digdeep with a Challenge!

If you love the thrill of a trial rider, the dare-devil stunts of a street rider, then—digdeep!

UK street- and trial rider, Danny MacAskill, who has been taking the cyclist scene by storm, has just become the ambassador and brand icon for digdeep—the urban streetwear label of Britain.

Danny MacAskill originally hails from the Isle of Skye, where he began biking at the age of 4.

Working in a bike shop of Edinburgh, Danny spent the past 12 years practicing his street skills, becoming the most famous street cyclist and brand ambassador of digdeep.

Overcoming immense odds and obstacles, Danny is never afraid to dig deeper!

“All I think about, night and day, is looking for a spot to ride, I am thrilled to be working with a brand like digdeep that is all about giving 100% and that anything is achievable’’ exclaims Danny.

Danny’s skills perfectly portray the brand and image of digdeep, which is designed for the man that accepts a challenge, going beyond 100% and trekking that extra mile.

Photos Copyright digdeep.

City Rush and Time Active for Spring/Summer 2011 by Hogan

Milan, June 21st 2010—Hogan Presents the Spring/Summer 2011 Men’s Collection.

Essential accessories and ready to wear—functional and versatile—distinguished for their laid back elegance and contemporary design, while keeping unique details of great personality.

Made with ultra-light and innovative materials—of extraordinary quality. Hogan’s urban classics.

City Rush
This masterpiece Hogan, with its distinctive logo on the collar, is proposed in a new button-fastening version.

Essential lines—strong and steady cuts—city rush is realized in different ultra-light fabrics: from delave’ nylon and stone washed cotton to the innovative reflex material, in optic white.

Distinctive marks: double collar with border and logo.

Time Active
Aerodynamic lines with cushioned ultra-light rubber sole, Time Active is the epitome of the laid back elegance—a unique forerunner.

Proposed in a variety of versions: techno-nylon with contrast details, delave’ suede and leather in classic tones, ideal for everyday business occasions.

Materials
Stone-washed nylon and cotton
Delave’ suede and leather
Optic reflex

Colors
Monochromes
Natural shades
Blue and khaki

About Hogan

Hogan was born in 1986 as a producer of urban sneakers inspired by the world of cricket. Since then, Hogan has expanded into numerous cities of the world, as well as into new articles of clothing.

Photos & text Courtesy Starworks Group, Copyright Hogan.

Support Your Favorite Team at the World Cup!

Did you know that the first international football (soccer) match was held 1872 in Glasgow, Scotland, while the first World Cup by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) was held 1930 in Uruguay?

This month, the World Cup is being held in South Africa. With 204 qualifying teams, only 32 teams are competing for the title.

While it is possible to support your favorite team by wearing the official t-shirt, you can also purchase fun Bumpy Pitch tees from the Five Four online store.

Bumpy Pitch is a cultural movement that encompasses a clothing company and an online magazine (theoriginalwinger) with the objective of showcasing and building the culture and lifestyle that soccer inspires.

So, what team are you cheering for?

Whomever you support, do it in style! Soccer style!



Photos Courtesy & Copyright Five Four.

Cristiano Ronaldo Reconfirmed as Spokes Model for Armani

Giorgio Armani has reconfirmed that Portuguese footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, will be official world spokes model for Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans autumn/winter 2010.

The soccer player strips down and bears a naked six-pack abs in the campaign ads.
Cristiano, born 1985 as Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, is from Santo António of Madeira, Portugal.

Awarded several times as “World Player of the Year,” Cristiano plays forward for the Spanish club Real Madrid and is the highest paid footballer in the world.

Vamos Portugal! Hurra Madrid! Forza Armani! Go Cristiano!

Photos Courtesy of Fashion Times.

Win Tickets to the Le Mans 24 Hour Race 2010 with Hackett London

Any race car aficionados out there?

Now is your chance to win 2 VIP tickets to the Le Mans 24 Hour Race 2010 with Hackett London!

Hackett London, a tradition British menswear label, is an official sponsor of Aston Martin Racing that produces the team clothing range.

