Lifestyle2 min(s) read
Published 08:45 10 Oct 2019 GMT
Despite their divisive marketing campaign with Colin Kaepernick, Nike still appears to be the ultimate trendsetters when it comes to sneakers. From Air Max to Air Jordans, Nike is the must-have footwear apparel for anyone who is anyone.
However, despite the fact this latest range of footwear may sound a little too farfetched to ever be considered a success, the Daily Mail has reported that these unique $3,000 trainers sold out in "minutes" - proving people really will buy anything with the trademark Nike tick on.
Dubbed "Jesus Shoes", these sneakers were created and launched by Brooklyn-based company MSCHF, Fox News has reported (it is important to note that Nike played no part in designing or releasing this faithful footwear).
As you'd probably guess from the name, these limited edition sneakers give people the opportunity to "walk in Jesus' shoes", as they are not only filled with 60cc holy water that has been sourced from the Jordan River, but they have also been blessed by an unnamed priest.
[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ZqXZiFtA9/]]
MSCHF started by taking a pair of the ever-popular Nike Air Max 97s and giving them a very spiritual reimagining. The company then filled the transparent air-filled sole with holy water, that had been colored to make it more visually striking.
And this religious revamp has earned the sneakers a staggering $3,000 price tag - holy shhhhhh-oes.
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/StockXSneakers/status/1181670451367567360]]
The unique religious markings include a verse from the Bible (Matthew 14:25), a single blood drop to represent the blood of Christ, and a crucifix threaded onto the laces of one of the shoes. The sneakers also have a red insole, which is meant to represent the red Papal shoes that were traditionally worn outside by the Pope (this was until the current Pope, Pope Francis, decided to start donning black footwear instead).
Here's an in-depth unboxing of the sneakers:
[[youtubewidget||https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxTYR6LXmAw]]
The soles of the sneakers are also scented with frankincense, a nod to one of the gifts given to Jesus Christ on his birthday (although, I think I'd have preferred the gold.)
[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/B3YTYgslBM7/]]
Speaking to the New York Post, MSCHF's head of commerce revealed that the sneakers were not created to spread spirituality, but instead mock the "absurdity of collab culture". Daniel Greenberg said:
"We thought of that Arizona Iced Tea and Adidas collab, where they were selling shoes that [advertised] a beverage company that sells iced tea at bodegas So we wanted to make a statement about how absurd collab culture has gotten.
"We were wondering, what would a collab with Jesus Christ look like?"
In order to drum up some interest and intrigue, MSCHF then collaborated with a few celebrities and influencers prior to releasing the trainers for purchase on popular sneaker resale website StockX.
After selling out in just "minutes", you'll struggle to find a pair for yourself, as only 24 pairs of the unique sneakers were created. You can check out the sneaker's official site here.
2 min(s) read
.webp_vBqgAR?tr=cr-242.0.1293.1051,f-webp,q-70,w-1024)
1 min(s) read
4 min(s) read
celebrity3 min(s) read
Published 12:47 31 Mar 2021 GMT
Nike has launched a lawsuit over rapper Lil Nas X's brand new range of so-called 'Satan Sneakers.'
According to BBC News, the controversial shoes have provoked outrage among conservatives, religious groups, and parents due to their unconventional design, which evokes Satanic imagery.
The black and crimson modified Nike Air Max 97s retail for $1,018 and feature an inverted cross, a pentagram, as well as a single drop of human blood in the soles, donated by members of the art collective MSCHF.
The shoes also bear the legend "Luke 10:18", a reference to a verse from the New Testament of the Bible, which states: "And he said unto them, 'I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.'"
However, Nike claims that the 666 pairs of shoes, which were recently released by the musician in collaboration with the Brooklyn-based collective, constitute an infringement of their brand's copyright.
According to court documents from the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the sportswear giant states in its lawsuit:
"MSCHF and its unauthorized Satan Shoes are likely to cause confusion and dilution and create an erroneous association between MSCHF's products and Nike."
It continues:
"There is already evidence of significant confusion and dilution occurring in the marketplace, including calls to boycott Nike in response to the launch of MSCHF's Satan Shoes, based on the mistaken belief that Nike has authorized or approved this product."
Indeed, some Christian commenters have taken offense at the shoes, and have taken to social media to voice their outrage.
For example, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem wrote in a tweet on March 28, "Our kids are being told that this kind of product is, not only okay, it's 'exclusive.'
