Latest news with #BetterGiftShop
Hypebeast
11-06-2025
- Business
- Hypebeast
Better Gift Shop's Nike Collaboration Is Destiny Fulfilled
Brands have become increasingly connected with the world, establishing their presence via flagship storefronts, exclusive launches, pop-up activations, wide-reaching social media pages, and more. However, the true cornerstones of communities are locally owned spaces. For Toronto,Better Gift Shopis just that. Since 2017, theAvi Gold-led imprint has operated as a platform for key creative and cultural moments, leveraging collaboration to contextualize global works locally. Designed as the gift shop to a fictional museum, the label has assembled its most significant initiative to date, teaming up withNiketo put its spin on theAir Max Dn8. Inspired by the concept of revenge, the sneaker dons an aggressive appearance that enhances the streamlined silhouette with strong linework. In the brand's words, the shoe's glacial composition of gray and blue reflects how 'revenge is a dish best served cold.' To explore the campaign, we connected with Gold himself, who not only breaks down the shoe's various points of inspiration but also addresses his longstanding history with the Swoosh and how he manifested this powerful moment. Better Gift Shop has an extensive history of collaboration; however, this is its first collaboration with Nike. Was teaming up with the Swoosh a goal of yours at any point? It has always been our goal to work with Nike, something we have manifested for years. The brand was generous enough to give us 'Crystal Blue' Air Max 95s to gift our friends, and eventually, a few years later, they approached us to open an account. Ever since then, we have been able to collaborate on activations with Nike as well. 'We're all driven by nostalgia but ultimately want to focus on pushing forward.' The Nike Air Max Dn8 is the focal point of this project. What about the model speaks to you, and what makes it the right fit for Better Gift Shop? When Nike releases new silhouettes, everyone is quick to offer strong opinions. When I first saw the shoe, I knew I would be interested in it because I could see where the design references came from: the Air Max 2001, Air Max 96, etc. We're all driven by nostalgia but ultimately want to focus on pushing forward, so its acknowledgment of the past while delivering a futuristic look made it a great fit. When putting the collaboration together, what was your starting point? It all began with a conversation I had at Nike's World Headquarters in Beaverton, discussing all of the doubts I've experienced in all my years in the industry and the moments of disappointment. The following day, while in the Department of Nike Archives, myself and Teddy [Better Gift Shop's lead designer on the project] gravitated towards footwear moments that left lasting impressions on us — Spiridons from 1997, Vince Carter's Shox, and then seeing one of the original colorways of the Air Max 2001, which seems like a significant driving force in the inspiration for the Air Max Dn8. We paid homage to these key moments with details like the reflective, Spiridon-inspired lace loops and other 'effects' that speak to the aesthetics I enjoy as a fan of Nike. 'I stayed in touch with people from [Nike], but never imagined things landing where they have.' This iteration of the shoe draws inspiration from your journey with Nike. Could you elaborate more on this connection? Back in the day, I worked retail at the Nike Store on Bloor Street in Toronto. Knowing my love for the Air Max 95, Nike contacted me to host an activation based on the Air Max 95 after the ball got rolling on Better Gift Shop. I stayed in touch with people from the brand, but never imagined things landing where they have. It's still wild to consider that they trusted us to create an incredible product. Above all else, I am a fan of the brand. In the early nineties, my late uncle worked for Nike as an international sales rep, and he gifted me my first pair ever, so the brand holds a very special place in my heart. The shoe features a lenticular tongue design inspired by a friend of the brand who lives in Japan. What's the story behind that detail? I must credit my friend in Tokyo, Esqwe, for his idea. He makes lenticular pins and stickers, including designs for incredible people and brands. We were contemplating how to capture both logos simultaneously in a cool, unconventional way when it finally struck: make it lenticular! [laughs] I bought aBeavis and Butt-Headtee as a kid in Buffalo, New York. It had a lenticular patch sewn on it and always stuck with me as something nostalgic and cool. For this project, you created Revengie, your very own character who arrives in the form of a plushie and vinyl collectible statue, both of which appear in the campaign. Where did the inspiration for this come from? This concept was the idea of my friend Zirchi Gray, an incredible artist in Tokyo who is originally from Virginia. He moved to Tokyo years ago and adopted incredible illustration techniques, capturing moments in ways that are uncanny. We were going for the aesthetic of retro Japanese animated characters and looked to encapsulate it in a timeless, fun way. Zirchi pushed us to do the statue, plushie, and vinyl toys. We were obsessing over how to make things even more interesting and exciting for the consumer, and this landed exactly where we wanted to go with it. Earl Sweatshirt also appears in the campaign. What was it like working with him, and how did he get involved? Earl is a friend and is one of the most interesting and talented people I've ever met. Casting him for the project felt natural, as I've always appreciated his perspective, no matter the context, so it was a simple no-brainer. I'm incredibly grateful that he was willing to do this with us. He is very intentional, so having him involved is an honor. The campaign also includes apparel and accessory components. Can you walk me through the range? We were lucky that Nike let us flip some iconic staples with Better graphics, but there are also mythical items for promotional use only. We made the custom plushie, lapel pins, stickers, and, fingers crossed, a vinyl toy made in Japan that will launch at a Tokyo activation we're preparing. We also tied on items that are true to us: a special edition hat, a bandana with Geek Out Store, and custom basketball shorts. What sort of feeling do you hope people get when wearing the shoe? I hope this moment, story, and project all feel exciting, and that the sneakers feel special when you put them on. We needed to bring excitement to the people. Nike is tapping into 'the feeling' again. We saw it with the big bubble Air Max 95s and many others. My hope is for these Air Max Dn8s to be a point of recognition and distinction, like, 'Oh sh*t, you got the Better Dn8s!' The Better Gift Shop x Nike Air Max Dn8 launches exclusively viaBetter Gift Shopon June 13 alongside its accompanying apparel collection. From there, Nike SNKRS will host a drop on June 20.
