New Balance Teams Up with Luxury Brand GANNI A/S To Release The Fresh Foam Sneaker

New Balance has launched another brand collaboration, teaming up with Danish fashion brand GANNI A/S. "The long-standing collaborative relationship between GANNI and New Balance reflects our shared commitment to creativity and a passion for pushing boundaries." Chris Davis, New Balance's President and CMO, said on LinkedIn. The brands have collaborated on three capsules in the past. Davis states that the new drop "promises to embody the essence of both brands while introducing a fresh performance tech perspective incorporating GANNI's signature bold, discovery details." The limited edition Fresh Foam Trainer, dropping today, features the Danish brand's butterfly logo detailing and comes in two distinct colourways: silver/pastel pink and red/black/white. The drop retails at roughly 150 USD and is available on GANNI’s website as well as select stores.

New Balance brought in cartoonist and illustrator Suerynn Lee for the campaign visuals, which feature the "GANNI" girl and her "four-legged best friend." 

Within minutes of posting, Davis' comment section gained heavy traction. "This collaboration is a fantastic example of blending innovation with purpose," said one commenter. “A dog mom and a little dog... 'It's my favourite. 'What a perfect use of cultural relevance!" Said another enthusiast. Despite the childless cat lady craze during the US elections, dog moms still dominate from a cultural standpoint. Cute stuff aside, the primary concern is the potential setback of the president-elect's tariffs on cross-country brand collaborations in the coming months or years.

The American brand New Balance has its headquarters in Boston. President-elect Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs anywhere from 10 to 20 percent on imports from countries outside the US (except China, which will pay a whopping “60 percent or more”). GANNI A/S is based in Copenhagen, Denmark, so unless the dealings are solely on one side of the pond, this could hinder future collaborations.

What do you think of the New Balance x GANNI Fresh Foam Trainer? We want to know.

Zalando is still reaching for cultural panache. Cool kids, beware.

I had a brief stint at Zalando. I left my cushy job at Gap for a lead social role at the Berlin-based retailer. The multi-brand e-commerce brand seemed on the hunt for something, hence my interview. What it was? I'll never know. 

Once in, I joined a bubbly team of young millennials headed by the department lead, who resembled a character from Hackers (true story!) and constantly talked about vision. Yet, my team lacked a clear focus and vision, except when it came to numbers. In fact, the company aggressively crunched numbers around the clock. 

I came to Zalando because I thought it was cool. At the time, the retailer, who trades B2C and B2B, had just bought the Bread & Butter trade show and rebranded it as B&&B. I was part of the team responsible for pushing its exclusive Ivy Park collaboration in Europe. Surely, there were colourful times ahead.

Hope morphed into frustration, and I eventually gave up. I felt blue. That's when the big revelation came; my line manager admitted, "Zalando is not cool." This probably explains why alignment was so difficult. It's unlikely this individual harboured animosity toward me; she wore pink-rimmed glasses, was a long-time DJ, and attended Skepta's show at Berghain—she seemed cool. She wasn't involved in hiring but grappled with our department head's decision once I arrived. Some people thrive under pressure, but I struggled because they only seemed to focus on numbers. Zalando is not a space for "cool" creatives.

Although my time at Zalando was a dud, I formed amazing relationships with individuals who accomplished some cool things. One of my friends booked A$AP Rocky for the B&&B launch; another was closely involved in the Queen of Cool supermodel Adwoa Aboah headlining the event. Soon after, the higher-ups axed Bread and Butter.

Zalando boasts revenue of 10.1 billion euros (10.6 billion USD). It’s a tech company far more aligned with Amazon than ASOS.

The company acquired a majority stake in Highsnobiety, and I can already see the cracks in the magazine's edgy appeal. No, that's not growth or maturity. Regardless of who owned it, Supreme's swag was clutch.

So, I know Zalando's "Cultural Ties" campaign is a reach. The retailer's attempt to tap "inside streetwear communities" is a shameless plea. And while I appreciate O32c's beautiful dedicated feature, I know better.

