adidas Originals Hamburg Collection

Trainers are, without doubt, the most versatile shoe on the planet. Trainers can be simple, and they can be complex, classic and contemporary, smart and casual, fitness and fad - and they don’t just exist at these extremes, but at every point along the spectrum.

It’s no surprise, then, that buying a pair of trainers really isn’t as straightforward as it perhaps should be. Not every style works for every person - far from it. When I have a flick through the new releases online, I’ll steer well clear of the huge hi-tops and massive Larry David-style (Mat's icon...) bright white technical trainers. They obviously work for someone, just not for me.

My trainers have to be simple, unfussy, and stand up to the rigours of a freelance lifestyle...I’m joking - it’s hardly a jungle out there. But, at the same time, life in the city can turn a nice pair of white trainers into a soggy pair of grey sneakers in no time.

That’s why the new adidas Originals Hamburg collection immediately drew me in. You don’t become a mainstay of football fans unless you’re offering up something that’s seriously hardwearing. And, as this beautifully shot Scotts x adidas video - filmed in Hamburg - shows, these trainers are perfect for exploring any city on match days.

You can find Nik at - Twitter | Instagram | Newsletter

PF Flyers Made in USA Collection

Being in the USA inevitably means we're more susceptible to the exposure of American things we never knew existed. Goof Off, Krud Kutter, canned pig's feet, Bump Patrol shaving aid...all things we've come across on our daily trips to the local supermarket. A brand I'm a "little more" excited about than a Weed Whacker is PF Flyers, a footwear brand we've been fans of since our teenager years.

They've been working on a new Made in USA collection, produced from their factory in Boston, Massachusetts, featuring their signature Center Hi model, in both black + white leather. Inspired by the original PF Flyers branding from the 1960s, the update features a hand-drawn midsole stripe, hand-stamped tongue branding, and a premium embossed original ankle patch.

PF Flyers has created a short video showcasing this new release, which also celebrates Boston-based businesses who are championing US manufacturing and American-sourced materials. The video features Bully Boy Distillers, Repeat Press, Forestbound Bag Co. + Redemption Tattoo. Let's just hope PF become a little easier to track down in the UK.

See more of the PF Flyers Made in USA collection here.

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A Weekender with Timex

It seems like every other weekend we have things going on this year; a trip to the forest, spending time in Brighton, family get-togethers for Easter...That's the beauty of this time of year though, and I'm never really one for sitting around and relaxing, so it's been suiting me just fine. We'd actually been planning to stay over in Liverpool to celebrate our 9th anniversary, but when the opportunity to spend the weekend in the Forest of Dean came up we had to re-jig a little.

We have a crush on Liverpool. It's our favourite city in the region, and we try to visit given any glimpse of opportunity. It's one of the first cities we visited together as a couple. There's just something special about it, with a totally different feel + buzz from the rest of the North West. For this weekend we partnered up with Timex, to show you how we might spent a typical weekend together.

Liverpool is known for its independent culture and free spirit, with many small businesses flourishing over the years, and many more on the rise and gaining credibility in the city centre. One such brand is Cow&co., a modern design store-cum-bookshop-turned-cafe, nestled just off the main shopping area. Its tiny interior doesn't hinder the amount of well designed pottery, homeware + magazines that lines the shelves - not forgetting the cafe part too. I hear their bagels are the best in town.

Buckets & Spades x ohw? Collaboration

I'm really excited to share something that I've been working on for a while now. Myself and the design team at British footwear brand ohw? first got together in early 2014, and set about putting the wheels in motion to create our very own collaboration release together. Months of ongoing ideas, design meetings and sample orders led us to this - the ohw? x Buckets & Spades three-eyelet Moccasin in Sea Blue, Aquamarine + Orange!

I chose these colours because I feel they represent myself as an individual and the blog really well. We decided to go with a fully suede upper, with the added addition of the heal tab, complete with the Buckets & Spades logo. That's the bit I'm most proud of! The moccasin is finished off with contrasting reflective orange hiking laces and pyramid sole.

Wearing - Buckets & Spades x OHW? Louis Boot | ASOS Flannel Shirt | Harry Stedman Tee | Universal Works Trousers + Socks | Filson Cap | Shore Projects Watch

The boots themselves are full of cool details, which is something that initially drew me towards ohw? back in 2013, at menswear trade show Jacket Required. Colour plays a big role in my life, and with ohw? being keen to try out interesting colour combinations in their existing collection - while also giving me control over our design – made it an easy decision to want to work with them. 

