by The Editors on December 10, 2012
To help celebrate Sneaker Freaker’s 10th Anniversary, editor Woody kicked down his version on the Supra Owen with the limited edition Blue Balls.
This time around we busted a nut on the lightweight Owen, combining brains, brawn, and beauty into one sweet ball breaker of a shoe. SUPRAFOAM shock absorption and a black diamond mesh upper with royal blue microfiber ensures the ride is limo quality, while the rope-a-dope lacing and speckled concrete SUPRAFOAM sole punches harder than Kojak’s cojones. Tug on the plush pink heel pull and admire the unorthodox asymmetrical color blocking as you guide your foot deep inside this super snug package. Yep, once you’ve cupped our throbbing Blue Balls in your hands you simply won’t be able to wipe the smile from your dial. Unlike our Golden Balls, these are no wet dream.”
Sweet like Nutella! Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 6, 2012
Not that Stevie Williams needed help with his Supra color ways, but this time he got a little from Lil’ Wayne.
“I asked Wayne if he wanted to do a color way with my shoe,” Stevie said, “and he said he was up for it. Just supporting Wayne skateboarding, and having his name on my shoe, it just shows how big this skateboarding thing is. I’m excited about it.”
It would appear that Lil’ Wayne’s color is red. Click here to buy ($105.00) or follow the jump for the official details. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 5, 2012
The “secret” behind Spy’s new Happy Lens mood enhancing technology reportedly has something to do with “long-wave blue light.” The idea is that blue light affects our bodies and can increase alertness and elevate the mood. (If you want to read one of the studies Spectral Quality of Light Modulates Emotional Brain Responses in Humans published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America click the link).
Whether we believe it or not, Spy CEO Michael Marckx is, not surprisingly, backing the technology pretty hard.
“This is the most exciting product innovation we’ve ever created,” Marckx said. “Our Happy Lens™ applies advanced technology to the eyewear world and strikes a powerful balance in sunglasses—one that can be seen and felt, enhancing experience in manifold and novel ways. It’s the single most important product breakthrough I have ever worked on.”
The new Happy Lenses will officially debut in the Spy’s 2013 line in styles like the Crosstown Collection, Fade to Black, and the high performance cycling glasses. We’re currently testing the Happy Lens in the new Discord frame (pictured above). We’ll let you know if we notice anything “happy” about them. For the official word from Spy, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 5, 2012
Today marks the start of 686’s fashion design contest Reclaim Design Project. Here’s what the project is all about:
The world famous RECLAIM Design Project gives three talented designers the opportunity to create an original outerwear garment utilizing reclaimed materials, fabrics trims and supplies from the 686® production facility. Two winning designers will be awarded the grand prize of a coveted internship at 686® – helping design innovative, fashionable outerwear and technical apparel, as well as a collection of other great prizes. Is this you, do you have what it takes?
Think you have skills to make it on trade show tour with 686? Then submit your jacket design and a quick bio introducing yourself to reclaimproject@686.com. Follow the jump for all the official rules. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 3, 2012
The Vladimir Gusinsky Living Trust (click the link it’s worth it) has reportedly sued Quicksilver CEO Bob McKnight and the board of directors over some restricted stock that was given to several top executives at the company, according to a story in BloombergBusinessweek.
Awards of 4 million restricted stock units to McKnight, Pierre Agnes, president of Quiksilver Europe, and Craig Stevenson, the company’s chief operating officer, violated a 2000 stock incentive plan, according to the complaint filed today by the Vladimir Gusinsky Living Trust. . . The awards are “a waste of the company’s corporate assets and a breach of fiduciary duties owed to the company and its shareholders by the members of the compensation committee,” the trust said in the filing in Delaware Chancery Court.
The trust apparently wants Quiksilver to “improve its corporate governance procedures” and recoup some “unspecific damages” according to the story. What good is being CEO if you can’t give yourself a little stock everyone once in a while?
[Link: Bloomberg Business]
by The Editors on December 3, 2012
Supra’s Stevie Williams S1W is now out in a Keelan Dadd color way and they look pretty flash.
Keelan treated the S1W to a black, snakeskin-embossed suede upper with black patent leather, black suede, and turquoise and hot-pink accents. It has black and turquoise padded mesh lining, black/hot-pink rope laces, and it’s constructed on a unique, translucent, hot-pink cup sole. It also comes with a PRO + AM Collection hang tag and sock liner.
For the official word, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on November 30, 2012
After announcing that it’s back-to-school sales were softer in the third quarter Zumiez shares fell in after-hours trading by seven percent on Thursday evening November 29, 2012, according to a story on Bloomberg Businessweek.
Zumiez reported net income of $12.7 million, or 40 cents per share, for the period that ended Oct. 29. This is down from $14.1 million, or 45 cents per share, in the third quarter of the prior year. The most recent quarter included 10 cents per share in costs tied to its acquisition of Blue Tomato and 1 cent per share of costs tied with its relocation of its corporate offices to Lynnwood, Wash.
The company blamed a drop in November sales on Superstorm Sandy. Why not? Zumiez stock bounced a little this morning and honestly, minor dips of this size are barely worth mentioning. But we already typed it in this far (and you’re reading it) so whateves.
[Link: Bloomberg Businessweek]
by The Editors on November 28, 2012
We all have loads of gear. Take one look around the garage or office of any action sports worker and you’ll find a pile of equipment. We’ve all got solutions to tame the clutter, but few of them look as good as Turnstone’s new Limited-Edition Bivi Board Rack.
A division of SteelCase, Turnstone offers sustainable designed, modular and modern office furniture and accessories. The Bivi line encompasses everything from desks and privacy screens to desk chairs and couches. The board rack is made to work congruently with the existing Bivi line, but it can also be mounted solo on a wall.
With three slots for board storage, the rack can hold an equal amount of mounted skateboards or snowboards. If you’re a deck collector, however, it will probably top out at nine or ten boards depending on the width of the boards and if you choose to add the rubber shelf protectors.
Available in arctic white, platinum, tangerine, wasabi, and midnight metallic, this thing looks right at home next to pieces from George Nelson or Charles and Ray Eames. The rack has a $219 price tag, but for hose who appreciate good design the biggest problem may be in not buying the entire Bivi office suite to go with it.
[Link: Turnstone]
by The Editors on November 27, 2012
Stance apparently wasn’t happy simply supplying socks for sweaty skate dudes. Nope. They’ve reportedly hooked up the ladies as well.
The collection takes inspiration from both the runway and the streets. Intricate beading, fringe detailing, studs and fun prints can all be found in the collection. Right away, you’ll notice that these aren’t your everyday socks! . . Stance is truly changing the way we view socks.
Indeed.
[Link: Stance]
by The Editors on November 27, 2012
Large companies often make seriously idiotic decisions. For instance, when Nike bought surf brand Hurley back in 2002 someone at the company decided that even though they had a solid surf brand, they would also dive into surf category with the Nike brand and compete directly with the company they just bought. Well, those days are reportedly over according to a story on Shop-Eat-Surf.
Nike is announcing this morning it will exit the surf category for the Nike brand and roll all surf resources under the Hurley umbrella, including Nike’s marquee young surf team riders like Julian Wilson, Carissa Moore and Kolohe Andino. . . . Going forward, Nike will focus Nike action sports on skateboarding and snowboarding, a company spokeswoman said.
Nike has done quite well in skateboarding, but we’ll bet their snowboarding efforts will continue moving in a direction very similar to their surf work. Then again, maybe they could buy an established snowboard brand. Hmmm, anyone know any recently streamlined companies with a strong last name and great brand recognition?
[Link: Shop Eat Surf]
