NIKE BLAZER BONEYARDS (STUSSY)

Taking name and inspiration from a secret surf spot in San Pedro, California, known for its biker clubs and its punk rock, surfing and skateboarding history, Nike, Stussy and Neighborhood present the Boneyards footwear collection. The partnership, which has been over a year and a half in the making centers around two of Nike’s basketball legends, the Nike Blazer and the Nike Terminator.

“Paul Mittleman from Stussy was planning the apparel collection with Shinsuke Takizawa from Neighborhood and because of the historical connection, suggested a three-way partnership for footwear as all of the brands together, make sense,” said Nike’s Fraser Cooke.

The team, working with Nike Design Director Jesse Leyva, first identified the Nike Blazer and Terminator as the two shoes best suited to the project. With all three brands sympathetic to each other’s needs and design processes, Stussy then worked on the Nike Blazer while Neighborhood took on the Nike Terminator. Color schemes were drawn from the juxtaposition of a grimy little surf spot and a family beach found at San Pedro. “Being important to be on the harder, darker side, colorways were based around a black foundation with color pops” said Paul. The shoes – in red, blue, and white – reference colors similar to the Nike Jordan 1, the basketball icon that was adopted by the skate community in the 80s, a palette now known as signature Nike colors.

Boneyards is an actual, physical place. However, over the course of putting the collection together, it became a fantasy for the design team, a metaphor for creativity and building. San Pedro’s history and culture became an inspiration that influenced their design and graphic language.

“It's been a true group effort based on friendship and a shared vision, and I think the result is very natural and compliments their Boneyards apparel collection perfectly” said Fraser Cooke.

The Boneyards x Nike Blazer and Nike Terminator will be available this summer, each in three colorways each at select retail accounts.

PICS OF THE TERMINATORS AS THEY COME TO HAND.

About the Nike Blazer_
The first Nike Blazer was a pioneering shoe. Released in 1973, it took its name from the Portland Trail Blazers; as Nike’s first hoop shoe, it proved worthy of its name. A welcomed departure from its more clunky counterparts of the time, the Nike Blazer offered several features designed to improve performance basketball footwear for the game: fine grain leather, outsoles that offered greater traction, extra support, less weight. It wasn’t long before the simple white hi-tops with the elongated swoosh became de rigueur on and off the court, leading the way for Nike’s dominance as a basketball/lifestyle brand.

About Stussy
In 1980, Shawn Stussy, a local cult surfboard shaper, took his scrawled signature logo from his foam masterpieces and applied it to tee shirts that he sold along with his boards around Laguna Beach, CA. As the clothing line expanded, it's raw and modern aesthetic soon developed into the next generation of new wave beach culture. With Stussy's success, the company hooked up with trendsetters in New York, London, Tokyo and other areas of the world. Stussy clothing was inspired by this international group of musicians, skaters, DJs and artists with similar tastes, which helped to shape the brand into an international streetwear label. Today, Stussy exists as a brand with worldwide respect and independence. With over sixty stores across the globe and a very strong tribe still in effect, Stussy is a leader in a culture they helped start over 25 years ago.

About Neighborhood
Launched by Shinsuke Takizawa in the Harajuku section in Tokyo in 1994 Neighborhood draws on Takizawa’s passion for motorcycles and motorcycle culture, creating simple traditional clothing fused with complimentary military and outdoor design elements and details. Best known for their leather motorcycle jacket, Yoshida bag and sought-after "damaged-processed" denim, Neighborhood have extended their collection to include women’s apparel, home wares and lifestyle products, as well as a few special items for pets.  In 2006, the brand continued to develop with the introduction a new Neighborhood collection for kids, available exclusively at their new “White Wall” location in Tokyo.
With five concept stores (which Neighborhood refer to as Hoods) across Japan and an additional location in Hong Kong, Neighborhood continues to expand both nationally and internationally, creating concepts, projects and product collections deeply rooted in their inspiration from motorcycles and their culture.