It may seem hard to imagine, especially if you’re in the United States with COVID-19 rates steadily rising as we stumble into the (happier) new year, but we will be travelling again. We will be— like David Bronkie, founder of Koya got tired of doing— awkwardly packing dirty runners into carry-on luggage, stuffed in plastic bags or wrapped in something weird. Bronkie came up with the Koya system of trail running sneakers (the Rove) that can be folded relatively flat and packed neatly into a carrying case (the Roam) that resembles a CD envelope. Check out the video:
Koya is presently in the crowdfunding stage, which appears to be running far past its goal. The presentation is comprehensive and impressive so it’s no surprise other trail-running light-packing travel bugs seem to agree. We look forward to following the journey of this innovative offering into 2021 and beyond.
They have a lot of Auntie Anne’s pretzel outposts at the Cherry Hill Mall in New Jersey. There was also a Vans store, where I was able to get this checkered stocking pic to lead off this month’s Pop-gallery.
Drillbit heels in the deadpile outside East Village Shoe Repair in Brooklyn.
Sneaker specific pawn spots, like this one on Broadway..
Here’s one I wish I had when I wrote aboutDexter brand shoes last summer. I discovered my grandmother had a swell pair of classic made-in-USA Dexters in her closet.
Staying hydrated during long walks is important, and sometimes you’re going to want something other than plain water. Everyone has their favorite thing at Philadelphia’s bustling Reading Terminal Market eatery. I declare this as my favorite drink there: the Victory Thirst Quencher- a standout from the wonderful selection of fresh drinks at Lanc. Co. Dairy .
I had a chance to chat with the friendly folks from Bumbums & Baubles footwear- a rising star in the world of kids’ shoes- specifically shoes for young girls.
Bumbums Grape Pop Sadie Sandals (mybumbums.com)
Each pair of Bumbums girls’ shoes comes with a pair of accesories called baubles– small ornaments that can be optionally attached to various parts of the shoes, other garments, or wherever the imagination directs.
Alternate baubles can be purchased separately and inexpensively. The creators of Bumbums hope to inject some pizzaz and playfulness into girls’ footwear while appeasing the moms who often make the purchases. Some of their shoes have a vulcanized skater/Vansy look, and I’m told that may be the influence of a former Supra designer they have working on the current line. Check B&B out in-depth at MyBumbums.com
Pssst. There’s still a few days to see the Shoerageousexhibit put on by Creativity Explored in San Francisco, CA. There you’ll see a handpicked collection of drawings and sculpture inspired by the shoe and sneaker.
You already know right? Basketball star Ron Artest aka Metta World Peace..
mettaworldpeace.com
He’s playing for the Sichuan Blue Whales in the Chinese Basketball Association this year.
twitter.com/MettaWorldPeace
Art came to life via sneakers and books available for sale directly from Metta’s World Wide Website.
From MettaWorldPeace.com
twitter.com/mettaworldpeace
What more can I say? He’s top billing.
You are going to get it; shoes with blood designed onto them. The NBA’s Dwyane Wade posted them first.
Grabbed from instagram.com/dwyanewade
Sneakers actually; just in time for Halloween from Li-Ning. They might have something promotional to do with a cable TV show about a killer. Surely they’ll be great to wear at job interviews and other dress-to-impress occasions.
Grabbed from instagram.com/dwyanewade
Not to be misread as the shoe company Dexter– the old school New England brand whose founder is said to have started the country’s first factory-outlet…
DexterBowling.com
Readers may recognize Dexter as the inexpensive offerings seen on JC Penny, Payless, and Sears shelves. Did you know Dexter has a deluxe bowling category and sell what they claim is the world’s most advanced bowling shoe– the SST 8, featuring removable heels and soles?
Visualiser at dexterbowling.com
What are.
The most expensive shoes in the world ?
What more can you say about the shoes Nick Cannon wore hosting an America’s Got Talent TV show? Shown above kindly removing before walking on a performer’s smart dress…
Grabbed from instagram.com/jasonofbh
Cannon and Tom Ford brought them to life in the form of diamond encrusted loafers. Jason the jeweler tags them at 2 million. Chances are they’ll be auctioned off for charity; then we’ll see if they fetch more than some $666,000 ruby red slippers that Judy Garland had worn while filming Wizard of Oz did at a Christie’s auction fourteen years ago.
