This doesn’t need any explaining. You guys know what to do.

For more about urbanAthletics, visit urbanAthletics.com.ph.
This doesn’t need any explaining. You guys know what to do.

For more about urbanAthletics, visit urbanAthletics.com.ph.
SNEAK’D is another local clothing brand that is inspired by hiphop, sneaker and basketball culture. Their sole purpose is to create stylish and dope apparel/streetwear that cater to the urban culture. And more importantly to sneakerheads.
Just in time for Sole Slam Manila, the guys from SNEAK’D released their 2012 Summer Collection. Shirts cost Php 650 a pop and can be ordered online, too.
I’m actually diggin’ the Kobe shirt ( who would’ve guessed) and the sneaker pocket tee. If only I can find the money to buy them.
For more details, go hit them up at facebook.com/yougotsneakd.
We’re in the midst of an intensely wild NBA Playoffs. And for most, it’s all about the heroes and villains. That’s why EMPIRE x Fanboy Clothing is releasing two new shirts at Summer Sole Slam Manila that depict the most hated and loved players in the NBA.
Ever since Lebron (and his receding hairline) and that raptor came to Miami, I’ve turned from an admirer of Wade’s Heat to a complete hater. I was never a fan of Lebron’s cockiness and it only pains me to see how much dominant the Heat have become since him and Mrs. Bosh arrived. But to those of you who root for them, here’s a little South Beach Swag you might consider getting.
And then there’s Kevin Durant. He’s slowly climbed to the top of NBA stardom, placing second in the MVP race. Durant is a hero in the eyes of many fans, who’s known to knock down big shots late in games. And he’s humble too. #35 is an assassin and it won’t be for long until he gets his own hardware and shows everyone how great of a player he can be. He ain’t called Kid Clutch for nothing.
You can cop both tees at Summer Sole Slam Manila this May 20 at One Esplanade.
For more deets about these shirts, check out EMPIRE x Fanboy on Facebook (facebook.com/EMPIREMANILLE) and on Twitter (@_EMPIRE).
Last night, adidas Originals hosted an awesome Sunset BBQ Party at the Skye Lounge to launch their “Leave a Legacy” campaign. With the use of Facebook, adidas Originals is encouraging today’s youth to become more original and express individuality.
The “Leave a Legacy” campaign dares you to wear any adidas Originals apparel and snap a photo of yourself in your most original street style. Once shared on the site, the top 10 photos with the most votes will each win Php 50,000 worth of adidas goodies.
Several known sports, fashion, music and showbiz personalities were there to celebrate the launching of the campaign. adidas Global Brand Ambassador DJ Neil Armstrong, an icon in his own right, was there not only to support and promote the latest project of adidas Originals, but also to perform. And man, did he spin the shit out of the tables. HE LEGIT. DJ Neil Armstrong put on some of the best music from the 90s and early 2000s, which got everyone bouncing and screaming in approval. So far, it was one of the best parties I’ve been to this year. Good food, good booze, and good music. A douche couldn’t have asked for more.
with Martin David of SoleMovement.com
For more details about the “Leave a Legacy” campaign, visit facebook.com/adidasPhilippines.
On May 12, adidas will host a Sunset BBQ Party as they launch the latest line of adidas Originals. You can expect a lot of good music at this shindig with DJ Neil Armstrong spinning the tables.
DJ Neil Armstrong, who is Filipino and an adidas Global Brand Ambassador, has performed and shared the stage with some well-known artists such as Rihanna, Beyonce, Kanye West, Swiss Beats, Puff Daddy, Timbaland, Memphis Bleek, EPMD, Method Man, The Roots, Kanye West, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, and Wyclef Jean.