Hypebeast
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
率先近賞 Nike Air Max 1000 最新配色「Oatmeal」
Nike話題新作Air Max 1000在去年曝光後，一直受到鞋迷們的熱烈關注，而今回 Instagram 帳戶 @jcheyenne_ 就率先揭曉了此鞋型的新配色「Oatmeal」。 全鞋採用先進的 3D 列印技術製作，鞋面具備無縫、無鞋帶且一體成型的特質，捨棄傳統縫線後呈現出流暢的雕塑感線條。而「Oatmeal」配色是以 Oatmeal/White-Total Orange 色調方案組成，在簡約的中性奶油色上，於中底氣墊加入一抹橙色增添亮點，細節處還能看到鞋面複雜的格柵結構、後跟 air 字樣、Mini Swoosh、Made in Germany 字樣等等。 據悉 Nike Air Max 1000「Oatmeal」將在 2025 年夏季正式登場，售價 $210 美元，有興趣的讀者不妨多加留意。 >Better Gift Shop x Nike Air Max DN8 聯名系列正式登場 >Salehe Bembury 率先公開 Tyrese Haliburton 首款簽名戰靴 PUMA Hali 1
Hypebeast
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Hypebeast
New Balance 991v2 Made in UK 最新配色「Celestial Blue」登場
New Balance英製規格人氣鞋型991v2Made in UK 再度推出新作，今回帶來柔和的天藍色主題「Celestial Blue」，全鞋以透氣網眼為基礎，搭配絨面麂皮與灰色皮革覆蓋層。這款英製鞋型同樣來自品牌位於英國 Flimby 的工廠生產，具備上乘工藝品質。 接著搭載全掌 FuelCell 科技，提升推進力與彈跳感，並結合 ENCAP 緩震與半透明 ABZORB SBS 緩震技術，確保優異的衝擊吸收效果，奶油色鞋帶與中底細節則增添幾分復古氛圍。 此鞋款預計在 6 月 19 日正式發售，售價 $250 美元，有興趣的讀者不妨多加留意。 >Better Gift Shop x Nike Air Max DN8 聯名系列正式登場 >Salehe Bembury 率先公開 Tyrese Haliburton 首款簽名戰靴 PUMA Hali 1
Hypebeast
29-05-2025
- Business
- Hypebeast
Better Gift Shop Reveals Debut Nike Collaboration With Air Max DN8
Summary Toronto's renowned boutique,Better Gift Shop, is teaming up withNikefor a highly anticipated collaboration on theAir Max DN8, marking Better Gift Shop's inaugural project with the Swoosh and the first Air Max DN8 collaboration since the model's Spring 2025 debut. The sneaker, boasts a striking design featuring white, grey, and blue tones, with a gradient mesh base that darkens towards the heel. It includes subtle icy blue accents on Nike's mini Swoosh and lace loops, while the tongue proudly displays Better Gift Shop branding. The shoe is equipped with a full-length Dynamic Air midsole for enhanced cushioning, paired with a black and blue outsole. This collaboration is poised to be a significant release for sneaker enthusiasts, capturing urban creativity while honoring Nike's futuristic design DNA. While no official price has been announced yet, the Better Gift Shop x Nike Air Max DN8 is expected to launch sometime in 2025 via Better Gift Shop'sonline storeand in-store and potentially select retailers.
