KINGDOM SKATESHOP » 2012

Obey fall 12

Lots of Obey gear came in this week. Certain items available in several colors, click image to enlarge:

“Though Keith Haring died only two years after I started making street art, his art and practice had already made a profound impact on me. At art college and on the streets of NYC in the late 80’s and early 90’s, Keith’s radiant baby and other images could be seen on the tees of all the flyest hipsters. Keith Haring was a prolific artist with a distinct style of drawing and painting that was simultaneously refined, but primitive, deliberate but lyrical and energetic. Haring believed “the public has a right to art” and this philosophy informed his populist approach to spreading his art and messages. He pursued his art with a deeply personal vision, but also as a champion of social justice and a belief in the interconnectedness of humanity. Haring demonstrated the power of art on the streets, but he also put his art on t-shirts and record covers. He even opened a retail space in NYC called The Pop Shop. Eventually Haring’s artwork became widely respected, displayed, and sold as “fine art”. Haring rose from the 80’s NYC graffiti scene to not only affect the art world, but to dramatically impact pop culture. Inspired by Keith Haring’s achievements, I pursued my art career with the optimism that my goals could be attained.”

-Shepard Fairey

Click image to enlarge:

Nike SB

After releasing the Nike SB Challenge court last week, we got 3 new shoes in this week:

Dunk high in burgundy safari

Stefan Janoski MD in marine / khaki / gum

Stefan Janoski in black / black / pecan

Girl x Chocolate teaser

Girl and Chocolate present the new teaser for Pretty Sweet which contains a look back at all the dope videos that came before it and a glimpse of what’s to come. Peep the sweet trailer and take a trip down memory lane.

Supra Vaiders

Vaider in black / white

Vaider in royal blue / black *kids sizes only*

Vaider in black / grey / red *kids sizes only*

Vans

Vans just dropped their Fall delivery 2:

Pacquard in navy suede / grey

Chukka Low in black leather

Pacquard in royal blue / black *kids sizes only*

Mid skool ’77 in black / white / red *kids sizes only*

Nike SB September release

We’ve got something special here ladies and gentlemen; the release of the Challenge Court from Nike SB. Eschewing the conventional bounds of skateboarding with signature ease and nonchalance, Nike Skateboarding team rider Gino Iannucci retooled the Nike Challenge Court sneaker, adapting the ‘84 tennis original for riding the streets—or pretty much anything.

Aside from some technical tweaks and switching up the color—from the Challenge Court’s original red, white and blue to either white and tennis green or black on black—Gino kept the revamp minimal. He was originally drawn to the sneaker’s simplicity and, in his own words, “didn’t want to change anything except it slimming down and softening the outsole… little things like the tongue, the thickness of the interior and the colors… In my eyes the shoe was ready to go SB back in ‘84.”

Back in ‘84, Gino hadn’t even begun skating the streets of his native Long Island, New York. It wasn’t until about three years later that he began pushing—around the same time he began playing tennis, which he continues to do up to three or four times a week. Early on, his approach to both sports, and life in general, was influenced by the Challenge Court’s original ambassador: John McEnroe, the explosive, controversial and singular tennis legend who not only debuted the Nike shoe but also wore it while competing in and winning the Davis Cup, the Australian Indoor Championship, the Grand Prix Tournament in Tokyo and more.

“John McEnroe just didn’t care and he played with so much emotion,” Gino recalls. “He never held back and always spoke his mind. Tennis never saw that attitude until he came around. I admire how he did things his way and didn’t conform to anything. He stood for just being yourself, whether good or bad. There’s honor in that.” Just as McEnroe’s influential Nike advertisement proclaimed in the early ‘80s, he was a “Rebel with a Cause.” Nike taps back into this iconic moment in the debut video for the Nike SB Challenge Court. Shot on the streets of New York City, it features Gino in the shoe, pushing from the renowned Corona Park tennis stadium (also a world-famous skate spot) in Flushing, Queens to Midtown Manhattan, passing and perturbing McEnroe along the way. Continuing to Times Square, Gino recreates the “Rebel with a Cause” poster imagery in its original spot, his determination and drive echoing that of the tennis great.

Just as McEnroe became a legend for paving his own path to greatness, Gino has emerged as a skateboarding legend due to his irreverent approach and inimitable style. He’s also more than a little humble, which makes him resistant to the label of “legend,” but the definition he provides of one attests to his own seminal status, because it describes him just as much as it does McEnroe: ”Legends,” Gino says, “are ones who bring something special to whatever they do — something memorable, where they just stand out naturally for whatever reason.”

The Nike SB Challenge Court ramps up the original Challenge Court’s stability with a nylon mesh upper trimmed in full-grain leather, an integral arch sock liner and an extended ankle collar. The Variable Width Lacing System™ ensures a snug, comfortable fit. And the lightweight Lunarlon sockliner/midsole promises soft but still responsive full-foot cushioning that cuts down impact without giving up board feel. Plus, the two-color, bi-level hobnail cupsole helps skaters grip the deck for premium performance.