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Peanuts x Vans Collect - You almost have to think, “what took them so long?”

Vans has unveiled the Peanuts x Vans collaboration, and I must say, they certainly didn’t disappoint.  How could they?  This is a classic, and much like the Toy Story collaboration, we are feeling like kids again in the lab.  Before we do that, let me just say, that fellow Sneaker Chemist, Eric Alexander (did he delete his Twitter again?... Jesus) is ahead of the curve.  He sent us pics of the items he’s buying from the Vans Store online.  You should go check that out before he buys all of the merchandise.

All of the characters that you grew to know and love are featured in these kicks.  You know that weird polo-style shirt Charlie Brown always had on no matter if it was Christmas, Easter, or just another Sunday morning paper?  Vans created a colorway featuring that design on a pair of the Old Skools, a low top classic Vans build.  

My personal favorite are the Sk8 Hi’s that feature Snoopy.  On the Vans website you are able to see at least 3 versions of the Sk8 Hi that are sole-ly (see what I did there?) Snoopy inspired, with a simple minimalistic black and white scheme, staying true to the simplicity of the Peanuts artwork.  

But hey, we can sit here and talk about all of the items (because seriously, they created an ENTIRE collection of shirts, shoes, bags, sandals, etc.), but it would be in your best interest to go to the Vans Store and see the merch for yourself... I’ve been looking through this stuff for an hour... I see another hour in my future.  Peace, love and as always, #StaySoleful.

Written by: D’ante Richardson

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Nike Hyperadapt 1.0 Update - The Inside | Sneaker Chemists | New Technology

 If you’ve kept up with us for any amount of time you know we’ve been in tune with the Hyperadapt 1.0 since it was only a prototype. While we’ve only known that Nike was implementing another self-lacing shoe, following the Back to the Future’s, we never really had the inside of the mechanics of the Hyperadapt 1.0. A company called Mindtribe, an engineering consulting firm took it upon themselves to investigate.

The mechanics of the self-lacing features a fiber similar to kevlar in which is a Japanese product. The self-lacing mechanism inside of the can go far beyond the duty it’s being used for. Although Nike hasn’t implemented it, it has the capability to utilize a bluetooth connection and several different lace settings.

How does the Hypderadpt know when to lace itself up? There’s a sensor component that can sense when pressure is applied. Based on the pressure, and the sensor itself, the mechanism tightens accordingly. Along with that, the embedded LED strip will let you know when it’s time to recharge your kicks. Of course the self-lacing mechanism has to be powered some kind of way. Can you see embedded stylish solar panels powering the shoe in the future? We can!

[the-sneakerchemists-blog]

A Lebron Retro?

Remember when LeBron came into the league and got his first shoe?  These are those shoes now.  Feel old yet?

I do.  Coming soon, LeBron James and Nike are bringing back the very first pair of LeBron’s that we ever saw.  And since the shoe is over a decade old, we get to now experience the first ever Retro Release of the King himself.  It seems like just yesterday we were having the discussion of whether he would live up to the hype of the 18 year-old from Akron, Ohio.  Now we are awaiting the inevitable release of more of LBJ23’s shoes.

The retro release of the Nike Air Zooms, bearing the name “First Games”, will include a stitching inside of the shoe of the date that they were first released.  Unfortunately, the trend of dope sneakers being a general release will not follow suit with these sneakers.  The shoes, at least with the stitching and at least for now, will only be stocked to about 1,000 units.  Imagine the resale value (...my pockets hurt at the thought).  Since the shoes came out over a decade ago, there is an increase in price from $110 to $175... What do you expect?  I’d explain inflation, but we are chemists, not economists.

How do you feel about the retro release?  Are these kicks too expensive?  Should all of LeBron’s shoes be retroed? Let us know what you’re thinking, and as always; #StaySoleful.

Written By: D’ante Jones

[the-sneakerchemists-blog]

To Be Released, or Not to Be Released, That is the Question

The Chemists are definitely not above speculation.  We just like to call it “forecasting”... or “making an inference.”  So bear with us as we spec... I mean “forecast”.

According to the rumor mill and a couple of grape vines that we keep our ear close to, there may be a collaboration between Atmos x Air Max 1, which could include the release of an Air Jordan sneaker with a design inspired by said release.

