Be real, Glow-in-the-Dark anything has been the truth since as far back as you can remember. From stickers to t-shirts to your adulthood with the soles of the Air Yeezy’s and recently released AMBUSH x RSVP Gallery’s POW! chain. Berlin retailer No. 74 has previewed its upcoming release for the adidas Consortium campaign – a Campus 80 with Glow-in-the-Dark uppers. Big things are happening in 2010 so far with the Campus 80. Japanese designer Kazuki Kuraishi’s adidas Originals by Originals Spring 2010 collection in a blue/red and all black colorway are among the most recently memorable and these Campus 80′s are a worthy addition to the family. A well executed idea on a classic that will no doubt be equally memorable. To be released soon.

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Many people to this day are doing themselves a huge disservice by still looking at the original Red Tab label within the confines of the 5-hundred series jeans. If last years collaboration with Robert Geller yielded no change in opinion on your end, a quick browsing of Levi’s Japan‘s site should shake up perspectives for you. Unfortunately, like a lot of brands with origins in America that have made their way over to Japan, many releases never make the return trip to their native land. For whatever reason, this is the case for a lot of amazing products we firmly believe could do really well in select markets. Here’s hoping this is the end.

Levi’s Japan is out with the recent introduction of its New Originals range for Spring 2010, consisting of several denim pieces – part of their Packable & Adjustable line. Consisting of denim jackets and jeans with colorful splashes of yellow and red, each piece sports unique characteristics in the form of waterproofing and/or several adjustable features such a zip-off pant legs. Every piece has the ability to pack itself into its own bag, making it useful for some of us, and just plain neat for the rest of us. Now available through the Levi’s Japan e-shop.

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Surprisingly, despite last seasons affinity for the entire adidas Originals by Originals line up from Kazuki, not one of us ended up buying any piece in the end. Now back for their 3rd season, Japanese designer Kazuki is back again with strong streetwear pieces that are both highly detailed and highly technical. Our favorite from the previews we’ve spotted thus far have to be these technical pieces that remind us of a mix of North Face Purple Label and BAPE’s tartan plaids. Spring/Summer 2010 will be big.

Relative new comer in the game, Volta Footwear has been taking the dressier elements of your typical Italian-designed shoe and fusing them with a casual sneaker spirit, all in a unique Chukka-esque silhouette. While it’s rare that new comers specialize in only one model, in only their second year, Volta balances their mono-product approach with a wide array of different color options straight from Milan. These hybrid boot-sneakers were inspired by the footwear development of the last 50 years, which is why you’ll instantly get their retro vibe and timeless (yet very modern) lines. These are shoes simple, refined, made to be worn everyday and self-described as an “instant classic”.

We caught up with Volta’s Brand Director and one of their designers, Mauro Simionato, to find out more.

LH: What is the main inspiration behind the brand and the designs?

MS: We wanted to create some footwear to replace sneakers and boots. Better yet, we aimed for an evolution in footwear. Something to come after sneakers and boots. A third, new choice if you will. After so many years of “sneakers everyday and everyway”, we all got kind of sick of them, and started to look back to casual ankle boots, to our old pairs of Clark’s and Doc Marten’s. But at the same time, we got used to trainers, to the comfort and feeling. So we said to ourselves, “let’s make a pair of boots that look and wear like sneakers”. Anyways, we were not the first to have such a goal; Clarks did it already some 50 years ago.

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LH: How do you believe you differ from other independent footwear brands like Common Projects, Opening Ceremony, Gram?