Smithsonian
According to Guinness, no one knows how many red shoes Garland used in the production of W.O.O. The above pic is from the Smithsonian (not the pair auctioned).
One more thing: Toe cameras put the sneak in sneaker.
A Japanese law-enforcement official points out the pinhead camera embedded in a brand of sneakers which have already sold 2,500 pairs while society figures out if they should be legal. It’s a law tightrope, because multiple cameras on just about everything we wear are “OK” (really though?) , but being so easily able to take photos upwardly, undetected… skirt wearers take note.
I saw their bootwith a protrusionthat kept your pant legs fromfraying, then I saw some of their prototypes that were made in Brooklyn, NY:
I was therefore stoked to have a chance to talk with Mr. J Artola himself, creator and designer of the brand. I learned a lot, not only about his vision for Artola, but about shoemaking itself- manufacturing, and factory knowledge he gained while personally visiting manufacturing plants in China, India, and Mexico while working for Frye, Guess and other biggies.
A Shoe Artola had custom made for rapper Flo Rida
He was of course wearing a one-of-a-kind pair of Artola casual boots, carrying a sturdy new leather Artola bag filled with exclusive and prototypical Artola shoes- a pair manufactured in Arkansas and a couple made right here in Brooklyn, New York. While the multinational brands we know and love rain a seemingly infinite amount of styles and colors on us, Artola takes more of an indie route, creating smaller batches of thoughtfully designed shoes with unique features that pick up where the pant-leg protectors left off: Inside-out blossomy lace eyelets, reinforced heel-sole corners. flavorful buckles and such…
I snapped a few pics of these unreleased made in Brooklyn Artolas. With respect to the Italian shoemaking tradition, Artola believes a product of equal quality can one day be manufactured in New York City in substantive quantities. Reshoring, and the rise of maker-culture are turning up the heat on this concept, along with a more discerning consumer, who may look at shoes as an investment more than a disposable commodity.
A shoe company grows in Brooklyn
It took a couple old-world artisans two months to craft just twelve pairs of the Brooklyns. You’re not going to see ’em on the clearance rack at Marshalls any time soon. Artola’s current retail line is manufactured in León Mexico- a post NAFTA shoemaking capital of sorts, where the company can deal with packages on trucks rather than containers on boats. Artola can keep a ma and pa type operation going while achieving their designs in a high quality fashion without having to fly across the globe every month.
Artola DREXEL
Nordstrom has Artolas in stock and you can check out this roster of where else to find them. Special thanks to Jury and Olga!
Check out Artola in real time (booth 5019) at Project Sole this July 20th – 22nd at the Javits Convention Center in NYC
P. Adidas is launching an app soon that will allow users to print custom photographs on sneakers. What could go wrong with that?
TJ: I can’t see a problem with that… actually I see one problem so far- it’s the very first picture I saw- nobody should be wearing hamburger shoes.
P. Especially with some of these rats in New York City-you know, since I started doing this shoe blog I’ve been asked questions about vegan and vegetarian options for shoes- not to eat- just to wear!
TJ: I don’t think that’s possible because even if you go with no footwear at all, your feet are made of meat, so you’re screwed either way.
P. Do you have a position on flip-flops?
TJ: Good question- usually on top of them- that’s my usual position if I wear them. . . that’s a tricky one- flip-flops in general- one, growing up, we used to call them thongs, have you heard that before?
P. Yep
TJ: Yeah, then obviously as a teenager I found out a thong is a very different thing- not nearly as comfortable to wear on your feet.. flip-flops- I know some people have very strong opinions on them, and I feel like I fall somewhere in the middle. I know that I’ve made some terrible flip-flop mistakes in my past, things like wearing flip-flops with jeans for instance- I believe that to be a no-no. I have some friends who are like “flip-flops are never acceptable footwear”, except I think those people would probably say “in the shower”, because you’re protecting your feet from something. I know I would certainly judge someone, no matter what other clothes they were wearing, if they were wearing flip-flops in the winter. At that point you’re just showing off.
P. Do you remember velcro shoes?
TJ: Absolutely, I had some as a kid. I just feel like your shoes shouldn’t make that much noise going on or off- especially off. Any time you’re about to do something where you need to take your shoes off it’s usually a pretty chill activity; you’re going to sit down and watch a movie, you’re going to bed, you’re winding down at that point- it shouldn’t be a moment where you’re startled awake by the noise of ripping plastic.
