THE INSPIRATION BEHIND BEKCHAM’S FLASHY NEW CLUB

Neon lights, banging beats, party people and little sleep; some of the many things that typify the legendary city of Miami. Despite the often care-free, show-up late attitude of this South Florida community (the 2013 NBA Finals… yeah we’re still laughing), Miami is also a major sports city. From the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins and legendary quarterback Dan Marino to showcasing LeBron James in his back-to-back reign of terrorizing the league, Miami has given the nation timeless moments in the ether of sports history.

Enter David Beckham, a sportsman and cultural icon in himself. Having long sought his stamp on the managerial side of soccer, Becks has finally been granted Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, the newest expansion team to the MLS. Inter Miami C.F. for short, already has the internet trolling, but aside from the name, which yes, could be slightly more creative, the design and inspiration is on point.

Going back and forth over what truly embodies Miami, Beckham aimed to represent the great Southern American influence that has come to embody the city. Though minimal in its presentation, each element in the crest reflects a different but unifying aspect; for example, the herons who are both inhabitants of the city and animals that migrate from Alaska as far as the coasts of Brazil, represent the many migrant communities that have made Miami their own. The eclipse in the middle showcases the day-and-night attitude that is ever-present throughout the city along with the ring around the crest that brings together the city’s inclusive nature. To cap it off, the pink and black color palette reflects the pristine views of Miami’s iconic sunrises.

Designed by DoubleDay and Cartwright’s Kimou Meyer (aka Grotesk), the club badge
beautifully blends Miami’s cultural pastiche in a clean graphic direction that serves as a great step forward for the rest of the MLS to follow. No stranger to the world of sports, Grotesk operates the vastly popular Victory Journal and states that the design process for Inter Miami took a long three years to bring into fruition.

KTTP’S NIKE SHOOT: OFF WHITE IN CHICAGO | KIM JONES IN LA

Before we all inevitably move on from the still-relevant, design-orientated Nike soccer collabs with Virgil Abloh and Kim Jones, we wanted to present our own effort at showcasing the two well-crafted collections. We come to you with a two-part fashion editorial where we took both collections onto the streets of two different U.S. cities. For Virgil’s Off White pieces, we decided to hit the hometown of the designer himself, Chicago, for a shoot featuring yours truly (they twisted my arm until I agreed to model for this…) as I gallivant about Wicker Park/Bucktown in an attempt to score myself a much-deserved donut, all captured by Turfmapp founder and photographer Trisikh Sanguanbun.

Our Kim Jones shoot, taken by long-standing HYPEBEAST photographer Aaron Miller, takes place in our own city of Los Angeles, where we bring on ex-pro soccer athlete and personal trainer Shawna Gordon, who joins me on the roofs of DownTown LA chasing after that city-synonymous sunset. Both editorials utilize the soccer-focused pieces under a more casual style sensibility, showing how one can wear – or even pair – the pieces off the pitch. Check out both shoots below.

OFF WHITE X NKE IN CHICAGO | THE DONUT HUNT IN WICKER PARK

KIM JONES X NIKE IN LOS ANGELES | WE COULD NEVER REACH THE MOON ANYWAY

KIM JONES/VIRGIL ABLOH: EXPRESSIONS OF SOCCER

In Desmond Morris’ introspective book The Soccer Tribe, famed-Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho states, “Those who only know football know nothing about football. Those who only see twenty-two men chasing after a ball fail to understand its geometry, its ballet, its psychological depth, its true nature. It is the most faithful representation of human nature and its many faces. It is a tribe where the rationale of tactics, emotion, and the fun of the game all prevail.”

Like the United gaffer, we believe the beautiful game is as much about cultural identity as it is about kicking the ball with your mates. This sense of identity can be seen everywhere, from the pubs and neighborhoods we call home, the clubs we cheer and agonize over, the boots you wear on the pitch to the music, clothing, and kits you don off it. Unlike any other sport, soccer has seamlessly integrated into every facet of culture to the point where it has engendered its very own pocket in the world of fashion.

Enter Kim Jones and Virgil Abloh, two lads who know a thing or two about fashion. Jones, the newly appointed Creative Director of Dior Homme, and Abloh, the man who has just replaced him as such at Louis Vuitton, are back again to stamp their mark at the helms of culture with their latest World Cup campaigns for Nike.

