Published by Swiss James on 01 Jul 2008 at 10:00 am
Shoe Tuesday: My adidas
<cue Shoe Tuesday music>
There’s a shop on Changle Lu called ACU (hey that rhymes!) - I’ve mentioned it before, but that was in the days before Shoe Tuesday- or “BST” as I call it.
The owner looks like the type of guy who should be taking young American boys under his wing and teaching them the mysteries of old Kung-Fu. Except he wears a hat that reads “We Are The Sub Culture” and fake pink leopardskin Nike hi-tops.
The genius of this place is that a third of the stuff in there isn’t even for sale
“That one is just a sample. Made from organic hemp”
“Yeah? When’s it coming out?”
“Oh it shall never be released to the public”
etc.
Another third are plain leather shoes or hand towels made by brands you’ve never heard of that sell (well, probably don’t sell) for 3,500RMB. Which leaves 5 or 6 items that are reasonably priced and actually look good.
This marketing genius is how I ended up with a pair of black adidas covered in a tomato print (to commemorate a festival in Spain), a Duck-egg blue cordorouy hat that cost the same as two weeks rent on my house back in Manchester, and now these bad boys:
They’re a collaboration between adidas and Pringle; Britain and Germany hand in hand. Just like when me and my buddy Fabien destroy everyone at Table Football in The Beaver.
God save das Queen!
Do you wash all your shoes in the bath while attached to your feet, or only the prized ones?
It must be some sort of new GREEN initiative…Brilliant!
Those plain leather shoes and towels are by Visvim which are an amazing Japanese brand. I don’t like their native american inspired stuff, but their leather sneakers are amazing. (Not worth the price though - especially when you can get them in HKG for about 800 RMB cheaper per pair).
I know, I owe a shoe Tuesday stack of photos including my NikeIDs which have been in for about 6 weeks.
WoAi- actually I think if I get them wet, they’ll be properly ruined, all of the material would fall off.
njd- they had some recycled shoes in that shop actually- adidas Grun range, they’re the ones that are made out of hemp and recycled rubber.
T- yeah the duck-egg blue cordorouy cap is Visvim too! I don’t see what’s so amazing about the brand though, and their plain black shoes are just dull.
Still waiting for those Nike IDs…..
If they can’t get wet then I guess you won’t be wearing them in Shanghai (except in the bath tub), the wettest city in the galaxy!
I bought a little mackintosh for each shoe so I’ll be OK.
Anyone having visa renewal problems?
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-chinavisas1-2008jul01,0,7351752.story
I can see a lot of pink in those reflections Swizzel, you’re on dodgy ground here
I dare you to post them on the propermag forum….
Dingle - James knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s always been a bit of an exhibitionist.
Jin- yes, everyone is. It’s a tough time to be a laowai
dingle- it’s like one of those ink blot tests, you see what you want to see
Neil- done!
WoAi- Emma says I’m not quite an attention whore, but definitely an attention stripper
Your shoes are awesome. The colours are great…
Just wanted to let you know…
SJ - Super high quality materials. Super premium design and thought put into each sneaker. I know a bunch of Nike and adidas guys - and they’re all unabashed Visvim fans.
(The ACU price point is absurdly high though - they’re much cheaper in Visvim shops - though still not cheap)
You know, I have a kilt that would match those perfectly which doesn’t fit me anymore if you’re interested….
Call for help! James has fallen and can’t get up!
Do they have any in fuchsia and sage?
I prefer retro Nike shoes or the ones that reebok have done recently.
T- I still don’t get it, maybe I’ll have a closer look at them next time
Canadian Mark- can I wear it with my argyle socks?
R- It was OK in the end, no-one washed me down the plughole
dingle- send me the colour swatches and I’ll ask around for you
shopgirl- reebok?!
What does retro mean, second hand? bit minging that isn’t it?
dingle- yeah, she buys shoes off women outside Shanghai Railway Station. They’re OK once you pick all of the old elastoplasts and bits of dead skin out of them.
Do locals wear shoes in their showers?
that’s not so bad, you can rinse the elastoplasts and re-use them, the dead skin can be shaken out and used as parmesan cheese
re-used elastoplasts are in fashion these days anyway, ch-ch-ch-check it out:
http://www.siyansshanghai.com/uploaded_images/DSCF7174-704121.JPG
Colin, I’m not sure about that, they did in Korea but I don’t know about here. Will ask.
They are some wicked awesome shoes.
However, we here at Ladies’ Legs R Us do not believe it was entirely necessary for you to have gone quite so far as to shave your legs in order to highlight said wicked awesomeness.
Was just in Shanghai for the first time and decided to check out ACU. Pretty cool shop, they have some pretty limited trainers in there. Also check out a place called “source” they also have some slick adidas and nikes. Too bad its next to impossible to get a US 11 in china. If only I was a 10.5
that’s a good point Liam, maybe these are Emma’s legs??
James please I’m having my breakfast and now that cheese pastry doesn’t taste so good!
There is hair there, it’s just of a soft and delicate (but not ginger) nature that doesn’t show up much in photographs.
squidiot- yeah you won’t have much luck looking for that size I’m afraid. Luckily my average UK 9 plates are well catered for.
Did you check out the Nike ID shop at the junction of Nanjing Dong Lu and Xizang (Tibet) Lu? I’m guessing they’ll make any size and design to order.
Those have to to be the finest shoes I’ve seen all year.
Probably intercepted on their way to Snoop Dogg’s golf wardrobe.