With Summer Sole Slam Manila coming up in two weeks, I decided to interview some of the most legit sneakerheads in our local community so they could share a little about their collections and a few insights on shoe-copping.
Antonio Aguirre Jr., known to his friends as Jay-R, has been sole-collecting for quite a while now and has more than 500 pairs in his closet. He owns a couple of businesses and is one of the few people on this planet who owns a pair of the Nike Mag. On top of being a sneakerhead, he is widely known for creating Sole Slam Manila, the first and only sneaker convention in Asia.
Also an entrepreneur and joining his passion for shoes is Bryan Zafra. This Godfather-like fellow, known as BZ to his peers, is a living proof of what a sneakerhead is. He believes that the most important quality a shoe junkie must have is to share his passion to others by giving tips and advices on how to control the “addiction”. He also runs Black & White Clothing Ltd.
Kim Francisco, meanwhile, is a straight-up Nike SB junkie. He owns and operates Sole City, bringing in kicks from brands like Nike SB, Supra, and Vans, among others since 2007, to uplift the local sneakerhead community. Aside from shoes, Sole City has also come up with their own shirts that have garnered praise from people all over the nation.
These are the three “sole” brothers that took the local sneaker game a notch higher.
When did you become a ‘sneakerhead’? What sneaker got it started for you?
AA: I basically started with a small rotation of 50 pairs of sneakers after college (2003), when I started earning my own money. But I felt like I became a hardcore sneakerhead last April 2011 after I came back from the DXC Sneaker Convention in San Francisco. That fueled my passion for collectible sneakers. The Jordan 9 Retro White/Black colorway got it started for me.
BZ: I feel that I became a sneakerhead late 1996 when the Jordan 12 Taxi’s came out. I couldn’t be stopped ever since.
KF: I started collecting SBs in early 2007. And what got me started? Hmm.. it would have to be the Nike SB Purple Avengers.
How many pair of sneakers do you own? BE HONEST!
AA: As much as I’d love to cop every sneaker that I want, I have a storage limit for approximately 750 pairs of sneakers only. As of today, I have 670+ pairs of sneakers. I can say 95% of those are in my size.
BZ: More or less 100 pairs. I don’t want to add anymore, but sometimes you really can’t pass up on a release. I just unload some kicks if a new pair comes in. It’s hard to decide which pair to let go, though.
KF: I own 35-40 pairs. I sold a lot of extra pairs. No use in keeping ‘em if I won’t be able to use them. Quality over quantity.
Do you actually use them or keep them hidden in some closet?
AA: I always say that sneakers are meant to be worn, not to be displayed. So I try to use each and every one of them as much as I can.
BZ: Around 75% of my shoes have been used and I keep them in a rotation. The 25%, I save them for special occasions. I usually keep them in the box inside a zip lock bag and take them out once in a while.
KF: I keep em in a closet after i use em. I used to keep em in the box but my room got too cluttered and messy so i decided to get a custom cabinet made to fit 30 pairs it also helps me limit what i buy.
What attracts you to sneakers? Colors, style, material, shoe brand?
AA: Definitely the colors. So I can pair them up with my shirts and caps.
BZ: Nowadays, I prefer to don black. I’m taking a shot in becoming a lawyer so I have to keep it simple and classy without sacrificing my passion for kicks.
KF: Color and materials used. No specific brand, but I love Nike SB. Shelf-life wise, they last longer than most Jordans.
Walk me through one of your ‘camp out’ experiences
AA: Wouldn’t really consider it a “camp out”, more like I was up as early as 6AM for a pair of KDIV Weathermans [laughs]. But it’s fun because you get to share your passion with other sneakerheads lined up and meet new friends.
BZ: All the ones I went to felt the same. You line up, sit on a chair you brought, and in a few hours, you get your pair, pay and leave. But the camp out during the December 23, 2011 release of the Concord’s was the most memorable. 3 lines in Nike BHS, it was very chaotic. More than 16 hours of waiting and when the doors opened, people were pushing and shoving each other just to get in. All hell broke loose. Despite the near-death experience, I still got a pair.
KF: [laughs] I don’t camp out. Closest thing was one time I woke up real early to get a pair of black cements at Rockwell.
Of all your kicks, which is the most expensive pair? How much did it cost?
AA: In terms of market value, definitely the Nike Mags. I was lucky enough to own two pairs of my size. But I recently sold one pair for Php 320,000.
BZ: Probably the Jordan 12 Nubucks I ordered from a sneaker site. It was supposed to only cost me Php 8500, but thanks to the shipping and insane Customs taxes, it went up to Php 12000. I felt like I was robbed! [laughs]
KF: The Supreme Black Cements. And I don’t want to remember how much I payed for them [laughs]
If you had to give up all of your shoes except for one pair, which would you keep?
AA: That’s a really tough choice. I would go with the Air Max 90 Infrareds. They’re really comfortable and the color combination is just perfect.
BZ: Jordan 12 Taxi’s. Or any colorway of the Jordan 12s. They remind me of how great my childhood was.
KF: The Purple Avengers, ‘cause that was the first pair I really saved up to buy.
Do’s and Don’ts of sneaker buying
AA: DO buy sneakers because it fits your personality and who you are. DON’T buy sneakers because the next guy tells you it’s nice. You should be able to decide on your own whether to buy the sneakers or not.
BZ: Don’t buy a pair because of its hype. And share your passion with others. You might get a camp-out buddy during releases.
KF: Reading is essential. If you want to buy a pair, research helps a lot.
I’m assuming you own at least one pair of Jordans. Which one’s your favorite?
AA: Jordan 7 “Year of the Rabbit”.
BZ: Jordan 12 Taxi’s most definitely.
KF: Black Cement 3s.
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Don’t forget to get your sneaker fix at Summer Sole Slam Manila! For more details, visit facebook.com/SoleSlamManila.
Also check out this article: Got sole? Sneakerheads doin’ it for the love of the shoe
urbanAthletics. Greenbelt 3. April 27 – May 6.