Rumour Mill: The Streetwear is Dead Anthology—Volume One

We invite you to read a series of critical essays and interviews we found while searching the web. Streetwear is my beat; however, the death of streetwear is a lament-over-lattes I don't think about.

While the reads are insightful, there is some fluff. If the market weren't booming, I'd report on cats or glycolic acid toner instead.

Without streetwear, publications like Hypebeast and i-D wouldn't be as influential.

Not every black designer falls into the streetwear category. However, most black streetwear designers who align with streetwear are eager to distance themselves from it. If these designers were to embrace streetwear's ethos with the same conviction as Karl Kani, Too Black Guys, or, yes, FUBU, they could stand alongside the best in fashion.

I doubt an editor at XXL or Thrasher would see an issue; these conversations are usually reserved for fashion’s upper echelons. It’s generally left to streetwear’s OGs to steer the narrative properly.

Game recognizes game, folks.

Either way, these think pieces go way back.

How far back, you ask?

Let's find out.

Streetwear Is Going Back to Its Roots, According to Industry Experts [WWD]

“I always say streetwear is dead because it’s then born again the next morning.” Bobby Hundreds tells WWD. “It just keeps turning over and over and responding back to itself.”

Read Bobby’s 2017 essay, The Truth About Streetwear.

What’s Next for Hip-Hop and Fashion [The Business of Fashion]

“[Brands] know that they have to tap into the culture.” Steven Victor tells BoF. Quote of the year.

How to define streetwear in 2024 [Vogue Business]

“They were like, ‘There’s a new consumer.’ What people call streetwear — founded in hip-hop, music, style, culture made by Black people, Hispanic people — was consumed 80 per cent by white and Asian kids, ” Tremaine Emory told Vogue Business. “So they’re like, ‘Oh, we can get these aesthetics into our thing. We can get those people who have the money to buy it.’” <- This is the truth.

Virgil Abloh: Streetwear? It’s Definitely Gonna Die [Dazed]

“I would definitely say [streetwear] is gonna die, you know? Like, its time will be up. In my mind, how many more t-shirts can we own, how many more hoodies, how many sneakers?” Virgil told Dazed.

Virgil Abloh Shares Pics of His LV² Collaboration With Nigo and Clarifies That “Streetwear Is Dead” Comment [Vogue]

“I didn’t say it to be polarizing,” Virgil told Vogue. “I think that in the context of this conversation with Nigo—if you speak to anyone that’s been in streetwear for the last 15 years, it’s always had this sort of nine lives, dying and coming back, and dying and coming back. There’s so many first-generation streetwear brands, stores, and retailers.”

Streetwear is Dead [New York Times]

“I never really identified with [the term “streetwear”] or wanted to use it.” Heron Preston told NYT. “I was forced to because in some ways it’s an instant invitation into a culture. There are all sorts of associations that come up when you say that word.”

Relax, Streetwear is Only Dead Because Fashion Has Engulfed It [Culted]

“What were once staples of ‘streetwear’ silhouettes (oversized, dropped shoulders etc) soon just became immersed into most collections debuting in fashion month – from emerging to established brands.” Said Stella Huges. “There was no need to enforce a rigid binary between the two – they became one and the same.”

Move over, Hypefest—ComplexCon is returning to Hong Kong for a second time.

ComplexCon Hong Kong is back for 2025. The event presents significant opportunities for Gen-Z-focused brands.

We just received news that ComplexCon has confirmed another round in Hong Kong. The festival will return in March 2025, weeks before Art Basel Hong Kong's second appearance.

Reports claim the Hong Kong edition made a successful debut, drawing over 30,000 local and international attendees, including some from the US—a noteworthy development given that ComplexCon is American. The US arm wields significant internet clout, drawing in some of the biggest hip-hop celebrities, some of whom are known for bringing the mess (but then again, the US always brings the mess). For instance, Lil Yachty threw emo shade at Bimma Williams despite liking the content creator's IG critique of the rapper's Nike Air Force 1 collab.

