#17talks

Aimé Leon Dore's Latest New Balances Have Disappeared

The Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance collaboration conveyor belt may have temporarily ceased operations. On May 24, the New York-based brand teased the release of its Made in USA 990v2 sneakers, dubbed “Sea Salt,” but removed the shoes from its Instagram page and website just as swiftly as they appeared. The 990v2 – initially slated to be dropping by May 27 – featured in Aimé Leon Dore's Spring/Summer 2022 campaign and are the latest in a long list of collaborative releases between them and New Balance. This link-up actually marks the second time the duo have reworked the chunky 990v2 silhouette, first dropping a blue and yellow take back in 2019. Set to be released via raffle for $195 USD on the Aimé Leon Dore website (now replaced by a 404 page), the latest 990v2 collab's sudden disappearance may point towards a delay in the sneaker’s release. Aimé Leon Dore founder Teddy Santis was last year named creative director of New Balance’s Made in USA program after years of collaborative releases, and dropped his first much-anticipated seasonal collection in early May with more already on the horizon. Co-releases between ALD and NB have been quiet of late (likely as a result of Santis' new role), rumors have surfaced that the Queens native would revisit the basketball-inspired New Balance 650R after the silhouette's initial release last month, with a trio of sample colorways recently emerging online.

Instagram Announces Full Visual Refresh

Instagram users may have noticed the app’s new visual refresh and a slight change to its presentation. For one, Instagram has launched a minor change to its logo, promising to reimagine its gradient with more vibrancy and illumination In a press release, Instagram indicated, “Today, we’re bringing new energy and purpose to our colors, typeface, logo and other brand elements with a refreshed visual identity. Our new system is designed to embrace continued evolution to help us create more immersive and inclusive experiences for our community.” With the newly revamped gradient, Instagram hopes to bring a ne kind of vibrancy to “signal moments of discovery.” It is also looking to roll out new typefaces called “Instagram Sans,” which has been designed with the platform’s heritage in mind. Other scripts will also be included and claim to improve accessibility, “We partnered with language experts around the world to adapt the typeface to global scripts including Arabic, Thai and Japanese. We want to support all of our creators and community members who push culture forward to express themselves fully in any language they choose.” Instagram is also announcing a completely new layout and design system that highlights content creation at the forefront. With the new format, Instagram hopes to simplify the layout to ensure that full-screen imagery is the central focus of the community.

The Week That Luxury Collabs Ate Each Other

What happens when Louis Vuitton, Nike, Dior, ERL, Balenciaga, and adidas all debut collaborations in the same week? Not much, actually. It's like we said not so long ago: luxury labels have lost the collaboration plot. What was once a uniquely sneaker-related problem has now infected the fashion biz from the bottom up. What was once an earth-shattering occurrence has become a bi-weekly eyebrow raise at best. Louis Vuitton x Supreme shook the world because it was the first time two equally titanic brands from different sides of the fashion fence got together. Two different eras of streetwear united in a major way with Palace Skateboards x Ralph Lauren and Dior x Air Jordan 1 was so many sneaker customizers' wet dreams made real. It's not even that successive luxury/street tie-ins aren't interesting anymore, it's just that we've seen it all before, with brands running the risk of cannibalizing each other's thunder as their collaborations begin running together. Been there, copped that. Which, again, isn't to say that Louis Vuitton x Nike, Balenciaga x adidas, nor ERL x Dior don't deserve to exist or aren't worth making a big deal about. Hell, this very site wrote about Balenciaga x adidas no fewer than five times so it ain't like we don't care. It's just that we all drown in wave after wave of newness. The world moves so quickly that you can't smell the roses, let alone appreciate the creative vision that multiple design teams assembled in a quarter of the time it used to take. How could anyone possibly take the time necessary to soak in the archival remixing at Dior x ERL, the craft that goes into each Louis Vuitton Air Force 1, or the post-capitalist cheekiness of Balenciaga's latest presentation? The funny thing is, not only did all of the above big-name collabs launch this week, YEEZY GAP dropped its latest collection and Gucci debuted its latest runway show (and a collaborative smart ring and a Roblox city and a new bag line and...) And we hardly had time to take any of it in because, in this business, to stop moving is to be left behind is to die. Really, the problem is bigger than any one brand can handle: it's the fashion industry's fault. We (rightly) hate fast-fashion but its turbo-turnover has giddy-up'd the business at large. In the same way that social media killed our short-term attention spans, scroll culture has making it so that everything has to happen yesterday or else be rendered irrelevant. We're at a point where even the luxury juggernauts are speeding through their seasonal collections, collaborations, and even creative directors. It just ain't sustainable, in every sense of the word. This is less of a plea for solutions (they ain't coming) and more a stark realization, crystalized once again by the overwhelming speed in which we collectively indulged in headline-shattering collaborations that each could've easily been the biggest fashion moment of the year where we still living in The Before Time.

