Design pretty much runs our lives and keeps us inspired way more than we’d care to admit. And with there being so many creative artists out there bringing their creations to life for all of us to enjoy, we feel it’s our duty to spread appreciation for not only the work, but also the effort that’s gone into it. 

New York-based artist Josh Sperling has opened a new solo exhibition at Perrotin in Seoul, South Korea. Titled “Two Purple Tigers,” the exhibit displays a number of Sperling’s signature canvases, stretched into complex forms that play with dimension, color, and configuration.

In the pics above, you can catch a glimpse of some of the major works on display. Each shaped canvas is crafted with layer upon layer of plywood, which the canvas is then stretched over before it’s painted. Ridges are left visible, lending texture and dimension to each piece.

Sperling’s geometric forms will be on display at Seoul’s Perrotin gallery from November 22nd until December 30th. We’re intrigued. 


Purposefully Fresh

Design pretty much runs our lives and keeps us inspired way more than we’d care to admit. And wit...



It's no secret that we’re crazy about BMW. And one of the things that we love about innovation, is being able to highlight all of it on AA. It's no secret that all vehicles are not created equally, and BMW certainly takes no prisoners when it comes to going up against its competitors. At the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, BMW caused a stir in the car world when it unveiled its new concept car, the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupé. As you would expect from the automobile giants, the state-of-the-art sports car, which is the latest addition to the brand’s motorsport-inspired “M” sub-brand, had heads turning with its muscular form and exquisite aesthetic. But, according to BMW, its purpose is greater than that.

Recognizing that the state of luxury is changing, BMW has established a new arm, known as Bayerische Motoren Werke, dedicated to redefining the meaning of luxury, and the M8 sits at its pinnacle. As one of the masters of the luxury car market, this statement isn’t to be taken lightly.

BMW M’s Head of Design, Marcus Syring was interviewed by Lucy Thorpe recently, and shared some pretty cool insights, that we found interesting.

“Describing luxury is a challenge because it is actually about having more than we rationally need,” explains Syring. “That is why the need for luxury is always great—it makes it possible to break out of rational thinking.”

“ There is no universal definition of luxury, but there’s one thing I’m sure of: luxury is and remains highly emotional.”

Marcus Syring, Head of Design BMW M

However, what Syring is sure about is that the way we deal with luxury has changed.

“A progressive kind of luxury is developing that goes beyond the classical understanding,” he explains. According to Syring, luxury is more a question of attitude rather than demographic data. It is no longer about owning certain products from brands founded on tradition, craftsmanship, and a heritage in luxury. Today, factors such as personal gain and the emotional journey are more important. A person who seeks out a luxury product understands who they are and they equate luxury with personalization.

Obviously with physical products — whether cars or watches — design and technology play an important role.
“There are attributes with which we can make luxury tangible, including established values such as exclusivity and performance,” adds Syring. “When we speak of progressive luxury, further facets such as duality and progress are added.”
When it comes to the car itself, Syring explains that there are three main factors he considers. First up is the physical function of the car—how it works, drives, and feels. Then there’s symbolic function, which relates to iconic design features that create an affiliation with the vehicle. Finally, there’s the aesthetic function.

“We believe luxury is an intuitive and emotional experience, it should be experienced with all the senses.”

Marcus Syring, Head of Design BMW M

The M8 ticks all these boxes. Aesthetically, the vehicle is a beast. Its sculpted exterior boasts a long bonnet, sweeping roof, flared wheel arches, and a short tail that harks back to the automaker’s sporting heritage. Recalling track racers, the car sits low to the ground and features the M range’s iconic radiator grille kidneys, sculpted lights, and dual twin exhaust tailpipes.

Form aside, one of the most visually striking and symbolic characteristics of the premium whip is its Salève Vert painted exterior. Inspired by the Northern Lights, the paint has an iridescent effect and shifts from shades of electric green to blue depending on the light. While it may not be the most common choice for a luxurious ride, it is definitely distinguishing and will no doubt polarize car fans. Hits of matte gold on the car’s kidney grill, brakes, wheel rims, and double twin exhaust tailpipes, however, nod to more conventional ideas of luxury.

There hasn’t been any information revealed yet on either the car’s engineering specs nor its interior, but Syring shares, “It’s definitely more than enough.“ Plus, if the exterior is anything to go by, it will undoubtedly have all car fanatics drooling.

Stay tuned for more news on this beauty, or visit BMW’s Instagram for updates. We’re definitely keeping an eye out for this one. 


Purposefully Fresh

It's no secret that we’re crazy about BMW. And one of the things that we love about innovation, is being able to highlight all of...














We really love themed-kicks around here, and with the seasons changing so quickly, we think kicks with a little more flavor might be pretty dope to rock during the colder months, if you live on the East Coast or in the Midwest. ASICS has always been a brand that people slept on heavily. 

They got a lot of love during the late 80’s and early 90’s, but seemed to fall off with sneaker heads after that. Runners still love the brand, but the casual line hasn’t shined, in our opinion, in quite awhile. So we were hyped to see this new collabo, and thought we should highlight this new pair. 

Afew and BEAMS are throwing it back to the early-to-mid ’10s with this latest release, which is essentially a remastered, recolored version of Afew’s “Koi” ASICS GEL-Lyte 3 from 2012.