The festival, a glorified trade show, offers brands a huge retail opportunity. Over two days, the event showcases over 200 brands. Hypefest, on the other hand, takes place in November, so there isn't really any competition per se. While it appears to be more of a music and art installation (Hypebeast calls it a "cultural experience"), Hypefest does include “limited-time branded pop-ups with exclusive product showcases.” Both festivals tap the same demo and brands (I’m sure) and draw audiences in the thousands. Ironically, Hypefest originally launched in Brooklyn before heading overseas, whereas ComplexCon is launching an extension of its brand.

With all the excitement around ComplexCon Hong Kong and specifics yet to be confirmed, it's surprising that the chatter around Art Basel is dismal. Perhaps the art world, as I recall it, is more demure and focused on its business. If I harbour any apprehensions about these events, particularly ones like ComplexCon, they often get lost in their own hype. I remember the Bread & Butter Barcelona days all too well.

My instincts say they'll have to make room for Highsnobiety next.

Shout out to Time Out Hong Kong for the update.

Ciao Edie!

Sneaker Holiday Gift Guide: Green Grinch

Everyone knows I love sneakers. I wanted to launch my gift guide series with something easy to curate. Plus, Sunday is the perfect day to browse the net for items on your holiday wishlist. Many of my top picks may exceed your budget, but fear not; Black Friday is approaching. My edit complements the festive season but is also a trend prediction. The world is in a funk for obvious reasons; I'm recommending (and predicting) that people will gravitate towards a green hue since it's the colour of prosperity, nature, the heart chakra, and growth. Be like the Grinch when it comes to guarding your peace, at least for the rest of 2024

Lots more to come.

Happy shopping!

Ciao Edie!

Loewe x On Cloudtilt 2.0 Running Shoes at Mytheresa

CAMPERLAB Green Tossu Sneakers at SSENSE

adidas Originals Country OG Low-Top Sneakers at CETTIRE

adidas by Stella McCartney Terrex Hiking Boots at Farfetch

Salomon Alpineway SP2 Phileo Sneakers at END.

Nina Chanel Abney x Women's Air Jordan 3 Retro SP 'Bicoastal' Sneakers at Goat

Converse Chuck Taylor '70 Hi Sneaker at SevenStore

adidas Originals Women's Japan H sneakers at FOOTDISTRICT

Puma LaMelo Ball MB.01 Lo at StockX

Vans Authentic Sneakers at LN-CC

The 100 Years of Black Fashion That Almost Went Unnoticed

When WWD announced the release of their book, "Black in Fashion: 100 Years of Style, Influence and Culture," I thought, 'That was my idea!'

No, the publication did not steal my idea by any means.

I'm thrilled to hear about this milestone recognition of black fashion and culture. However, once upon a time, back in 2011, I pitched this idea to Bloomsbury Publishing. 

I'm not sure how I mustered up the courage to contact one of the most prestigious book publishers in fashion. However, the editor was interested in my idea; I just needed to submit a proper proposal. To my dismay, a fellow fashion journalist from a popular publication at the time, who I will not name, shot down my book idea. This black fashion journalist—let's call it like we see it here, a straight-up hater—didn't see the point of a book celebrating black style. "You wouldn't want a book about white style," he said, questioning the need to elevate black fashion. What's so special? What's so different? 

Homeboy was hard-pressed about it, too. Sambo (not his real name) was striving for that promotion from the cotton field to the house. He clearly didn't want to feel obligated to engage in conversations about why black people tend to be fashion's biggest muse.

Rather than ending the conversation with a heartfelt "I wish you the best with your book," he woke up and chose pettiness. 

Am I going to say black people are the innovators of fashion? That's not factually true. But are we not gonna to talk about FUBU, Ann Lowe, Patrick Kelly, Willi Smith, Stephen Burrows, André Leon Talley, and Virgil Abloh? 

Are we not going to recognize the Michael "Air" Jordan phenomenon, the bling era, or the Harlem Renaissance?

I'm proud of the book's brilliant writers, Tonya Blazio-Licorish and Tara Donaldson. Their roles at WWD have placed these women in unique positions for such a complex undertaking, combining their encyclopedia knowledge on this historical topic with their lived experiences.