Offset Previews New Solo Music on Instagram

Offset is keeping quiet about the rumors of tension between and a possible Migos split, instead choosing to preview new music on his Instagram Story. The rapper and Migos stalwart shared a 30-second clip on his social media in which fans could hear the unreleased track playing in the background while Offset enjoys himself outside his home. Any information like the producer/s involved or a release date were not revealed, but the cut did hear Offset talking about working hard and making bank. The teaser arrives just shortly after Takeoff and Quavo released “HOTEL LOBBY,” their debut single as Unc and Phew, and amidst rumors of the Migos breaking up. DJ Akademiks recently stated, however, that the tension between them will unlikely cause the split. “They might be going through a small disagreement or whatever. I think that they’re angling it because, you know, Takeoff and Quavo just put out a song, so they’re kind of letting it lie, letting the questions linger or something like that,” he said. “But at the end of the day, they’re family. Offset confirmed that to me, too,” Akademiks continued. “Maybe if it was the City Girls that unfollowed each other, but the Migos? Come on, I just can’t see a gangster group — like, the only sign of trouble is them hitting unfollow.” Stay tuned for more info on a possible new Offset record.

Real Madrid Have Won the Champions League for the 14th Time

Real Madrid has won the Champions League for the 14th time — twice as much as any other club in the history of the competition. As a rematch of the 2018 CL Final, tensions were already high going into the match, but an unforeseen incident outside the Stade de France would end up delaying the game by over 30 minutes. Viewers from around the world wondered at why the match was being pushed back, as video footage began to surface of thousands of Liverpool supporters waiting outside the gates of the stadium. “I’ve never been so scared in my life,” said Peter Clarkson, a Liverpool season ticket holder for over 20 years. “I’ve been to five Champions League finals but I’ve never experienced anything like this. It was awful. I spoke to (FSG president) Mike Gordon outside the ground and he said it was appalling the way fans were being treated,” Clarkson added. Matthias Hangst/Getty Images In a statement made by UEFA, the organization pitted the blame on fans who had either arrived late or purchased fake tickets. “For UEFA to say late arrival of fans is an absolute disgrace. We were outside the ground trying to get in two hours before kick-off,” Clarkson reiterated. Regardless who was to blame, security began closing the gates to both fans with legitimate tickets and those who bought off scalpers, which led to people hopping the fences and French police to use pepper spray to repel them back. Whether you were at the game or watching from afar, there was an eerie vibe that lingered before kickoff. Liverpool supporters of course carry the trauma of the Hillsborough disaster of 1989, where a crush took the lives of 96 fans, making the scenes of today all the more fearful. Roman Evan, who serves as the executive director of the Football Supporters Europe , told The New York Times: “Fans at the Champions League final bear no responsibility for tonight’s fiasco. They are victims here. Thousands are still trapped outside the stadium, remaining calm in the face of a completely unreasonable situation. We urge the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of all fans.” Video footage shows a number of people, who were not affiliated with either side, trying to hop the gates, leading to more confusion. Shaun Botterill/Getty Images As the match finally kicked off, both sides played a defensive duel, but the Reds would control the possession for most the half. Liverpool, with the talent and the tenacity that they played with all season under manager Jürgen Klopp, seemed the favorite on paper — and their chances early on would back it. However, Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois played like an iron wall, fending off strike after strike, especially one early on from Sadio Mane, who curled the ball against the post. In the second half, the flow would begin to shift. Madrid, despite their 13 Champions League titles and cabinet full of La Liga honors, were somewhat of an underdog both in this match and throughout the tournament. But if there is one thing that PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City could’ve have learned from Madrid, is that possession means nothing if you can’t convert. In the 59th minute, a charging Vinicius Jr. stormed down the line on a counter-attack and netted in a goal after a pass by Federico Valverde. David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images From there, Madrid absorbed all the pressure from a nervous Liverpool side who had been all too familiar with this situation before. With the final whistle blown, Madrileño’s around the world began the party, with a number of club legends in attendance, from Raúl to Zizou. From a neutral’s perspective, the match seemed marred all throughout due to the circumstances held at pre-match. A debacle that has led Liverpool to officially request a “formal investigation into the causes of these unacceptable issues.”

