TITAN X NIKE KOBE 9 EM "PHILIPPINES" MEDIA LAUNCH

April 29, 2014 - Manila's top ballplayers, media personalities, influencers and shoe aficionados gathered together at Titan Basketball's flagship store at TwoParkade BGC for the unveiling of the Nike Kobe 9 EM "Philippines".

The event was graced by a good number of players from Gilas Pilipinas (Philippines' National Basketball team) which made the program extra special, as well as their charismatic coach Chot Reyes.

Titan delivered an In-Store storytelling experience, telling the media and the event guests all about the shoe. Designer Erick Goto's thoughts and design concepts were prominently displayed around the space.

Food was catered with a local touch - serving famous Filipino street snacks and beer. Music was provided by Nix Damn P. The event was undoubtedly a success!

Check out the photos from the launch below.

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THE NIKE KOBE 9 EM "PHILIPPINES" | A VISUAL BREAKDOWN

As much as the market and footwear media highlights technology as the main selling driver of a shoe, sometimes there is no better way of communicating its value than sharing its aesthetic conceptual origins.

In the case of the Nike Kobe 9 EM "Philippines", we choose to champion the story behind the colorway. Albeit the shoe in itself is a technological wonder and a performance dream to use on court, the "Philippine" colorway conveys a deeper, more intimate basketball story; one that relays a country's fanatical love for the game.

In this edition of Visual Breakdown, we go deep into the designer's mind - how the inspiration came about, how he combined seemingly random facets of Filipino life and concocted a compelling storyline about the Filipino's passion for Basketball.


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A special thank you to Nike Philippines and Titan for the material and artist insights.

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THE NIKE ZOOM HYPERREV | A VISUAL BREAKDOWN

PREFACE: It is common knowledge that Nike is at the forefront of Basketball design and performance innovation. But once in a while, amidst the plethora of breakthroughs, Nike pulls something so cutting-edge, so groundbreaking, that it stops everyone in their tracks.

In this entry, Locker Room Legends technically and visually break down one such product: The Nike Zoom HyperRev.

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#ProjectEXT | A TITAN AND LOCKER ROOM LEGENDS EXPERIMENT

Twenty-Six personalities. One Shoe.

A fun experiment with Basketball Retail leader TITAN, #ProjectEXT explores the street and style versatility of the Nike Zoom KD 6 EXT "Gum".

Twenty-Six pairs of feet - from a random mix of ballplayers, influencers, bloggers, musicians and media personalities, render their own take on the stylish off-court version of Kevin Durant's signature shoe.

Feel free to join the experiment. Share your photos with the hashtag #ProjectEXT.

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Photo credits to Gia Jamias and to Kapo Rivera

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NIKE UNVEILS NIKE FLYKNIT AIR MAX AND AIR MAX 2014

Both of the new Air Max styles offer runners a lighter, more flexible and ultra-cushioned ride and are highlighted by a two-color faded airbag. Nike designers leveraged runner’s insights combined with data from the Nike Sports Research Lab to increase flexibility and decrease weight in the outsole. To further improve the design, the team incorporated unique flex grooves that encourage a smoother transition. Shaving even more weight, the designers took a cue from Nike’s heritage by using a redesigned Waffle outsole for better traction.

NIKE FLYKNIT AIR MAX

For the first time, Nike has paired innovative Nike Flyknit technology with the ultra-cushioned ride of Air Max. Nike Flyknit allows designers to precision-engineer areas of support and breathability into a virtually seamless upper, delivering a superior, lightweight fit. The Flyknit Air Max also integrates Flywire technology for additional support throughout the upper.

NIKE AIR MAX 2014

For those runners who prefer a more traditional fit, the new Air Max 2014 features a lightweight, engineered mesh upper. Designers paired the engineered mesh with a lightweight foam and seamless overlay that conforms to the shape of the foot and provides additional structure and support.

Starting November 18, 2013, runners will be able to customize the Nike Air Max 2014 – and its two-color faded airbag – on NIKEiD. The first of six inline colors of the Nike Air Max 2014 will be available in stores and at nike.com beginning December 5. The Nike Flyknit Air Max will be available beginning January 3, 2014.

The Nike Flyknit Air Max and Air Max 2014 are the latest introductions to the legendary Air Max franchise. The original Nike Air Max 1 was the first shoe to feature visible air and revolutionized the athletic footwear industry, reshaping the design landscape for performance running footwear. In the years following, Air Max shoes have become the epitome of running performance and style.

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COLE HAAN SILVER LUNARGRAND LONG WINGTIP "SILVERGRANDS"

Cole Haan's current campaign "Born in 1928" is anchored on 1970's space ace Capt. Jim Lovell. Born in 1928, Lovell was a top naval test pilot before being accepted into the space program. In 1970, he was in command of the Apollo 13 moon mission when an explosion damaged the spacecraft and crippled their oxygen supply. The crew's daring return to Earth riveted the world and was the basis for the blockbuster movie Apollo 13.

