Fracap – Crafted Exclusively For HIP
For this season HIP have partnered with Fracap on a selection of bespoke colourways, with unique upper, sole and hardware combinations.
We had the pleasure of visiting Fracap’s Monteroni factory in Italy to see and talk through the process of constructing our collection. We met with third generation shoemakers Antonio and Michele Cappello and their factory of skilled workers at the label’s historic home.
Fracap is an Italian family-run shoe business that has passed through generations, always staying true to its roots. The label’s origins date back to 1908 when the Grandfather of the family Antonio Capello first hand-crafted a pair of shoes. Despite closing when Antonio left for the Great War, the business garnered a reputation for crafting durable and resilient shoes. Fracap evolved constantly throughout the 20th century: first when Antonio’s sons took over in the ’40s and experimented with new designs and welt techniques, and secondly when the next family generation designed a military collection for the Italian Army and Air Force.
Still to this day Fracap is based in Monteroni, a small town in Puglia where the Grandfather first started the business. At that time the area was dubbed “scarpa pulita” (clean shoe), referencing the artisan shoe trade it had become known for. Centering production and design in Monteroni has allowed Fracap to “spread the energy and beauty of our place in the shoes we make with our hands”.
Fracap – Crafted Exclusively For HIP – online now.
Nike Air Max 97 ‘Gold Bullet’
In line with the upcoming launch of the Nike Air Max 97 ‘Gold Bullet’, at HIP HQ we spent time looking at the history of this iconic silhouette.
Who Designed The Air Max 97?
The Air Max 97 is one of defining designs that makes up legendary Nike designer Christian Tresser’s vast portfolio of hit sneakers over the years. First entering Nike’s Beaverton HQ in ’97, Tresser developed classics like the Spiridon, and was even the brain behind the Mercurial football boot – famously debuted by Ronaldo at the 1998 World Cup. Tresser’s innovation marked the progressive mood of the era, as he pushed forward technical features like 360-degree 3M reflective piping and full-length Air bag units.
History Of The Air Max 97
During the ’90s Nike’s sneakers combined fashion with functional design – taking inspirations from everyday life and our natural world. At the forefront of this intersection was Tresser’s Air Max 97. The first ever AM 97 was the iconic ‘Silver Bullet’. The shoe was commonly thought to take its inter-connected shape from Japanese bullet trains, but was actually referencing the contours of water ripples. Whilst its metallic colour was inspired by the aluminium finishes seen on mountain bikes. The evolutionary aesthetic of this shoe would change the sneaker world forever.
The Air Max 97 ‘Gold Bullet’
In 1999 the AM 97’s lineage continued with the ‘Gold Bullet’. In 2023 Nike is re-issuing this futuristic silhouette, which still looks ahead of its time today. Arriving in a ‘Metallic Gold’ colourway, the shoe keeps all of the original features that makes it so iconic: a visible full-length Air unit, wavy panels finished with a 3M reflective taping and a hidden lace system.
The Nike Air Max 97 ‘Gold Bullet’ is online now.
HIP Streetwear Selections
Recently at HIP we selected some of our favourite styles from our latest Streetwear Edit – showcasing interesting labels from around the world that are garnering attention in the streetwear space. Explore clothing styles from Carhartt WIP, Needles, Stüssy, Fucking Awesome, Awake NY, Museum of Peace & Quiet and FrizmWORKS, as well as footwear options from New Balance, Nike, ASICS, Fracap and Converse.
HIP Streetwear Selections – online now.
New Balance Rainier – Presented By HIP
First released in the 1980s, the New Balance Rainier Boot makes a welcome return for 2023 after spending decades stashed in the archives. Staying true to the silhouette’s original roots, the Rainier returns with the same rich leather and textile upper, complimented with durable metal hardware and unique debossed branding to the sidewall. The addition of a responsive midsole and grippy Vibram outsole adds further stability and comfort to this gem from the archives.
The New Balance Rainier Boot is online now.