The Notorious B.I.G.’s Estate Shares new Song “G.O.A.T.” f/ Ty Dolla Sign

Saturday would have marked the 50th birthday of the Notorious B.I.G., who was fatally shot at the age of 24 in 1997. To celebrate Biggie’s milestone birthday, the late rapper’s estate has shared his first single in 17 years, “G.O.A.T.” Featuring Ty Dolla Sign and Nigerian R&B singer Bella Alubo, the Afrobeat-inspired track repurposes Biggie’s lyrics from Life After Death cut “I Love The Dough,” his 1997 collaboration with fellow Brooklyn rapper Jay-Z. “One of the things that I’ve learned building Biggie’s audience all these years is his global impact,” Elliot Osagie, the founder of Benin City Entertainment, who’s worked with Biggie’s estate over the years, said about the track. “We wanted to create a song that paid homage to that impact, hence the Afrobeats theme.” “Being on a song with Biggie has been a dream of mine since I was a kid,” Ty said in an official statement. “The song title is fitting of him…the G.O.A.T. Happy Birthday, Big. We miss you.” Biggie’s mother, Voletta Wallace, added, “It’s wonderful to witness my son’s music reimagined for his fans and today’s generation of young men and women to embrace his art. I appreciate the hard work of all involved in bringing together the perfect blend of voices and music to this song, ‘G.O.A.T.’” Listen to “G.O.A.T.” now on all major streaming platforms.

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Coupe Sells for a Record-Breaking $142 Million

An incredibly rare Mercedes-Benz has sold for a jaw-dropping $142 million, making it the most expensive vehicle in the world. Widely known as the “Mona Lisa of Cars,” the 1955 Mercedes 300 SLR Coupe was purchased this month in a secret, invite-only auction conducted by RM Sotheby’s. The car was designed by Daimler-Benz motorsport chief Rudolf Uhlenhaut, and was only one of two ever built. It was previously owned by Mercedes-Benz, which reportedly had no plans to sell it—that is, until Simon Kidston got involved. The British car dealer secured the winning bid at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. He told Forbeshe purchased the coupe on behalf of a client, after spending a year and half trying to convince the car-maker to put it up for auction. “If you had asked classic car experts and top collectors over the past half a century to name the most desirable car in the world, there’s a good chance that they would have come up with the same model: the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR,” Kidston told the magazine, before touching on his lobbying efforts. “If you don’t ask, you’ll never know. A long-standing relationship with the Mercedes-Benz Museum helped, but even after 18 months of patient lobbying, we didn’t know if or how they would consider letting the 300 SLR out of captivity until just before it happened. For everyone involved, and especially the new owner whom we represented, this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to buy the Mona Lisa of cars.” Proceeds from the auction sale will reportedly go towards a charitable youth fund created Mercedes-Benz. Prior to the sale, the most expensive car ever sold at auction was a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, which fetched around $70 million in 2018.

