I Dig Your Sole Man

Bowl-A-Rama; Sydney

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

This weekend saw Bondi come alive when the skate world illuminati rolled into town.

As bowl comps go they don't come much bigger than the Vans Bondi Bowl-A-Rama, so I was on site to take a peek at just what it is that makes Bowl-A-Rama so popular, why the event attracts such a diverse and loyal following, and how Vans are still rocking it from the skate park to the high st.
It was a great day and whether you were there or not I hope this helps you get into the Bowl-A-Rama vibe.

Stink for the Arctic - Feb 27th

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

I love a good cause and if you're looking to help raise awareness of something we can all help with then please spread the world about tomorrow being 'Stink for the Arctic' day.
The Spirithoods Tribe are known for their quirky approach to accessories all inspired by great animals, and wild creatures don't come much greater than the Polar Bear.
We all know that it's an animal whose future is uncertain, but we can all help in trying to protect it by taking part in this great campaign.
Click on the pic above for more info.

Behind The Brand; Sneaker Freaker

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

One of the mecca's of the urban style world/global sneaker community is Sneaker Freaker magazine. The iconic publication is a leading light in sneaker style, and I was lucky enough to be invited to their HQ in Melbourne to check out the surroundings of an office that oozes with inspiration wherever you look.

In 10 years the mag has become nothing short of a revelation and it's all down to Founder and Editor Woody (see 2nd pics) whose tireless dedication has made him and his work an international phenomenon. He's also a top bloke and spent time chatting with me about everything from the sneaker world, to photography and my embarrassing moment with an Australian cricket great (don't ask!).

if you're not a Sneaker Freaker subscriber yet then shame on you, but I urge you to check it out, and above are some shots behind the scenes of the fantastic publication.

Half Cab - Happy Birthday; Sydney

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Last week saw the celebrations rolled out for a classic Reebok kick (see here) and this week see's Vans light up the birthday candles as they celebrate 20 years of their classic kick, the Half Cab.
This week see's Bowl-A-Rama roll into Bondi, an annual skating celebration that brings the biggest, baddest and best things on 4 wheels to the iconic Sydney bowl. The event is a showcase for Vans close relationship with the skating world, and the brand started the festivities in style with last night's party that marked the start of a week of skating loveliness.
If you're in town this weekend make sure you head to Bondi on Saturday for the 2012 Bowl-a-Rama, I hope to see you there!

Melbourne's Looking Up Pt 2 (In B&W)

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:00:00 +0000

Melbourne's Looking Up Pt 1

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

When you spend all day looking down at people's feet, it's sometimes nice to look up and check out some of the detail that makes each city so unique.
Melbourne is particularly interesting in this respect as glances skywards will not only reward you with the sight of interesting architecture (residential, business and commercial) but also a mainstay of the Melbourne skyline; Tramlines. Trams run like a series of arteries through the city and are integral to keeping this fascinating city moving.

Creative Recreation AW12 Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:00:00 +0000

Creative Recreation is a Californian footwear brand that launched in 2002 in an attempt to fill the trouble zone of the sneaker world; the professional sneaker!
The whole smart/casual area can be murky territory with footwear leaning too much one way or the other to be the ideal shoe to wear for work meetings and then the pub, so the Creative Rec founders (who both come from established careers in the shoe game) have put some thoughtful product forward for 2012 that they claim offers 'shoes for life with style'.
I was given a sneak peek at the brand's collection which is in stores and online now, and the brand have some interesting silhouettes and colourways on offer that could sharpen up any look - check it out.

Boxfresh AW12 Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

The UK menswear brand Boxfresh is due to undergo something of a rebirth in 2012, and I was lucky enough to be invited to get an exciting preview of some of the brand's new footwear and apparel lines.
The brand's name (according to Wikipedia) refers to the early hip hop term where hot sneakers were 'Boxfresh' if they were hot when they were fresh out of the box, and from what I saw of the brand's new collection there were some fresh pieces indeed.
Above are my picks, and I loved the brand's return to basics with simple yet interesting cuts in the apparel and some playful twists on classic shoe styles.
Boxfresh will be making some big noises in 2012 with some key peices starting to drop in Australia in March so check them out if you're looking to freshen you up your wardrobe.