For more details, visit facebook.com/UAPhils.
Satisfy that sneaker hunger and be part of the hottest ticket in town – SUMMER SOLE SLAM MANILA! The sneaker convention will be held on May 20 at One Esplanade.
If you haven’t been to past Sole Slam Manila events, you been missing out. It’s a platform where sneaker lovers can buy/sell/trade kicks and find awesome apparel from independent local brands. You can also expect good food, non-stop music and amazing performances.

TICKET DETAILS
Regular (Php 250) and Early VIP (Php 500 – 12NN Entrance instead of 2PM and free lootbag)
Available at:
Tickets will also be available by April 25 at Zafra Motorworks (9 Branches in Metro Manila), Autobots Autoworks (Q.C.), Orange Dance Studio (Pasig), A. Aguirre Money Changer (BF Homes Paranaque) and at Checkpoint Bar (Sucat Road).
Note: They also do next day delivery via LBC Partners (Php shipping charge only). Call or text 0917-8156922 for shipping options.
Cop your tickets now! For more details, visit facebook.com/SoleSlamManila.
Remember that Nike commercial back in ’91 with Michael Jordan and a baffled Spike Lee? I think Spike’s right – it’s got to be the shoes. Since then, an extravagant number of sneakers have been made and released allowing the sneaker community to grow slowly and maturely.
More and more people have learned to develop a certain passion for sneakers. But some take the sneaker game a notch higher and purchase shoes more than an average person does. We refer to them as ‘sneakerheads’.

What is a sneakerhead anyway? From what I’ve gathered, the word ‘sneakerhead’ is a label that portrays someone who actively enjoys acquiring and collecting sneakers. A certain anybody who loves sneakers as much as Kwame Brown loves sucking.
A “shoe enthusiast” has a deep knowledge of the ins and outs of the different kinds of sneakers, literally and figuratively. It’s as if they were put on this earth for a sole purpose – to embark on a journey so addicting and diabolically delicious to gather shoes of all sorts and shapes.

Let me stress the fact that they are NOT mindless individuals with deep pockets who waste their money on overpriced pieces of rubber. These people have two qualities that make them who they are – an extreme knowledge about shoes and a strong infatuation for them. A sneakerhead has as much passion for his kicks as an avid art collector for his paintings.
Die-hard sneakerheads keep them in their original boxes like toys and action figures and stack them away in closets, the shoes never to see daylight and be scuffed by a sidewalk. Most, on the other hand, relish the moments they wear their sneakers in public and get smiles and compliments from friends on how amazing the colors are and how awesome the shoes look.

A true sneakerhead, as they say, knows the roots of all sneakers, admires the shoes for the qualities (color, style, fit, design) and not for the hype involved. And most importantly, does NOT support fakes.
Michael Jordan, obviously, has been an integral part of the sole movement. The Jordan brand has sold millions of sneakers worldwide. Jordan hasn’t been playing since 2003 but his shoes continue to carry his name – shoes that have been worshipped by basketball fans and sneaker junkies.
Here in the Philippines, the sneaker culture has slowly grown over the years. The shoe companies have increasingly taken advantage of the growing market and have capitalized on the demand for certain kicks. With hyped-up releases and one-of-a-kind pairs up for grabs, collectors “camp out” to get their hands on an exclusive find.
Since most sneakerheads are drawn to scarcity and look at their sneaker collections as investments, it’s no surprise that one would be willing to shell out big bucks for a pair of rare kicks.
But this summer, you won’t have to ‘camp out’ to cop kicks. On May 20, Sole Slam Manila will take stage once again to give you your dose of sneaker madness. According to the organizers, the shoe convention will be held at 1 Esplanade, located near SM Mall of Asia.

Keep checking back here for Summer Sole Slam Manila updates and the exclusive interviews of Jay-R Aguirre, Bryan Zafra and Kim Francisco, people who uniquely took the local sole game to a WHOLE. NUTHA. LEVEL.
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Photos from Google Images