An interview with UNDFTD’s James Bond regarding the history of UNDFTD, what sneakers represent and the UNDFTD Billboard Project among other things.

Celebrating A Bathing Ape’s 15th anniversary this year, Complex caught up with Nigo for their November 2008 issuem as the Japanese empire continues its strong presence in the heart of the streetwear scene with a focus on more contemporary designs.

It’s been 15 years since Japanese fashion mastermind Nigo started a streetwear label called BAPE. Back before there was Hypebeast or multi-block lineups for hoodies, Nigo called in a favor and borrowed 4 million yen to set up shop in Harajuku, Tokyo. A decade and a half later, and everyone’s familiar with his gaudy jewelry, flashy hoodies and relationships with trend-setters like Pharrell and Kanye. But how does the brand’s head-honcho really feel?

With the special 15th anniversary commemorative BAPE book coming out this month, we caught up with Nigo for a rare interview. In our November 2008 “My Complex” column, he speaks on his love life, how he feels about Lil Wayne wearing his clothes, blogs, and the constant criticism that A Bathing Ape does Nike take-offs. Check out the five contradictions from Mr. Nagao below…

#1: “We used to sell to something like 40 different stores in Japan… But around 1998, I decided to just cut back to our one store in Tokyo. It didn’t take long until the sales from one store were as good as when we sold throughout the country. That made me realize that this was something bigger than I had imagined.”

#2: “I don’t think our clothes are so expensive; we make things in a very similar system to high-fashion designers… But we are interested in casual clothes. People get our jeans, tees and sweats confused with mass-produced consumer items. We respect the spirit of what we want to do over financial considerations—that’s consistent with our motto, I think.”

#3: “I sort of fell out of touch with hip-hop… But the thing that got me enthusiastic about it again in the late ’90s was the South, especially Cash Money. So, Lil Wayne wearing the clothes I had made was amazing. I am very pleased if he is known for wearing Bape.”

#4: “I have a girlfriend, and we have been together for about three years. She is a well-known actress in Japan [Riho Makise], and people are aware of the relationship… But she has her own career, and I don’t want to interfere in that. So, there is a conscious decision to avoid being seen together in public too often.”

#5: “I never read blogs. So, I don’t even hear the criticism about us doing Nike take-offs. I’d like to say that other brands doing Bape knockoffs shows that the brand is recognized and desired… But in reality, it’s really annoying to have to deal with it.”

Gorilli via Complex

QUOLOMO is a t-shirt, apparel and lifestyle project from Tokyo. Producing clothing under the central theme: “Design Japanese Culture,” QUOLOMO creations and collaborations draw inspiration from the array of sub-cultures, artists, pop-culture personalities and animated characters of Japan. In traditional Japanese language, QUOLOMO means “wear”. When producing t-shirts and apparel, QUOLOMO aims to create wearable garments dedicated to the time tested sensibilities and standards of quality, artistry and originality. QUOLOMO is: Hobby: Tech (dj/designer/Kiks Tyo), Yasumasa Yonehara aka Yone (photographer), Shiro Nakano (illustrator), Terutaka Anekawa (NanoUniverse), Yuki Matsuda (stylist), and Aki Higashihara (designer).

QUOLOMO products are available only at a few accounts in and outside of Japan. So GORILLI is very proud to introduce this exclusive brand in Europe and be the the first and only place for QUOLOMO in Europe. The first shipment of QUOLOMO includes Quolomo x Yone x Aki Hoshino and Quolomo x Play Set. Most of the first collection is Photographed by Yasumasa Yonehara aka Yone, the highly praised Japanese photographer, known for shooting sexy young girls with his signature “Cheki” polaroid camera as a project to show a model’s natural self, her sex appeal as it is. He is the only professional photographer in the world using a “Cheki” as his main equipment, and his trademark images are widely shown with great success in magazines, CD covers, fashion catalogs, and photo books.

The first delivery of the QUOLOMO collection is now available in the Gorilli Concept Store in Rotterdam (Netherlands) and also online in the Gorilli Webshop. As always in limited quantities only. Second delivery will follow soon. So stay tuned. And peep the pics after the jump for more artistic voyourism.