MS: I think we basically have different missions and visions. We like all the three brands you mentioned, and we like many more from the independent scene, but I think few of them actually match Volta goals. We want to be an instant classic of footwear. Being instant classics doesn’t mean hitting the market very aggressively from the very beginning with a live or die attitude. You can become an instant classic on a slower, step-by-step based strategy. That is why at this early stage, we are linked to higher-end brands like Common Projects, Gourmet or Opening Ceremony, even though all of them have a more “stylish” profile, have a significantly higher price-point, and only partially share our target. We are honored to stand besides those brands, because it means the most critical side of the market accepted us as a new option. We are grateful for it and will keep on working hard to satisfy those who chose us first. Anyway, Volta will soon be asked to make some moves, moves an ‘instant classic’ is supposed to take, and we will have to be ready to take the best decisions at the best timing.

LH: Explain to us about the Special #777 project… do you envision doing more limited edition models? Collaborations with other brands/designers?

MS: Special #777 was made for our best customers around the world, as a nice gift, but nothing more. Though the 21-stores-only concept is good for creating buzz, we didn’t really expect to have such a interest around the special. It’s great to open the mailbox everyday and find official “claims” about when it will be out and why it’s not out yet, how many pairs available, when we will post on the website the store-list… Quickly, #777 will be distributed through 7 stores in Italy, 7 in Europe and 7 in the rest of the world. The final store-list will be published soon, and it’s amazing we’re very happy with it. Each store will have a 24 pair limited range, we produced approx 600 of them, so I hope the collectors will be happy! We would like to launch one special a season, we all like the idea, and as long as our customers react so lively, we will keep on doing it. On the other side, we are not big supporters of this “collab” thing going on. I think it is good to join the force of two players to get best results for both, but I am still attached to a wider concept of co-branding and co-marketing in genera. I still think it is a delicate thing and it has to come at the right stage and be done in the right way. So for now we say no to collabs, we want to wait to be a stronger brand in order to work with prestigious labels – but only when we’re ready.

LH: What makes the Italian fashion so unique? How does the “street” scene differ from Japanese, American or British style?

MS: I think there is no “unique” Italian street fashion scene. We have been forced all the way from 60s to look around/outside for new trends, especially to the UK and US. When it comes to classicwear, we have always been masters. We still are, and I hope we always will be. I think there could be a time, maybe not now, maybe not our scene nowadays, when Italian kids will mix anglo-american or scandinavian street style with a touch of italian class, like some Cheap-Mondays/H&M/American Apparel thing mixed with Napolitan hand-made shirts and moccasins. That would look good, and very different from common preppy styles. By the way we do not consider Volta as a street-wear brand, because our shoes are sold to 20 year old hipsters as much as to 50 years old casual, updated professionals. Our retailers are already very different, going from sneakers stores, to high-fashion boutiques to strong casual/denim stores. I think we are already sharing something with our “idols” like Clark’s, we dream to get to that level where you are not street, or casual, or fashion, fresh or old… but just “classic”. The desert boot is like that; we want to be the new desert boot. There is a street-wear scene in Italy, all over Italy -there’s always been, along with punk, mod, skin, rockabilly scenes, everywhere around the country, small towns, small groups, big passions. Even if it’s true, that the UK indie-wave of last years pushed streetwear forward to a wider teenage-crowd. Most Italian streetwear brands are based in Milan. We like Marios and February, Dead Meat, Pharmacy, and Vanguard. We also like Super Sunglasses, and Noodlepark. Good projects and good people behind.

LH: Your tagline is “instant classic”, what is the most ‘classic sneaker ever’ in your opinion? What one sneaker do you wish you designed?

MS: The most classic sneaker ever is probably Converse Chuck Taylor, the most classic boot ever is probably Clark’s desert-boot. We wished we designed both of them! But we are also satisfied, we put a little something from them inside Volta, as an inspiration, a tribute and love.

LH: How difficult is it for a brand like yourselves to break into the North American market?

MS: Though in Europe we are a fast growing brand, we are approaching the US market very slowly. We are conscious it will become one of our main markets, and we already have been in contact with few important players, but we still have concerns about brand-positioning on the one end, and retail price-point on another. We are in few independent stores like Revolve, Joyrich, Otte, Shoerepertoire and hopefully Gimmeshoes and ReedSpace before the end of the year. As a matter of fact, we are called only by highly selective stores. Our nature is to start from there and grow stronger with them as partners.