If anything, this project took way too long. I wanted to bring this topic to the forefront more than twelve or thirteen years ago, and I'm glad that the establishments have finally taken notice. 

I didn't pursue the book. The editor moved to a different publishing company, and writing a book wasn't something I was professionally ready for. Living in London, UK, I was still finding my footing as a budding fashion writer. When it comes to ideas such as this, you need to respect the hierarchy. 

Luckily, the emails stay in my archive as tangible memories.

Women's Wear Daily and the Fairchild Archives book, "Black in Fashion: 100 Years of Style, Influence and Culture" is out now.

As for those who refuse to recognize the significance of black people's contributions to fashion,

Well... 

It always be ya own people, smgdh.

Stop the hate.

Ciao Edie!

New Balance Numeric's "Intervals" Skater Short Film

Busy-ass day at Culture Forward, lemme tell ya. But we're dedicated to delivering the goods.

This comes from New Balance again. Here, we have a short film produced in collaboration with Thrasher, a longstanding cult fave among skaterheads and enthusiasts. The magazine's website gives an industry trade publication feel, probably because I was more into Juxtapose and Mass Appeal growing up—not that those are skater mags, but because they spoke to a similar demo. Nonetheless, the film is a mini-documentary of sorts. "Don’t watch it on a phone, watch it on the biggest screen you can find with the biggest speakers possible, turn it up and cast aside distractions," said Sebastian Palmer, general manager for NB Numeric, the skateboard division of New Balance on LinkedIn. He continued, "This is the best skate video you will watch this year. After taking this on a world premiere tour from LA to NY, Madrid and Sao Paolo it is now ready for the world." 

Like I said before, humble brags, right? 

"[Three] years in the making, this is a huge highlight of my career," he gloats. "If you know anything of my journey, you may know I quit another major shoe brand because I felt they didn’t listen to the skaters, the director or those that work at the brand when they finished a particular film. Making skate videos defines us and is essential to progressing skateboarding, artistically and physically." 

And where was this other brand, you ask? Well, sources point to none other than Nike. 

Intervals is a three-part series in which New Balance Numeric teams up with various skateboarders around the world to create something. It's not the type of content to watch if you're hoping to become a better person, but it is kind of neat if you want to catch a vibe, you know, if you're feeling nostalgic. This makes me think of the Harmony Korine film Kids from '95 without the volatility.

As for the growing number of former disgruntled Nike employees… 

Well, I’ll be listening and watching.

As the OG Lauren London says... The marathon continues. 

Watch New Balance Numeric’s Intervals after the jump.

Ciao Edie!

HOT OR COLD? D&G x SKIMS, New Emojis, 2025 Dating Trends, New Balance Wins Award & Pharrell Gets GQ Nod

The latest rumblings on the Innanet. Will these conversations drive culture forward or fall flat?

New Balance Wins Footwear News Company of the Year Award

Brand president and chief marketing officer Chris Davis is a humble brag type. Makes sense. If I were in charge of New Balance, I would be, too. New Balance won the FN Achievement Awards (FNAAs) for Company of the Year, which is another plaque on his shelf. Davis took to LinkedIn earlier today to boast about the brand's "tremendous growth and relevance" sustained through a "laser focus on our core brand truths and living our culture everyday." He asserted that New Balance's success is not solely due to its bottom line but to its brand self-awareness (that's a new one), authenticity, and an "honest vision to carry the future." He's been fairly lucky; a lot of the brand's trajectory has been due to its understated yet inclusive appeal. The only issue is that New Balance's leadership team lacks diversity. It's lilly-white. Being authentic is intrinsic. The most disturbing thought is the realization that New Balance has 12,000 "associates," as Davis concluded, with all of them belonging to just about every race, religion, gender, and creed known to man. Still, there's not one person of colour on the board that they've got to answer to. Will that change in 2025?

Verdict: Warm.