QUOLOMO is een t-shirt, kleding en lifestyle project uit Tokyo, met als centrale thema: “Design Japanse cultuur”. QUOLOMO haalt inspiratie uit de vele sub-culturen, kunstenaars, pop-cultuur-iconen, en geanimeerde karakters van Japan. Gericht op het creëren van draagbare kledingstukken, gebaseerd op kwaliteit, kunstzinnigheid en originaliteit. QUOLOMO is: Hobby: Tech (dj / ontwerper / Kiks Tyo), Yasumasa Yonehara aka Yone (fotograaf), Shiro Nakano (illustrator), Terutaka Anekawa (NanoUniverse), Yuki Matsuda (stylist), en Aki Higashihara (designer).

QUOLOMO producten zijn alleen beschikbaar bij een select aantal verkooppunten in en buiten Japan. Dus GORILLI is bijzonder trots op de introductie van dit exclusieve merk in Europa en wordt daarmee de eerste en enige plek voor QUOLOMO in Europa. De eerste zending van QUOLOMO bevat oa Quolomo x Yone x Aki Hoshino tees, en Quolomo x  Play Set tees. Het merendeel van de eerste collectie is Gefotografeerd door Yasumasa Yonehara aka Yone, de zeer geprezen Japanse fotograaf, die bekend staat om zijn foto`s van sexy jonge meiden met zijn “Cheki” Polaroid camera.

De eerste levering van de QUOLOMO collectie is nu beschikbaar in de Gorilli Concept Store in Rotterdam (Nederland) en ook online in de Gorilli Webshop. Zoals altijd slechts in beperkte hoeveelheden. Tweede levering zal spoedig volgen. Dus blijf scherp. En klik door voor meer artistic voyourism.

Continue reading »

BEINGHUNTED has just finished an interview with Slam Jam’s Luca Benini, the interview comes right after Nike collaborated with Slam Jam on a pack of four different Italian Leather Air Force 1’s that brought a lot of attention to the Italian store that is a pioneer in the world of streetwear/sneaker boutiques. The interview with Benini covers everything from how Slam Jam started to their involvement with various other projects. Read it here.

Wat wij proberen te doen voor Nederland en de rest van de Benelux, doet SlamJam in Italie. Online magazine BEINGHUNTED heeft een interessant interview.

This past weekend marked another year of the Agenda Show, one of the biggest streetwear tradeshows in the United States, who hosted Crooks & Castles as one of the brands who previewed their Spring 2009 Collection. The collection is talked about by Crooks Creative Director, Emil Soriano, as he discusses how the line took inspiration from smuggling, transporting, and boats.

Gorilli via VIMBY

KarmaloopTV visited Lanie Alabanza-Barcena, Head Designer of Hellz Bellz in her LA office to get the inside story on this hot ladies streetwear brand. The much anticipated Hellz Bellz Fall 2008 Collection is currently shipping to stores now. For Netherlands check the Gorilli Concept Store. Inspired by songs that exemplify the true meaning of the brand, Hellz Bellz bring you The Delivery One lookbook of their 2008 ‘Every Generation Needs It’s Own Soundtrack’ collection. The line includes thermal leggings, fashion tops, outerwear and denim. The Hellz Bellz Fall 2008 collection is being referred to as a vibrant cultural melting pot of music and style.

A few months back, Hong Kong played host to one of its greatest fashion meets hip-hop events ever as the Bape Head Live Show 2008 rolled through the small but populous island city. With headlining acts including the Teriyaki Boyz (with Nigo DJing), N.E.R.D. and Kanye West all performing, the night was surely one to remember and really demonstrated the effect Bape has had combining elements of fashion and music together as one. In an interview with the newly launched THINK SiLLY online magazine, Nigo answers a series of questions regarding the event itself. One of the most interesting answers throughout the interview was the notion of bringing Bape Sta! Pro Wrestling to Hong Kong as a follow-up to the successful crowd showings of this 2008 Bape Head Live Show. Other answers relate to the tribute Bape will pay and future plans for European development. The interview can be seen over at THINK-SiLLY.com.

