The Reigning Champ x adidas Athletics Lookbook Highlights New Innovative Wares

Not long ago, Reigning Champ and Adidas recently unveiled a crisp new UltraBOOST variant. Now, the cohorts release a lookbook that spotlights the aforesaid low-top runner, their AlphaBOUNCE model which debuted this past February and their latest crop of innovative wares. The unisex assemblage blends Three Stripes technology with the Canadian imprint’s premium craftsmanship, spanning woven jackets, crewnecks, hoodies, tees and pants done up in RC’s ubiquitous heavyweight French terry cloth.

Check out the lookbook above and expect the collection to officially drop on April 7 on adidas.com, Adidas stores, ReigningChamp.com, Reigning Champ flagship stores and select Foot Locker stores and stockists.

PHOTOGRAPHERADIDAS ATHLETICS

Watch How Babylon LA & Trash Talk Channel Hardcore Punk and Los Angeles

Today we see music and fashion more intimately connected than ever. Brands have promoted artists’ involvement from simply modeling in lookbooks to appointing them to high-level positions within the company. Artists themselves have also begun to not only produce tour merchandise but create their own (sometimes namesake) labels.

One of the few establishments that exhibit a refreshing connection between music and clothing is Babylon LA. The brand, helmed by Lee Spielman and Garrett Stevenson of the hardcore band Trash Talk, is directly influenced by the band’s experiences of making music and being on tour. Babylon’s designs impart the punk ethos with a DIY aesthetic that characterizes both their creativity and anti-establishment ideologies.

The brand is also directly representative of the band’s base of Los Angeles and California, Lee tells us. Through the brand and its store – complete with public skate bowl – he’s been able to create what he’s always wanted since he was a kid.

THE LEAK: HYPEBEAST

adidas Brings Primeknit Construction to the Stan Smith BOOST

After surfacing late last year, adidas‘s BOOST-cushioned take on the Stan Smith is getting yet another upgrade — this time in the form of Primeknit construction. Appearing exactly as you’d imagine, the silhouette is the perfect mashup of the Stan Smith Primeknit and Stan Smith BOOST and couples the upper of the former with the sole unit of the latter. Best of all, the kicks have been crafted in OG green and navy colorways.

Both pairs are available now from Three Stripes spots like Berlin’s Overkill.

Lootlove x Footwork Collab

FOOTWORK has been in South Africa for a number of years and the hard work is starting to show. With having great followership through the great collaborations with SA’s most recognized female media personalities like Amanda Du Pout, and now Luthando Shosha.

With FOOTWORK going from strength to strength, the company has looked to unite its five values – Sophistication, Style, Loyalty, Comfortability and Consumer Focus.

“It is an honour to have been chosen as the Face Of Footwork’s Winter Campaign. I’ve always had an obsession for footwear and I can’t wait for everyone to see how I’ve incorporated the different designs into my style. For me, style is an expression of one’s individuality and the collection’s versatility is perfect for a girl like myself who is constantly looking for the edge in her looks. This collaboration with Footwork couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. In addition to my Metro FM radio show, I am currently making a few career moves and I’m certain that with the right pair of shoes on my feet, I will be able to put my best foot forward and achieve my goals.”-Lootlove

Putting its stamp on footwear with a nod to the catwalk, the 2017 winter collection focuses on unique heels, stand out stilettos, show stopping boots as well as indulgent fabrics that will make any woman feel fierce. With the help of Lootlove, this range will communicate a transparent visual message and tone to women of substance.

The range is available at Superbalist, Spree, Zando as well as theshowroom.online and all major retailers.

SOURCE: THEPLUGMAG.CO

Is adidas Taking Its Three Stripes Trademark Too Far?

As could be expected of a global brand as large and well-known as Adidas, the German sportswear giant has fiercely protected its logo and branding for years — but is it taking things too far?

According to Forever 21, the answer is a definite “yes.” According to a claim filed at the US District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division, just last week, Adidas has gone overboard in protecting the trademark of its Three Stripes. Said the suit:

Years ago, adidas managed to secure federal trademark registrations for use of three, parallel stripes placed in specific locations on certain shoes and clothing… But adidas has taken its claims even further — too far — essentially asserting that no item of clothing can have any number of stripes in any location without infringing adidas’s trademarks.