LH: Anything special on the horizon for Volta?

MS: The upcoming AW2010 will be a big collection, with a lot of great Italian fabrics and color combinations, we’re crazy about it. For first quarter 2010, we will launch another special, to be out by March. In May, we will be designing a special edition shoe for the German store Azita, to celebrate their 5th anniversary. We were very happy the Azita team selected us as special partners for the event, it’s a real pleasure for us. So look out for that!

Masaaki Honma is at it again, staying true to his punk-inspired designs and raw materials with this pea coat from Mastermind Japan. Admittedly  there has been an influx of streetwear labels doing their own version of the pea coat this season, but the distressed bands with white and gold printing on the upper left sleeve and right cuff are killing it in a way that nobody has yet. Granted, what could make this coat even better would be some seam sealing and all out weatherproofing as in Kazuki Kuraishi’s releases, for adidas O by O. Available here.

Chances are you feel the same way about leopard print as we do. The only problem is, when you’re killing it on every single piece in the outdoor clothing game this season like Kazuki Kuraishi for Adidas Originals by Originals and Neighborhood, you have to keep your preconceived notions on the back burner. Much like the previous releases, the jacket is a true outdoor piece, being fully waterproof thanks to Diaplax fabric and fully taped seems. The only thing missing is some added insulation for windchill days, but perhaps the leopard print is there on the sides to have you thinking about warmer climates. Available here.

We’ve really been blown away by the offerings from Adidas Originals by Originals for the Fall and Winter. Kazuki Kuraishi’s pieces for O by O are understated and still manage to combine superior functionality in regards to waterproof materials and seam sealing while not looking the part. All this combined with Japanese brand Neighborhood‘s military/technical/outdoor background and you’ve got this killer, all waterproof Peacoat. This classic naval silhouette starts off with the famous Peacoat design and adds a typically modern, Kuraishi twist with zip closure pockets and waterproof and breathable Diaplex construction.  The only branding you’ll find is an embroidered Adidas x NBHD logo on collar along with the famous three stripes on the wrist. While there have been several options of Peacoats available on the market season after season, it’s always nice to see one that’ll separate you from the pack of the big box brands.  It’s the perfect mix of old and new, form and function. Available here in very limited numbers.

If it weren’t for the title, we wouldn’t have known this was an adidas Originals by Originals, which is one of the reasons why we love it. The second being, it’s from Kazuki Kuraishi’s collection for O by O. The third being, it’s based off one of our favorite military-inspired jackets, the M-51 fishtail parka. For those that don’t know,  fishtail comes from the fact that the coat is longer at the back than it is at the front. And it’s MOD because in the 60′s, this style of jacket became popular in UK mod subculture because of their practicality, quality and relative cheapness making them ideal for surviving UK weather on their scooters. Other features on this Mod Parka include: Diaplex Waterproof construction, taped seams, Kazuki bat print liner, peaked hood and leather toggle adjusters. With the M-51′s roots dating back to 1951 and outfitting the U.S. Army during the Korean War, this jacket is as fit for the elements as it is at war with New York cabbies. Available here.

Detailed pictures worth seeing after the jump.

Adidas Original by Originals hosted a launch party the other evening for the David Beckham line designed by James Bond. The event was held at the Adidas space on Melrose in Los Angeles. DJ Muggs of the Soul Assassins provided the sounds while David Beckham and James Bond paraded the crowd to talk about the project. The space was dimly lit with cool concrete floors, white leather couches, plush carpet squares and small planter boxes filled with grass. Displayed alongside both walls were select pieces from the collection with every aspect of the line included. All items are now available at select Adidas locations and Adidas Original accounts worldwide.

More pictures of the event after the jump.