To celebrate Lovell's significance not just in space exploration but in pop culture, Cole Haan decided to design a special rendition of their ever popular LunarGrand shoe. Donning an all silver upper, the shoe will also be offered to 13 lucky individuals who will be selected by Cole Haan. They will receive a special 1-of-13 SilverGrand with their name etched on the heel. For more details on this visit Cole Haan's LunarGrand website.

As for us regular earth-dwellers, The SilverGrands will be available in select Cole Haan retailers and online. The Cole Haan Silver LunarGrand Wingtips retails at USD 268.00.

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THE ADIDAS ORIGINALS COLLECTORS PROJECT

Five very different individuals from different countries, with completely different identities share a common denominator: their love for The Trefoil.

Adidas in a genius, highly engaging campaign, scoured the globe for 5 of the most dedicated and loyal Adidas Originals collectors. Almost every corner of the planet is represented: Germany's Sneakerqueen, New York's DJ Operator Emz, The UK's Robert Brooks, Tokyo's Mr. Magara, and Turkey's Ralf Tiittanen.

The lucky five were flown to the Adidas global HQ in Germany to immerse themselves in a "Willy Wonka" kind of experience. They were treated to insider info about history, design, manufacturing, swatch selection, and most exciting of all - archive diving.

Check out the video below on how they did with the project. Also, to know more about the Adidas Originals Collectors Project, visit their tumblr here.

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NIKE SB PROJECT BA: SHOES FOR SKATERS BY SKATERS

Few skateboarders can seamlessly blend the worlds of fashion, art and skate, but the NIke SB Project BA shoe shows that it's second nature for Brian Anderson. His unmistakable style comes across in his new shoe design, the innovative Nike SB Project BA­­­.

Anderson is a time-tested giant in the industry known for his avant garde personality, unmistakable flip tricks and tendency to attack gaps and staircases with reckless abandon. His style demands shoes that provides cushioning and precision control — features he emphasized when designing the Nike SB Project BA. A drop-in Nike Lunarlon cushioning system muffles hard impacts while a low-profile cupsole is in keeping with the traditional skate shoe feel.

“With the Lunarlon cushioning you can jump down stairs all day,” Anderson says.

Lastly, the running-inspired toe gives the Project BA a classic look. Not only does it stand out, it is perfect for nailing flip tricks.

“It’s different when you’re preparing to do a flip trick if you have that curved runner toe," Anderson says. "It’s something that looks very runner, but it’s important that your heel sits low so it still feels like a skate shoe and you can feel your board.”

The Nike SB Project BA also comes in a premium version showing off Anderson's artistic side via his personal interpretation of the Swoosh and a cutout ankle for a less restrictive fit.

The Nike SB Project BA will be available at weLegendary on Aug. 3.

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TITAN X LGR DESIGN STUDIO OPENS ON AUGUST 1

Titan, the Philippines' best destination for anything basketball, teams up with LGR - the country's finest technical sportswear and athletic uniform manufacturer, to bring you a design experience unlike any other.

The Titan X LGR Design Studio aims to deliver its clients bespoke basketball uniforms, at the same time immerse them in a holistic creative experience: From fabric selection, to cuts, to sublimated patterns... Anything that can help your team stand out on the court, Titan X LGR can help you with it.

Whether you're part of an elite level team, campus varsity or just a regular weekend warrior, Titan X LGR will have something for you.

The Titan X LGR Design Studio is located at The Underground, Ronac Art Center, and will open on August 1, Thursday, 12:00NN.

If you would like to know more about the Titan X LGR Design Studio Experience or would like to book your team an appointment, email them at designstudio@titan22.com.

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WELEGENDARY 6TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY SALE

WeLegendary - The Philippines' foremost authority in anything skateboarding, has been blazing a trail for the sport. It's trademark no-frills, no holds barred approach to retail and the culture has become an experience that all skaters and sneaker collectors have come to enjoy.

WeLegendary is turning 6 today. Obviously no longer a rookie, but the brands relevance in the scene has never been this fresh and important.

To celebrate their anniversary, the legendary skateshop is having a massive sale! If you've been to their previous 5 celebrations then you know what to expect. If you haven't, there is still time to make up for 6 years of sleeping. Head on over to WeLegendary Ronac today, July 27 and tomorrow, July 28.

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NIKE PRESENTS THE NEW FREE HYPERFREE

The Nike Free Hyperfeel is created to intuitively move with the foot. It is inspired by Nike’s "Nature Amplified" design ethos — an approach focused on the body in motion and fueled by scientific data and athlete insights.

