The Big Question: Flyknit Vs Primeknit

I posted an article last week about the third release in Nike's Flyknit range at the 1948 London store and was asked afterwards by twitter's @itsRobCupper what I thought on how the new Adidas Primeknit compares and who I feel will come out on top in the new knitted upper battle.

In terms of the concept of the knitted upper running trainer I am, as posted before, a huge fan. The new innovative style to create the trainer purely as two pieces of manufacturing (the knitted upper and the molded sole) is both groundbreaking and a step forward economically. The new design of these trainers eliminates much of the manufacturing waste caused on the production line therefore helping improve both companies Eco friendly efforts.

As always in the development of sportswear there is a big emphasis placed on who came first with an idea. I cannot speak for either and have no knowledge of Nike's development time line however OregonLive quotes James Carnes, head of design for Adidas sport performance, as stating Adidas Primeknit had been 3 years in production, but in terms of developing the trainer for release Nike were first to the launch in February. This for me, no matter if Nike were producing the concept before or after Adidas, means they won the race to release and so in my own opinion,Nike came first in being able to provide the customer with their product.

This is by no means meant to take anything away from the Primeknit, I am a big fan of both designs and love how even with extremely similar concepts both have managed to convey their companies style, Nike's more streamline fluid approach and Adidas with their more robust yet flexible looking design offer something to all potential knitted customers and in my opinion both are great running trainers to have on the market. When asked on my personal preference I have to say I am a Nike man when it comes to sportswear (minus the 2004 Adidas Predator Pulse) and so for me the look of the Flyknit would win my vote. However, as stated before both have very cool, unique designs and there is nothing wrong with competition in the market so the choice is up to you.

I've posted a couple of pictures of both lines below to help you make your decision and also a quick article comparing the release of both designs so check it out.

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/threads_and_laces/2012/07/its-a-seamless-revolution-adidas.html?page=all

The Dark Knight Rises Review

This past Friday I finally got to see the final instalment in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises. I had the chance to see the film earlier but held off so that I could view it in all it's intended guts and glory on an IMAX screen and it was sure worth the wait.

I will say before hand that this review will contain no intended spoilers of the story for future cinema goers, it is merely my opinion on the finishing touches to the trilogy that for me has had more of an impact than any beforehand. In a strange twist in logic I will firstly comment on my feelings after the film had ended, a mixed bag of emotions made up mostly of satisfaction, awe and grief in terms of this being the last time I will look forward to such a batman cinematic experience. If this is the last time we will ever see Nolan behind the scenes of a Batman flick then to me it's a sad yet necessary truth. I have never been one that gets excited when sequels or adaptations of past films arise, I have always felt the feeling surrounding an original film or series can never truly be recaptured or improved upon. I think this trilogy ends with many questions answered and asked but I would expect nothing less and quite frankly I like it that way and hope it never changes.

My feelings of awe and satisfaction at Friday's viewing are purely based on what, for me, was purely of the most exciting films I have ever seen and i feel it's right up there with it's two predecessors Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. I know it's generally not the most common view on the series but I have always preferred the 1st of the films due it's focus on Batman/Bruce Wayne himself and his journey to becoming the Dark Knight. This is something that I loved about TDKR as the story manages to bring back this focus yet without taking any importance away from the character of Bane.

One point I feel I have to make even if many have made it before is how good the casting and and portrayal of these characters has been. Bale, Caine, Freeman and Oldman to name just a few have really made emotional connections to their respective characters which is something I feel shows throughout the series. In regard to TDKR I have to give a special mention to Mr. Tom Hardy as Bane. I have become a huge fan of Hardy over the past few years and couldn't wait to see what he brought to the table as Batman's newest enemy in the series. A great performance where much like Heath Ledger's Joker I found myself cheering him on as well as Batman due to purely how entertaining his personality is to watch.

I could carry on talking about TDKR for hours but feel I would probably say something that may ruin it for future viewers so I'll bring my thoughts to a close now with only one final statement.... GO AND WATCH IT!

