Unimatic X Norwegian Rain limited edition watches

Norwegian Rain, a clothes company started by two entrepreneurs focused their energy on the humble raincoat. Based in Bergen, the rainiest city in Europe Based on traditional tailoring techniques, ‘Japanese sensibilities’ and high tech innovative solutions you can understand why that was the choice of garment.

Last year they reached their ten year anniversary and wanted to collaborate with a watch company. Talking to Unimatic, they wanted to show that you can neither capture time nor tame the weather as well wanting to etch a mark in time as their belief is that time weathers everything. 

Creating two styles based off Unimatic’s Modello Uno, both feature a minimal black bezel and a first of its kind double layer dial composed of an individually oxidised solid copper gradating to one of a kind green hue with cutout markers showing through a brushed copper base. The dial is sealed with proprietary technique to preserve the unique process in time. Time is indicated thanks to the skeleton brushed copper ladder phantom H+M, reverse lollipop S with gloss tip.

To mark the ten year anniversary, the team highlighted the ten on the watch face with an X. Powered by a Seiko automatic calibre with a 41 hour reserve, it is water resistant to 300m.

The caseback features the Unimatic x Norwegian Rain 10 years anniversary engraving and the individual progressive number. The watch is part of a unique edition of 39 pieces.

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The Nike GO FlyEase

Have you ever felt like putting trainers on are a chore? Or just difficult due to lack of mobility? Velcro was one of the movers in helping when laces were troublesome, but you still needed to undo and do up the straps and put on/ pull off the shoes.

Nike has been working on multiple iterations and created a true hands-free shoe. The GO FlyEase has a bi-stable hinge that enables the shoe to be secure in fully open and fully closed states. FlyEase is driven by a design ethos that champions the value of a suite of systems that work toward a common goal: making shoes easier for everyone.

The tensioner’s unique flexibility completely reimagines kicking off the shoes as basis for accessible and empowering design. By extending the rear heel into a pivoting motion, people can easily slip in and out of trainers.

The trainers are available to a select Nike Members via invite and will be widely released later this year.

Jordan x CLOT XIV Low and XXXV

Jordan and CLOT, founded by Edison Chen and Kevin Poon, the brand has collaborated with the likes of Nike, visvim, fragment design, Coca-Cola, Stüssy, Medicom Toy and more, have released their Chinese New Year versions of Air Jordan XIV Low and the Jordan Brand’s latest performance vehicle, the Air Jordan XXXV.

Both shoes extend CLOT’s investigation of Chinese heritage — tying together elements like a Chinese coin pendant and Chinese knot to the heel of the XIV Low and introducing pops of ornamental jade to the XXXV. 

The XIV Low has a tongue reminiscent of a traditional Chinese scroll with the words Jordan and CLOT. On the sole, there are terracotta-colored accents complemented with light tan and grey, whilst the shoes have a traditional Chinese knot and coin hanging off the heel.

The XXXV has elements of Chinese jade, a highly prized and timeless symbol of Chinese culture, representing many positive attributes such as durability, purity and beauty. The shoe also carries hang tags bearing both the Jumpman and CLOT logos, reflective elements throughout and gold lace eyelets.

Both shoes will be available February 8 at juicestoreusa.com with a wider release on February 11.

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Converse X Rick Owens – TURBODRK Chuck 70

Converse has teamed up with Rick Owens DRKSHDW to reveal his new take on the iconic Chuck Taylor.

The  TURBODRK Chuck 70 follows Owens’ practice of confident contortion of cultural signifiers. His choices bend and reshape the shoe — extending the tongue and squaring-off the toe, the first time the famed Converse has presented in this execution in its century of existence.

It is an incredible minimalist and Rick Owens said, “When I think of Converse, I think of the black and white Chuck Taylors and the punk rock generation. These have always been iconic pillars of my aesthetic.”

“Wearing Chuck Taylors, you align yourself with a generation that was experimental. There is a confident dynamic to the subculture.” He went on to describe that when he sees something ubiquitous that his first instinct is to distort it.

Throughout 2021, Rick Owens and Converse will continue its collaboration releasing modern takes on the classic Chucks.

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Nike x Virgil Abloh: Icons

Nike and Virgil Abloh have had a longstanding relationship and are cementing it with a book titled ‘Icons’ that explores how the partnership works to unify all the intangible cultural threads connected to sneakers.

Underpinned by The Ten, a design project where Virgil collaboratively explored 10 Nike footwear silhouettes, establishing his now respected reconstructed design language.