Gorilli via Hypebeast

Stone Island’s ‘Shadow Project’ began as a discourse between Sportswear Company owner and creative director Carlo Rivetti and the design team of Michaela Sachenbacher and Errolson Hugh, also known as ACRONYM®. A platform for exploration, the Shadow project rapidly evolved into a system based program for a new generation of urban masculine apparel.

With both Stone Island’s incredible historical archive, and its unparalleled forward development resources as a starting point, ACRONYM® sought to conceive a project  according to their strong technical and performance based roots . The result is a unique and unprecedented fusion. A fresh and intelligent new light cast upon the timeless interplay of form and function.  Calling the project SHADOW underlines the intimate relationship and interaction between this work and the full body of the STONE ISLAND collection.

Checkout the full story….

Continue reading »

KAWS is about to have some solo shows in NYC, Miami, and LA. And the NY TIMES did a nice profile piece. By Rob Walker (Published: August 3, 2008, NY Times).

At 33, Brian Donnelly is enjoying a successful art career. Working out of a studio in Brooklyn, he has sold paintings to Pharrell Williams, the rapper and producer; Nigo, the designer-entrepreneur; and Takashi Murakami, the international art star, among others. He has also created a variety of products including toys, apparel and even pillows — and indeed he has his own store, Original Fake, in Tokyo. He has also been widely known in the “street art” world for years; one of his early altered-phone-booth-ad posters recently traded hands on eBay for $22,000. One thing Donnelly had not done until lately, however, is forge a relationship with a dealer or art gallery. This wasn’t because he shunned or had a problem with the traditional gallery system. He says it’s just that “nobody asked.”

Continue reading »

Desire works in a circular way. Jeff Staple brings back his legendary pigeon concept and drops it …on a New Balance… I kid you not… Check out the full feature at SneakerFeaker.

Nardwuar interviews N.E.R.D. A nerd interviewing NERD. Very interesting…

BKRW sat down with the Most Official Bitch Leah from Married To The Mob to talk about the upcoming MOB collection, which is much broader than previous ones, including denim, tops, jackets, and more. The new and full collection will be released in August at select retailers around the globe, including us.

A truly unique signature style combined with handmade craftmanship. That is False by Le Messie. Not just our average streetwear brand, but an intelligent attitude towards fashion and the industry itself. Season 5 of the exclusive False brand will hit stores soon around the globe. Luckily for us he had an interview with SlamXhype.

In het land der streetwearmerken is het een stille buitenstaander met diepe gronden. Een unieke stijl gecombineerd met handgemaakt vakmanschap. Dat is False door Le Messie. Seizoen 5 van het exclusieve False zal binnenkort op selecte plekken in de wereld verkrijgbaar zijn, waaronder Rotterdam. Gelukkig voor ons had hij een interview met SlamXhype.

Gorilli via False / SlamXhype

The new N.E.R.D. album Seeing Sounds is set for a worldwide release on June 10th. And an European release on June 6th. So we are proud to announce an unofficial worldpremiere, a pre-release/listening party on thursday June 5th, at the newly opened Gorilli Concept Store in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. This will be the first place and opportunity on earth to hear and buy the new N.E.R.D. album Seeing Sounds. The event will take place in the Sample Shop located in the Gorilli Concept Store (Oppert 296-298, 3011 HV, Rotterdam) from 22.00 till 02.00, and will have aftershocks till sunday June 8th. Drinks and admission for free. Invite only.

Hosted by Jeremaine S. Styling by Margaret West. Design by Leyp. Special thanks go out to Universal Music Netherlands and Sounds Rotterdam.

Checkout the full feature with info, videos and pics by clicking continue.

Continue reading »

New in the Gorilli Concept Store. By exploring a new visual model of telling time that diverges from the standards of analog and digital timepieces, New York designer Matthew Waldmen has created a new way to look at time. Intellectually alluring, visually impelling, and incredibly functional. Nooka’s unusual materials and playful methodology have reinterpreted the traditional method of watching time. Instead of the same old dials and digits, their watches tell time in dots, dashes and bars, with a contemporary and stylish design. Constructed mostly of rubber and aluminum, fully adjustable, waterproof, and features alarm, chronograph and backlight. Especilally in a time of mobile phones with time functions, Nooka emphasizes the design and experience. Much more pics after the jump and checkout the interview that Josh Spear had with Matthew Waldmen.

