Nike ACG SS21 Collection – Drop 1
This Spring Nike introduce their latest collection of outdoors ready apparel as part of the iconic ACG line. Each item in the collection builds upon the legacy of the ACG line to form a range of earthy and subtle tones infused with tech such as Polartec fleece, Primaloft and GORE-TEX Infinium. The collection also draws strong inspiration from Nike’s HQ location of Oregon, where each new ACG line is tried and test in nearby forests and lakes to improve every single detail. With over 30 years of development and history to its name, the Nike ACG line began as an idea to move outside of Nike’s original realms of track and field inspired sportswear and venture into producing garments and footwear that would provide reliable protection and performance while tackling the ‘great outdoors’.
As always with Nike ACG, each collection is as functional as it is good looking – now merging the normal and expected offering of tees and crewneck sweaters is a line of all-terrain outerwear, pants and accessories perfect for hiking, climbing and biking. Whilst outdoors and tech wear continues to grow in popularity, the future for the ACG line is looking exceedingly bright.
Drop 1 of the Nike ACG SS21 Collection is online now.
adidas Originals “City Series” Madrid
adidas Originals continue their city series in 2021 arriving in the Spanish capital city of Madrid. Crafted from a rich tonal brown upper, this new release is based on the original and highly sought after Madrid-themed City Series releases of the ’70s and ’80s when the shoe became a terrace staple. Keeping with the vintage feel, the tumbled leather upper arrives in a brown colorway, which is then contrasted nicely with subtle detailing in a variety of tonal browns. The suede T-toe box overlay appears in a darker shade, whilst the classic Three Stripe branding appears in a lighter brown. This lighter tone also extends to the heel tab, the Madrid is then finished off nicely with the signature “City Series” gold foil branding on its side wall and tongue.
The adidas Originals “City Series” Madrid is online now.
A Closer Look At Hiroshi Fujiwara’s retaW
Launched in 2009 by Japanese cultural leaders Hiroshi Fujiwara and Daisuke Murakami – Aoyama, Tokyo based fragrance brand retaW (pronounced Ri-Tu) sets out to create deeply thought-out scents for you to immerse yourself in whether at home or on the go. Drawing heavily on the influence of music and culture, fragrances in the curated retaW line up are often made with a particular musician or record in mind, hinting at the particular notes contained in the scent, for example the Allen scent references British singer Lily Allen – who Hiroshi is known to be a fan of. retaW’s all-encompassing range features candles, hand washes, creams, fabric sprays, room hang tags, shampoos and more for a 360 lifestyle experience. The name retaW (water spelt backwards) was a symbol of Hiroshi and Daisuke wanting the brand to become as much of a part of your daily life and normal as drinking water is. With colognes and perfumes often seen as reserved for special occasions, retaW sets out to flip this, offering a range of thoughtful, not overly powerful scents that can fit into your everyday lifestyle seamlessly. In the same way we dress ourselves each day, retaW can be treated in a similar way to fashion and integrated into your daily life to enhance it.
With a storied presence dating back over 30 years in the industry, Hiroshi Fujiwara is commonly titled as the godfather of streetwear and for good reason. From being involved in the early days of Tokyo’s Harajuku scene in the late 80’s to now working on pivotal multi-brand global projects that touch all areas of contemporary style, street fashion and lifestyle goods – he has done it all. Running alongside fragment designs ongoing projects with brands such as Nike, Converse, Beats by Dre, Starbucks and even Pokemon, retaW is the fragrance arm of Hiroshi’s creative endeavours and often releases retaW/fragment collaborative products from time to time. Because retaW hails from Japan, all products are made in Japan using authentic high end Japanese ingredients, with intense thought and care involved in each step of the process – simply put, this what makes all the retaW fragrances so original. Drawing from Hiroshi’s talents in clothing and design with the help of Daisuke, retaW is able to touch upon 3 of the 5 senses – visual, tactile and scent, to create an all encompassing experience for the user. In addition to the timeless product concept and packaging, retaW’s unique physical retail presence is a place where design and function meet. Their Tokyo store for example, is vividly bright with white tiles and walls allowing for an easy shopping experience with products on offer in industrial style stainless steel display fridges, mimicking the style of a Japanese convini store.
Here at HIP, for our first delivery of retaW in conjunction with the launch of HIP Living, we chose to give our customers a wide range from retaW from the outset. Offering products that touch every room in your home along with your grooming routine, in a selection of staple scents such as Barney (soapy and fresh), Allen (rich floral and lily), Evelyn (citric and musky) and the HIP favourite Natural Mystic (spicy vanilla).
retaW – new to HIP living. Online now.
Re-Explore Your Home With Ferm Living
First beginning as a Danish graphic design studio started in 2005 by Trine Andersen – Ferm Living grew into a lifestyle brand out of the frustration of what was available at the time in the market. Producing extensive collections of ceramics, tea towels, cushions and more – Ferm Living blurs the lines between traditional Scandinavian taste and contemporary graphic design with an edge. In Trinie’s own words, the growth of the brand has been nothing short of a success story “Since then, the company has evolved into a leading Danish brand of design accessories and furniture for every room in your home. The range includes furniture, textiles, decorative objects, wallpaper, designs for the kitchen, bathroom and office”.
To understand Ferm Living more closely, it is important to understand Danish and Scandinavian culture as a whole. Know as a sub-region for having the best education, a stable economy and most happy population, this foundation has helped lead to a flourishing creative field, with designers from Scandinavia propelling to being leaders in their field. During the formative first decade for Ferm Living, Scandinavian design quickly began to rise on a global scale through both lifestyle goods and clothing, with brands such as Norse Projects, Wood Wood, Samsoe Samsoe, and Sun Buddies quickly gaining notoriety. With this strong recognition from customers and stores alike, it became clear the respect had for the design language and values held from this new, exciting melting pot. With retailers worldwide accepting the considered, minimal mindset with open arms, Scandinavian design is able to give a refreshing outlook on a often cluttered world. Speaking on the organic growth of the brand, Trinie explained “Products are sold in specialist design stores all over Europe – Ferm Living favours “honest” materials that have been used by craftsmen for millennia and prefers sustainable and organic alternatives where feasible”.
Alongside creating and following their unique design DNA, with ongoing ranges in each collection such as the Sekki series, which is based on rediscovering the magic of ancient manufacturing, Ferm builds each collection with their values as a base “Most important to me, however, is that Ferm Living reflects a set of values that we can be proud of. Our biggest ambition is, and has always been, to inspire people to create the kind of space that makes them feel comfortable, that allows them to be themselves in their own home” explains Trine.
Here at HIP, for our first delivery of Ferm Living in conjunction with the launch of HIP Living, we chose to give our customers the full Ferm experience from the beginning. Offering a wide range which encapsulates the brands DNA and design language fully, whether it be an investment piece or a small everyday accessory, there is something for everyone.
“A home, after all, is much more than a collection of beautiful objects – it’s the place where life happens.” – Trine Andersen, Ferm Living founder.
Ferm Living – new to HIP living. Online now.