Atmos is considered a boutique, famous in New York and Tokyo for their flashy, trendy, and unique style.  They design everything, from accessories to sneaker colorways.  In 2007, the collaboration between Atmos and Air Max created a colorway that was brilliant, and it is rumored that a retro will be released this year.

There is no confirmed release date or confirmed colorway just yet, but the speculation alone is enough to get our ears perked up and ready for what’s next!  (Don’t worry, we will keep you updated.. what kind of chemists would we be if we didn’t?)

#StaySoleful

Written By: D’ante Jones

[the-sneakerchemists-blog]

Presidential... Chicago Cubs Honor the 44th President in the Best Way Ever | Quick Read | Sneaker Chemists

If there’s one thing all of us know about our former (still doesn’t feel real) Commander in Chief, it’s the city he reps. Although it wasn’t his birth place, Barack Obama has never been shy about his love for the city of Chicago. No president has ever let his passion for sports be more felt than Obama so it’s only right that one of his hometown teams gave him a little parting gift.

Dexter Fowler, who was a key contributor to the Chicago Cubs’ championship run, had the perfect gift in mind. With Obama’s presidency dwindling down to its last couple day, Fowler gifted Obama with a one of kind pair of customized Jordan’s. Draped in black patent leather from AJ 11’s, Obama’s Air Jordan 11Lab4 has presidential details that you won’t find on any other shoe including the Obama logo replacing the lace lock and the Presidential Seal on the tongue replacing the “Flight” symbol. Obama’s signature laser etched on the side panel completes the iconic look of the shoe. Accompanied with a Derek Jeter “RE2PECT” T-shirt in a shoe box with the Presidential Seal on it, the presentation of the kicks looked just as good as the shoes themselves.

While Obama may have not been a perfect president (to some), he undoubtedly changed the way the position has been looked at for the past 8 years. At 23 years old, I’ve only been alive for 3 presidents with Obama being the only one I can vividly remember. That being said, no other president has been able to the different generations and cultures like he has. I’ve never met the man in person but can honestly feel like he’s one of us (in more ways than one). He handled the position with poise and class, all while keeping a smile on his face. While we may not know if he is a true sneakerhead, I feel this was an appropriate parting gift for him. A great way to say “Thank You!”

Stay Soleful,

EA  

http://www.ballerstatus.com/2017/01/18/president-obama-gifted-custom-air-jordan-4s/

http://sneakernews.com/2017/01/16/dexter-fowler-gifting-barack-obama-special-air-jordan-pair/

http://kicksair.com/pages/87599026-president-obama-air-jordan-11lab4-black

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The Blackish-Greenish Monster Air Jordan 6

Making its presence felt in a brand new color way, the Air Jordan 6 “Chameleon” debuts during NBA All Star Weekend. The shoe gets it “chameleon” nickname from the iridescent finish that overlays the solid black upper. While moving around, the shoe will shift in color depending on the lighting conditions. In addition to that, the upper also changes colors when rubbed, a feature we’ve seen before on the Air Jordan 12 “Wings”. Additional features include an octagon with Jumpman logo embroidered in the middle, 3M accents, as well as more iridescent finishes on the lace tips and midsole.

The thing I like most about this release is the fact that it’s the perfect for someone who wants to wear something subtle but still catch a couple eyes. This sneaker has more of a winter feel, but let me get my hands on these and I’m wearing them whenever.

The Air Jordan 6 “Chameleon” will release Feb 17th for a price of $225. Expect to see these on the feet of players and fans alike that weekend. Let us know what you guys think. Stay Soleful.

-EA

http://www.sneakerfiles.com/air-jordan-6-chameleon-iridescent-release-date/

http://www.kicksonfire.com/air-jordan-6-chameleon-even-more-images/

[the-sneakerchemists-blog]

There’s Enough Space for Everyone

Tis the season ladies and gentleman and Happy Holidays from your favorite Chemists here at The Lab. With Christmas quickly approaching, you can already see the lines forming for the annual holiday release of the Air Jordan 11. As we all know, this is one of the most highly sought after shoes year after year. We’ve seen riots, arrests, and even deaths all associated with not only the 11s or Jordan Brand in general but with a plethora of different releases.

No doubt, one of the reasons (if not the main reason) that there’s such chaos that accompanies these releases is the simple fact that certain shoes come in such limited quantities. With limited quantities, the value of the shoe sky rockets (i.e. $5000 resale price for a $220 shoe).