The notches on at the top are known as "size markers", the original way shoemakers signified what size shoe it was  – the big notch represents five, and the small each mean one. Neat touch!

It's been very rewarding seeing my design come together over these past few months, and hopefully this is a sign of things to come, or maybe even a new direction? I've been toying with product ideas for a couple of years now, so maybe 2015 is the year I finally seize that opportunity. 

The ohw? x Buckets & Spades SS15 collaboration goes on sale 1st April exclusively online at ohw?'s store and in-store and at men's lifestyle retailer Yeuk. What do you think folks, did I go over the top with the colour or does it represent us well? Would love your feedback!

Thanks for visiting,
Mat

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Photographic Prints with Sperry x Gray Malin

Woah, it's now officially Spring! Which gets me thinking about sunshine, summer holidays, and not wearing a jumper again for another six months. Okay, living in England, I'll still need some jumpers to hand and the obligatory rain coat, but the wardrobe does change quite rapidly from here on in. For one thing, I'll be seeing less of the Redwing boots (sad, I know) and more sneakers.

I can't spend my life in Nikes though (as much as I'd love to), so something like these slips-on from Sperry would be ace. Designed using photographer Gray Malin's fantastic aerial photography - more can be found on his Instagram - on three classis Sperry Topsider silhouettes. Great for the beach, or indeed if anyone is taking photos of you from above!

Available at END very soon. Nik

You can find Nik at - Twitter | Instagram | Heavy Denim

Nike #AirMaxDay + Weekend Links

To celebrate Air Max Day on the 26th March, Nike are not only releasing a brand new model to add to the team, Air Max Zero, but they're also partaking in a bunch of interactive activities, like this one with JD. If you're a fan of Nike's game-changing technology - originally inspired by the Pompidou Centre in Paris - then upload + tag your image on Instagram using #JDAIRMAX + #AIRMAX. This instantly enters you into the competition to win a weekend to Paris. Here's our entries - wearing Nike Koston 2 Air Max c/o JD + Air Max 2014.

Other than that my only news is that we did our first Podcast, have a listen here! Do people still listen to podcasts...I've always had big love for them, but they ain't half distracting when you're trying to work. Anyway, have a listen, only a bit of fun! Enjoy your weekend my friends.

Weekend Bucket List

Cave walking in Iceland
Woolrich collaborate with a surf brand, sounds weird some how works
The speaker which works like a camera lens
A really great site packed with advice for bloggers, designs + freelancers
The world's smartest bike lock, I'm in
Love these "unskippable" ads by Geico
In case you missed it - My trip to Geneva with Kia

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My Pendleton x NikeiDs

I had fun going nuts on a pair of Nike Roshe Run at the ASOS HQ a few months back, and they finally arrived! We were lucky enough to get a super late invite to meet the Nike and Pendleton teams, where we explored the endless outcomes of their new iD range. It's always temping to go over the top with stuff like this - 'Pimp My Ride' style - adding way too many colours, bright fabrics and regrettable name tagging, but for their new collaboration the focus is on Pendleton's rich fabric archive.

For my pair I chose to go with the familiar Blackwatch Tartan and durable nylon navy on the upper, with a complimentary(ish) green Swoosh and golden yellow accents. In my head it sounds a little much but I actually couldn't be happier with the results. So Wrong it's Right...?

Customise your Pendleton x Nike iD here.

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Walsh x TRiCKETT Footwear | In Conversation

When I heard news about two fellow Lancastrian brands hooking up to create a pair of trainers I knew it was the right time to get hold of one-half of them for a chat, and find out a bit more about the collaboration. In many ways TRiCKETT is a brand that fits with Buckets & Spades perfectly; they dig all the things I dig (Americana, sportwear, memorabilia), produce items for a purpose and design as if they were creating it for themselves. In their latest venture TRiCKETT have buddied up with Bolton-based footwear maestros Walsh, to produce their own pair of Made in England kicks.

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Buckets & Spades - So first off, how did the partnership with TRiCKETT and Walsh come about, is there a history between you guys?