“FOOTBALL REIMAGINED,” as Jones has called it, is his way of reworking the perception of the football pastiche from the confines of the pitch to influences that extend as far as the avant-garde tailoring of London’s Kings Road, coupled with the latest technologies seen across our favorite sportswear garments.

When speaking on the former, Jones states “That whole punk era was all about proportions that gave power to the wearer. I was inspired by the idea of DIY of the time–cutting up and putting things back together–to create something new.” This inspiration has also led to an equally eye-catching sneaker which pays its respects to the iconic mercurial, along with three of Jones’ favorite Nike silhouettes: The Footscape, the Vandal and the Air Max 97.

Abloh, a man who has ascended the fashion ranks like a rocket, views soccer as a portal to his youth, where he remembers listening to hip-hop classics on his way to play high school soccer matches. Dubbed “Football, Mon Amour,” the collection features the Off-White boss’ many soccer memories–from the patterns and numbers he wore to the dots on the juggling lion crest, which Abloh explains is essentially the most optimal points in striking the ball.

When explaining the capsule’s Flyknit Zoom Fly, Abloh says “I wanted to communicate where a player strikes the ball. So, I put dots on the boot; if you’re going to strike the ball, your foot/eye coordination is basically the only variance of chance. That’s what the collection started with, these running shoes that mimic the same as your actual boot on the pitch so that you started subconsciously training all the time. Then I just applied that aesthetic from the bottom up.”

Already reeling off a series of massive campaigns (how about those Super Eagles), Nike is set to release another two smackers with FOOTBALL REIMAGINED, set to release on nike.com and select retailers on June 7, and the Nike x Off-White “Football, Mon Amour” capsule, set to launch on June 14. Have a look at the two collection’s official photo editorials respectively below.

RECAP: POGBA SEASON III CAPSULE COLLECTION EVENT

A few days ago we saw the official unveiling of midfielder Paul Pogba’s latest limited edition capsule collection with adidas Football in the hear of his home country of France. The Parisian born player has put together an incredibly clean looking release dubbed “adidas Football x Pogba Season III Capsule Collection,” which consists of a range of apparel, a Paul Pogba take on the aidas Predator 18+, and accessories all made for being on and off the pitch. The design approach behind the collection stems from Paul Pogba’s own personality in and out of the field, hence the street-ready looks that we can confidently say we’d like to rock ourselves.

To celebrate the release, the man himself held an event in Paris, amidst the Eiffel Tower, that brought together the City of Light’s youth, Pogba fans and soccer enthusiasts from all over. Guests were able to partake in soccer games played on adidas Football’s digital field complete with LED screens, as well as a workshop that allowed you to create your own tabletop design. The most creatively designed field won the opportunity of playing on the aforementioned digital field with the entire French International team – not bad! Vibes was provided courtesy of comedian, impersonator, DJ, and radio host WILLAXXX who kept the energy going throughout the day.

Check out the photo recap by Dcontract of what went down during the adidas Football x Pogba Season III Capsule Collection release party throughout, then check out the limited edition collection for yourself over at adidas Football France before they run out!

Photos by Dcontract©

SCOUTING REPORT: SOCKS THAT TURN HEADS – DFB SOCKS

There are many iconic designs throughout soccer history that most fans would be able to instantly recognize; there are even designs that would appear familiar to the more casual fan, perhaps even those outside of the soccer realm as a whole! The design patterns of the 1990 West Germany jersey is definitely one such design, and is arguably considered by some as the best soccer jersey of all time. This kit features stripes that resembles the German flag and embodies a very classic vintage aesthetic. The look is so popular that adidas decided to bring it back for the new 2018 home kit for the upcoming World Cup, only this time they didn’t use the original black, red, and yellow colors for the stripes, but the same pattern inspiration is all obviously there.

It’s not everyday that you hear about socks that turns heads and gains much attention from the fashion-savy people in the soccer culture community, but the “DFB Socks” by Nivelcrack manages to do just that.

Overall Design: The overall design is simple and straight to the point. It carries the iconic patterns of the 1990 West Germany jersey featuring the black, red, and yellow stripes with a white base. Nivelcrack was smart to not change the original design of the kit, however, they’ve added their own taste into it as there are some things in the world that you just should not alter.