As always there is a photo to get your teeth into below and I've also posted a link To Christopher Nolan's 'Farewell Letter' as it has been named to the Franchise itself, it makes and interesting read if your a fan of the franchise so check it out.

http://collider.com/christopher-nolan-batman-letter/183108/

Sneaker Freaker Lace Up

I covered this story a few months ago on my twitter account '@MrDaveHorner' but after seeing it re-emerge on freshness magazine's site I felt like giving it some more in depth coverage. The story in question is the 10th anniversary of Sneaker Freaker magazine and more specifically it's collaboration with KIKSTYO to mark the event. As a huge sneakerhead i am a big fan of the work Sneaker Freaker do through both their magazine and online site and regularly use the site as a reference point to keep up to date with the latest kicks based news, releases and articles and so for the Australian based team to reach such a milestone is in my eyes a big deal.

KIKSTYO is a Tokyo based line focused around sneaker culture and influence and after seeing what this first collab has produced i would like to hope we will see these two team up again in the future.

The collaboration caught my attention earlier this year and has currently produced a couple of t-shirt designs and a snapback selection as well all printed with the very cool design of both parties logo's tied together by a shoelace. This design, I think, is very cool and highlights all you need to know about the collab whilst also keeping things simple. However it's the back of one of the t-shirts of the line where things really get creative with every single issue front cover of the magazine printed in a checkered block pattern. This for me has been one of the coolest and most unique t-shirt designs i have seen in the past year and with both parties online stores featuring the line there is plenty of opportunities to get your hands on a piece of history.

Check out more on the lines at the freshness magazine link above and to visit the Sneaker Freaker online store for the issue print t-shirt I've posted the link below plus a few images as always to give you a quick taster.

http://www.sneakerfreaker.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=157

Nike Are On The Right Track

Today at Nike's 1948 concept store in Shoreditch we see the release of the new Flyknit HTM range being dropped mere hours away from the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. The drop is the third in the range and has been carefully innovated through the collaboration of Nike's Tinker Hatfield and Mark Parker along with designer Hiroshi Fujiwara with the result being a  running trainer that changes the way in which such footwear is developed and produced.

Personally I think the outcome of this team has been amazing. As somebody who has recently re-ignited my interest in running the trainer offers that all important cross over of efficiency and style and as a big fan of Hatfield's work I would expect nothing less from the brain that has previously brought us such classics as the Air Max 1, Nike Huarache Trainer and the Air Jordan 3 to name just a few.

With the Olympics now just over a day away I'm really interested to see if the new Flyknit range may make an appearance across the games. I think it's safe to say for all sports sneaker enthusiasts, the games are going to be a showcase of footwear development, style and technology and with the aforementioned launch being held at Nike's 1948 there is a small possibility you may see somebody rocking a pair of Flyknits in your local park very soon. I've posted a few of my favourite pics of the range below along with a Nike promotional video on the Flyknit range from February this year (It may be old but the graphics are still very cool). To check out more on the Flyknit range there are few links as well.

http://www.sneakerfreaker.com/sneaker-releases/Nike-Flyknit-Htm-Pack/

http://www.freshnessmag.com/2012/07/25/nike-flyknit-trainer-us-track-field-trial-editions-first2fly/

http://slamxhype.com/style/htm-flyknit-release/

http://www.highsnobiety.com/2012/07/25/nike-htm-flyknit-the-3rd-collection/

The Right Channel

Frank Ocean released his debut album Channel Orange on the 10th July and I must I wasn't 100% sure on what to expect. Over the past year I've slowly heard more and more of Ocean through his work with Odd Future, Kanye West and Jay-Z respectively which in turn lead me to some of his solo work. The hype around tracks such as Novacane and Swim Good was definitely warranted in my opinion and after hearing tracks such as Nature Feels I started to get myself excited for the debut album would deliver.

I happy to say I haven't been disappointed, the album mixes deep hip hop beats with Oceans soulful flow and I couldn't help but draw comparisons to the work of John Legend, most notably the Evolver album. This comparison may just be something I heard myself but Oceans tone throughout and the classic nature of many of the tracks really caught my attention.