The Hackett label is the offspring of a business partnership that was clinched in 1983 between Jeremy Hackett and Ashley Lloyd who met on Portobello Road in London.

Raised and educated in Clifton, Bristol, Jeremy left school at the age of 17 to work in a local men’s fashion shop.

A year later, he departed for the fashionable King’s Road and, later, onto Savile Row where he dreamed of starting his own business. The rest is dream come true!

For additional information on how to enter the competition, click here.

Photos & slideshow Copyright Hackett London.

The Jack Purcell Shoe—Badminton Anyone?

John Edward “Jack” Purcell (1903–1991) was a Canadian badminton player that shot to world fame in 1933, later designing an athletic shoe that still bears “Jack Purcell.”

Growing up with tennis and golf, Jack took Ontario by storm when he picked up a badminton racquet and shuttlecock in 1924.

Already in 1929 and 1930, Jack was crowned Canadian National Badminton Champion!

In 1935, Jack designed a badminton shoe out of canvas and rubber for B.P. Goodrich of Canada. Converse purchased the rights in the 1970’s.

What sets the Jack Purcell shoe apart from, say, Chuck Taylor All Stars is the smile across the front.

Never have the Jack Purcell sneakers been more popular than today—75 years later! Jack keeps on smiling!



Photo & slideshow Jack Purcell shoe, Copyright Très Bien Shop.

Digging Deeper into Capoeira

Last year I published an article on an athletic shoe called Paraná, which was inspired by Capoeira—an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines martial arts, dance, and rhythmic motion to the beat of drums: Paraná, Capoeira & Italian Football.

This Saturday while attending a street festival in the small historic town of Princeton, New Jersey, located just 50 minutes outside New York city, I met a group of performers who belong to Senzala Princeton University.

Although Capoeria dates back hundreds of years, Grupo Senzala was founded in the Sixties by two brothers, Rafael and Paulo Flores Viana, in Rio de Janeiro.

The movement soon expanded throughout the Americas and Europe, spreading to the New York area. The Princeton group was founded by Mestre Zumbi, who began training at the age of nine.

For additional information or to watch movies of Capoeira Senzala, click here.



Photo & slideshow Copyright Men's Fashion by Francesco.

Antonio Cassano—Diadora’s New Face

In occasion of the grand opening for a new store in Milan, Italy, Diadora has recruited Italian footballer Antonio Cassano as its new face.

Diadora shared this new gift of honor with the public at a press conference that was held on Friday, April 23.

Born 1982 in Bari, Italy, Antonio Cassano plays second striker for the Series A club Sampdoria (otherwise known as Blucerchiati).

Founded by Marcelo Danieli in 1948, Diadora has become equated with Italian sports clothing, shoes, and accessories, setting a fine tradition of high quality.

The name Diadora was derived from the Greek for the Dalmatian city in Croatia, Zadar, literally connoting “sharing gifts and honor”.

Photo Courtesy of Fashion Times, Copyright Diadora.

The Philipp Lahm & Floris van Bommel Anti-AIDS Activity

What do the German football star Philipp Lahm and Dutch shoe designer Floris van Bommel have in common?

The 2010 autumn/winter fight against AIDS!

The Van Bommel shoe company dates back to 1734 in Breda, the Netherlands, and is now managed by the ninth generation of three brothers: Floris, Reynier and Pepijn.

Philipp Lahm was born 1983 in Munich, Germany, and is a footballer who plays as a defender for Bayern Munich.

Now these two men bring together two related but separate worlds—shoe wear and football. They do so in an all out effort to support an education campaign directed at children and adolescents with AIDS.

Instead of an athletic sneaker, the choice went hands down for a black patent leather dress shoe.

Sheer in look, the shoe is lined with brown linen and, on the pink insole, you will find a chic joint logo.

100% of the proceeds from the sale of the special model shoe will be donated to the German AIDS Foundation.

The edition will be available by December 1, just in time for World AIDS Day, and will sell at a price of 260 euro.

Photos Copyright Van Bommel.