P. We know when it comes to personal fashion, that there are no rules- but there are, and they come into play when you notice someone breaking them badly. Have you noticed any blatant rule-breakers in New York City lately?
TJ: I think it’s ballsy to wear any kind of open footwear in New York City, and I think it specifically means Manhattan for some reason… on a really nice summer day I’ll walk in my (Brooklyn) neighborhood in shorts and flip-flops to go the Bodega, or the park, as long as it’s close by, but if I have to take public transportation and go underground I need coverage on my feet. I knew that before, but I just learned from my mother, who’s been doing some essential oils therapy- this woman told her that your biggest pores are on the bottom of your feet- a lot of these essential oils that this lady uses- they rub them on their feet because that’s how it gets into your bloodstream the quickest…
Laird/Eastman
P. Fascinating.
TJ: Instinctually I have been doing that, but now it’s even more important that if you are going anywhere underground in New York City, cover up your feet! Not just the bottoms because things can seep down. I never know what’s in the subway. The station near my home is so dank and drippy- there’s so much standing water and dripping water that I just go there to spot ninja turtles. I don’t want to be caught anywhere near there with my feet exposed.
Probably not, as they’re brand new. This Berlin company Kickstarted itself into existence with a classic concept (quality materials, handcrafting) and an authentic open kitchen approach (check out their site) to why they deserve to be purchased by you (me), in a world where consumers become converts to global sneaker gods.
Atheist doesn’t believe in any shoe
The Atheists are made in Guimarães Portugal, using high grade Nubuk, calfskin, and other leathers.
An Atheist shoe begins with 3 pieces of natural, unprocessed leather
They even make a vegan imitation leather option for your vegan friends (you’re still friends right?). Their website is a great read in itself. As an American barraged by the billboards of Broadway daily, I find Atheist’s campaign to be refreshing in its honesty, and entertaining with its info.
Skechers has made an endorsement deal with a horse.
Image from photo by Anthony Gruppuso, USA TODAY Sports
Skechers, a marketing company that just happens to be in the footwear business, has draped California Chrome with this blue training blanket and a big sponsorship deal for the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York this weekend. Of course Mr. S will not be wearing two pairs of Skechers on the track. The crew will don the sneakers, and if Chrome wins, expect to see all Skechers everything everywhere. For information on the actual horseshoes attached to California Chrome’s hooves by an equine footwear blacksmith click here.
This popdiatribe is going, going, done! Check back soon~ C
Still image from the Young Liars “Night Window” video directed by Nathan Boey
To squash any debate about how exactly to pronounce the brand with the swoosh, chairman of Nike’s board, Phil Knight confirmed via letter sent with a self-addressed-stamped-envelope that it is definitely pronounced “Nikey”.
Screenshot of letter sent by Ben Martin and Kendal Peters to Nike’s Phil Knight
Adidas is involved in a little marketing battle with international competitor Nike on who can out-sponsor each other in the glow of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Puma is playing the ‘come get me’ strategy by waiting until after the big match to promote their kicks, hoping that kids will see teams playing in Pumas and then press ma and pa for a ‘back to school’ pair. Does Skechers make cleats?
Meanwhile, the US Navy is wearing boots that they do not love. In an article in the Navy Times called “Building Better Boots”, writer Lance M. Bacon identifies the problem plaguing today’s Navy-issued footwear, and offers up solutions based on feedback from hundreds of current and former sailors. Sentiment says the things are too heavy, uncomfortable, and way out-of-date.
Image cut from photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Ian W. Anderson (via Wikipedia)
I wonder if ideas provided by these suggestions, along with increased commitment to the Berry Amendment can create a solution. Could we see New Balance and Wolverine footprints on aircraft carriers some day? Could another maker meet this need?
Clothing designers dropping shoes:
Thakoon Panichgul is releasing Thakoon Addition shoes this summer for the ladies (made in Portugal).
Tom Ford has line of Italian-made sneakers now.
Hi Stan, this is Tom…
Stories that Boston College was being bothered by a serial foot tickler look to be unfounded according to Boston police on an update on Boston.com . Of course the story has been shared thousands of times by now, but can you blame folks? Serial tickler?