Meek Mill Previews Teaser of an Unreleased Track

Meek Mill has taken to Instagram to reveal that he has new music on the way. In a high-octane music video, the rapper reveals a teaser of a hard-hitting unreleased track and its official music video. The clip shows Meek in the flashy high-rise apartment, with stacks of cash and iced-out accessories, seemingly rapping about his successes and haters. The caption accompanying the post reads, “Loadinggggggggg……..” which seems to allude to a potential release date in the future for the teased song. While it is uncertain when the track will drop or if this will be a single or part of a full-length project, the rapper appears to be making a comeback. Meek has not released an album since Expensive Pain in 2021. Last year’s mixtape featured many high-profile collaborators including, A$AP Ferg, Moneybagg Yo, Young Thug, Lil Uzi Vert, and more. Expensive Pain arrived with its own set of controversies including the cover art which was criticized after being advertised on public buses. Earlier this year, Meek accused Atlantic Records in a series of tweets for ruining his relationship with Roddy Ricch and Rick Ross. He also accused the label of “blackballing” the album, which later debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard charts.

ERL did wonders for Dior’s accessories.

When it was revealed that ERL's Eli Russell Linnetz would be working with Kim Jones on Dior's Spring 2023 capsule collection, the entire Highsnobiety team got excited. Since its inception in 2018 we've seen ERL dress everyone from Kid Cudi and A$AP Rocky, to Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid, and it has quickly become one of the most exciting emerging labels to watch. It was only a matter of time before one of the luxury giants would snatch up Eli, and tap into his imagination for a collaboration. Over the past few seasons, Dior has collaborated with plenty of artists including Hajime Sorayama, Kenny Scharf, and Peter Doig, so it felt refreshing to see Kim Jones turn to a young designer this time around. On the runway we saw new iterations of ERL's signature Wave hoodie, all elevated with luxury materials, of course, as well as the label's recognizable quilted designs, both across jackets as well as bags. Dubbed "California Couture," the collection took inspiration from ERL's Venice Beach heritage – especially when it comes to skating. Models paraded down the runway in chunky skate trainers equipped with thick laces, reminding us of back in the day when we were all rocking DC shoes. I never learned how to skateboard, but ERL's Dior trainers might just make me learn. The level of detail across the shoes is astonishing. Each layer has been carefully crafted with small logos, intricate materials, and innovative designs to create the final product, which showcases Dior's incomparable craftsmanship. DIOR Of course, there were also plenty of new Saddle bags on the runway. The signature Dior silhouette got reimagined with ERL's padded design and equipped with a chunky gold chain (already seen on Kim Kardashian's Instagram!), and made into an array of colors including bright pink and baby blue. There were also glitter versions of the bag – and tiny ones, too. The micro bags were worn like necklaces, or as crossbody bags with the accompanying gold chain. Dior Men Spring 2023, menswear DIOR Chokers in different materials and colors popped up in a few of the looks, and we also spotted statement sunglasses, some really good ties, and plenty of hats. There were caps sporting the co-branded ERL x Dior logo, as well as structured hats that almost look like they have ears, sock-like beanies, and fluffy bucket hats. 1 / 3 DIOR DIOR DIOR Lastly, we also saw the same sparkly material that appeared across the apparel turned into long scarves. One was worn with a bare chest, which only kept me thinking about how scratchy the material must feel. Anyway, it looks stunning – who cares about comfort! Dior Men Spring 2023, menswear DIOR Dior Men Spring 2023, menswear DIOR Dior Men Spring 2023, menswear DIOR Needless to say, ERL took Dior to a whole new level and breathed new, youthful life into the label. The whole collection was a play with colors, textures, and materials, and it has already been an instant success on social media and amongst fashion lovers all over the world.

Should luxury sneakers really cost $2,000?