In terms of favourites on Channel Orange I must admit I have been drawn in with the masses to the album's Track 10 - Pyramids. The 9+ minute track drifts through genres but to my ears never loses it's basis and has been on repeat on my iTunes ever since. Along with Pyramids I am a also big fan of Track 5 - Sweet Life, I feel this track is the most like that of Mr. Legend in terms of my earlier comparison and I would have to also give a special mention to Track 11 - Lost. This track to me showcases the diversity in the album in terms of it's beat and Ocean's lyrics throughout really show he has what it takes to be a long-stay in the Hip Hop scene. Overall for me Channel Orange is already one of my favourite albums of the year and I look forward to seeing where Ocean progresses to from here. To preview or purchase the album on iTunes visit the link below.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/channel-orange/id541953504

New DQM Vans Line Available

DQM, founded in 2003 in Manhattan, New York has gone from starting out as just a small time 'counterculture' store to now being one of the most sought after, exclusive and unique brands in the skatewear market with collaborations over the years with huge names in the industry such as Nike, Adidas and G-Shock respectively.

But it's the new release from Vans that I'm focusing on today as this past weekend the news was posted online of the new Vans CA Apparel collection reaching the DQM store both online and on the Bowery, Manhattan. The line features some really cool items in my opinion most notably the Carlsbad Jacket, which is 100%StormCotton and has the look of a stylish yet functional everyday jacket. The Carpenteria Fleece for me is another highlight, a simple yet very cool grey sweatshirt with a Vans Jungle logo being the sole print on the entire piece adds a touch of exclusivity without overpowering the simplistic style of the sweatshirt itself.

The line seems to target those with a relaxed, laid back approach to their clothing, none of the items appearing too smart yet still portraying quality across the line. I think my favourite of the entire collection though has to be the Adelento Backpack, priced at $120 this colourful carrier fits in well with the UK fashion scene at this moment in time and ticks the box of what i personally look for in a Backpack, lots of storage.

To see more of the line visit the DQM store I've linked the collections page below with a snap of the Carlsbad Jacket and Adelento Backpack just to get you interested.

http://www.dqmnewyork.com/news/entry/vans-ca-apparel-collection

G.O.O.D Taking Over Complex

The August/September issue of Complex magazine sees Kanye West's brainchild G.O.O.D Music take the front cover with a behind the scenes look at the group lead by the Watch The Throne star. The piece looks at the individual members of the label including Pusha T, Kid Cudi and John Legend to name just a few.

To me the group seems to be creating something really intriguing. The mix of both experienced artists with new up and comers in the hip hop game is something that could lead to some excellent collaborations in the future and with the label's collective album 'Cruel Summer' being released this September it seems we won't have to wait too long see what the fruits of their labour will be.

The feature in Complex magazine asks the group, minus West, various questions regarding the G.O.O.D music mentality, work ethic and lifestyle and it seems the focus is based around hard work resulting in quality content with West spoken of by the group as accepting nothing less than 100%. The piece makes for some really interesting reading and also I feel shines some light on the personalities of some of the individuals through their answers, especially Kid Cudi, Common and Big Sean respectively. To find out more check out the Complex website, the link is posted below and the August/September issue is released August 7th.

http://www.complex.com/music/2012/07/good-music-cover-august-september-2012-issue

A Superior Comic Book

Back in the Winter of 2010 I can remember hearing a lot of buzz surrounding a new Mark Millar project due for publication. The project in question was Superior and after a bit of research i found myself buying each issue over the following 12 months. The comic book had a very classic feel to it with a protagonist that for me resembled early Superman and more specifically it brought me back to old Captain Marvel stories i had read as a youngster. I felt the need to post about the series as after the 3rd time of reading i still feel this comic book didn't get the credit it deserves. For me its rare to find work in this era that re-captures that classic traditional look and feel of a superhero and so for me, With Millar's captivating story and the illustrations of Leinil Yu, Superior was an instant favourite.

