Vans + Robert Verdi

What a freaking awesome collaboration. I’m not really a Vans girl, in fact, when it comes to sneakers I’m utterly loyal to these Bensimons, but this special edition is too cool not to post. For stylist Robert Verdi, Vans created a custom line based on Verdi’s prized collection of vintage Hermes scarves.

Apparently, he had to request this because Hermes refused to do a collection with Vans. I get that it doesn’t really work with their brand standards, but the high/low combo is really pretty awesome, I wish they could’ve gotten down with it.

Images from the Vans flickr, via WTF

Nike’s ‘Paint With Your Feet’ Project

I am so impressed when brands endeavor to do something totally original and creative.

Those pieces of art above are representations of runners’ routes, as documented by Nike Free technology. YesYesNo, the company that created the software, describes the project below:

For the launch of the Nike Free Run+ 2 City Pack series, YesYesNo was invited to develop software that would allow runners to create dynamic paintings with their feet using their Nike+ GPS run data. During the two day workshop at Nike headquarters, we invited the participants to record their runs and then using our custom software we imported the metrics from their run, to create visuals based on the speed, consistency and unique style of each person’s run.

Using the software the participants were able to play with the mapping and adjust the composition of their run which was then outputted as a high resolution print for them to take home. We also worked with the Innovation Lab at Nike to laser etch the runner’s name, the distance they ran and their run path onto a custom fabricated shoe box, which contained a pair of the ‘City Pack’ shoes from their city of origin.

[via Creative Journal]