My travels in San Antonio TX to Sneaker Palooza

// March 13th, 2010 // No Comments » // Events, Videos

So getting here was a mess. I had to pay for having a bag! When the F did this start? I missed the first plane cuz my bag was too heavy. I was at the counter for a minute…As I’m about to leave the counter the guy says if you take some stuff out your good or split it into 2 bags. I was in shock and thinking you ass I had a back pack on an could have handled that while in line!

So they put me on another plane later in the day…get to check in and the flight is delayed and they say I will miss my connecting flight. They put me on yet another plane!!! OMG…this day is insane. Then I have 3 hr lay over in LA. Finally get to SA get something to eat and call it a night.

Today has been chill….my homeboy Eddie from Million Monkey Clothing swoops me up from the hotel and we head over to Sole Boutique. I met Julio and Fabby. Cool peeps and def a great looking store….(pics comong soon) they got big things going on.

I went for stroll at Riverwalk and I have to say, it was really nice and mad busy. I ustreamed from there…I’ll see if I can post it so you can see some of the city.

But its now 3:48p in TX and we’ve stuck on the 35N for 2hrs in the same spot because of some bullshit…I’m starving for some Rudy’s BBQ and its like so close. AAAAAARRRRGGGHHH! I’m going through part 2 of yesterdays travels! FML

SUNDAY March 14, 2010
The day of the show…Eddie from Million Monkey Clothing picks me up…we get some Thai food and head to the event.

I went with an open mind, didn’t really expect much because I’ve done shows before and its whatever.
This show started off slow and grew into a major deal! I was pleased and surprised at the warm reception given to me and my work.
Maybe it was the southern hospitality? Or maybe they were just too nice to tell me the truth…either way…I’ll take it! lol

Shout outs to Greg Street, Bobbito Garcia and Wale for showing up and just hanging out!
Greg Street did a quick interview of me…lol..Good looking out Greg. (Video below)

The event was held in the WITTE Museum and I must say almost every square inch was filled with vendors and spectators.
They had a fashion show, a bunch of DJs, breakers, sneakers of course, artwork…etc…

I Ustreamed a bunch of footage so you can get a glimpse of what was going on. Here’s the Link: http://www.ustream.tv/user/solejunkie go to “Archived Videos”
Words can’t describe how at home I felt…I’ll def go back for part 2 if invited.

Shout outs to all that made it happen and I’ll see you guys soon.

Sole Junkie at Sneaker Palooza from DJ Greg Street on Vimeo.

Me Live on Fox 5 Morning News (Video)

// February 23rd, 2010 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Hammer Museum Workshop 2/20/10

// February 17th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Events

Nike Lawyers…This is great.

// July 1st, 2009 // No Comments » // news

You Can’t Do That: A History of Nike Lawyers Giving Sneakers the Axe

Big news on the blogs today: Eddie Van Halen and his merch crew are suing Nike over a Dunk Low that looks like his Frankenstein guitar. Does it look like the iconic Van Halen print? Yes. Can they prove it? Doubtful. The lawsuit could potentially add a smidgen of press to promote the band’s next tour, but as far as money, chances of Eddie catching anything are low. What the suit will do, however, is likely get the sneakers taken off of shelves, removing a decent kick from the market. It’s no Nylon Dunk, but you know, for some kid out there, these are the perfect shoes to match his “Running with the Devil” T-shirt.

This whole process got us to thinking. Usually it’s Nike’s law team that is on the “taking sneakers off the shelf” tip. Whether it’s proactive to avoid a suit, or going after little guys trying to get a nut, their team is top notch, so it rarely comes to actual legal blows. Read on for some recent examples of the Swoosh cock-blocking the sneaker game because of a stupid little thing called “copyright laws”…

2005: NIKE SB DUNK HIGH PRO “GUCCI”

• The Gucci Dunks were originally supposed to be part of a Team Manager series, and were designed by the team at Girl Skateboards. Two problems with this one. Nike lawyers said, “No fucking way.” And Girl’s sister company, Lakai, was like, “Come on dudes, you can’t play us like that.” The sneaker has never come out, although a take down is due from regular Nike in a few months.

2003: NIKE SB DUNK LOW PRO “Heineken”

• Even when sneakers actually make it to the shelves, Nike lawyers are still the puppet masters. When the king of Dutch Beers got wind of the skate-kids calling the dunks pictured above the “Heineken” dunks, the liquor company allegedly issued a cease and desist to the Swoosh. Nike lawyers strong armed shops to pull the Dunks and the sister SB sneaker, the Air Angus “Pabst Blue Ribbon” off the shelves, to avoid any conflict. The limited quantity has since turned the Heineken Dunk into one of the most coveted (and counterfeited) sneakers on the marketplace, and it’s funny ’cause today, both Heineken and PBR would probably put up a pretty check to get their own SB. Ah well.

2006: ARI MENTHOL 10

• The Newport cigarette box has an upside-down Swoosh on it. Sneakers are addictive. Ari Foreman thought, “Hey, one plus one equals awesome!” Nike’s lawyers responded with, “One plus one equals get these sneakers the fuck out of ALIFE and Clientele before we kill your family.” And that was the end of that. Check Cinqua.com, the official site documenting the project.

2008: MIKE23 CHUCK

• Um, yeah. The MIKE brand was inspired by the great one, taking the elephant print from the Jordan III and putting it on all kinds of things like umbrellas, couches, sunglasses, and sneakers ‘inspired’ by the Chuck Taylor. Nike laywers, “Um, yeah. “Inspired” isn’t going to cut it. Give us those.” Robert Walker from the New York Times followed this closely.

2008: GOURMET

• Gourmet hasn’t officially spoken about the removal of the Jordan-esque silhouettes from its Spring 2009 line, a grouping of sneakers that defined the early years of the brand. It could be that they are one and done with the idea and are maturing to new design theories. Doubtful. We’re going to go out on a limb and say that the conversation went down behind closed doors a little like this: “Hey, Gourmet. It’s Jordan, and we’re sending you this piece of paper telling you to stop, but wanted to give you a call too. We know what you guys are doing, but we don’t want to go after you too hard since these are really sick, and since UNDFTD is such a key account we don’t want to mess anything up. Can you guys just stop? Pleeeease?” The new line is better without them anyway.

via: Complex