The Tanker lineup has been Head Porter‘s staple series since the 80′s and to this day shows no signs of letting up. Not only is the design timeless (as shown with their recent collaboration on the Adidas Originals Five-Two 3 Brand pack), but they’re continuously innovating their products to include models that meet the modern man’s needs. Say what you will about the Top Gun-inspiration e, but the MA-1 Bomber jacket inspired black-orange colorway works. The 100% Nylon Satin is exclusively made for Porter, and the bag features everything from double handles, shoulder straps and heavy duty zippers. The good folks at Head Porter even thought about durability by making it low-maintenance and abrasion resistant. The best feature by far (for us), is the bonus shoe bag, not only for the practicality of separating your white shirts and dirty soled shoes, but the well deserved credit for thinking of such a detail. The Head Porter Tanker Garment Bag is now available to North America at Blackbird.

We must admit we weren’t sure how to feel when UNDFTD‘s James Bond was tapped by adidas Originals by Originals to do a capsule collection for David Beckham. On one hand, UNDFTD has always put together solid collaborations. On the other, the pieces would have to live up to the hype of being associated to one of the world’s most recognizable athletes while staying true to the UNDFTD and Originals fan base. Upon seeing previews of the clothing collection of the adidas Originals by Originals x James Bond for David Beckham at the Project tradeshow in Las Vegas earlier this year with pieces in leather, cashmere, and silk, we had high hopes for the sneaker collection both in terms of design and materials. Arguably too high. In all honestly, we were a little disappointed with the previously released Marathon TR Mid and ZX 8000 (see them both after the jump). We found the Marathon TR Mid too rugged and aggresive for everyday wear, and the ZX 8000, one of our favorites from the late 80′s, felt a bit uninspired, despite the blue on blue mixed colorway and quality suede. The Official Mid an all leather mid cut of the original Stan Smith’s, is right on the money and exactly what we’ve been longing for. The best looking to date with releases in burgandy and white, both with yellow/gold accents, is a perfectly modernized take on a classic and now that we think about it, would look amazing with gold UNDFTD shoelaces.

Following the old adage; that less is more, this new Forum Tonal Pack by the good folks at Adidas Originals. Combining a plethora of different materials on the sneaker’s upper, from leather, to suede, through to mesh; the sneaker is available in a red, blue, green or a yellow colour way with a thick-crisp-white midsole. Adidas have produced both a low and mid shaped silhouette and have thrown in dual-coloured laces to boot.

Check out the other colors and READ MORE.

Since April, the Adidas 3Way project has already seen some of the most interesting takes on core Adidas Originals models in years. 3Way’s project brief was simple – 12 retailers from across-the-globe were split into 3 groups, roughly working by region, with each group given the same collection of five models to rework – Superstar, Stan Smith, Samba, Nizza and Forum. You know the Samba from its training shoe origins but you’ve never seen it like this. The onetime terrace favorite in its more outdoor-friendly silhouette (as opposed to the affordable, almost ubiquitous 5-a-side ‘flatter’ version) is also pretty bike-friendly. That’s a bonus in the era of fixed-gear mania, but made over with a shuttlecock inspiration via China’s ACU and Japan’s VA. That’s something very, very different, yet it makes a certain sense, seeing as this model could easily accommodate badminton too. The Samba is available exclusively at Crooked Tongues.

LTDHYPE’s look at the latest & the greatest sneakers dropped in the past week.

This week we look at the Jeremy Scott 3 Tongue Altitude for Adidas, Gravis Chuck LX, Pierre Hardy Footwear, H&M Hi-Tops, Vans’ collaboration with Captain Fin, Supra Vaiders, and some Nike Air Max 1′s.

Sneaker Hype Vol. 2 after the jump!

We all remember the Golden Wings release from a while back, well Jeremy Scott and Adidas Originals are at it again. As part of the Originals by Originals Collection, the 3 Tongue Altitude is another innovative design from Scott, who seems to keep pushing the boundaries of sneaker design which each release. While I find most of his sneaker releases to be a bit over-the-top and unwearable for the Average Joe, I do appreciate what he is doing to elevate the game. This black/yellow sneaker with 3 separate tongues should be out by August.