Score: 5/5

Functionality: We here at KTTP like to try out products firsthand that we review for our Scouting Report series whenever possible. I own a pair of these myself and believe me when I say that these are some really high quality socks, not one of those cheap ones that usually loses its quality and strength in thread after a couple of wears and washes. It is a bit in the thicker end, so it may not be the most ideal ones to wear during the hottest days in the summer, but hey I ain’t going to judge you.

Score: 4/5

Wearability: The cool thing about this sock is that they would look good with shorts on, because you get to show off the cool patterns of the 1990 German kit, as well as with a pair of jeans that ends right above your ankle so that the patterns shows off occasionally throughout your day. The days of wearing colorful socks are in the past. I’m all in for white socks these days, so this is a must.

Score: 5/5

Details: If these socks were named something else and completely random and not “DFB” socks, fans of the beautiful game would still recognize this design as being inspired by the famous Germany kit and that comes down to Nivelcrack’s attention to detail in making sure the original design is resembled perfectly. Bravo!

Score: 5/5

Technology and Innovation: Not much innovation in terms of technology, but this design is refreshing to see on a pair of socks. I’m surprised it took this long for a brand to capitalize on the iconic design, and if there were any in the past and I just don’t know about it, please shoot me a message and educate me!

Score: 4/5

You can now purchase these socks by Nivelcrack from RBC.

MIDFLD’S NEW MEANING FOR THE COLOR PURPLE

Can you walk by the color purple and not notice it? I dare you to try especially when you have Midfld’s latest “Dal Viola” collection right in front of your own eyes.

No matter how hard I might try, the collection is one I cannot help but be drawn to. Though its soccer inspiration is what initially intrigued me, I find myself now more enamored with this offering because of the impression that it has left on me that’s totally unrelated to soccer.

The collection reminds me to appreciate the beauty in everything. For Midfld founder Daniel D’Angelo, it is from the color purple, which is what “Dal Viola” means, that he too was able to appreciate all the beauty around him. The color, however, has taken on a richer meaning as it signifies all the great Fiorentina teams he grew up watching. He refers to the great Fiorentina players such as Socrates, Batistuta, Rui Costa, and above all Roberto Baggio, as players who left a lasting impact on him both for the fashionable jerseys they wore as well as the creativity, skill, and genius they showcased. This overall style is what Midfld’s latest collection replicates.

The collection puts a twist on a classic Fiorentina logo and includes the team’s signature color in all except one of its garments. It is spearheaded by a unique tribute to Rui Costa in the form of a vintage style jersey that utilizes shadow numbering as well as Gothic print on the back to honor the player’s Portuguese heritage. As the title of the collection suggests though, purple merely serves as a portal as Midfld brings with it a slew of other vibrant colors with their own meaning.

The color selection for this particular collection has both a stylistic and thematic purpose. While staying true to the design heritage of the club by incorporating all the colors that they use, such as purple, white, red, and gold, Midfld also stays true to its own aesthetic by maintaining that casual look with more of an athletic sportswear vibe this time around.

The selection, in the end, is compelling, but again Midfld is more than just about outward appearances. One of the brand’s posts on its Instagram page captures the true core values behind this collection through a quote from Roberto Baggio which reads, “you have to believe in yourself. You don’t believe that something external guides your life – basically, it’s you. You understand your defects. You learn to be happy.” In line again with its mantra, Midfld reminds us to find our space through the players which found their own.

It is when thinking about this message that it becomes easier to choose my favorite piece from this entire collection. I arrive specifically at Midfld’s tribute to Socrates in the form of a gold t-shirt with the number 8 on the left chest and the words “find the space” in Portuguese. As a player who not only dazzled me on the field, Socrates might be better remembered for his involvement in pushing for democracy in his native Brazil. His exploits thus expand the meaning of what Midfld has come to mean. It is not simply about finding your own space, but rather also realizing how your space can become a space for others as well.

Midfld’s “Dal Viola” collection makes it difficult to overlook the beauty of this thought. I hope you too can notice the beauty the brand has put before us through the color purple and pick up your favorite pieces from its online shop.

Images via Midfld.