Research insights informed the precise placement of cushioning and outsole traction for a low-profile shoe that provides padding and protection only where necessary. A drop-in Lunarlon insole with flex grooves allows the foot to have direct contact with the Lunarlon cushioning. The waffle outsole is ultra-thin, allowing the foot to get closer to the ground.  

Scientists in the Nike Sport Research Lab carefully studied which areas of the foot come into contact with the ground and absorb pressure, and which areas require traction. They used pressure-mapping technology and high-speed film to analyze the foot in motion.

The result is Nike Free Hyperfeel, a shoe that mimics the intricate workings of the human foot: Lunarlon foam replicates cushioned pads under the foot. The outsole protects like hardened skin on the sole. Dynamic Flywire flexes and contracts, inspired by ligaments.

"Nike Free Hyperfeel has fewer total shoe parts and places the foot directly on top of responsive Lunarlon foam,” says Tony Bignell, VP of Nike Footwear Innovation. “The shoe acts as extension of the foot and delivers a natural motion sensation for the runner.” 

OUTSOLE

Harking back to Nike co-founder and Oregon Track & Field coach Bill Bowerman, the Nike Free Hyperfeel is structured on a waffle outsole that is reengineered with strategically placed pistons, reflecting key pressure points. Highly durable XDR rubber is added in high-wear heel areas. 

CUSHIONING

Articulated Lunarlon foam mirrors the flexible, knife-cut cushioning used in Nike Free footwear, but here it is the only intermediary layer between foot and outsole — minimal layers for maximum sensation. (An optional sockliner is included for a personalized fit.)

FIT AND SUPPORT

Nike Flyknit in the upper provides a compression fit and support where needed without unnecessary structure or weight. Nike Flywire cables lend additional support to help lock the foot down. The upper’s seamless construction significantly reduces the number of shoe components: A typical Air Pegasus running shoe is made up of 57 components. The Nike Free Hyperfeel has just seven. By knitting a one-piece upper, Nike Flyknit construction reduces Nike's typical upper waste by an average of 90 percent.

The Nike Free Hyperfeel ($175) will be at retail in the U.S., U.K. and Japan beginning Sept. 5. It can be pre-ordered at nike.com/hyperfeel.

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NIKE FREE FLYKNIT PROVIDES COMPRESSION FIT WITH FREE FLEXIBILITY

Runners can now reap the benefits of natural motion found in Nike Free and the supportive, second-skin fit of Nike Flyknit in a single shoe. The Nike Free Flyknit unites two of Nike’s most innovative and popular technologies to deliver barefoot-like flexibility and a compression fit that locks the foot in place.

The Nike Free Flyknit is designed to flex with the foot in motion. It is informed by Nike’s "Nature Amplified" design ethos — an approach fueled by scientific data and athlete insights. 

“Nike Free Flyknit is the ultimate expression of natural performance principles, combining a supportive, sock-like upper and a flexible midsole and outsole that move with the body,” says Sean McDowell, Creative Director for Nike Running. “The compression fit brings the foot closer to the sole for enhanced lockdown and propulsion.”

NIKE FLYKNIT UPPER

A new, more compressive NIke Flyknit construction in the shoe upper secures the runner’s foot to the shoe platform. The unique zoned performance mapping pattern of the Nike Flyknit upper is derived from insights on how pressure is exerted on the top of the foot. Nike Sport Research Lab scientists employed pressure-mapping technology to locate stress areas, and designers used the data to inform the new upper. Zones on the top of the foot have engineered stretch built to enable natural flex, while a tighter weave at the perimeter stabilizes the forefoot and heel. Additionally, elasticized construction fits securely around the ankle for a comfortable, secure fit. By knitting a one-piece upper, Nike Flyknit construction reduces Nike's typical upper waste by an average of 88 percent. 

NIKE FREE PLATFORM

The advanced Nike Flyknit upper sits atop a Nike Free+ 5.0 midsole, which lies in the middle of the Nike Free spectrum, providing mid-range cushioning. (On a scale or 1-10, 1 is akin to running barefoot and 10 is comparable to a traditional running shoe.) The articulated Nike Free sole is flexible and moves naturally with the foot. Diagonal hot-knifed sipes (strategically-engineered flex grooves) through the arch help ensure natural movement in the mid-foot as a runner transitions stride.

The Nike Free Flyknit comes on the heels of decades of biomechanics research and design exploration with the intent of providing the best run possible. The breakthrough combination of a compressive Nike Flyknit upper with a highly flexible Nike Free midsole and outsole adds up to a running shoe that delivers a more natural ride, amplifying athletes’ ability to move quickly and comfortably over distance.

The Nike Free Flyknit ($160) will be available globablly beginning Aug. 1, 2013. 

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