocolat”, or the “Apple Turnover.” And when she’s on it… she’ll layer on the “Royal Icing”  and totally bake her competition.  (Baking puns are awesome.)

A trip to the emergency room

The weekend was capped off with a trip to the emergency room. I was struck in the back of the head with my surfboard during a lesson with my instructor. A wave hit us, and according to an eyewitness account on shore, we looked like an explosion of arms and legs. I saw stars and my legs turned to spaghetti.

I sat in the emergency room for almost seven hours being treated, and while I went in and out of consciousness what I thought about were the athletes that I met and saw over the course of the weekend.

Athletes. The people that reside in this category are seriously in a league of their own. I might be in pain and vomiting and moaning and groaning, but they put themselves in these kind of situations all the time. This is what Action Sports is all about. Granted, I’m not an athlete. And though the idea that if you have a body, you are an athlete is something that is completely lost on me, I do believe that what these people do, the skill they possess and their unwavering dedication to their craft is something that is beyond admirable.

Skateboarders, surfers, BMX bikers….  these are athletes in real sports that conquer amazing feats and put themselves on the line every time they step out on their boards and bikes. I’m just that more in awe of them.

———

When I called my family about my visit about my trip to the emergency room after my surfing accident there was little sympathy. In fact, this exchange that I had with my sisters (Bo and Grace) has me slightly convinced that I may have been adopted.

Me: “Hey guys. Just wanted to let you know that I had to go to the emergency room after being hit in the head with a surfboard. I suffered a minor concussion but I’m okay. Letting you know so you don’t worry.”

Bo to Grace: “What makes Joy think she can surf?”

Grace to me and Bo: “Joy, just because you own ‘Blue Crush’ on VHS and saw it three times doesn’t mean you know how to surf.”

Joy to Grace and Bo: “Listen. For your information I own ‘Blue Crush’ on DVD and I’ve seen in at least ten times… you bitches.”

*thanks foreverything.

Nike U.S. Open of Surfing 2011 is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

See pieces by Rob Abeyta, Jr., Estevan Oriol, Jermey Fish and more.  All proceeds go toward furthering art eduction in schools.

Tonight in NYC: Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Following the opening of the impressive new Nike Store on Glasgow’s Buchanan Street in May, now like the other major cities in the world Nike are giving the community the chance to gather at the store and then go for a run on different routes around Glasgow each week. The first 5km run from Nike Glasgow is on Thursday 7th July, 6pm. Also playing a live warm-up/cool-down set is DJ Yasmin. All levels are welcome and if you are wanting to go please email your name and contact details to nike.glasgow@nike.com . Be sure to come along if you are in town, it’s going to be fun!

Nike Store Glasgow

20-26 Buchanan Street

NIKE+ RUN CLUB Glasgow is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

It is possible in January to stand in the mountains above the Palestinian city of Ram Allah and watch the rain storms moving across the Mediterranean towards the shimmering mass of towers that are Tel Aviv. The illusion of these buildings being within touching distance is always with me when I am standing on the west facing slopes of the mountains of Judea and Samaria. Within minutes the light changes from golden to black and back again until finally the rain explodes onto the hillsides all around. In the coming weeks the high desert mountains will change from scorched ferrous gold to bright green and purple and back to metallic hues again. Somewhere in between everything is possible and everything is watched and noted for here in The West Bank of the river Jordan every inch of land is known, recorded and potentially about to become a source of conflict and argument.

Many of these paintings are part of an ongoing series representing this disputed land, its natural beauty and the scars of the many thousands of years of conflict, the secrets it holds and the possibility of renewal both physical and political. Alongside the landscapes are a series of paintings inspired by collection of early Christian icons in Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, Egypt. These images of Christ, the devil and ‘Jacobs Ladder’ offer a counterpoint to the natural beauty of Israel’s land. Finally, several of these paintings refer to biblical stories and their echoes in the modern world. The painting “Gulf of Aden,” for instance, shows a small boat traveling on the sea at night whether the boat contains fishermen, pirates, refugees or pilgrims is up to the viewer to decipher. An area mentioned in the book of Chronicles as the ‘court of death’.

While these paintings are individual works, I hope that my grouping works such as “Adora” a landscape of a Settlers community in the West Bank with the religious iconography of the figurative works I am able to immerse the viewer in the world of my experience of living in this disputed land.

These paintings are an ongoing series I am making during my time living in Jerusalem. When I arrived, I thought the city would only be a temporary home. Now ‘next year in Jerusalem’ is a permanent reality, for every year I will now spend time working and traveling and just being there.

Nick Waplington

Nick Waplington: Call Me Daddy is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Last Sunday, June 12th, Union LA held their first California Running Alley Invitational along side tennis shoe manufacturer K-Swiss. Six relay teams were created, consisting of two male and two female runners, who raced for the ultimate prize of La Brea bragging rights. Team SlamxHype fell short in our racing efforts, but still managed to run a respectable race. Watch all of the highlights and glimpses of the K-Swiss “California Running” collection in the video above.

K-Swiss x Union California Running Alley Invitational is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

As Japan and the world continue to mourn the loss of all those who died, we look to move forward by helping raise funds to aid those who are still desperately in need. Le Baron de Paris’ “Art & Fashion Charity Auction” together with the international humanitarian organization Japan Platform offers us a chance to give back and HELP.

Artists and Designers such as Alain Mikli, Andre, BALENCIAGA, DITA, Dom Pérignon, Enlightenment, Gardar Eide Einarsson, GUCCI, Jose Parla, KAWS, Louis Vuitton, Mark Ryden, Nike Destroyer x Andre, Jun Takahashi (Undercover), Keiichi Nitta, Olympia Le Tan, VALENTINO, YSL, and more have all donated auction worthy pieces for your good-karmic bidding pleasure.

Click here to learn more about the Le Baron Charity Auction: HELP JAPAN

NOTE**: In order to bid on the items, YOU or someone you know that lives IN Tokyo, MUST be PRESENT AT THE ACTUAL AUCTION. So if you’re really keen on bidding, this would be a good time to call in that favor with your friends in Japan. How could they say no… its for a good cause.

When disaster strikes is when we show our true nature. For those of you who have ever visited Japan, worked in or with anyone in Japan, who have friends or loved ones in Japan, or if you’ve ever appreciated something that has come from this amazing country… this is your chance to give back.

Click for an Online Preview

Auction runs from 10pm-11pm.

Doors open at 9pm.

Le Baron de Paris： 3-8-40-B1F Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan　Tel (03) 3408 3665

Here’s a closer look at one of the pieces that will be auctioned off: A custom made one-of-a-kind Nike Destroyer by Andre.

Images on the Le Baron Art and Fashion Charity Auction site showing pieces from Jose Parla and KAWS.

Le Baron Art and Fashion Charity Auction for Japan is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

So come on L.A. stop being such a bunch as assholes. I know you got the money. Get up, get out and go to The Gift of Food for Japan and help raise funds, awareness, and good karma. Lord knows the people in this town need some.

Come Out Tonight And Support: The Gift of Food for Japan is a post from: SLAMXHYPE