HTM Flyknit drop #3

This July, Nike releases its third installment of the HTM Flyknit collection. HTM, the ongoing collaboration between style leader and Fragment Design Founder Hiroshi Fujiwara, Nike design legend Tinker Hatfield and Nike Inc. CEO and designer Mark Parker, celebrates the groundbreaking performance attributes of a new technology that changes the way footwear is constructed.

Since 2002, these three designers have worked together to amplify new innovations, reinterpret existing designs, and explore concepts that take the brand to new places.

Pushing the boundaries of Nike Flyknit technology by showcasing the aesthetic possibilities of fabrics, colors and patterns, this third collection features a refreshed series of color ways.  Releasing as a collection of six unique color ways, the HTM Trainer+ is woven into four classic solids, Black, Blue, Volt, and bold Red, embellished with the swoosh mark on the back heel.  Two additional styles from the collection feature a multi-colored upper that is the result of the yarns from the classic solids coming together through multiple weave variations.  This approach allows for varying hues to combine into an intricate variation of textured patterns producing a bold heathered upper that exhibits the precision and complexity of knit technology. Made complete with Nike’s signature Lunarlon cushioning system, the HTM Trainer+ is finished with a sleek white Lunarlon sole that ties the collection together.

Launching first on July 26th at Nike’s 1948 location in London, the third release of the HTM Flyknit Collection in all six color ways will be available in limited quantities at select Nike retail locations globally. Please visit www.nikestadiums.com for more information on specific release dates (late August here in the US).

BAITxAsics Ring Pack

At a time when the world comes together to support their country in the Olympics, Asics and BAIT team up for an exclusive, eye-catching celebration of the world’s ultimate athletic exhibition. The Asics x BAIT Ring Pack introduces a limited collection of five unique shoes inspired by the Olympic Games’ world-famous ring logo. Each individual shoe is inspired by one of the five rings; the collection as a whole only employs the colors of the logo plus the basic white and grey for good measure. The pack takes Asics’ classic runners and sews in innovative designs and materials, resulting in a set of sneakers unlike anything that Asics has offered. The five shoes are woven together by common use of two features: the reflective 3M accents and the metallic, gold medal-themed insole. The pack is designed for the true sneaker fan with the highest quality materials and fresh new styles.

The first two shoes that will drop by the end of this week are the “Blue Ring” and the “Yellow Ring.”

*The Olympic Rings Pack is available for sale on July 26^th 9PM PST (12AM EST) only at BAITme.com. This is your only chance to guarantee all 5 colors of the Olympic Rings Pack, as we have set aside a limited number of this pre-pack for the launch. If you are lucky enough to purchase the Pre-Pack; BAIT will ship out the Blue, Yellow, and Red shoes immediately, with the remaining two colors (Black & Green) to ship Mid-August. All pre-pack purchases will come with a complimentary BAIT x GoodWood bracelet and a BAIT hat.  Limited quantity of Blue Ring and Yellow Ring shoes will also be available for sale at the same time.

*PRICING - Yellow, Blue, Green and Red Ring shoes are $130.00.  Black Ring is $140.00.  Limited Edition 5-Shoe Pack is $660.00 (comes with complimentary BAIT x GoodWood bracelet and BAIT hat)

*PYS.com will be the exclusive partner online for the BAIT x ASICS Rings Pack.  Limited quantity of the “Blue Ring” and “Yellow Ring” shoes will be available starting July 30^th 9PM PST (12AM EST) on PYS.com.

Congrats Julia!

Back in October, Felicia and I got to go to Vancouver and meet with some U.S. Olympic hopefuls (courtesy of one of their sponsors, Nike). This was downhill skiier Julia Mancuso showing us one of her off season workout drills. Today she pulled off a downhill silver medal! And that track was INSANE. I thought all the skiiers were going to die, but I guess that's why I don't downhill ski. How do you prepare for this?

Nike Vancouver Trip Part 1: The Athletes

Nike recently invited FSF and about 30 other media outlets to view their Spring 2010 women's training line of apparel and sneakers. Not only did we get to see the goods (and work out in them!), but we got to visit some of the 2010 Winter Olympic sites in Vancouver, BC, and meet 8 phenomenal women athletes who are Olympic hopefuls. It was an inspiring trip! (Full disclosure: Nike paid for our entire visit, and we are most grateful! But as always, I call it like I see it.)

We got to talk with each of the athletes at some length, so I look forward to sharing their perspectives on the challenges and thrills of being serious women athletes, their relationship with Nike and their hopes for the Games. For now, let me share some pics and a few details...