The book traces Abloh’s investigative, creative process through documentation of prototypes, original text messages from Abloh to Nike designers and treasures from the Nike archives showing the 50 shoes that Virgil has designed for Nike. Readers will find Swooshes sliced away from Air Jordans and reapplied with tape or thread, Abloh’s quotation marks trialed on Nike Air Force 1s and Converse All Stars cut into pieces.

The book builds upon Abloh’s printed matter practice — archiving, documenting and storytelling through books and ephemera in service of preserving important cultural stories. It will be available from today (Jan 22nd) via Nike SNKRS in America, and through Off-White and Canary Yellow, before a wider release globally on February 5th.

Razer Project Hazel: CES 2021

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) for 2021 was a virtual event and a number of the products that were presented were typical – TVs, new chips etc but one brand, Razer brought something to help in this COVID-19 limbo we find ourselves in.

Project Hazel is the world’s smartest face mask. Razer has been proactive in the fight against COVID-19, including the conversion of its manufacturing facilities to produce certified medical masks and the donation of 1 million surgical face masks. The natural progression from building disposable masks was to address the increased emphasis on hygiene and preparedness for unexpected health risks, while enhancing the features of a multi-use personal protective covering.

The mask concept design has a clear casing so people can see current facial cues like smiles or simply to allow people to lip read. If it is dark, interior lights activate to allow the mouth to remain illuminated. It is fitted with N95 medical-grade respirator protection using detachable and rechargeable active ventilators and Smart Pods that regulate airflow for optimal breathability. Its high bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE) Smart Pods filter at least 95% of airborne particles and have a high fluid resistance.

As with most masks, issues around being heard clearly tends to force people to remove the mask and better annunciate. However, Razer is incorporating VoiceAmp Technology (patent pending) that uses a built-in microphone and amplifier to enhance the user’s speech for clear communication while staying safe in social situations.

The silicon-lined smart mask delivers comfort with active air cooling and regulation, bringing in fresh air and venting out CO₂. The result is an air-tight seal from its adjustable ear loops, permitting custom sizes for a secure fit that keeps from obstructing the mouth.It also helps avoid fogging up up glasses.

The mask comes with a wireless charging case with a UV light which kills bacteria and viruses as the mask charges.

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Nike SB Dunk Low Street Hawker celebrates Chinese cuisine

Designed by Guangzhou artist Jason Deng, the Nike SB Dunk Low Street Hawker is celebrating the food culture in China, mainly depicted by six regional dishes from six Chinese cities, combined with a slew of other, subtly-incorporated nods to Chinese cuisine.

The pair of shoes has 22 specific elements that focus on the food culture from both heel tabs  featuring Chinese calligraphy for “food” in black and white thread and four colors of laces are inspired by four essential seasonings in Chinese cuisine: green (shallots), yellow (ginger), white (garlic) and black (black pepper). That’s what is on both shoes, the other 20 elements are featured on either the left or the right.

Left shoe
The left shoe uses a lighter beige for three flour-based dishes. The suede toebox mimics the color and texture of green bean soup (Douzhi) from Beijing. Donut (Jiaoquan) patterns on the forefoot pair with the green bean soup.

Embossed suede on the lateral side shows shredded pita bread pieces for a traditional Xi’an dish: pita bread soaked in mutton soup.That mutton soup is represented in water-color patterns across the lateral side.

The Swoosh is depicted in a wood-grain texture to represent chopsticks. On the lateral heel, water-color fading looks like Yangchun noodles. An embroidered 10-cent copper coin appears on the lateral heel, hinting at Yangchun noodles.

The left insole resembles a blue sky, inspired by traditional Chinese slang implying that people treat food as their heaven. The blue lining of the left midsole mimics the blue-and-white of fine porcelain bowls.

Right shoe
The right shoe features hotter colors to represent different heats, from spicy to sweet. The metallic color on the right toebox is pulled from Chengdu hotpots in which dishes are cooked.

Boiling chili-oil treatments bubble around the toebox. Ostrich leather on the lateral side is inspired by the crispy roasted goose skin that’s famous in Guangzhou. The silver Swoosh resembles the metal hook used to hang the roast goose. The flame and Lychee wood used to roast the goose appears in a watercolor pattern around the eyelets.

Shaved ice and taro balls — a common Taipei dessert — can be found on the heel counter. The insole paints the scene of a bench terrace, a landscaping method used to grow rice paddies.

The collar lining reflects the color of meat dishes. The yellow outsole represents cooking oils.

This food inspired pair will be launching on the Nike SNKRS app on Jan 13th and if you can’t wait till then, maybe go sample some of the great food that is represented on each shoe to really immerse yourself in Chinese food culture.