Dolce & Gabbana and Skims to Launch Limited Edition Collaboration

Business of Fashion reported that Skims co-founder Jens Grede revealed at the BoF Voices 2024 conference that the loungewear brand is collaborating with Italian luxe fashion house Dolce & Gabbana. This is no surprise; SKIMS lead face Kim Kardashian has been a longtime muse to Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. Thanks to her ex, she's transcended the trashy reality TV world and become a global fashion icon, allowing her to leverage her coveted access to make significant gains. I've bought a few SKIM pieces; most friends rate the brand. But of course, I'm giving a side eye, considering that Kardashian remained alarmingly quiet during the elections. That said, this collaboration is a hot moment. Besides, we're heading towards some hard times, and a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do.

Verdict: Hot.

Unicode Drafts New Emojis for 2025

In Gen Z and Gen Alpha news, the Unicode Consortium could release more emojis. New additions include a distorted smiley face, an orca, a treasure chest, several ballet dancers, and a Big Foot-inspired "hairy creature." However, if you want to add these forms of self-expression to your repertoire, you'll have to wait until September 2025. Bummer.

Verdict. Very Warm.

Bumble Predicts Dating Trends for 2025

Bumble's The Buzz (okay?) revealed a research report they conducted with over 40,000 Gen Z and millennial Bumble members worldwide* (I'll leave the asterisk to them). Apparently, dating in 2025 will be a transitional for us. Despite the recent elections, which raised major concerns about reproductive rights, and the rise of the 4B, 5A, 6J, 7X, and 8Z movements, which see women cutting off men's access, period, we're still out in the world searching for love. How so?

Micro-romance: We want simple gestures instead of holding up stereos outside our windows.

DMV (Date With Me): If I'm getting ready for a date, I'll livestream it on TikTok, Twitch, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube—ideally all five. Once the date's over, I'll share how it went. If they call, share it. If we argue, share it. Another form of voyeurism. 

On the Same (Fan) Page: Bumble attributes this to "getting involved in activities and social communities can make you more appealing to potential partners." I can get with this. Opposites don't necessarily attract. It's exhausting to entertain people you don't truly connect with, hoping you'll grow on each other one day. Lord knows I've made that mistake. 

Male-Casting: Setting the stage for men to define what "positive masculinity looks like." No comment.

Future-Proofing: Vetting from the jump. It's a lovely idea in theory, but it's not uncommon for people to get distracted by good looks, charm, money, and all the trappings that can put us in Cupid's chokehold. Easier said than done.

Guys That Get It: Making “keeping it real” the unofficial motto of 2025. That's very cute. 

While I commend the effort, Bumble missed a big opportunity to engage this golden audience with meatier topics, such as how global politics affect their dating choices, issues around class, and the intersection of religion, race, sexuality, and gender. They missed the mark big time.

Verdict: Colder than Siberia.

Pharrell Williams is GQ's Designer of the Year

Well done, Skateboard P. Not every day, we see a young black person's steady rise to the top. At 51, Pharrell can reflect on his accomplishments and accolades and admit to being the shit. He knew that from a young age, but now the world finally gives him his flowers. He's men's creative director at Louis Vuitton. He's on the cover of American GQ, and he's still fine as hell. He's styled in bohemian looks, a bit of '90s grunge, a sprinkle of Rick James, and some rugged workwear, and you know Pharrell Williams is still the same person we know and love—just an upgraded version. More will come from me on this story.

Verdict: Hot.

That’s it for today. Until next time.

Ciao Edie!

Lee and Alpha Industries Celebrate Workwear and Americana with Capsule Collection

Images courtesy of Alpha Industries

I learned from WWD this morning that Alpha Industries and Lee have teamed up on a capsule collection. According to the report, the collaboration celebrates their "shared history in workwear and Americana."

The first thing that came to mind was, 'Who's Lee?' Yeah, sometimes I'm not that up-to-date. It turns out that Lee has been around forever. I would not have known about Lee had it not been for Alpha Industries, a brand I buy often.

The thing is, brands like Lee tend to stay in the vault. Is it under the Levis umbrella? What is it known for? Well, Lee, a multipurpose apparel brand from 1889, is part of Kontoor Brands, which owns Wrangle and Rock & Republic, both of whom I’m familiar with.

