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Keep that same energy: Can cancel culture confront climate change?

Joaquin Phoenix stated in his recent Oscars acceptance speech,

“I’ve been a scoundrel in my life. I’ve been selfish. I’ve been cruel at times, hard to work with, and ungrateful, but so many of you in this room have given me a second chance. And I think that’s when we’re at our best — when we support each other. Not when we cancel each other out for past mistakes but when we help each other to grow, when we educate each other, when we guide each other toward redemption: That is the best of humanity.”

What world do we live in where Climate Change and Cancel Culture haven’t met yet? Consider this an interpretation of how and why.

2020 should be the year we hear from Cancel Culture on Climate Change. Regional climate patterns are shifting. Sustainability is of great concern amongst most.

Carbon emissions are harming our atmosphere. The textile industry is a significant polluter, including manufacturing, transportation, and production of crops and other materials, making it a top-three polluter. There is no way to quantify how much co2 emissions each one of those emits. The best ethical practices for a better tomorrow are being implemented when and where convenient.


No One Man Has All The Power

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The main thing with “Cancel Culture” is its ability to negate the support of a person, brand or product due to its insensitivities of a particular problem or an unacceptable issue.

Celebrities from Katy Perry, to Joaquin Phoenix, have experienced this. Even Kevin Hart felt the pressures of cancel culture, by the public and The Academy, an organization that awards culture. Unless culture hits back; #oscarsallwhite.

Cancel culture energy could be anything from not purchasing from a particular store to refusing to continue patronage of a brand entirely. Making so much noise on the internet, the associations of these brands or people are disconnected and have adverse effects.

We may think it’s that simple to force the hand of who or what we’d like to cancel. In reality, nothing happens but a shift in the dollar – in most cases. The things we want to boycott remain in existence, in an alternate universe just waiting for you to find your way back.


All The Wrongs

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It has been unacceptable for some time now that the fashion industry neglects the environment, exploits natural resources, and destroys our ecosystems in the process. Qualities that resemble car and chemical companies in ways we are all too familiar with.

A lack of empathy for the planet and similarly for the people and cultures that inhabit it. Adding to insult, are brands within the fashion industry appropriating culture in insensitive ways.

To appropriate any culture is insensitive. But the cancel culture reaches for these issues and things change. But, what doesn’t? The fact that these brands still have an accord with customers – those who have or should be offended tend to stay invested.


Fire At Your Feet

Freshly Brewed

When it comes to climate and fashion, it’s clear that there is a crisis because cancel culture energy hasn’t fully used its power to make an imminent change within the industry.

Besides backlash for what is thought to be ethnic and cultural empathy when brands think they hit the mark (not), we don’t seem to “cancel” these brands like the celebrities.

The human spirit suffers a great deal while we sit and figure who to point the finger at Burberry, Prada, Gucci, Moncler or H&M.

We can burn our Nike’s in protest of the most prolific protestor of our time, or boycott Gucci linens at the record label brunch. We could also burn our Gucci while we’re at it, like David Bastiananti did when Gucci co-signed blackface within their designs.

We overreact when racially charged by fashion and make reservations when we know brands are being bad to the environment. We all share the values of the environment whether we think so or not.


Who Wants Smoke?

Photograph: Michael Campanella/The Guardian

Fashion covers industries from agriculture to animal agriculture, where we get our cotton and wool sweaters. Petroleum is used for shipping as well as to make polyester and other synthetic materials.

Metals and stones use significant energy to mine, and like petroleum, tear up landscapes and ecosystems. Even construction is considered when new stores set up shop in your city.

Selective in this area, not to change too much of what we are already used to. The victims of cancel culture tend to be mostly celebrities of high stature, rightfully so if power is misused. We see them and they are easy targets so we are critical of there existence. Arguing for them to be role models in the ways that we think they should be.

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If we knew which of our favorite brands are connected to the bigger issues of climate change and in the specific ways they have impacts, would we treat them the same?

The answer would be indirect in that one brand can have a production reach in multiple countries with very different laws and regulations for manufacturing. We are intently subject to this system.