Iain TRiCKETT - Well the whole Walsh thing came about because I am obsessed by shoes. Like not just 'oh shoes are nice', I mean it's all I think about, Mrs. Iain gets annoyed sometimes. It's just a good job I'm a hunk. It's not just trainers, or collecting Jordans / adidas, I mean, I'm obsessed with all kinds of shoes from Orthopaedic ones, to formal shoes to specific sports shoes. They just make me tick.

My grandad always used to bang on about this weird shoe brand in Bolton called Walsh who used to make Rugby boots. He mentioned them a few times when I was at school and I even convinced my Mum and Dad to buy me a pair of their fell running shoes for PE. The love affair sort of started from there. A few years before starting TRiCKETT I decided I wanted to make trainers, but in the UK and in Lancashire. So doing them with Walsh made sense. This was about 5 years ago when I was styling photoshoots with Japanese imported Walsh shoes and pleading with photographers and editors to let them in. So rather than write an email, I got in touch with Jon and the chaps at Walsh via a 'letter', hand-written, the lot and just told them how I used to get beaten up for wearing Walsh and how my Grandpa liked shoes. Luckily they didn't think I was a psychopath and about a year later the Mark 1 was born.

Orlando #7 | Neons + Brights

I've been trying on some new combos while I've been away. Never been a fan of trainer socks as I find them ugly but I have room for these Nike neon + reflective numbers. Worn with Nike Janoaski Air Max.

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Palladium x Oi Polloi | Boot Explorer Series in Manchester

Boot Explorers is an on-going campaign by footwear brand Palladium; which sees them travel to 10 international locations, each with different cultural stories to tell. For the next part in the series Palladium visited Manchester, England to collaborate with iconic menswear store Oi Polloi. Filmed in the heart of the Northern Quarter, store owner Steve Sanderson discusses music, football, Manchester's textile history and why each played such a huge role in what finally became Oi Polloi.

Worn throughout this part of the Explorers campaign is the Pampa Hi in Indigo\Black. For more details click here.

  
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Store Visit | Trainer Heaven at K-Skit Japan

Many Japanese are crazy about anything “exclusive” be it food or fashion. So it is no wonder that the market for trainers is massive out there. Big brands have long since cottoned on the exclusives market and continue to drop Japan exclusives at regular intervals.  Add to that the Japanese obsession with collecting rare items and you have one heck of a place to go shopping for trainers.

One place that should top a trainer fanatic’s shopping destinations is K-Skit in the Kichijoji area of Tokyo. This is a heaven for vintage and rare finds. The towering shelves are laden with shrink wrapped second hand trainers, all lovingly cleaned and near spotless. 

[image source for 3 above]

The aircon is tuned to an optimum temperature to keep the trainers in the best condition. However, what you see is what you get; there are no stockpiles of sizes. If luck is with you, you might just find that long looked for pair in your size. If not, it is still a great place to visit for any trainer fan.

It's worth taking a further look at K-Skit here. - Yasumi.

You can find Yasumi at - Stranger London / Worship Blues / Twitter

Down The Park | Albam Slim Jeans

Wearing - Levi's Hawaiian Shirt, Jeans c/o Albam , Uniqlo T-Shirt, Jack Purcell Trainers, Atlanta Braves Cap, Sunglasses c/o Jack Spade, Disney Watch, Ralph Lauren Socks, Northern Goods Co. Key Clip

We headed down to the park over the Bank Holiday to enjoy the sunshine, I'm working pretty solid until our holiday later this week so it was nice to catch some downtime. It was only the second wear of my new jeans, which my friends at Albam sent over, and they're already my new favourites. The ones I'm wearing are the Spring Slim leg jeans, which are the brand's best selling style; they're made from 13oz Japanese selvedge denim and constructed in the Nottingham, England. They're a true slim fit, which I'm favouring these days.

I'm starting to get into the holiday mood now so I decided to wear them with my Levi's reverse print Hawaiian shirt, Mickey Mouse watch, Jack Spade sunglasses, and classic leather Jack Purcell trainers. It's a perfect everyday look for me, even though it might seem a little "Disney tourist takes a wrong turn". I'm really looking forward to seeing how the Albam jeans wear in over the next few months, I'll be sure to keep you all posted. If you're looking for something a little slimmer, Albam have just released a new fit - The New Slim, which has narrower leg + hem, with a slightly longer rise.

What's your go-to outfit at the moment? Let me know if the comments below.

Remember to enter the Citizen Watch + Urban Outfitters giveaways!

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