It’s good to see Gravis stepping up to the plate on this latest release of their Chuck LX’s, a Japanese exclusive with a run of only 25 pairs for each colorway. Picking up these sneakers will be as difficult as getting a Shepard Fairey print, but you can see why: quilted premium leather uppers in black and white with a zebra-print lining. Consider these the most luxurious Gravis kicks to ever be released. Available now at Size? (but not for long!).

Continuing on the luxurious theme, we bring you another high-end fashion player in on the sneaker game. First up, Pierre Hardy. Since 2006, the former creative director from Dior footwear has been dropping a high-end, high-top collection of sneakers. Using materials like very high quality suede, calf leather and patent lining, the materials are ‘new’ the design certainly isn’t. Available in the Fall, Selectism has a preview of the entire collection.

From high-end fashion to affordable option, the new high-top sneaker from H&M’s Fall/Winter 2009 lineup should be a welcome addition to anyone’s collection. With all the looks of its high-fashion second cousins, the all black leather sneaker has patent leather and canvas highlights, and some nice waxed laces. Listen, as with all of H&M’s gear, the workmanship will not be high-end, perhaps even far from it. But when you’re spending 1/10th the amount on a pair of these, you can afford to pick up a few and still come out on top. What’s important is the look, and these bad boys are looking great. Keep an eye out for these this Fall at all H&M locations.

I wouldn’t be anywhere without a trusty pair of Vans by my side. They always tend to score some great collabs as well, like this one with surfing company Captain Fin. Releasing 2 new shoe models and a couple of t-shirts, the Raglan (featured above) is the standout. Designed by Alex Knost, it’s a simple canvas sneaker featuring an embroidered Captain Fin logo. Vans even has a contest up to win a pair, so why not try your luck?

Everyone loves a Supra high-top, I’ve even seen Slash rocking a pair. The Supra Vaider needs to be at the top of the list when it comes to ‘must-have’ Supras, and the upcoming Fall release of more colorway just emphasizes this point. The Midnight black/blue version is as mysterious and sexy as it gets, but I’m still high on the TUF Black Tape colorway as well. You just can’t go wrong with any of these. Available this Fall from Supra.

Last but not least, the moonwalk inspired Nike Air Max 1′s celebrate the upcoming lunar landing anniversary (July 20th) with intricate detail and precision. Featuring a mesh and leather upper, with hints of spaceship silver and a lone, gold lace-eyelet, the sides are textured with details reminiscent of the moon’s surpface. Available at Grip,  click through to see pics on the level of detail on this shoe.

Another release from adidas Originals features the classic 80′s Stan Smith sneakers done up by New York based Alife Rivington Club (A.R.C.). And you thought St. Patrick’s day was over. Wrong. Available here.

Alyasha Owerka-Moore, world famous fashion designer and creator of Alphanumeric and FiberOps has been given free reign by Adidas’ Originals by Originals to create the Werecat. It is a very premium midcut in all white leather and they somehow managed to get the crepe gum sole edge look while still using the classic superstar thread base. Available here.

The Originals by Originals series is a brand new collection designed by Kazuki. The K Jobb (featured above) is definitely not your average-looking Adidas shoe; vintage leather, perforated 3-stripe detail, and ObyO signature Kazuki labels. Possibly the most stylish Adidas’ you have ever laid your eyes upon. Take a closer look at the KJobb as well as the MT Hybrid Boot and Gore-Tex ZXZ after the jump.

Available here.

Here it is!

Big ups to adidas for letting us have it first as an LH exclusive. Stay tuned for pics from the set of this shoot on the Flickr stream.

UPDATE: For those of you wondering about the song – Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ “Beggin’” (by DJ Pilooski)

The start of something big, I can assure you…