"But do you know what's more exclusive? Their God-given eternal soul. We are in a fight for the soul of our nation. We need to fight hard. And we need to fight smart. We have to win. [sic]"
Meanwhile, South Carolina-based televangelist pastor Mark Burns wrote in a tweet of his own: "These #SatanShoes by #Nike & #LilNasX with 666 and a drop of human blood in the sole is a reason why we Christians must be prayed up ready to battle in the spirit with the Voice of the Holy Spirit.
"This is evil & heresy and I pray that Christians rise up against this."
In response to the controversy, Lil Nas X, (real name is Montero Lamar Hill), posted a video to his official YouTube account entitled "Lil Nas X Apologizes for Satan Shoe."
The video begins with an apparently-sincere apology, but then cuts to a scene from the rapper's new music video, 'Montero (Call Me By Your Name)'.
He then responded to the backlash personally in a tweet made on March 27, writing: "i spent my entire teenage years hating myself because of the shit y’all preached would happen to me because i was gay.
"so i hope u are mad, stay mad, feel the same anger you teach us to have towards ourselves. [sic]"
weird2 min(s) read
Published 10:35 31 Mar 2021 GMT
The creator of Lil Nas X's controversial 'Satan Sneakers' has spoken out about whose blood is actually inside the shoe.
In case you've been off the internet for the past week, rapper Lil Nas X has found himself in a spot of bother.
After collaborating with Brooklyn art collective MSCHF to create a collection of modified Nike Air Max 97s, the rapper finally released 666 pairs into the world on Monday.
Costing $1,018, the sneakers sold out in under a minute, per BBC News.
And as well as sporting an inverted cross, a pentagram, and the words "Luke 10:18" - a reference to the Bible passage: "So He told them, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven'" - the sneakers also contain a drop of human blood in the soles.
The footwear line was released to coincide with Lil Nax X's latest track, 'Montero (Call Me By Your Name)', which dropped on YouTube on Friday.
However, as you can imagine, the Satanic branding of the sneakers has led to heavy backlash from conservatives, parents, and religious groups.
Governor Kristi Noem tweeted earlier this week: "Our kids are being told that this kind of product is, not only okay, it's "exclusive." But do you know what's more exclusive? Their God-given eternal soul.
"We are in a fight for the soul of our nation. We need to fight hard. And we need to fight smart. We have to win."
Now, per the Independent, the creator of the sneakers, Daniel Greenberg, has revealed whose blood is actually in the sole of the shoe.
Speaking to Complex, Greenberg revealed that the blood came from the designers themselves - and that there is none of Lil Nas X's DNA in the sneaker.
However, Greenberg was fairly tight-lipped on how the blood was actually extracted from the "donors", and instead explained: "Not the best way, to say the least.
"I could tell you; it’s just kind of graphic. But, like, not by any means a good way of doing it."
Well, now I've got even more questions...
Nike has since denied any involvement with the creation or release of the sneakers and has filed a lawsuit against MSCHF for trademark infringement.
entertainment1 min(s) read
Published 11:32 16 Jul 2019 GMT
We all know the struggle of running late, and being completely unable to locate a clean pair of socks. I mean, depending on what you're wearing, you can't leave the house without them, and trainers without socks? Blasphemy.
Luckily, this may be a thing of the past thanks to Nike. The footwear brand has released a pair of lace-up socks, so you'll never have an excuse for inflicting your sweaty feet on the world again.
The unique item is low cut, and features a lace-up tie with Nike logo detailing. You can purchase them on Asos in the white color-way, where they retail for a mere £13 ($16).
"Bring a statement look to your street 'fits with these women's Lace-up Socks from Nike. In a fresh white and black color-way, these socks are made from a soft yet stretchy poly fabric and have tie-up ankle laces that a knitted to the base of the foot for a seamless feel. With a cushioned heel and added comfort, its dynamic arch band adds support to your fit. Finished with Nike branding to the Aglets," reads the product description on JD Sports - where you can also purchase the black version.
Whoever said athleisure wasn't "fashion" clearly hadn't seen these...
celebrity1 min(s) read
Published 11:46 13 Sep 2019 GMT
There's no doubt that Kanye West is a trendsetter; someone who doesn't follow convention, and is never happier than when he's making big (and often histrionic) statements. Sometimes that rebellious steak can be a good thing, and end up producing a genius album like My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
But sometimes Kanye's need to make a point can end up backfiring and provoking more controversy, like when he infamously interrupted Taylor Swift, or when he publicly pledged his support for US President Donald Trump. But now it seems that, of all things under the sun, his new line of footwear has gotten people really annoyed.