I believe this collaboration intends to reintroduce Lee to a fresh, younger audience, given that avant-garde retailers such as SSENSE and END. carry Alpha Industries anyway. I'm well past the days of rocking coveralls; however, the quilted jackets are cute. The cargo pants aren't for me, but they can be useful for someone who wants to look on-trend without appearing to be trying too hard. Perhaps the purpose of workwear lies in its practicality since it is essentially for people holding down blue-collar jobs and those who appreciate the blue-collar aesthetic (yes, there is a blue-collar aesthetic. Think Carhartt)

Again, the pieces are accessibly priced, which I’m all for. While the collection is available on both brands' e-commerce sites, unfortunately, it can only be found in select US stores, which is my point.

But alas, happy shopping!

Fear of God Goes BIG with its Essentials Collection for Holiday 2024

Lookbook from Fear of God

Fear of God is releasing its largest Essentials collection to date, WWD reports. The collection includes 110 styles of everything you'd expect from a luxe streetwear brand, including sweaters, chunky knits, jogging pants, tees, and the like. The brand's designer, Jerry Lorenzo, who is of mixed heritage (emphasizing this because it's no secret that black designers tend to get overlooked), told the publication that it was hard to edit his final designs. He says he chose to focus on depth and his ability to tell a wider story with the range and versatility of his pieces.

I plan to explore the brand on a deeper level, but I'll start by posting this cozy drop right now. The line is accessibly priced, which is great for me. According to WWD, the Essentials Holiday 2024 collection is available via Fear of God's website on Wednesday (today?) and will be available through retailers worldwide as of Friday (this Friday? Next week?)

Better get your holiday wish list together.

Happy shopping!

Is Nike Falling Apart?

I went to Girl Guides as a kid. I don’t think I dressed up (I was about 8), but one of my fashion staples was a pair of white Air Jordans with black and red accents. If I remember correctly, the kicks featured an iridescent midfoot swoosh. I believe they were kid boy sizes. During one event, two girls stared in my direction, whispering to each other. A few moments later, one of the girls approached me, admitting they were chatting about my Jordans. The thing is, rocking fresh kicks wasn't a big deal. That was just the story of my life.

I grew up on Nike.

Seeing powerful black celebrities wearing Jordans mesmerized me. Two, in particular—Spike Lee and Michael Jordan—were everything I wanted to be. In fact, all my influences at the time, from Monie Love and MC Lyte to Kid'N'Play and Kris Kross, rocked Jordans. 

It wasn’t surprising, at least to me, that I'd want to work for the big SWOOSH as an adult. I'm not an athlete, nor have I tried to be, but the brand's ethos made me feel there'd be a place for me within its content team to help shape Nike's narrative for younger generations, particularly young black girls like me. 

Working at Nike's HQ has been on my wishlist for some time, so much so that I added several employees on LinkedIn and even arranged informal Zoom chats. However, I received rejections for every position I applied for. Is it disheartening? It was until it wasn't.

People have told me that Nike has a toxic work culture, but knowing me, this revelation didn't sway my opinion of the brand. When I learned that John Donahoe was stepping down as CEO, coincidentally ahead of the US election, I thought, 'Maybe this is a positive thing!' given that his tenure at the brand wasn’t a fit. However, after reading Forbes' piece about the brand's falling reputation, especially over the past four years, I began to consider that rejection could be a form of protection.

I'm not about to launch this platform as a hit blog on Nike. However, I am a journalist covering streetwear and youth culture beats. Therefore, I feel compelled to report on things as they land on my desk. 

Does this mean that I'll never work for Nike again? I mean, never say never. Even though many activists would say, "Don't buy Nike," I'd be lying if I didn't admit to being a Nike stan. As I've gotten older, I still find Nike's shoes and brand messaging aspirational. However, there's a glaring disconnect between Nike's public perception and reality. As the adage goes, nothing is as it seems, but what's going on at Nike, an all-American emblem, feels symbolic, almost like the implosion of the West.

As I said, I'm keeping it light for this post, but I'm committed to seeing where this journey takes me.

COMING SOON

Gathering intel.