Unnatural Resources

You can feel the difference in organic cotton from the average cotton, but the fact is there are harmful effects of both that can be resolved by the demand from the consumer.

Organic is slower but harms viable soil and limits its life to produce other crops. Regular cotton is just as bad. WHY? The pesticides and other chemicals used harm soil and the ecosystem.

The UN reported that 51 trillion microplastics are littering the sea and brands like Adidas and ROXY have capitalized making products from earth’s newest natural resource for plastic – the ocean (DJ Khaled voice).

Josie Kerr [wearing ROXY tee and cap] and Ellie were forced to evacuate their home in Mallacoota. Justin McManus/The Age/Fairfax Media via Getty Images
We can assume that some of the recycling processes can be strenuous for some smaller brands, but can be sure they won’t be shipping the same t-shirt to 750 stores around the world.

Demand from the consumer creates that model for bigger fashion brands, whether fast fashion or luxury.


“Let Them Fight”

This may be why larger corporations are immune. We love fashion so much we don’t intend to eliminate it. We hope the proper adjustments are made. In turn, we give the fashion industry a second chance at the least.

PETA got the fashion industry to stop making animal fur. Fashion started to acknowledge streetwear as a respected genre within. We made Victoria’s Secret cancel their famed runway show because of their apparent lack of diversity in body type.

Brands continue to exploit our environment and cultures, and Victoria’s Secret still makes fashionable lingerie. So did we have to shift the idea of an aspirational body type flaunting down a runway?

VS did make an effort but the loud whispers from the cancel culture section drove down ratings enough to stop the show for the masses who were fine with the changes made prior too.


Wild Wild Thoughts

As cancel culture lives ominously in the Twitter-verse (the internet), it is infamous for its negativity rather than constructive criticism. It’s a power than can be used for good – or of better use if it could deviate from its apparent selective nature.

Residents look on as flames burn through bush in Lake Tabourie, Australia, on January 4, 2020. Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

With forest fires raging in places like Australia and California, oceans filled with consumer plastics, and natural resources being depleted, like soil and acts of deforesting to create more croplands, we’ve reached the brink.

Protesters often express our deepest concerns and worries for the unprotected. Still, the protests fall short of what cancel culture has done to some individuals and brands in recent history.

It is only right we challenge ourselves to force the hands of the fashion industry by keeping that same energy about climate as we do our celebrities.

Look out for this article on PAGE magazine.

adidas signs Willow Smith for fully renewable sneaker: The Futurecraft Loop

Companies have been trying to keep up with the pro-environment wave and are coming up with ways to close the loop.

In collaboration with Parley for the Oceans, adidas cements itself within the eco-friendly movement with their latest fully recyclable sneaker, the Futurecraft Loop.

Parley for the Oceans “is the space where creators, thinkers, and leaders come together to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of our oceans and collaborate on projects that can end their destruction.”

The focus of Parley for the Oceans is to promote better consumer choices. Parley works to provide those innovative choices by working with creatives. adidas has worked with Parley before with their push for more recyclable materials in the past. But, the Futurecraft Loop sneaker is something completely new and innovative for both companies.

The Futurecraft Loop sneaker is made from plastic collected from the waste in the ocean. Through a process unique to adidas, thermoplastic polyurethane is the singular polymer in the shoe.

Additionally, the material can break down and become new sneaker. The shoe does not use any glue so you won’t be getting that new sneaker smell, sorry sneakerheads!

According to a documentary by adidas, the company made the sneaker to encourage customers to exchange the worn sneakers for a new pair.

This way, the cycle of renewable sneakers is continuous. The exchange process is unclear. We don’t know whether there will be a monetary discount on the next pair when you recycle the worn sneaker.

But Adidas has been considering different buy-back options such as return postal shipping with products and an app-based value calculator for used shoes.

The face of the new product is an environmental activist and artist Willow Smith.

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The world knows Smith for her progressive and revolutionary stances. Also, her musical talent. She fits well as the spokesperson for the sneaker that is “Made to be Remade.”

Adidas will release the Futurecraft Loop in spring of 2021.