Check out the Christmas present Kanye got for Kim:
[[jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/IqAO8lVE-izxriqNH.mp4||IqAO8lVE]]
Yes, it seems as though Kanye's new sneakers, the Adidas Yeezy Foam Runners, have reminded people of Crocs more than anything else. They've not yet been released in stores, but Kanye recently dropped a picture of two models wearing them on social media, and suffice to say, they were pretty roundly criticised by the general public.
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/theyeezymafia/status/1172199012608421894]]
The eccentric sneaker was originally spotted on the feet of Kanye's daughter North. But these photos, unveiled by Yeezy Mafia, give us a much closer look at these moulded foam shoes.
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/SteveyD/status/1172409300959916032]]
The sneakers are essentially laceless plimsols which make use of a breathable porous design, which has inevitably led to critics drawing comparisons to between them and Crocs.
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/XLNB/status/1172258388622872577]]
However, maybe Kanye shouldn't feel so bad about his shoes being compared to that particular brand, because, as it turns out, another famous musician (and style icon) is apparently a big fan of them.
Yes, recently Ariana Grande uploaded a picture of herself to Instagram, where she was seen wearing Crocs with socks, and frankly, her fans don't know what to make of it.
weird4 min(s) read
Published 00:34 12 Feb 2024 GMT
We've got a long way to go, but Super Bowl viewers are already saying they've seen the most bizarre commercial of the event.
The Super Bowl is an event that is becoming so much more about the football - as many viewers also eagerly anticipate the halftime show and the big-budget commercials.
Per CBS News, the lineup of Super Bowl ads this year promises to be star-studded and captivating, with a myriad of top brands vying for viewers' attention. From the Anheuser-Busch to Uber Eats' star-studded commercial featuring Jennifer Aniston alongside Victoria and David Beckham, the battle is on for who will win the title of the best commercial.
(Also, for those wondering about the price tag attached to these coveted advertising slots, the answer is a whopping $7 million for a 30-second spot.)
But one commercial has left three words trending on X (formerly Twitter), and those words are: "He washed feet".
"He Gets Us," the ad campaign aimed at reimagining Jesus for contemporary audiences, and it made a return to the Super Bowl this year.
It's hard to say whether or not the campaign can be deemed "successful", but it certainly had viewers glued to their screens and got them talking.
"They said Jesus ain’t spread hate he washed feet and I can’t stop crying," one person tweeted, with a second adding: "Really Jesus needs a commercial in the Super Bowl now? To tell us he washed feet?"
But while some called it "odd", others hailed it the "best commercial of the Super Bowl!"
Check out the commercial below:Many were also making the same joke about director Quentin Tarintino (who is known for his foot shots in his movies):
"Did Quentin Tarantino direct that 'Jesus didn’t teach hate. He washed feet.' commercial #SuperBowl," one joked.
A second quipped: "HE WASHED FEET: Directed by Quentin Tarantino".
The first, a poignant 60-second spot titled "Foot Washing," aired during the game's first quarter, while the second, a shorter 15-second ad titled "Who is My Neighbor?" is scheduled for the fourth quarter.
Departing from the monochromatic hues of last year's ads, these new commercials burst with vibrant colors and employ a still-life aesthetic reminiscent of timeless gallery portraits.
Crafted by the innovative minds at Dallas-based agency Lerma/, both ads aim to challenge perceptions and spark dialogue. "Foot Washing" draws inspiration from the biblical narrative of Jesus washing his disciples' feet during the Last Supper, marking the beginning of the Lenten season.
The ad showcases a series of powerful images depicting individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives engaging in the symbolic act of foot washing, set to a stirring cover of the INXS song "Never Tear Us Apart" by singer Jenn Mundia.
Each frame, captured by acclaimed photographer Julia Fullerton-Batten, evokes a sense of artistry and idealism, prompting viewers to reimagine a world where mutual understanding and compassion prevail. Jon Lee, Lerma/ Brand Leadership Principal, explains to Ad Age: "Her style elevates the subject matter to an idealistic kind of world. We wanted to use this new style to paint a picture of what could be."
The ad concludes with the poignant reminder that "Jesus didn't teach hate" and that "He washed feet," driving home the message of empathy and acceptance.
According to Lerma/ Brand Leadership Principal, David Morring, and Creative Director Ryan Beals, the masterminds behind the campaign, the goal is to challenge preconceived notions and invite people of all beliefs to explore the story of Jesus. "Our intent is to share the authentic love that Jesus showed to all people," Lee affirms. "We hope that [this campaign] is an invitation for all people, no matter what they believe, to see the story of Jesus as belonging to them, and invite them to explore it."
Whether you were a fan or not, it certainly got people talking. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
.webp_vBqgAR?tr=cr-242.0.1293.1051,f-webp,q-70,w-100)