INDUSTRIAL DESIGN.

The importance of tactility in design is so great. Graphics are the icing on top of a cake, but if your cake mix is fucked up, then it all falls apart. I realize many of the things I like are first and foremost, pleasing to the touch, rather than to the eye. Case in point:


Nike Air Max 97/360
Most comfortable shoes I have put on in a long time.


Blackberry Pearl
The new Trackball is as addictive as crack.


Blackburn Bicycle Pump
Went to the sporting goods store and was planning on spending $5 on a bike pump and ended up getting this $40 baby. Why? Cuz i touched it. And it touched me back.


Jesse from Nike knows this well. The stuff he has been putting out has been pleasing to all senses, but to me, its still all about touch. Jesse, EDC and I getting some power breakfast on at Noho Star.

STAPLE x RECON x CLOT

Stash, Edison and myself got together last night and "collaborated" on.............DINNER!
Sorry, only 1 of 1 available and even Tier Zero accounts don't get this one.
Nah, but for real it was great to catch up in person (not via email) and shoot the shit about this whole crazy world. Each of us represent three generations of this culture and to me, its important that at the end of the day, we can just sit down and break some bread.

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Actually, here's a real collaboration. I've had this for a few years but mad people still ask me about it to this day. It's a Chrome Hearts customized lip balm cap. Only fits Vaseline Intensive Care users...which happens to be me...365 days a year. I don't how many of these exist but I heard 2. It gives the everyday boring old chap stick some significant weight.

SEAM.

If you're not up on THEME Magazine, you should be. In the genocide that is the world of publishing, this title shines like a martyr. Kinda of hard to find, but here is your chance to get 4 issues for free. And trust me, no strings attached...these are good peoples.


Just received my hot off the grill Puma Mongolian BBQ kicks. These are actually pretty difficult to color up. There are a ton of panels and opportunities. You just need mad amounts of time to sit there and figure out what you want. Check out their new and improved (if not slightly racist) interface.

2 VIDS.

These guys must get mad chicks. Watch the end where they list what type of writing utencils they use. They even have their own mods!


Thanks to Lance who brought me this dope gift for the Reed Space JP opening. This is really an amazing toy. See it in action.

READY FOR UR CLOSEUP.

At the Reed Space opening last week, I wanted to do a "red carpet" area but we didn't have the room for it. So we converted the dressing room into a photo booth...locked Dan and Poe from Freshness in there and put em to work! Here are the fruits of their labor and all that ventured into the closet. THANKS TO EVERYONE!!!

The Reed Portraits.

DIGGIN' THRU

Back at work in New York now. And the ritual is the same upon my return...dig thru miles and miles of mail, bills, packages and the occasional goodie here and there. This past trip to Japan was really a culmination of the last 10 months of work opening Reed Space in Japan. And now that it's open...I feel like a 100 pound weight lifted off my shoulders. This is only the second store I've opened...so I damn hope they get easier as you go along.

Some last bits from Japan:


The Apple Ginza event was a decidely more "serious" lecture than the Shibuya one. Guess that matches their respective areas. At Ginza, the Q+A went about 40 mins into overtime. The last question being the best one: "Why do you keep your head shaved?"


Thanks to Michael K's recommendation, I try to never leave Japan without having Mominoki House—a Macrobiotic Organic restaurant. Eating healthy never tasted so good in your life. Its dope and the chef/owner, Mr. Yamada-san is even cooler. Sakiko, who is feartured heavily in the new Staple Spring 2007 catalog, was my dinner companion for this healthy meal...


My streak of strange airlane encounters continues...This time? The star of the show was none other than Skateboard P, a.k.a. Pharrell Williams. After 15 hrs in the air, we both look dumb tired.
He said he was in Japan to do some photo shoots and to check out some line sheets for the new collection. Pretty amazing that dude still has time to look over all the finer details of the business.

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And now "While You Were Out":


Happy 10th birthday to Wallpaper Magazine. They created this sick "A Decade of Design" edition that comes in an equally dope casing complete with rhinestone studded logo. Not sure how you get this or why one receives it, but for some reason I got one.


Blackberry Pearl baby! This phone is SO DOPE. Only problem, for Mac users, you'll need to be patient, as they have not figured out a Mac compatible upgrade from their previous versions...so right now, I just have a really pretty paper weight.


I recently ordered this nice little tool from Levenger. Its a single sheet paper cutter for use on newspapers and magazines, so that you just cut the one article you want rather than a whole stack of sheets. Only $14/pair! The secret? The tiniest little piece of ceramic at the end of this plastic holder does the precision cutting. The packaging from Levenger was pretty impressive as well.


Anthony picked me up of these travel iPod plugs. When traveling, you don't need really that 6 ft iPod cable, so this is much more easy and convenient.