Hardies Hardware x adidas Skateboarding capsule is too fly for us all

Rising apparel brand Hardies Hardware collabs again with athleticwear giant adidas Skateboarding for its second capsule collection and it drops today.

Hardies Hardware is a clothing and accessories brand created by adidas pro-rider Tyshawn Jones and friends. Adding to his resume, Jones was awarded Skater of the Year status by Thrasher Magazine in 2018.

The first collab with adidas happened in 2017. It featured the iconic Hardies Hardware symbol of a screw with a fist on gold and black apparel and striped sneakers with matching colors.

This time Hardies Hardware x adidas Skateboarding includes convertible cargo pants, jerseys, hoodies and more with a white, purple and grey color scheme.

To kickoff, the drop, pro-skater Tyshawn Jones and the rest of his crew take a dive out of a plane and spin in free fall, thousands of feet above the ground.

DISCLAIMER: THIS VIDEO IS FOR FLY PEOPLE ONLY.

The short clip debuts all six pieces of the capsule worn by Jones, fellow adidas team-riders Jake Donnelly, WHO KID, Troy Stillwell, Val Perre, and Justin Casado.

Jones with his iconic du-rag wears a white nylon jacket with detachable sleeves for versatility making the greatest backside flipper according to Twitter while skitching an airplane look flier than hell.

The hoodie features embroidered logos, all over stripes, and a mid-weight fabric. Adding more drip to the collection, the Hardies Jersey is made out of recycled polyester fabric in a relaxed fit with a signature Hardies logo emblazoned on the chest.

Hitting us again with the versatile vibes, the Hardies Pants feature a multi-pocket design in a durable fabric with zippers to convert from pants to shorts.

The foot ware shown in the clip is fire, with the Matchcourt High RX2 seen flying high. Both the high-tops and Sabalo are in the same color scheme of white leather and purple accents. With curved midsole design and Geo-flex outsole for board control.

Get the drip before it runs out. The limited-edition collection is available now via specialty adidas retailers worldwide and the adidas Skateboarding website.

adidas Skateboarding
adidas Skateboarding
adidas Skateboarding
adidas Skateboarding

Beyoncé sons Reebok, walks out of pitch meeting after lack of diversity

Everyone wants to be rich and famous.

They see the glitz, glam, and deals and think life is made once you enter a certain tax bracket. Little do people realize, however, the massive responsibility assumed once entering these positions.

Beyoncé is not one of those people.

Yesterday, CNBC’s Jess Golden announced that the Grammy-award winning artist signed a “multi-layered” deal with Adidas, making her creative partner for the brand which will include the launch of signature sneakers and apparel.

Beyoncé said in a statement:

“This is the partnership of a lifetime for me. Adidas has had tremendous success in pushing creative boundaries. We share a philosophy that puts creativity, growth and social responsibility at the forefront of business. I look forward to re-launching and expanding Ivy Park on a truly global scale with a proven, dynamic leader.”

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But today it was announced that the deal with Adidas came after walking away from several other big names in the shoe game.

One of which being Reebok who, according to ESPN Writer Nick Depaula, walked away due to the pitch team’s lack of diversity & non-existent representation of her background and skin color.

Throughout this process over the last year or two,” DePaula told the hosts of ESPN’s “The Jump,” “she had discussed with Under Armour, with Reebok as well, Jordan [at Nike] at one point was interested in maybe partnering with her.

She had a meeting at Reebok and they had a whole presentation of everything, potential products, how this could all look, and she kind of took a step back and said, ‘Is this the team that will be working on my product?’”

Continued DePaula:

“Somebody said, ‘Yes,’ and she said, ‘Nobody in this room reflects by background, my skin color and where I’m from and what I want to do.’ So she took a step back and left and then it did not come to terms.”

“For her, it really goes beyond that. It’s not just about putting her name on a shoe and here’s the new Adidas Beyoncé 1, or whatever they end up calling it. It’s about having an imprint on the company and an impact in terms of diversity,” he concluded.