Earlier this week, Louis Vuitton finally revealed the official release information surrounding its highly anticipated Nike Air Force 1collaboration, priced just above $2,000 USD. Of course, knowing past collaborations between luxury labels and sportswear giants we've seen some hefty price tags. Dior's limited-edition Air Jordan 1 retailed at $2,000 for the Lows and $2,200 for the Highs, with only 8,500 pairs available worldwide. DIOR / JORDAN BRAND Obviously, once the shoes actually released, they hit the resale market where they instantly skyrocketed x 10, and are currently sitting at $20,000 USD on StockX. The "more affordable" collaboration, Prada's recent adidas Forum trainer retailed just below $800 USD, which is still incredibly expensive considering that it is still a sneaker at the end of the day. We've also got adidas x Gucci on the way, with plenty of sneakers set to hit shelves. Thus far, there are no prices available, but they'll definitely be expensive. Of course, when a shoe gets reinterpreted by the luxury world, it is remade and interpreted with new, luxury materials such as fine leathers and craftsmanship to match (or at least reflect) its price point. When Louis Vuitton revealed that its nine Air Force 1 silhouettes will be dropping soon, the house also shared behind-the-scenes footage of the shoe being pieced together by hand, carefully cut and sewn to create the final product. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big believer that fashion should charge a premium for luxury products that require time and skill to create (and all workers should be fairly compensated, regardless of level, but that's a conversation for another time), but does the high price tag isolate the customers that made these types of collaborations possible in the first place? Over the past few years, the line between streetwear and luxury has been completely erased, and we're now seeing brands like Dior sell $5,000 USD hoodies, Chanel make sneakers, and the biggest houses appointing talent from the streetwear world – just look at the change we've seen since Virgil Abloh's Louis Vuitton first debuted. LOUIS VUITTON We've currently got Matthew Williams, Rhuigi, Nigo, and more in some of the industry's most sought-after positions. No one would've guessed this was going to happen 10 years ago. At the core, the streetwear community is young and hungry, always looking for the coolest new products and designers on the market. My generation has experienced the power of community through making friends outside the Supreme store, queuing for hours to cop a pair of sneakers for retail, and gotten scammed multiple times trying to buy items off of sites like Grailed, eBay, and Depop. A few years ago following the rise of luxury streetwear labels like Off-White™ and Palm Angels, the big players decided to start making T-shirts, hoodies, and sneakers, because they finally realized it was time to attract their younger audience and stay relevant. Remember Gucci's logo T-shirt? All of the pricey Balenciaga hoodies? Without these consumers, most brands wouldn't have been able to keep their sales up. Young people matter, and as the luxury giants realized that kids would happily save their money to splurge on a $300 USD T-shirt, everything has only gotten more expensive. HIGHSNOBIETY With luxury sneakers, they're being priced around the $1,000 USD mark, which I guess seems okay for a designer shoe (it is a huge amount of money still, don't get me wrong). But when it is a collaboration with labels like Nike or adidas, should brands really be charging this much? For reference, a new pair of Air Force 1 sneakers will set you back $90 USD. A pair of Sambas? about $65. They're accessible and are worn by most young people today because they're cool and trendy, whilst still being affordable. When luxury brands reinterpret these, how come the price tag changes so drastically? Well, because the customer changes, too. Here's the thing. No kid is going to be able to get their hands on a pair of LV sneakers, let alone afford them in the first place because these exclusive collaborations will be offered to clients and collectors. And don't get me wrong, it makes sense because it is an extremely limited collaboration, but it is a shame that those who have supported the sneaker industry, built the community, and made luxury fashion recognize the importance of streetwear, won't actually be invited to take part. There's no easy solution to these situations because clearly, brands like Dior and Louis Vuitton can't start selling shoes for less than $100 USD out of nowhere. That would completely take away from their luxury heritage and their emphasis on craftsmanship. SUPREME / BURBERRY / BOLADE BANJO However, I think that Burberry and Supremeabsolutely nailed it when they launched their recent collaboration. When Burberry teamed up with Supreme earlier this year, we were all expecting an LV x Supreme round two – impossible to cop, and really expensive. To our surprise, Supreme dropped half the collection on its own website, and each item was priced according to Supreme's own price points. Then, Burberry dropped the second part in-store and online, which retailed at premium prices because of the materials and the craftsmanship, and featured the collection's fancy items including leather jackets and silk shirts. Long story short there was an expensive capsule and an affordable capsule, meaning that anyone could join in and wear the collaboration, despite their budget. Burberry made the choice to include everyone, not just its own consumer, which is most likely thanks to Supreme. SUPREME / BURBERRY / BOLADE BANJO As we see more luxury brands collaborate with sportswear or streetwear brands, I think it is important that we don't forget who the customer is in the first place. Let the real fans be a part of something by creating one entry-level item that is available to the masses, and do the extremely limited, luxury drop as well to cater to the big clients and collectors. Perhaps I'm being too naive to think that this could even be a possibility, but given how much hype surrounds these big collaborations, it makes sense to get the people involved.