And check out what came in from St. Beaverton! Got some SICK colorways in the Footscape Woven 360. This black and bone colorway is my favorite one.

And finally, if you have some free time, become fluent in Japanese, and check out the recent article on Honeyee.com about Reed Space and Staple. And if you can, send me a translation!

APPLE GINZA.

The Apple Shibuya lecture was really cool. Lots of people came out to represent. In case you missed that one, I'll be doing another one today at Apple Ginza in their theater. I think this is the biggest Apple store and theater in the world so it should be pretty craze.


A shot of the Shibuya crowd.

Just trying to decompress from the nutiness of the past week...


Had a chill Indian dinner with Hiroshi, Fraser (Nike), James, Ken & Gio (Supreme) and Hiroki (Visvim). Fraser broke out the AJ1s in "fresh out the box" condition. These are truly timeless....


Went to visit the Graniph Design office in Daikanyama. Great working environment...look out for some Graniph / Reed Space collaborative projects in the not too distant future.


MC Yan from CLOT/LMF at Reed Space. Sorry for making you miss ur flight man!


My new favorite place in all of Japan: RELAX BODY. An incredible massage & spa facility in Aoyama right near Reed Space Japan. The service here is bar none AND they are open till 5am!

APPLE SHIBUYA.

Just a reminder...if you're in Tokyo today, try and head over to Apple Shibuya at 6pm. I'll be doing a guest lecture on design, branding and 10 years of Staple Design.

(PRE) GRAND OPENING.

A perfect picture of what this night felt like to me...

Tonight was Reed Space Japan's private opening reception before we have our official grand opening tomorrow. Wow....what can I say? I am flabbergasted by the incredible turnout and support that was shown tonight. I want to say thanks to everyone who came out. Everyone who helped out. Everyone who wanted to make it out but couldn't. Too many to thank here, but you know who y'all are.
Thanks especially to the DJs of the night: Tyler Askew from Rude NYC, Shuya Okino from Kyoto Jazz Massive and DJ Muro from King of Diggin!
I was so busy trying to greet and thank each and every person tonight that I DID NOT TAKE ONE PHOTO! (if you can believe!) Therefore, I am waiting for all the photos to trickle in from everyone.
(Hey, if you have some good photos from tonight, pls email them!)
But here are some quick glimpses from Jerry and Amanda's digicams. Look for the official coverage coming at you from Freshness. (Big shout out to Poe and Dan!)


A kaws for celebration.


What's a Reed Space party without a proper goodie bag? We gave out these custom made lunch boxes to the first 200 lucky people. Inside? A Reed Space pencil case with Staple stickers, a crayon set, a notepad, a Kit Kat (of course) and a special mix CD made by HF. We're always thinking of the kids!


Maria Ozawa, Swagger, Phenomenon, Shuya Okino...all under the same roof, plus plenty more...
More photos to come....promise!

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And one last shout to James and Supreme who had their opening the same night...a mere one hour apart. Right after we wrapped up Reed, I rushed over to show respect for the new Harajuku location.

THE LONGEST YARD.

As the closing seconds approach on the opening of Reed Space Japan, it seems as with any project, that the last little bits and pieces are the toughest to complete. Why is that? Is it the relentless pursuit of perfection that can never be attained? Is it just anal obsessiveness? Or is it the nature of life that the toughest parts just come last? Well regardless, thanks to everyone who stayed beyond a reasonable hour to make this thing happen.

I was still able to have some fun and meet some friends in between all the Reed madness.




Thanks to Riko for letting me in on Hikaru Utada's final concert of her summer tour at Yoyogi Park. This chick is one of the biggest recording artists in Japanese history. Hikaru simply has an amazing voice that can move the crowd.


Spy shot of Nick from Twelve Bar in Japanese book store Book 1st. I politely waited till he was out of the nudie section.





Grabbed a great dinner with Celux/LVMH team...they are happy to have a fancy new door to their main office. And also happy about the Nike AF1 CELUX MEMBERS EDITION. You're not likely to get a pair unless you're a member of Celux. But maybe, just maybe there is some strings that can be pulled...stayed tuned for details.


A TON of people from NYC repping this week for the Reed opening. Miguel and Anthony just got into town... A late night chill out session at a local lounge.


And finally a flashback from my man Fats from Bread & Butter Berlin. I don't know what Steven, Fraser and I were cracking up about...but apparently Jesse was not amused. Thanks Fats!

RUN or RIDE.

Back in Japan once again. I think I'm in double digits for Japan trips this year by now. I have no idea anymore. My body has no idea what time zone it lives in anymore. Japanese customs officials look at me weird. And I am on a first name basis with the Hudson News lady at JFK.
But alas, great things come to those who hustle and I am hoping with Reed Space's (site update!) Japan opening next Saturday...the work will be worth it.