The story of the Superior comic book series centres around Simon Pooni, a teenager who suffers from multiple sclerosis and who is a huge fan of the superhero Superior, who is a fictional character similar to that of Superman. One night Simon's life is turned around when a mysterious crossover between a monkey and an astronaut appears in his room and through the offer to grant him one wish turns Simon into Superior (This for me lead to my first Captain Marvel reference in terms of the wizard Shazam acting similar to the monkey). I won't go into much more detail on the plot of the story so not to ruin it for potential readers but i found it to be a real throwback to previous generations of superheros almost paying homage to them in Superior's appearance and personality. I recommend Superior for any comic book fans as a great read and I've posted a couple of photos of the series below to wet your appetite. I've heard on the grapevine there has been talk of a motion picture in the pipeline, i can't confirm this but would love to see where they take the story if true. I've also posted a link to Forbidden Planet's Superior collection, it seems they currently are out of stock but you can be notified for future sales.

http://forbiddenplanet.com/comics/?q=superior

Back To Market Life

After 3 years in Bournemouth at university i finally made my way back to the capital last week to move back in with the family and start searching for the next step in my quest for success. First stop was to get back on the market stall to start earning some of those much needed pounds, so i thought I'd make a little post about the life of Deptford Market. It's been a while since i was working on the fruit and veg but i must say as always it's still the best job I've had up to this point. Although it's not as lively as it used to be the market still stands out as one of the most traditional, unique and diverse across London and it's character never fails to send shivers up my spine. From trainers to self help enlightenment books Deptford offers something for all shoppers and the charm offencive and wit of the market traders still continues to amuse and intrigue me. Working on the largest greengrocers stall in the market I'm forever amazed by the wide range of customers I find my myself serving. Whether it be members of the local church, students or even eccentric artists with 5 ready to sell canvas' tied to the back of their bike, you're never far from hearing a interesting story about someones day or the wild and wonderful goings on of the market itself. Deptford has received its fair share of bad press in the past but as somebody who's grown up around the market i will always champion it's appeal as it is still one of the most traditional and historic old London markets and when you hear some of the stories from the local community you can't deny the place has sure got some character. I'll post a few pics below that took early on this past Saturday on the high street. To visit the market, Wednesdays and Saturdays are the busiest and most interesting and it can be found via New Cross on the new overground line or national rail service or by reaching Deptford Bridge on the DLR service.

New Addition to the Family

Nike have recently announced they will be welcoming a new member into the NikeiD family in the shape of the Stefan Janoski SB. Personally i think this is a really cool move, the Janoski has been hugely popular since it's original drop in 2009 and one of it's major appeals is how the different styling and colourways of the line can be stylish, smart and casual. Giving the customer the chance to design their own Janoski could lead to some interesting creations especially with the talk that cork insoles and materials such as suede and waxed rope being on the table for those making their own incarnation of the sneaker. The iD range will be available from 27th July but for more information check out some of the links below, also i've thrown in a few pictures of my personal favourite colourways of the Janoski if you want to check them out.

http://www.thedailystreet.co.uk/2012/07/nike-sb-janoski-premium-id/

http://www.kicksonfire.com/2012/07/18/nike-sb-stefan-janoski-id/

http://www.freshnessmag.com/2012/07/19/nike-sb-stefan-janoski-premium-joins-nikeid-lineup/

Crepe City

Crepe City took place Saturday 7^th July at Nike’s 1948 store in Shoreditch to offer all ‘sneakerheads’ the chance to buy, sell, swap or just purely check out collections from around the capital. I got myself down to the venue around 1pm and the queue was insane with fellow sneaker enthusiasts lining the street outside the famous Nike concept store. Having attended previous Crepe City events at the bar music hall in Shoreditch I wasn’t surprised by the atmosphere inside the convention, a very cool, friendly and welcoming feel from all those involved made the event a real exciting place to be, especially with appearances from the Galaxy Foamposites, Air Yeezy 2s and many more. Here’s a few photos I took at the event, the next Crepe City takes place ^4th November 2012 with more details available at http://www.crepe-city.co.uk/

The First Blog.......

So here begins the start of my blog. I thought i should probably start posting some stuff online instead of just clogging up my hard drive so if you happen to stumble across my little corner of the internet i apologise in advance for any the boring nonsense that will follow.

To give a little insight into what i'll mostly be posting it tends to centre around movies, music, comic books, sneakers and streetwear fashion. most of the post will be points of interest that i've stumbled across but i'll make sure i post a few articles by myself regularly.

So, with all the basics covered i hope you find this blog interesting and enjoyable and if you have any questions or links to things you think i may find interested feel free to follow and contact me through my twitter @MrDaveHorner https://twitter.com/MrDaveHorner

Peace out!