Talk about shaking the infrastructure and challenging the system. Where many would artists would have gone to the biggest check, Beyoncé walked the walk and made an entire franchise rethink their life, just from saying no.

Although having launched her own activewear brand, Ivy Park, in 2016, the deal with Adidas makes it Beyoncé’s first step into the footwear market. The line is expected to be re-launched under the Adidas umbrella.

Beyoncé has 126 million followers on Instagram and is hailed as one of the, if not the biggest talent in the world. To say she’s rich and famous would be a gross understatement — she’s a living icon. Yet, that did not stop her from doing her due diligence with such a platform.

Beyoncé walking out of Reebok may not have done anything for her personally, being that she’s made for life, but the statement it sends will be what opens doors for the people she represents for years to come.

That’s why she’s Queen. That’s why she’s the GOAT.

adidas Skateboarding and Evisen collab for fly capsule collection

adidas Skateboarding and Tokyo-based skate brand Evisen have come together for a new capsule collection dedicated to the drop-in. Incorporating Japanese design details with street and sportswear cues, the five-piece apparel and footwear capsule is stylish yet practical AF.

Whether you’re chillin’, hitting the skate park, or turning up with you homies each piece operates as a “fresh” incorporation into your lifestyle.  Proving it, Evisen co-founder Katsumi Minami not only combined traditional Japanese imagery and skateboarding, but he also added the personal touch of each team member – their love of drinking sake.

Minami said,

“Evisen is a skateboarding brand that I started in 2011 with my close friends. Our style is a combination of traditional Japanese imagery and skateboarding. All of the team are rare characters, they’re all interesting in their own way, lifestyle as well as skateboarding. For the collaboration with adidas, our art director’s idea was to create a logo from sampling sake labels. The whole team loves drinking sake.”

adidas Skatboarding x Evisen

Everything the Japanese skateboarding brand drops is fire.  The name “Evisen” speaks to that as the name of the progressive brand translates to “Everything” when pronounced in Japanese intonation.

Sticking to culture, Evisen also refers to a popular Japanese prawn cracker snack with the slogan “Can’t stop, can’t give up, Kappa Evisen” and is a reference to the addiction of skateboarding.

adidas Skatboarding x Evisen

For the capsule’s apparel offering are a vibrant yellow cotton tee with sleeve graphics, a heavyweight fleece crewneck, a woven pique fabric jersey with a water repellent finish, a nylon relaxed fit track pant, and a lightweight water repellent jacket.

adidas Skateboarding x Evisen

Adding to the drip, is a custom 3MC shoe redesign to align with the aesthetics of the Tokyo-based board brand. The sneaker features a durable leather upper constructed to withstand skate-related abrasion and a vulcanized rubber HexFlex outsole that follows the foot’s natural movement.

Plus, an all-white colorway paired with subtle red and yellow detailing makes the 3MC Evisen sneaker a stylish fit into your wardrobe.

adidas Skatboarding x Evisen

With the brand’s popularity spreading beyond Japan and into the global skateboarding scene, and the collaboration with adidas Skateboarding this capsule is sure to fly off the shelves.

Cop the fire now as the adidas Skateboarding x Evisen collection is available at specialty adidas retailers worldwide and the adidas Skateboarding website.

BBC x NBHD tap addidas and Medicom Toy for the fire capsule collection

For all of you, Billionaire Boys Club and NBHD clothing collectors who missed out on Hypefest this year the streetwear brands’ second collaborative capsule will be made available for purchase online Oct. 15.

The capsule illustrates a “past to future in space” concept as “skull in space helmet” graphics are affixed on short and long sleeve t-shirts and hoodies.

Along with the astronaut logos delicately placed on pieces of high-quality clothing, the BBC and NBHD mirrored logo mashup makes a second appearance on select pieces, repping the NBHD Japan and BBC US flagship stores mutually.

To complete the fresh apparel assortment, BBC x NBHD tapped adidas and Medicom Toy for an exclusive EQT kick and a newly designed BE@RBRICK collectible toy.