Julia Mancuso, 2006 Olympic Gold Medalist in the giant slalom, showed us some of her summer workout! (And she went up to a standing position and back down, over and over, "great for your core")

Katherine Reutter, World Cup short track speed skater, demonstrates a resistance workout. (With help from a Nike trainer and lots of us taking pics in the background.)

Jennifer Rodriguez, a long-track speed skater, first transfered to the sport from a successful career in inline skating, then medaled twice in Salt Lake City, and is now planning a comeback from retirement. She said she skates so hard in races that her vision is blurry by the end because all her blood has left her brain to go to her limbs! That blew me away.

Keauna McLaughlin and pairs skating partner Rockne Brubaker showed us some training moves on land and on ice. They're currently the U.S. National Champions, and she's only 18! She says "I didn't get serious about skating until I was four". Four!

Angela Ruggiero already has Olympic gold, silver and bronze, and she's going to her 4th Olympics to try to get another gold. She's also the first female non-goalie to play professional men's hockey! (On the Tulsa Oilers.)

Nicole Joraanstad (left) is a SIX time national champion curler. That's that crazy sport where you kinda bowl a huge thing on the ice and then sweep it to wear it belongs. I WISH we'd gotten a demo on that. She says she has special curling sneakers that have medal on the sole of one foot and not the other (cuz of the strange bowling-type motion). Ellery Hollingsworth, on right, got into snowboarding to prove her brothers wrong (they said she couldn't do it), and now she's hoping to be in her first Olympics after being named "Rookie of the Year" in the U.S.

Katie Uhlaender rides down the side of a mountain on the "skeleton" sled at over 100 miles an hour! She calls it "relaxed chaos", but I would not be relaxed at all. Speaking of speed, she medaled in a U.S. event 3 weeks after starting the sport, then went on to win both the U.S. Junior National and National Championships in her first season. Damn!

Up next, the Spring 2010 Fly Sister sneaker line...

And many thanks to Fee for most of these photos!

adidas Candace Parker Olympic PE pack

Candace Parker and the US women's basketball team are headed for the gold! They take on arch rivals Australia tomorrow (Saturday) morning at about 10am, US east coast time. Their depth and defense have led to a staggering win margin of over 40 points in most of their games, but Australia's definitely not falling like that! I think it's gonna be a nail-biter...

To celebrate their newest big name baller, adidas whipped together a player-exclusive pack including Ace's own Pilrahna (with LA Sparks colorway coming out as well), 2 colorways of a PE adiclub for chilling in between games, and some gear as well...

You can see how the Pilrahna is well-suited for Ace's slashing AND skying game. I bet she'll dunk in 'em soon...

Not entirely feeling the adiclubs so much...a bit golf-shoe like in the toe somehow...but I do like the clean colorways.

No images of the apparel yet...
Current images thanks to kixandthecity!

Puma Cell Meios out now!

Here's a beautiful new Puma that smacks of so many of their recent successes, from the bold, translucent sole (aka- "new inverse duo-cell technology") to the stylish sillhouette and classy details. They're promoting it as a high performance shoe that will take you from the gym to the club, but who's really gonna wear these beauts at the gym? Not me!

Above & below: 2 of the 3 Cell Meio Olympic Crocs, celebrating 3 teams sponsored by Puma: Sweden (above), Jamaica (below) and Morocco.

Puma's strayed from its unisex sizing, but both the men's and the women's colorways are coming out in a good range of sizes (men's down to size 4, women's down to size 5.5). Yay! You can get them (and see more colorways) in Puma concept stores or at puma.com.

the Commitment Nike exhibit

I think if I go to Nike's new Commitment exhibit, I will be moved to tears. I'm both a sap and a baller. Without knowing why, I usually cry when my favorite teams win championships. This exhibit documents so many amazing Olympic basketball moments, and I'm one who's old enough to really remember the original Dream Team. Beautiful.

But this exhibit is a tribute not only to the commitment of these phenomenal athletes.
It's equal parts basketball, patriotism and Nikeotism.

And I don't think I'll go. I love the commitment of these athletes. I love the sneakers.


But the exhibit makes me mad. The women's team is completely ignored. Is their commitment any less? Of course not. Will there be another Commitment exhibit set up that honors them? I doubt it. You'd think the women's team was wearing adidas for all the love they get! Does Nike care what this exhibit says to the girls of Harlem and beyond who visit? Does it have any commitment to them?

The Commitment exhibition runs from July 10 through August 25 and is open to the public Thursday through Sunday from 10am until 8pm.
111 Lenox Avenue
New York, NY 1002

thanks to freshnessmag for the pics
P.S.-the women's Olympic basketball team will be wearing hyperdunks