Now picture this: You have 10 sneaker heads but only 7 pairs of shoes…Not that bad right? Only 3 aren’t getting shoes. Ok but not all of these shoes are the same size so the value goes up. Now enter the hype beasts (a term we use for people who want the shoe not because they like it but because everyone else wants it)...value goes up. Last but not least, you have the people who attempt to buy the shoe with the intent of reselling it…vale goes up. The original 10 we have has grown to about 50 people and yet we still have only 7 shoes. This is where the problems arise.

Now, some good news: To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the greatest movie of all time (remember, not up for debate), Space Jam, Jordan Brand is once again releasing the Air Jordan 11 “Space Jam” on December 10th. It has been confirmed though, that unlike its predecessors, this AJ 11 will be a general release. This should make it much easier to get your hands on and also deter the people who will buy with the intent to resell. Now I’m not saying waltz into Foot Locker on Christmas Eve expecting to get a pair but consider your chances of getting one substantially better than years before. I can personally attest to the fact that working full time makes it hard to camp out like I was once able to and nobody wants to pay an obscene amount of money and go broke over shoes because they have to pay after-market prices. For that very reason, this general release makes me ecstatic.

Why the change in strategy though? Was it to truly to give others an opportunity to own the 20th anniversary shoe? Or is this all about marketing, seeing how Adidas is popping out dope releases left and right. Whatever the case may be, I think this is the right move and see this being a successful release.

For more details, check out the site and Stay Soleful

-EA

Take a look at more views below.

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The AF1

Timeless is a word that you can truly only use for a handful of shoes. Chucks, of course, falls into that category; as do shoes like the Nike Cortez or Air Max. While I could list a couple more solid examples for you, there’s nothing that can compare to my personal favorite: The Air Force One.

Air in a Box

Those were the simple, yet effective words used to market this now iconic sneaker when it launched in 1982. Launched originally as basketball shoes, Air Force 1s are the first shoe that featured a pocket filled with air in the heel for cushioning and support while playing. As a company new to the sport of basketball, the AF1 was the the shoe that put the primarily running company on the map for hoopers everywhere.

The Initial Design

While few of us know his name, Bruce Kilgore is the Legend behind the design of the AF1. The inspiration was taken from the “Nike Approach” hiking boot but was updated slightly to give it flexibility while not sacrificing support. One groundbreaking design that the AF1 featured was the circular pattern on the sole allowing for better pivoting on the court. This was noticeably different from the more traditional herringbone.

One of the first people to test out the the shoe was a man named Tinker Hatfield, a fairly new corporate architect (seriously) for Nike. A few years later Hatfield made the transition from designing buildings to designing shoes.

The Release

As soon as the shoes released in 1982, they were an instant success. The “Original Six” were signed by Nike to debut the Air Force 1s on the court. The Six consisted of Moses Malone (Philadelphia 76ers), Michael Cooper (L.A. Lakers), Bobby Jones (Philadelphia 76ers), Calvin Natt (Portland Trail Blazers), Mychal Thompson (Portland Trail Blazers), and Jamal Wilkes (L.A. Lakers). Despite the success and high demand, the shoe was discontinued after 2 short years. With no new shoes being released, old ones were being customized to give the appearance of new colorways.

The Return

With the demand for the return so high, three stores did the unheard of. Charlie Rudo Sports, Downtown Locker-room, and Cinderella Shoes went to Nike and proposed for them to bring back the shoe.  At this point in time, this was something that wasn’t being done. Nobody wore the “old shoes” and Nike had never planned to spend their money to bring something back they’d already done. Although the idea was crazy, Nike took the chance with it. This is the beginning of a new era.

In 1986, the public’s prayers had been answered. Nike brought back the AF1 and this was solely (pun intended) due to the public’s demand. The three aforementioned stores were the only places you could get the sneaker. Nike gave them 1200 pairs to see how they’d do and they sold out like it was nothing. This is where the sneaker of the month started: A different color every month. People were coming to request colorways that were already in the works for months in advance.

The Impact

Over 30 years later, the AF1 is as big as ever. With over 2,000 variations including All Star, BHM, and Flyknits, it’s clear that the Air Force One is one of the most recognizable silhouettes out of all sneakers.  At the pace everything is going, the Air Force 1 isn’t going away anytime soon.

#StaySoleful