The sneaker’s upper features a primarily suede construction and orange color-blocking on the toe, heel, and sock liner. Gray paneling can be found on the sides, while the ASICS side stripes are done up in a rich navy blue. The sides of the heels feature BEAMS and Afew branding, and the backs of the heels feature a world map and the Japanese word for friendship. Two special insoles and a multi-colored outsole complete the look.

These are schedule to drop on 11/10, for about $210. We think they’re worth the price, and definitely a pair that you won’t see everyone else wearing out there. 


SG

We really love themed-kicks around here, and with the seasons changing so quickly, we think kicks wi...








Baseball season is coming to an end soon. And while football season is a few weeks in, and the regular basketball season fast approaches, we are definitely up to our ears in sports around this time of year. Streetwear, kicks, and jerseys are everywhere for us, but what about sporting goods? Not the kind you wear while playing, but the kind you collect and just keep on display. Today we thought we’d shed a little light on a new collaboration that caught our eye, that we find pretty damn cool.

Wilson Sporting Goods has joined forces with the renowned lifestyle brand MCM on a unique collaboration drawn from the gridiron and the hardwood. The two pieces take the form of a limited-edition football and basketball, each constructed from leather and featuring the classic Wilson logo and an all-over MCM monogram print. If you’re into collecting rare sporting goods, this might be the collection for you. Both are available now at special MCM pop-up shops at select Nordstrom locations.


SG

Baseball season is coming to an end soon. And while football season is a few weeks in, and the regular basketball seas...







Sneakerheads certainly know that it’s all about collaborations and themed kicks, these days. One of the things we love about those concepts, is how they continuously refresh our favorite silhouettes, while keeping the same vintage feel to the shoes we’ve loved forever. It’s really become the best of both worlds, for those of us who are attached to classic kicks, but wouldn’t mind rocking them with a slightly new twist. 

The original design for the Air Max 1 way back, marked a new era for Nike, and it all started in Paris. The shoe’s visible Max Air cushioning unit was inspired by the “inside-out” structure of Paris’ Centre Pompidou. The new “By Day/By Night” pack honors legendary Nike designer Tinker Hatfield’s cutting-edge design and its inspiration with two new colorways.

The “By Day” version has a French tricolor flavor and looks to the striking piping of the Parisian landmark, draping the white upper in red and blue accents. The “By Night,” meanwhile, opts for a shimmering gray colorway with silver detailing. A clear outsole rounds off each shoe with a multi-colored tubing pattern underneath.

We haven’t heard much on the pricing yet, but expect the limited edition kicks to drop via Nike on September 20th. Definitely try to pick these up, if you can. 


Purposefully Fresh

Sneakerheads certainly know that it’s all about collaborations and themed kicks, these days. One of the things we love ab...



Some classics just never die, and when they resurface, we always show them the love they deserve. Vintage kicks have the kind of magic that we just can’t get enough of, and the Stan Smith from adidas is surely one of those. This is a shoe that looks fresh no matter what you wear with it. Basic, but still super stylish and fly at the same time. 

The iconic silhouette has received a premium update thanks to new luxe construction. Here, we see the Stan Smith Recon done up in the classic white and green colorway.

The low-tops boast an all-leather upper, then featuring a leather tongue and soft leather lining. Perforated Three Stripes branding is present alongside, while additional tagging takes over the tongue and the green heel tab. Lastly, tonal laces accompany to complete the revamped design.

These drop today, so make sure to pick up a pair of this classic. You’re sure to rock them for years to come. 


Purposefully Fresh

Some classics just never die, and when they resurface, we always show them the love they deserve. Vintage kicks have the kind of magi...







One thing we’ve always done at AA, is make sure that we keep our running family in the loop when it comes to running kicks. With the weather being runner-friendly now, we all like to get out there with the best gear for our runs and we also like to make sure we’re comfortable for the entire haul. 

Nike is making some great moves with their running shoes, that we felt we had to highlight today. After upgrading its Zoom Fly line earlier in the year, they’ve now taken the Air Pegasus (originally released in 1983 as a versatile runner) to the next level. The result comes in the form of the Zoom Pegasus Turbo, which features the Swoosh’s highly responsive (and exclusive) ZoomX foam. The only two other silhouettes to utilize the ZoomX foam technology are the Zoom Vaporfly 4% and then Zoom Vaporfly Elite.

Unlike the aforementioned models, the Zoom Pegasus Turbo doesn’t include the carbon-fiber plate, due to feedback from runners that it provides too much propulsion for every day use. We’re not a fan of that either, so that was a good modification on their part. 

On the flip-side, to highlight just how fast this sneaker is, Nike designers put a thick racing stripe right down the middle of the Zoom Pegasus Turbo, giving off very obvious racing car vibes, which we think is pretty cool for aesthetic purposes. 

The shoe features a highly responsive ZoomX foam in the midsole, aerodynamically shaped heel, curved heel collar, translucent mesh upper with Flywire cable integration, thick racing stripe running down the center from the top of the tongue to below the forefoot, small waffle pistons in the rubber outsole to help absorb impact, and 10-mm offset and 12-mm forefoot stack height to help runners store more energy.

These drop on July 19th for NikePlus members in the U.S., China, Japan, Germany, U.K., and Brazil via the Nike and NRC apps. And globally on August 2nd. They’re retailing for around $180, and are seriously worth every penny. Give them a shot, if you can. 


SG

One thing we’ve always done at AA, is make sure that we keep our running family in the loop when it comes to running kick...

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