The Fader’s 50th issue, an encyclopedia of sorts of their past 50 issues, hits newsstands today…dope cover and all. Its available for free through iTunes, RSS, and also in PDF form.

Soviet fashion is on the come up. The NY Times talks with the “Commissar of Soviet Kitsch”, Denis Simachev.

…Young and trendy Muscovites are in the throes of nostalgia for the staples of Soviet childhoods, relics of a time when the U.S.S.R. was at the height of superpower status.

That may explain why one of the most popular fashion designers this fall is Denis Simachev, who is selling overcoats fastened with hammer-and-sickle buttons, gold jewelry minted to look like Soviet kopecks and shirts festooned with the Soviet coat of arms, complete with embroidered ears of wheat.

“People in their 30s see these kinds of symbols as reminders of happy memories, like going to pioneer camp where they lived together, ate breakfast together and played sports,” said Mr. Simachev, 33, who wears his hair in a Samurai-style ponytail. He insists he is no Communist — for one thing, his overcoats sell for about $2,100 and his T-shirts for about $600.

(via NY Times)

Gil sits down with Mobolaji Dawodu, of Fader TV, to talk music, kicks, and hoops.

(via The Fader)

More Streetwear madness.
As I’ve said before, I’m no longer surprised or amused by some of the things coming out of the streetwear game today, but these two shirts definitely caught me off guard. They are, to say the very least, interesting. I’ll just leave it at that…*smh*

(via hypebeast)

Torrel Harris Sr., pioneer of the reversible NBA warm-up suit, is the first African-American to be licensed by the NBA and NFL to create fashionable apparel. Recently he teamed up with Japan’s third largest company, Nintendo, to launch the video games giant’s new apparel line, which aims directly for the urban streetwear market. The line debuted last week in New York’s Nintendo World Store to much fanfare…

I can’t knock the guy’s hustle, afterall, there’d be no reversible NBA warm-up suits without him (don’t laugh, yo…I’m serious). Just take this for what it is. In the meantime peep the full lineup here.

(via all hip hop)

At this point, I’m no longer surprised or amused by the “wackness” that some of these street wear/t-shirt labels are flooding the streets with today. Just peep this story out of Los Angeles, where one group has made a mentally ill, homeless man the “face” of their up and coming street wear/t-shirt label. Along with a few “original” catchphrases (e.g. No Money, No Problems), the man’s face appears on a collection of t-shirts and sweatshirts, which range in price from $33 to $75. The real kick here, the man gets %5 of the label’s profits, food and drawing paper.

(via WSJ)

Skateboarding leaves the suburbs, hits the hood. This news doesn’t come as a total surprise. The “Skateboard P” Effect has been visible for quite some time now. Interesting article though. Peep.

(picture taken from article)

“A Documentary About Air Jordan’s & The People Who Love Them”

This film is about the cultural icon/phenomenon known as “The Air Jordan”. Many films have been made about sneaker culture, collectors and their love for various footwear, however, this film is going to showcase the show that started it all! It will capture die-hard Air Jordan fans in all their glory.

I’ll have to take a late pass on this one. There’s no word on an actual release date, but in the meantime, have a look at the trailer. With all the lame happenings in sneaker culture right now, there’s definitely a need for a film like this…a history lesson of sorts for the “hype kids”. Anyhow, there’s more info to be had here.