I've been back on the workout tip a bit and took up running again as the weather finally cooled in NYC. It also helps to condition me for my fixed bike training sessions with Hiroshi and Kazu. (Finally learned to skid stop!) So after being away from my Nike+ Competition entitled The Hundreds (first to 100 miles wins)...I see there are a lot of new comers AND we have a winner. Congrats to Jerry (Staple) for hitting the century mark. Morgan (Reed Space) is a close second. Amanda (Jerry's better half) and Stash round out the top 4. I trail AK (Burton) by a shoelace! Hawaii Mike (LTD Mag), Iz (Nike ID 255) and Kevin Poon (CLOT) round out the bottom half. C'mon Poon! Get out there on Causeway Bay and haul some ass!


A mini blowfish chopstick holder can only mean one thing: BLOWFISH FOR DINNER! Nowhere else but Japan...

CIVIL LIBERTIES.

THIS JUST IN:
First Amendment / Freedom of Speech is now apparently void.
Mos Def gets arrested rapping about Hurricane Katrina and President Bush's actions towards it.




Looking forward to the Salem Witch Hunts and McCarthyism making a comeback.

FRESH.

Back in 1994...(goddamn...is that really 12 years ago!?) a little low budget film came out that featured Samuel Jackson, Giancarlo Esposito, N'Bushe Wright and a young 12 year-old named Sean Nelson. The film was called FRESH. I recently revisited this incredible flick and it's as amazing today as it was over a decade ago. Go get it on Beta/VHS of whatever....

Sam Jackson: "Last game here, I'm playing myself."
Sean Nelson: "You're losing to yourself."
Sam Jackson: "Yeah, life's a bitch like that."



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Also, big props to my man Damany for the opening of Flight Club LA. I get a lot of young cats asking me advice about starting a business, or how to open up a dope shop etc...you wanna know how? GET TO FUCKIN WORK. Look at D...this ain't no fun and games bullshit. Brotha's got a HEPA filter mask on and is covered in a pound of sheetrock dust. If you're in Cali...drop by to support.

DANKE.

After being away for so long...its always the same. An equally long amount of time is required in opening mail, messages, packages, etc. Here are some items that brought a smile to my face:


Boogie's new book IT'S ALL GOOD. One of the best photo books I have ever seen. It comes out next month...please put it on ur list to pick up. Powerhouse Books put it out. Thank you boogie for giving me an advance copy.


Thanks Dave M for the Victorinox Urban Survivor Swiss Army Knives featuring WK, Maharishi and Fafi. There are only 200 made of each and each one is individually numbered. Dave hooked me up with #118 on all of them. (A "good luck number" for chinese people). I don't know how you did it Dave but thanks! (These are available at Reed Space... I think maybe the only place on the east coast that has em.)


Gareth from Pointer shoes also sent me some fresh ass kicks. His new collection is really dope. Look out for these and more at Reed Space soon.


And finally, thanks to Bianca at Nike Berlin for sending me the IDs I made a few weeks ago. I'm pretty stoked with the way these came out. AM1 electric!

MAC TALKS.

As many know now, Reed Space will be opening our first Japan outpost this Sept 16th. I know a lot of US/NYC heads that will be out there for that since coincidentally, James & Co. (Supreme) will be opening their Harajuku store on the same day. (Great minds think alike.) Anyway, Apple Japan has asked me to guest speak at two of their locations while I am in Japan. I will be speaking in English (ebonics actually) with a translator (I hope) so if you're in town please feel free to stop thru as it is very awkward speaking to an empty theater. I'll be talking about design, branding, starting a business, the weather and the advantages of dropping out of school (just kidding! stay in school kids!)
Here's the 411:
Apple Flagship Shibuya / Sept 16th 6:00pm-7:00pm
Apple Flagship Theater Ginza / Sept 18th 7:00pm-8:00pm

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Also, props to my main man in Berlin, Errolson for dropping the sickest new SS07 collection of ACRONYM. The site is strictly private at the moment, but he brings his usual DFMA style to the table. Here's a sneak. Peep the kicks he's rocking. What could they be??

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And finally, a lil fortune cookie thought to leave you for the Labor Day weekend. I was reading a fitness/workout magazine about doing some training and I read this tidbit that not only pertains to your training regiment, but also to life in general: (I quote word for word):
If you're just doing things in the moment and not reflecting on how you could do them better, it's very unlikely you'll improve. The takeaway: Focus on technique, even during playtime. Mindless participation is not enough.
Knowing you're doing something wrong isn't the same as doing it right. Once you've isolated problem areas, think about how you can avoid repeating mistakes. Performance gains come by recognizing flaws you'd like to pretend don't exist.

Word. Is. Bond.