I don’t think I could make the jump to corporate dollars, not right now anyways… I don’t have any little Eugenes running around that I need to feed and put through school. London’s scene seems to mirror a bit that of Hong Kong’s. But I must concede that I’m not all that knowledgeable of who is exactly in cahoots with who, and who isn’t. I just always got the feeling that people had their own agenda and it was ALWAYS their needs first and foremost without a true sense of community. Or maybe I was unfair to extrapolate the consistent behaviors of drunk bankers in Lan Kwai Fong on the weekend as the general sentiment throughout Hong Kong’s creative scene. I personally try my best to not be that “too cool” guy that doesn’t say hi, instead choosing to remain dormant in my bedroom blogging 24/7… ok jokes aside it seems as though British cynicism is like… like Canadian generosity? Both parties feel like they have the need to play it up cause it’s ingrained into their cultural roots.
It’s funny my next question was in fact going to touch upon exactly what you just slated at the end of your response. The so-called “reserved” ways of British fashion and more notably sneaker culture… does that mean that 98% of the time a shoe pitched to most Brits embodying earthy tones, black and gray are an automatic sure-in. Now I haven’t visited the CT forums for some time, but back in the day it seemed to be a slightly generalized statement that could be used to describe the tastes of your British brethren. Actually, this notion was something confirmed by some heads at New Balance as well. Has this changed with a new generation of sneaker “buyers”?
I think dormant is the best route. Most ‘cool guy’ types out there are just jabbering on and on but aren’t saying anything. Maybe they get some promo thrown their way, but they’re wanking for change really. I do think there’s a uniquely British aesthetic when it comes to snea…sorry…trainers and it’s ingrained in our lifestyle. Taking the climate into account, pub culture love of clean running styles and some of the oddities that became legendary via football terraces.. .which paradoxically tend to be tennis, handball and training pieces. I’m still pleased with the reception to our take on the adidas London. Now that’s a shoe that’s got to be a mystery to anyone outside Europe. Slimline and made for lifestyle rather than any performance in the first place, I’m sure some bike types were feeling the shape, but I love the regional nature of a product like that. DC has the Goadome, NY (Brooklyn?) has Ranger Boots, then there’s weird stuff like the Sorel Caribou…I know I’m comparing some performance pieces here… and we have the simple training shoes. I’m sure each looks goofy to a different market.
I think there’s a justified restraint on our part – bits like the New Balance 1300, PUMA Dallas and Nike Bongo that I grew up wanting were always in neutral shades. There’s a certain eloquence in the design language of drabness. People just want something they can wear straight out the box time and time again. In Japan Oshmans and United Arrows often implement that same approach to shoes time and time again and it pays dividends. Looking at the market, I think there’s more earthy or clean, tonal bits in favour. All black everything, the whole ‘Made In The USA’ craze etc. So Crooked’s forum heads were right all along! That new conservatism that crept into subcultures at street level globally just reinforces what they were saying years ago…
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