Geordie Took a Punt on a Pint; Melbourne

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Geordie is a new convert to New Balance after picking up these 'The Red Lion' 574's in the Xmas sales.
The shoe was part of the 2011 The Pub Pack which offered the classic 576 silhouette in 3 styles all inspired by some classic UK pub names, and in addition to these shoes he also picked up the iconic Blue leather 'The Kings Head' style too.
He wasn't too familiar with NB before his impulse purchase but is now a complete convert due to the mix of comfort, quality and style and would be welcome in any pub in town!

Happy Birthday Dear Workout, Happy Birthday To You

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

I hate to say it but...I told you so!

Some time ago I made the insightful prediction that big things were going to come from Reebok and their iconic back catalogue of shoes. Their back catalogue features some truly iconic silhouettes and while the brand's popularity may have dipped in some quarters over recent years, it's definitely a sleeping giant ready to wake again!

It's hard to believe that The Workout; a Reebok shoe that made an indelible mark on sneaker history is 25 years old, and to mark the special occasion Sneakerology threw a party to celebrate the shoe's coming of age and I was lucky enough to grab an invite to check out the store, some great limited edition Workout colourways, and the cool Reebok loving crowd.

If you're looking to do some retail therapy this weekend you could do far worse than pick up a pair of the classic shoes and play your part in ensuring it's around for at least another 25 years.

Behind The Brand; New Balance

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Following on from Monday's post, today is a chance to get up close and personal with a fascinating sneaker story from a key industry insider.

As many of you will know, my background is in the TV industry where I have worked as a Producer, Writer and Director for a number of years. This background has given me a desire to expand on the video content of the site with meatier content in 2012, and something I will be looking to pursue is my ‘Behind The’ series which will take you behind the scenes of some interesting style and sneaker based peeps that I reckon have an interesting story to tell.

To start things off I’m taking you ‘Behind The Brand’ of a brand that I know a lot of you love; New Balance. I was lucky enough to sit down with Ryan Jones, the brand’s Australian Lifestyle Manager to hear NB’s story from the inside.

Please send your feedback and comments on what I hope will be an enlightening series through 2012.

Cheers

Sole Digger

Melbourne's Walls Are Alive Pt 4

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Louie; Melbourne

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Louie is a truely global sneaker story. He's from Columbia, but now lives in Melbourne. He's a fan of the French brand Lacoste and was recently delighted to pick up these new shoes online from the US.
As you can see Louie takes great pride in his appearance with a neat approach based on extreme colour co-ordination that he applies to even the most routine of situations.
His new Lacoste's tipped off a well thought out look that was used merely to get to work for his job as a barman. It's a lot of effort for little reward as when he gets to work he has to change into a uniform, but nothing gets him ready for work like feeling good and comfortable on the way.

Melbourne's Walls Are Alive Pt 3

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

What The Insiders Wear; New Balance

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

I’ve been documenting the footwear of everyday people for a couple of years now and it's led to me meeting and working with some fascinating people involved with the sneaker/fashion industries.

It's always interesting to see what these industry insiders wear, so I thought it was a chance to start documeting what those in the know step out in.

First up is one of the nicest peeps around; Ryan Jones, New Balance Australia's Lifestyle Manager. Ryan and I first made contact about 18 months ago and have stayed in touch since and it's been great working with him and his brand as they go from strength to strength to strength.

He is currently rocking these classic 1500's from the Made in England 1500 pack. Many sneakerheads in Australia had been waiting for these shoes to drop (especially in this colourway which tips it's cap to the original 1500s) last year and Ryan was one of them, and he has struggled to take them off since.

