If you’ve been wearing the same Chuck Taylor styles since you were a kid, it may be time to branch out. Meet RYZ, our Designer of the Week. RYZ was founded by some ex-industry, self-proclaimed sneaker geeks who wanted to push the envelope of sneaker culture. Their solution? To work WITH their consumer base to develop the best sneakers on the market.

RYZ allows anyone to submit designs for their shoes and the most popular styles are produced. If you get your kicks from stylish kicks, it’s about time you order some of these high-tops - or win a pair from ThisNext!

Back in March, Fake London Genius and K-Swiss collaborated on a series of themed sneakers. The three themes included: the medal, the punk, and the dog. Apart from the intriguing designs found on the Dog, and the Medal, the collaboration gave the K-Swiss sneakers a punk inspired look. The K-Swiss trademark strips are represented by zippers, leather bracelets are attached to the heel tab, and the sneakers also feature suede detailing.

Now once again, K-Swiss and Fake London’s founder Desiree Mejer are collaborating to create a new series of sneakers which pay attention to the tongues (images below). The white sneakers feature two large fastened tongues. One of the shoe features the Fake London logo while the other has a huge digital finger print.

 

What is interesting, is what you find after you unfasten the tongue, there is a bank note enclosed inside a plastic bag. Also each Limited Edition sneaker comes with a special packaging/transport bag and stickers.

Via (hypebeast)

Adidas has a new skateboard clothing line, and to promote this new venture, Adidas has been on tour in Sao Paula, Brazil this month with this Volkswagen bus/van. I know they have lots of room for merchandise, since the VW does not have an engine in the spacious hood, instead it’s located in the trunk. (Hey if you were born the other day, the VW am talking about is the old school one. Scooby Doo drives one, and it was very popular in the 60s, not the new VW Bug with the engine located in hood). The VW features customized interior, and prints inspired by skate legend, Mark Gonzales. (via)

With the popularity of snakeskin leather on the rise, Adidas has jumped in the band wagon so it can satisfy the demand for this snakeskin leather sneakers. They have unleashed two models: my favorite, the shell toe low, and the Pro model. The color scheme is unique and available in different shades, the sneakers looks like ‘gators shoes’ from a distance. I am not sure when the sneakers will be available to the masses, but keep checking in select Adidas retail dealers. [link] 

Dr. Romanelli has struck again, this time without his vintage/aviation inspired clothing line, ‘Surgical Strike.’ He is collaborating  with converse on their Band-aid like sneaker. He is the latest artist/designer to contribute to Converse (Product) Red project, which is aimed at the fight against AIDS in Africa. The Band-aid chuck taylors seem to have a deeper meaning. I think ‘Band-Aid’ symbolizes fixing the on-going Aids epidermic in Africa.

 

Before Dr. Romanelli and Converse, there was Fragment Design and Converse, who collaborated on a (Product) Red sneaker. Converse and fragment are now back on the drawing board for a new series of black All stars in High and Low models, featuring a very simple style. This sneakers will be very limited, to only 1000 pairs worldwide and will be available in speciality sneakers store around the world. 

Pro-Keds has released new sneakers which include: Royal High Graffiti, (Pro-Keds popularity was initially built on the Royal model, and with a history that dates back to 1892, some of this sneakers are classics.) the metro slip-on signature campus, and Dura cool Mesh. Since Hip-Hop mogul and Roc-a-Fella Co-founder, Dame Dash got involved with Pro-Keds the popularity of their sneakers has increased. 

hypebeast

 

For all the die-hard gamers, especially the arcade ones. Pro-Keds has unleashed a line of sneakers whose designs are inspired by the arcade classics icluding Pac-Man, Asteroids, Galaga, Super Mario Bros, Centipede……..and the list goes on. Get a pair so you can rep your favorite retro game. Price $70.00

arcadeheroes

Adidas made this sneakers exclusively for this year’s Gumball 3000. Yeap!…..Gumball 3000, the ultimate road rally across Europe. It starts and ends in London with stops in major cities including: Amsterdam, Istanbul, Bratislava and Berlin. The sneakers are available at Journeys for $85.00 Check-out photos from the rally on the link below.

Complex

I will admit, i’m new to the sneaker scene, and just catching up one blog at a time. “Nike sure is doing a great job with the re-release of the Nike Court Force. These are the best colorway so far and a low cut version of this famous Nike retro sneaker.” So i’ll take the Sneaker Index’s word for it.

Inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes, and from anywhere. Take these “Candy Paint” Pro-Keds for example, where they found inspiration for sneaker design in the culture of custom painted cars. via Kick Fiend.

For the X-men lovers out there Emmanuel Labor customized these Air Force Ones as a tribute to Magneto. “Most customizers would have just made the shoes purple/red/white, but not Emmanuel. Not only did he texturize the leather to give it a snakeskin effect, the swoosh was magnetized! Notice the paper clips sticking to the side of the shoe…no kids, that isnt glue, thats magnetic force holding those there.” via Nice Kicks.

We know there’s something appealing about exclusivity. That draw to things that most people won’t and CAN’T have. Well according to EU Kicks, these are Nike Air Zoom Moires are the Nike+Apple collab sneaks built to be used with the Nano, and this color combo is only available by Parisian Boutiques Colette and Opium.

How much do you love your Nike Air Force Ones and Air Jordans? I bet not nearly as much as these guys… Impressive collection of images and information on all things Nike Air over at the MyAirShoes Weblog.