The adidas Originals EQT Bask ADV style sneaker comes in a sinister black/gray colorway with embroidered BBC and NBHD mirrored letters over the prime knit upper of each foot.

Additionally, a neoprene heel panel, TPU 3-Stripes over midfoot, reflective 3M laces, and fresh logos on the tongue patch and heels make this exclusive shoe a comfy keeper.

The BBC, NBHD, and Medicom Toy BE@RBRICK is stupid fly and perfectly represents all parties involved in the creation of this collectible model toy.

The transparent yellow head of the astronaut bear and the grey and black spacesuit add a creative spin to the BE@RBRICK design.

Plus, representing the origins of the collaborative brands are the American and Japanese National flags stamped on to the model toy’s arms and back.

From the jump, you see the brands that inspired the concept as the front chest of the BE@RBRICK bare the BBC classic curve and the NEIGHBORHOOD’s skull logos, respectively.

Go ahead and cop some new swag, homie! The BBC x NBHD capsule collection officially drops online and at the NYC and Tokyo flagship stores Monday, Oct. 15.

Peep the rest of the lookbook below!

Billionaire Boys Club
Billionaire Boys Club
Billionaire Boys Club
Billionaire Boys Club
Billionaire Boys Club
Billionaire Boys Club

Pharrell teams up with Adidas to drop a dope new pair of ball kicks

Pharrell Williams is a living legend. This past weekend he embarked on a new journey in his eclectic career, a move even we weren’t anticipating.

During NBA All-Star Weekend, Skateboard P introduced the Adidas Crazy BYW PW. He calls this the “beta phase” of his basketball journey and we’re excited.

pharell-basketball-kulture-hub

In a world where Adidas clearly doesn’t hold the same marketshare as its Nike counterparts in basketball, nor do they roster many notables beyond James Harden, this was genius.

Pha-real is known to have quite the creative genius so giving him the keys to his own basketball shoe was a good call. His Human Race Adidas have been sought after by the masses in all styles and colorways, going for ridiculous prices on the resale market.

pharell-kulture-hubHe lent a piece of his Human Race design to the Adidas Originals basketball silhouette. This includes the text ‘AMBITION’ embroidered on the vamp of each shoe in bold white lettering.

The upper features a blend of soft breathable knit fabrics in a bright yellow and red, inspired by the city of Los Angeles and its famous fruit stands.

The Adidas Crazy BYW PW is a limited edition style exclusively available to a small group of people chosen by the artist himself and will not be available for purchase.

pharell-basketball-kulture-hub

 

“The best things in life take time and are rarely perfect first time around. There is something beautiful about that process, from the intangible to the tangible. Today I begin my basketball journey with adidas. The first step. The beta phase.”

 

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However, attendees who visited the 747 Warehouse – the two-day festival of creativity bringing the best of Adidas to Los Angeles during All-Star Weekend – were eligible to win this limited edition silhouette. Aren’t they lucky.

Adidas takes the #2 spot from Jordan proving hip-hop moves the culture

If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times, HIP-HOP IS WORLD CULTURE.

From Nelly giving Air Force One’s clout to Jim Jones and Juelz Santana in Ed Hardy, hip-hop sets trends.

Kanye West is undoubtedly the most influential man in music. He made leather joggers a thing and now has helped Adidas achieve greatness.

According to NPD’s sports industry analyst Matt Powell, the German brand has taken the #2 sneaker spot in the U.S. from Jordan Brand. Yeezy deadass jumped over the Jumpman.

Serious Kanye West GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

According to MarketWatch, Nike shares are up 5.3% while Adidas shares are up 31.1% over the same period.

This shift in sneaker popularity shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who has been paying attention to the industry. Jordan Brand has stood on its clout for years, not having a need for real ambassadors of the brand.

Adidas however was in trouble pre-2014, with Jeremy Scott and A$AP Rocky providing the only conversation surrounding the brand. When Kanye decided to publicly denounce Nike in favor of Adidas every Hypebeast went with him.

https://giphy.com/gifs/kanye-west-yeezy-KClaarADdSsEw

Adidas offered Kanye creative freedom and he turned that into a classic underdog story we ate up. “Fuck Nike,” “Fuck Mark Parker.” Kanye was selling hype and drama in a way that only Kanye West can do.