Nieuw in de Gorilli Concept Store. De New Yorkse designer Matthew Waldmen presenteert een nieuwe kijk op de tijd. Zijn Nooka horloges zijn innovatief en visueel verleidelijk, met ongebruikelijke materialen en speelse methodologie tonen ze een nieuwe manier om naar tijd te kijken. In plaats van wijzerplaten en digitale cijfers, vertellen Nooka horloges hun tijd in bolletjes, streepjes en vakjes. Gegoten in een eigentijds en stijlvol design. Gemaakt van rubber en aluminium, volledig verstelbaar, waterdicht, met alarm functie, chronograaf en achtergrondverlichting. Vooral in een tijd van mobiele telefoons met klokfunctie legt Nooka de nadruk op design en beleving. Nog veel meer plaatjes na de klik en check ook het interview van Josh Spear met Matthew Waldmen.

Continue reading »

The Most Official sat down with Sneaker Freaker for a small but insightful chit-chat…

If you cast your mind back just 3 or 4 years ago, it’s hard to pinpoint one label that was bringing the heat to the ladies in the street wear scene. We were left to hound stores for the smallest in men’s tees if we wanted something punchy and provocative to wear. Then the gods sent us Leah McSweeney and her MOB, who took women’s street fashion and mixed it with so much fervour and passion, it became the most talked about and hunted brand. Fast forward to 2008, and not only has the brand expanded beyond just a standard tee line, with a whole range of denim, jackets and possibly the best flip flops created for women, but Leah has joined forces with Reebok and Colette to create the kitsch goodness of their own Freestyle High. We were incredibly fortunate to catch up with Leah and chew the fat about the rise of MOB and just how her collaboration with Reebok came to be.

Continue reading »

“Green” fashion has been getting lots of press lately, but what about “ethical” fashion? We all talk about how fun it is to find great style at a great price, but we rarely consider what it takes to make the disposable fashion we all buy. The BBC sent 6 fashionistas to India to experience working in the rag trade. These brits have to pick cotton, work and sleep in a factory, and witness all the aspects of making High Street fashion. Their experiences are shocking. Watch the series, called Blood, Sweat & T-Shirts here. May GOD have mercy on our souls …

Ik geef eerlijk toe dat ik een hypocriet ben… Maar ik vraag me af hoeveel mensen daar eigenlijk bij stilstaan als ze weer eens op koopjesjacht zijn. Op jacht naar dat swag/style/cred/trend of zelfs ecovriendelijke spullen. Ik vraag me af hoeveel… als de vraag wordt gesteld: schuldig of onschuldig?… hoeveel er met mij voor schuldig durven te kiezen? En nogmaals ik geef het toe … ik ben een hypocriete klootzak … ik ben schuldig … en ik hoop dat God genade heeft voor onze zielen… De BBC is bezig met een serie hierover: Blood, Sweat & T-Shirts. Met 6 fashionistas en hun reis naar India om te zien waar dat wat ze aan hebben vandaan komt. Kijk en huiver…

The Cotton Mill - Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts - BBC Three

Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts - Georgina Quizzes Factory Owner

Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts - Richard Quizzes A Factory Worker

The Brits Head To Mumbai’s Biggest Slum

On his recent visit to his BBC/Ice Cream flagship store, Men.Style.com caught up with Pharrell Williams and they talked mostly about his personal taste and collectors items.

Gorilli via HighSnobiety / MenStyle

Also a must read is this interview from Complex magazine with Tinker Hatfield, the legendary Nike designer responsible for the creation of the Air Jordan and Air Max 1. His contributions stand out as icons in series considered as the pinnacle of sneaker design. As a trained architect, Hatfield has a different approach to sneaker design. He has translated museums (Air Max 1), fighter jets (Jordan V) and even lawn mowers (Jordan XI) into some of the best sneakers to ever pound the pavement and the hardwood. Click continue …

Ooit aan gedacht wie de legendarische Air Jordan en Air Max de wereld in heeft geholpen. Nee, dat was niet God die op de zevende dag dacht, laat ik de mens nog even aankleden met wat gruwelijke sneakers. Het was Tinker Hatfield… klik continue om de goede man te leren kennen.

Continue reading »