Forever 21 — who’s been sued by adidas in the past — went on to add that adidas is well-known for “aggressively enforcing its perceived” trademark rights and claimed that it has “fallen victim” to “threats” from adidas over the years, pointing specifically to a letter from February where adidas threatened to sue the Los Angeles-based brand over the use of stripes on six different pieces of Forever 21 clothing:

The stripes on the Forever 21 clothing at issue are merely ornamental and decorative. None of these items of clothing display any of adidas’s three-stripe marks, and no consumer is likely to believe any of these items are manufactured by, or otherwise associated with, adidas… Tired of operating with a cloud over its head with regard to its right to design and sell clothing items bearing ornamental/decorative stripes, and unwilling to stop doing something it has every right to do and pay a bully to leave it alone, Forever 21 has decided that enough is enough.

Adidas declined to comment on pending litigation, but reinforced the idea that “it will continue to ‘vigorously’ protect its rights and take action in cases of infringement.”

What do you think of Adidas claim to the Three Stripes trademark? Sound off in the comments section below.

SOURCEWIPR

Iggy Azalea Flaunts Her Assets in a Supreme Bodysuit

Just last week, artist Iggy Azalea took to her Twitter to announce her musical comeback, even sharing with fans her latest single “Can’t Lose” fearturing Lil Uzi Vert. This time around, the rapper took to social media to show off her racy, custom-made Supreme bodysuit, cut in a way to reveal a generous glimpse of her assets. Captioned with “#MoBounce,” it’s rumored to be a track from her upcoming album Digital Distortion. Take a look at the rest of her recent pictorial below.

PHOTOGRAPHER@THENEWCLASSIC

Nike, H&M, and Zara Are Amongst the World's Most Valuable Apparel Brands in 2017

According to Brand Finance, the world’s leading independent brand valuation and strategy consultancy, some of the biggest names in its “Most Valuable Apparel Brands of 2017″ list include Nike, H&M, and Zara.

It’s not a shock that Nike leads the pack as it has always been on top of the list and is currently valued at $32 billion USD. H&M trails behind at #2 boasting a $19 million USD valuation. Some takeouts from this current roster include Zara grabbing #3 from Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs rapidly making its way up the rankings. It will be interesting to see where LV moves in the near future, especially now that it has collaborated with Supreme. It’s also worth to note that even with adidas and Under Armour closing in on Nike, the Oregon-based company is still miles ahead of the two. Nike is sure to make more noise with its plans for the “Pro Hijab” for Muslim athletes.

Brand Finance produces its list by considering the following elements — sales, market share, as well as global reputation, marketing investment, and employee satisfaction. The top 10 brands are named below, but you can catch the full list here.

1. Nike — $32 billion
2. H&M — $19 billion
3. Zara — $14.4 billion
4. Louis Vuitton — $13 billion
5. Adidas — $10 billion
6. Uniqlo — $9.6 billion
7. Hermes — $8.3 billion
8. Rolex — $7 billion
9. Gucci — $6.8 billion
10. Cartier — $6.7 billion

SOURCEFASHIONISTA

PHOTOGRAPHERNIKE

PUMA Drops We Run The Streets Ad

PUMA’s Run The Streets campaign gets a local flavor with rapper Gigi Lamayne, 2015 South African Hip Hop Awards winner Nasty C, Digital Maskandi founder and artist Mashayabhuqe KaMamba and PUMA’s own Rolo Rozay lacing up in the IGNITE Limitless Core and IGNITE evoKNIT Fade footwear.

The foursome will be featured in the footwear and evoKNIT apparel offering in the commercial shot by Paul Ward with voice over by MC Tumi (Stogie T) and music by Sibot. The commercial in a 90 second and 30-second format will be driven via television, digital and PUMA South Africa’s social media channels.

“We are excited to have a strong stable of powerful, talented local influencers that can sit alongside Grammy-award winning artist The Weeknd, in our Run the Streets campaign in South Africa,” said PUMA South Africa’s Marketing Director Brett Bellinger.

The IGNITE Limitless Core and IGNITE evoKNIT Fade, inspired by tailored performance, is designed to stand up to the stop-and-go of city living with stylish, comfortable, and protective features. The design began with streetwear influences then added performance features and technologies, with special interest paid to textures and details including bonded edges, matte and shine play, collar height, and large, bold branding.

The IGNITE Limitless core in red, olive, grey and black will be available exclusively in PUMA stores and select Sportscene stores from 15 February for R2 299.  New iterations of this style will drop through the coming weeks and months.

The IGNITE evoKNIT Fade retailing for R2 599 is available from PUMA, Sportscene, The Cross Trainer, Side Step and selected retailers nationwide.