Bale Speaks; Melbourne

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Paul aka. Bale is a man making a real splash on the Melbourne scene with his raw street style.
Not only is he a key voice and face behind the group Hedge Burners, but he's also responsible for running an educational programme to help Melbourne's youth as he shows how public art can help bring people together.
I met him while he was spicing up Melbourne's iconic Laneways with a fresh piece of art, and wearing his beloved Nike 180s which he claims are the perfect shoe for painting and running (you can decide for yourself whether this means for exercise, or from the law!).
He treated me to a verse from Hedge Burners latest single 'Never Get Off The Boat' - video above, pics below - enjoy!

Melbourne's Walls Are Alive Pt 2

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Meet Miss Monochrome Melbourne (X2)

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

There's a common held belief that Melbourne-ites wear lots of black. Personally, I'm not so sure that's still true as much as it used to be, but Tiffany and Erin are doing their best to keep Melbourne's chic black reputation intact!

The girls work together, and dress very much alike, rocking a punk meets monochrome look that they both like to punctuate with Vans.

They each told me that they are both Vans girls, and rep Melbourne with their look that combines everything that makes Melbourne so great; personality and edge.

Melbourne's Walls Are Alive Pt 1

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Mr Simple; Melbourne

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

It's an exciting time for menswear in Australia with a number of brands and stores popping up catering for the demand for chic and quality clothing at affordable prices.

One company who are doing it right are Mr Simple, an Australian brand who make quality classic timeless designs. There's an old adage that states the best way to do something is simple and well, and in their new Melbourne store they have done the (Mr) Simple thing very very well indeed.

Warm, inviting, and wholesome, the store embodies the great Mr Simple line as well as a number of other select brands that tie in with the store's ethos of great timeless design. Footwear is covered by New Balance, Clarks and Vans (to name just 3 brands), Herschel represent backpacks and bags, and there are also fantastic accessories from the likes of AIAIAI, Sabre, Casio, Nixon and Bellroy.

There are also some great vintage pieces in the store too so I urge you to pay them a visit, or check them out online here.

Nico; Melbourne

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

As you can see Nico likes to look different.

He doesn't wear sneakers often (these are in fact his only pair) but when he puts on his All Stars he likes them to look different so instead of using 1 pair of laces in each shoe, he uses 2 to create different lacing styles.

Brunswick St Statue; Melbourne

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Something about this guy made me smile.

Sperry Happy; Melbourne

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

These shoes were hot off the press William had only just picked them up from the sales at a hot price!
We only had a couple of minutes to talk as he was in a rush to jump on a tram, but we had enough time for me to find out that the shoes are from the US brand Sperry, and their owner takes great pride in his footwear collection which mostly comprises of Chukkas and boat shoes and he had been hoping to add some Sperry's to his collection for some time.
I have to admit that I hadn't heard of the brand before, but after some research can tell you that Sperry claim to have invented the original boat shoe, with the American brand's clean and timeless designs making a seamless transition from the world of sailing to the sidewalk (my words, not theirs...or Wikipedias).
The shoes work well with his contemporary Melbourne style, and I dare say this won't be the last I see of Sperry shoes.

Skater In Motion; Melbourne

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

A quick flash and he was gone, but I clocked enough to pick up this skater and his retro Puma's from the First Round 'Soda Pack'. The shoes were originally released in 2009 and the colourway is designed to represent Diet Coke (other colourways were released for Coca-Cola, Sunkist, Sprite).
He may have been quick but I saw enough to give you the lowdown!

Dreaming of New York; Melbourne

noreply@blogger.com (Sole Digger) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

While many people’s shoes make a statement about their style, Bridget’s footwear was chosen to represent her hopes and dreams for the future.

In fact Bridget didn’t buy these shoes with any stylistic reasoning, instead, Bridget picked up these A Lifes for one simple reason; she one day wants to go to New York and the shoes were chosen to take her one step nearer to that dream.

The shoes work well to counter her feminine style, and with A Life’s being an embodiment of iconic New York sneaker design when she does eventually get to the Big Apple Bridget has the perfect footwear for Manhattan.