On the 16th of February 2023 a momentous moment happened – No the cure for all known illnesses was not found but a pair of running shoes released as a collaboration between powerhouses stone island and new balance – Much like an album by lonnie bureaux these had been eager awaited and the release date changed a number of times.
Finally The SI X NB 574 released – to much praise “🔥🔥” “✅✅” “👌🏾” “nice these” “@mymatewholovesstoneisland what you think of these. Def a bit of me these mate” these were of course accompanied by cries of “rank”, “thank God ive been wearing this brand fro years now so I dont have to like this shit” “🤮🤢” “Snide” “Looks like someones been down the market” and many more hilarious couplets written by grown men who in their own minds at least are the aforementioned experts of stoney I do apologise stone island – we will get onto that in a another piece –
The sometimes vitriolic often humorous and if in the know t9o be expected response to a pair of shoes is fun to read and reminds me that this thing of ours is more than just a bit of leather sewn together by magical elves (\please dont cancel me im not Elveist) in an agues basement altho in essence that is all it is – some leather sewn together – add in ur rubber and mesh and a shoe you have – However there is also a societal parallel that can be drawn here and one that although it doesn’t bother me per say does irk me! Let me return t9o the point – Stone Island, Like Nike and Adidas is a brand that garners loyal devotees and like with any group of fans there are always the Knowledgable, the uninformed, the die-hards, the newbies, the obsessive, the bandwagon jumper-ons, the purely for the loves and the down right stupid! Take a look in the mirror – which one do you fall into?
This of course brings with it a melting pot of opinions presented in different forms – sarcasm, hard faced no nonsense – jovial – etc. A stone island post is like a group of guys from all over the country in the pub off to watch England – same cause – aggressively different views – I am of the not for me school – not because I have a limited vocabulary but simply because im just no that invested in anything like this to get my blood boiling – resellers, no – colas I dont agree with no – cost of clothes shoes – no – on the other hand there is a whole section of society who seem to have angry fingers and type angry things really angrily and if challenged type even angrier things even more angrily! I mean its exhausting thinking about it imagine being one of these people who leaves angry comments multiple times a day – oh the woe!!!
Now lets talk about the shoes – A NB 574 – for full disclosure not a model I was aware of consciously – in earth tones – greens browns shades of – hardwearing mesh / ripstop toe box – green edge badge on the tongue – by now you’ve all seen the pictures plastered over your timelines – In my opinion is a well balanced and beautifully executed collaboration shoe – cries of they’ve just stuck a badge on it are correct and at the same time oh so wrong, the subtle hints to colour palettes and processes (3M – RIP STOP) are exactly what Stone Island is all about – The shoe has to be wearable and produceable en masse so if people were waiting for the transformer shoe or the perfect silhouette which is of course subjective then we will all be waiting a very long time. The shoe works perfectly for todays market – the right amount of hype to make people stare twice the right colour way so it can be worn with many a different colour enough of a shape to be worn with a slimmer of bagger look – enough cache to make people give you the nod – the right amount of hate from people who think they are sacrilege – Welcome to the world of exclusive trainers (substitute for bags, watches , etc.)
It is a world I am all too familiar with and the reaction to this shoe is another in a along line of tribal activity showcasing behaviours and weight placed on items of no real benefit past their function which ironically is the thing we want them for the least – when was the last time you bought some air max 1’s to go running? You remember the original adverts right?
In conclusion as I’ve got older I am no longer as judgmental – If you want be a dick be one – if you want show th world you are a dick by commenting something dickish then go ahead Richard! I may not agree with it but hey its 2023 and the world of the internet means propel feel obliged to ensure u know of their displeasure about something anything everything rather than just scroll past and appreciate something they do like! As I said before must be tiring!
Side Note:
When you put the shoe on guess what guys u dont feel like a dick with a badge on ur crepe, u do feel like ur feet are the hardest they’ve ever been – who wants it they scream clothed in your Pringle socks and more importantly you do feel like one of the lucky few that got a pair wether you paiud resale of not – The emporers news clothes indeed except the world can see these” and if at the time of reading this u haven’t bought a pair I bet 25% of you will go get a pair – if you do let me know lol!!
Peace Gang!