BALENCIAGA X ADIDAS

So, yeah, Balenciaga x adidas collaboration is a thing. During Balenciaga's Spring 2023 runway presentation in NYC, the Paris-based fashion label sent models down the runway — which was actually the famed trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange — in ponytailed gimp masks (Kim K, you in there?) and Balenci-adidas 'fits. The Balenciaga x adidas collection ranges from $210 collaborative socks to a $5,500 Ye-esque hooded leather jacket. As for the vibe, classic adidas pieces like 3-Stripes tracksuits, hoodies, jerseys, and tees get the Balenciaga treatment, boasting updated oversized silhouettes (definitely not as baggy as Bieber's 'fits, but still baggy nonetheless). Remember the Balenciaga x adidas Triple Ssneaker that hit the internet in March? Well, let's just say it's no longer hearsay. The chunky sneakers — which arrives in white and blue colorways for a whopping $1,100 — made their way down the runway alongside Balenci-adidas kicks like the Speed sock sneaker. Following Balenciaga's runway confirmation of the adidas collaboration, adidas Originals took to Instagram to assure the partnership is "coming soon" with the Balenciaga x adidas logo mashup. It's not a shocker that Balenciaga x adidas comes just after the adidas x Gucci collection, which officially drops in June. Both Gucci and Balenciaga are under the same parent company, Kering. So, it's safe to say Kering likes to keep everything in the family. Following the adidas x Gucci hype, it's like, why not let the world's hottest brand link up with adidas too. Everybody eats, right? Not to mention, Balenciaga's creative director Demna also has close ties to one of adidas' biggest partners, Ye's YEEZY brand.

Pusha T Talks Longevity of His Career Claiming "I Can Do This Forever"

Pusha T recently sat down with NME to speak about his longevity as a rapper. The 44-year-old Virginia rapper recently released his fourth studio album titled, It’s Almost Dry. The 12-track mixtape saw the minds of producing legends Pharrell and the artist previously known as Kanye West, evenly split the production of the album. When it comes to producing a record for the current time period, Pusha says, “It’s all about creating the best product you can create. That’s just the standard. I want people to look at this street rap narration that I’m painting and understand that this is all I want to make. Don’t ask me for anything else. I’m not entertaining you. I’ve been a realist. I’ve shown you everything. I’ve won the wars. I went through label dramas. I withstood everything. Now is the best time for me to be more creative and fully uplift the genre.” Pusha exudes confidence throughout his entire It’s Almost Dry album. He discussed how the album initially came about recalling, “It might have started with Ye and just a couple of beats that he had pulled aside for me. I toyed with them and once I got into a [mindset] of trying to outdo Daytona, I was like, ‘How do I do that?’ And so I crossed the street and went over to Pharell’s and was like, ‘OK – you’re going to do half and he’s going to do half.’” His choice to involve both Pharrell and Ye was well thought out, admitting that he knew that if he med “both of those, I’m only putting out greatness.” For over a decade, King Push has been disrupting the industry for decades, working with Ye’s G.O.O.D. Music and his 2013 album My Name Is My Name which paved the way for the critically acclaimed Daytona. Push understands his influence and the work that had to be done to get to where he is today. Unlike others, Pusha T is confident his career can withstand the test of time, “[I want] to show that rap doesn’t have to age out. When people look at me, they need to understand that I can do this forever.”

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