COOL HUNTING

With British t-shirt company T-Book's tessellating expressions of love and the German Puma designer Peter Schmid's high and low-tops, these may be the most romantic kicks out there. Laser-burnt with T-Book's clever, M.C. Escher-esque "Don't Kiss Goodbye" (pictured left, click either image for detail) or with their "I Love You" repeating script pattern (pictured right), the process takes about an hour for each pair. Available in gold, silver, mauve, light blue, white and a matte, suede-like vintage white, the sheepskin leather shoes start at $213 and can be pre-ordered now from Shotgun—the line and an accompanying book come out February 2007. See more images here.

TAGS: Collaborations (53), Design (714), Limited Edition (110), Puma (23), Sneakers (234), T-Shirts (210), U.K. (2),

New York-based painter Ari Lankin, 26, designed this winning pair of adidas adicolors that features a fresh purple-and-turquoise colorway and a Hokusai design—which is not only itself a perennial CH fave, but also a striking contrast to a logo pattern paying homage to the year adicolors debuted. Judged by Cey Adams, Fafi, and Crooked Tongues, Lankin's design was voted by the public out of a total of 20 finalists, the shoes will be produced in a limited edition of 25 and sold exclusively at New York's adidas Originals store. Set to release this Saturday, 28 October, you'd best start lining up now.

Also on Cool Hunting: adicolor Deluxe Box Set

TAGS: Competitions (34), Design (714), Limited Edition (110), New York (177), Sneakers (234), adicolor (15),

Since 1994, when designer Yasuhiro Mihara began inventing new sneaker designs as a student at Tama Art University, the industry has continued to push the envelope where trainer innovation is concerned. Even after opening his store, Suso, filled with his own futuristic clothing, the mission of progressive footwear remains Mihara's passion. After a successful partnership with Puma, Mihara has dissected the classic Converse All-Star—literally. This uncommon new trainer is composed of half-black Converse All-Star and half-silver shoe of Mihara's own design, both fused with a continuous sole. From the front, the shoe resembles the billions of other Chucks you've seen. But from the rear, it transforms into a space-age bowling-style shoe—perhaps conceived for a sport that hasn't yet even been dreamed of. MiharaYasuhiro "Split" trainer is available at Atelier New York.

TAGS: Customization (26), Fashion (310), Refinery29 (32), Sneakers (234),

Once again Nike tapped boutique design firm Hunter Gatherer to create visual love for a fringe project. The animation below is an homage to the One Time Only project, a hybrid of several classic running shoe models and the new AirMax 360 soles (details at Freshness).

First seen over at Sneakerplay

TAGS: Advertising (6), Animation (11), Nike (76), Sneakers (234),

If you're at all in to sneakers you've probably already heard about Sneakerplay, the footwear themed social software site. In addition to the standard profile, friend, gallery and messaging features the site includes a battle feature. To gain cred in the community and to facilitate discussion about different pairs you can challenge another member's pair to battle with a pair of your own. The community then votes and comments over the next few days and the winner's overall ranking increases. At this moment FlipJays is in first place while our friend Hepdog is in 13th.

Sneakerplay has been in a closed beta for the last couple months, but they've just now opened it up for anyone to browse around. You can't make your own account without an invite, though. I've got 5 invites to give away. To get one, go to my gallery page, find the custom Vans and tell me who painted them.

TAGS: Sneakers (234), Social Software (6), Websites (205),

DC Shoes is holding the inaugural “King of New York” skate contest tomorrow, Saturday, 16 September, 2006. One contest will be held in all five NYC boroughs on different dates over a three-week period, leading up to the final competition on 30 September 2006 where the King of NYC’s skating scene will be crowned. Held at the legendary Brooklyn Banks in Manhattan, the top three contestants from each contest will skate for the grand prize of cash and scores of DC shoes and apparel. To register or find out more, visit their site or check them out on Myspace.

by Todd Thomas

TAGS: Competitions (34), New York (177), Skateboarding (24), Sneakers (234), Sports (58),

This is a special version of the third in Microzine's New Balance Stingray trilogy, concisely called "F**ked Up." Based on a 576, the Stingray III is made of navy leather with special stingray fabric accenting the logo and heel tip. As the name suggests, they are then literally f**cked up by New Balance so they arrive with that pre-scuffed—yet new—look. The box has been designed by Liverpool studio JUNO, which is best known for coming up with the now-unavoidable cover of the Arctic Monkeys' debut album.

Only 60 of this style are available, exclusively at Microzine, and they drop tomorrow, Saturday 26 August 2006, priced at £90.

TAGS: Limited Edition (110), New Balance (4), Sneakers (234),

Nike's iD Design Studio here in New York reopens today with the full AirMax collection. All seven models in the series will be available for customization using a combination of the standard colors and materials available at NIKEiD.com and some options unique to the studio. As always, Studio visits are by appointment only so enter the lottery here or start calling around to find someone who can get you in.

Stay tuned for details on the upcoming CH Editor's Pack and how you can win a pair.

TAGS: New York (177), Nike (76), Shopping (154), Sneakers (234), iD Design Lab (7),

At the ICFF a couple years back, Modern Convenience's Naugahyde-upholstered skateboards caught our eye for the way they make a familiar object into a sculptural toy. Now this fresh lemon-lime colorway is available exclusively at Coolestshop for $525 and for another $500 you can pick up the coordinating Formula Werks custom-painted New Balance 574s. More images of the board here.

Also on Cool Hunting: ICFF Preview: Didi Dunphy's Embroidered Long Board

TAGS: Design (714), Skateboarding (24), Sneakers (234), Sports (58),