The Yeezys are the most hyped sneaker ever and the highest valued at $1,876. In a world run by clout Adidas said,

“Not only [have the Yeezy’s] sold out instantly but [they have] also played a major role in propelling Adidas to the most popular sneaker brand on Instagram in 2015.”

I know it sounds dumb but Instagram translates to considerably higher revenue than other social networks. No one was looking out for an Adidas shoe before Kanye blessed them with his name.

https://giphy.com/gifs/yeezys-1wC280snDPqM

Adidas trumping Jordan Brand proves that marketing is everything and quality always comes second. Hip-hop has moved the culture forward ever since RUN DMC had their Adidas and it’ll continue to do so as we stay wavy.

I don’t see Meghan Trainor making any trends outchea.

Adidas is dropping special yack-resistant ‘Oktoberfest’ sneakers

When you finally make it you gotta look back to where it all started. You gotta pay respect to your roots or else you wouldn’t be where you are now.

Adidas is doing that right now with a new Oktoberfest sneaker, and it just screams fall.

The shoes employ the München silhouette, which is fire, but with that colorway it’s just perfect.

My favorite part about it is that it isn’t an ultra boost or NMD. They went with a classic Adidas design that ain’t overplayed.

Check it out, they’re actually fire.

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This isn’t your average München either, it has some little secrets that makes this a unique sneaker you have to cop.

First, it’s a premium shoe, it’s made with the finest leather but it also sports a DPBR coating. Now you must be wondering “what is this so called DPBR?” Well it stands for durable puke and beer repellent.

No this is not a joke, they are actually beer and puke resistant.

Adidas has just changed the sneaker game once again ladies and gentlemen.

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Now you can drink and party all you want knowing your kicks will be fresh no matter what happens.

Sure it’ll be nasty if there’s puke all over them but at least you can just wash it off with some beer.

Besides having a DPBR coating the back features a festive design while the inside looks like a picnic tablecloth.

It also sports the word “Prost,” which is German for cheers, right next to the three stripes.

They’ll be available September 2nd here, so you’ll have more than enough time to cop and break them in before Oktoberfest starts.

They’ll set you back €199.95, that’s about $237.05, but a premium shoe gotta come with a premium price tag.

Adidas is seriously killing the sneaker game I mean check out their Neighborhood collab, and now this. Just wow.

Yeezy SZN 5 is here but here’s where you can cop the same fit for cheaper

Kanye is more than your average celeb, he’s a legend.

Sure, he might not be the same dude from back in the early 2000s but the work he created will always be there.

Kanye is everywhere and anything he touches becomes gold. The man’s fanbase, that’s me, will support him no matter what he does.

Except for his clothing line… and it’s not that it’s ugly it’s just BREAD.

LIKE KANYE HOW YOU GONNA CHARGE $200 FOR SHORTS? I GET IT’S HIGH END FASHION BUT IT LOOKS LIKE ANY OTHER $20 WHITE SHORTS.

Most of the stuff just sits there, it’s really only the Calabasas stuff that ever sells out.

There is honestly no way to tell that someone is wearing Yeezy clothing unless they outright say so or have some hyped up piece.

I already know people are gonna argue that it uses premium quality materials and that it’s high end,

But like what’s the difference between a $425 a nylon swimsuit and a $45 one?

That got me thinking, what else does Ye sell that looks like something way cheaper?

Yeezy: $425


American Eagle: $26.97 (It’s on sale right now)


Yeezy: $295


H&M: $25 (A few times in the dryer and you’ll be good)

 


Yeezy: $195


Hanes: $10 ( It’s buy 1 get 1 free so like $5)


Yeezy: $775


GalaxyArmyNavy: $82.99


Yeezy: $325


Champions: $60 ( Cop the 3XL and now you got the Yeezy look)

High end fashion isn’t supposed to be for everyone and this ain’t for me.

Kanye, keep working on sneakers cause those 700s were trash.