Casio and NZ brand Lo.wer have teamed up to create a new sheep themed G-Shock collaboration, releasing January 31st in New Zealand and Australia.

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Based on the rural lifestyle lived by Kiwi sheep farmers, the Lo.wer G-Shock comes protected in a custom hard leather shell, with a woollen case and a dog whistle as extra accessories. All pieces are hand made in New Zealand by traditional craftsmen. it’s an incredibly rugged and well designed collaboration between two very unique companies.

Lately it seems that New Balance Asia have been pumping out some of the nicer shoes the brand currently stocks. The UNDFTD x Stussy x Mad Hectic 996 is by far my favourite release in a long time indeed and the Nonnative 997.5 isn’t too bad looking either. Our homies at UpThere are going to be releasing these bad boys in incredibly limited numbers on February 4th.

Featuring plush materials and a nice monotone dune colour scheme with bright blue hits, the 997.5 does well to not try and be something it isn’t. There was a time when NB Asia were pumping out solid colourways on models not available outside of Japan, but now it seems through retailers like Laced and Up There we’re gaining access to these once impossible to find treasures.

- t, Full details can be seen at Up There

Well as you may or may not know, Laced has finally opened up in the new spot on the ground level. After months of saying “not too long” to inquisitive customers we can finally say “Here it is! But it’s not quite done…”. Anyway regardless it’s awesome to finally be down in the public eye. To coincide with the new space we decided to update the store logo and drop some fresh new store tee designs. These four are the first guys, created by yours truly. My personal favourite has to be the Bones tee, although all of them are quite dear to me for obvious reasons.

Each tee is limited to just 20 units, and they can be snatched up either online or in-store.

- t, If I spot you wearing one of my designs be assured my head will swell… (the one on my shoulders you pervs!)

Nike has been on a roll with their range of Lunarlon infused runners, and it looks like 2012 is going to be no different. First off for the new year are the LunarEclipse+ 2 and Vapor Trainer. The Eclipse continues the chunky shape of the first version but the side panelling changes mean the whole shoe seems a lot less bulky. Taz rolled with the first version for a while and commented on the comfort, and in this black/red colourway the shoe looks bananas! Definitely a shoe to look out for this year.

The second new model is the Vapor Trainer; taking the opposite path to the Eclipse it is actually based on Nike’s popular football boot the Vapor has a sleek profile without looking too feminine. The inital release colourway is this white/orange which might be a bit tricky to pull off but in the coming months I’m sure there will be a myriad of different versions to choose from. Definitely a winner in my books as well.

- t, Here’s to a great New Year!

This coming Thursday the 22nd, Laced will be releasing the latest collaboration between Asics and Patta. This time the guys from Amsterdam have taken to the Gel Saga, one of the nicest Asics retro silhouettes around. This serves as a follow up to their first Gel Lyte III, this time more focussed on being a winter friendly shoe. The iconic cross pattern is retained, albeit with a more subdued colour palette. Where these shine is in the material choices, with lush nubuck, reflective panels, tough rubberised leather and pony hair. There’s only three stores stocking these and number are really low. Hit up the store at 10am to ensure you have the best chance at getting a pair, and we’ll be in the new spot by then so you can grab a coffee and check out the new fit out!

- t, $180 and limited to one pair each…

It’s been over six months since my last Top Ten and a fair bit has happened since then. I’ve been pretty busy working on various projects, and with the re-opening of Laced‘s (proper) store coming very soon I’ve found some time to compile a wish list of goodies that I’d love to see in my stocking this year round. I’ve made it simple for y’all by including prices and links (where possible) to the items so… no pressure…

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1. Supreme Dice – $50

Last time I did a Top Ten I mentioned not really being into Supreme, this is still true. However it so happens that twice in a row my first Top Ten item has been from the NY brand. This time it’s a set of dice, nothing really amazing, incredibly over priced, and exactly what I want.

2. Mark Drew for New Era Snapback

New Era have finally set up shop in Australia and to mark this occasion they teamed up with Mark Drew and the Saint Side crew. Mr Drew’s design caught my eye immediately, especially in the (more limited) raiders colour. I don’t have a price on these but it should be around the $50 mark, you might be able to pick up one still if you contact Mark directly via the link above.

3. Baracuta x Deluxe G9 – $570

Deluxe have teamed up with Baracuta before, but most of the time the outcome has been too similar to the original jackets to justify the extra money outlay. This time around though the Japanese street tailors outfitted the classic silhouette in a really nice camo. DPM is coming back in a huge way next year but I think this will still stand out above a lot of the offerings on the way. Yes it’s pricey, but it’s a wishlist. If there’s a sugar daddy out there that wants to give me one I’d be forever grateful.

4. Butter Goods “Bad Habits” Tee – $60

Butter Goods have been putting out great stuff as I’ve mentioned previously, this Bad Habits tee is my favourite from their current season. I’m pretty into animals on shirts, and black panthers are pretty cool so this is a winner.

5. HUF x Challenger Tee - $30

Told y’all I liked animals on tees and this one has two! HUF teamed up with Japan’s Challenger to create the “CUF” series. Available only online, this one has a nice graphic and the price is damn tasty thanks to the strong Aussie dollar. Shipping will cost a bit more but hey, Santa can afford it.

6. Diamond Supply Co. “Player” Tee – $55

Diamond Supply Co. have been around for a minute, I’ve always have had respect for them but their stuff has never really appealed to me. However the “Player” tee is awesome, being a not-so-subtle dig at Comme Des Garcons’ “Play” line it has created a fair bit of controversy among fans of the Japanese label.

7. Original Fake Skull Mat – $200

The gents at Apartment have just secured an Original Fake account, this means that there’s going to be expensive X’s flooding the streets of Brisbane in no time. In their first shipment were these rugs, which are more akin to a bath mat if you ask me. My favourite colour is the blue version, which coincidentally is the last one left in stock… HINT HINT.

8 . Stussy x Pendelton Rug – $TBA

This one is a long shot, mainly because the capsule hasn’t even released yet. Stussy and Pendelton teamed up again for a collection which yields a shirt and this rug; the shirt is nothing amazing but the pattern and characters on this rug is awesome. I have no idea on the price but it wont matter because I’m worth it.

9. Paul Precision Components Bottle Opener – $15

Paul have been making incredibly high quality bicycle components for decades now, this year though they’ve branched out into bottle openers. These little dudes are awesome, simple and well machined they’ll look great when i’m opening a cool beverage or adjusting my brakes…

10. Noir by Chup Socks – $36 or 3 Pack for $99

Last but not least, these NOIR socks by Chup. I posted about them earlier and mentioned that I really wanted the black and red ones, low and behold they turned up on my doorstep today and I couldn’t be more chuffed. Huge thanks to the cuties at Up There for the early christmas pressie.

Fancy socks are always good, these new little numbers from Aussie purveyors of fine mens workwear Noir have teamed up with Japan’s Chup to create 3 patterned socks sure to wow anyone that’s within 20 meters of you when you sit down. They’re made in Japan from 100% cotton and available in 26-28cm (around a sz. 9-11).

Available from Up There and Tribe Shoppe, they’re perfect Christmas stocking stuffers for this year!

- t, if anyone wants to buy me either the black or reds I’d be your best friend…

The boys over the other side of the world country at Butter Goods have just dropped their Spring/Summer 2011 range and it keeps true to their simple and effective aesthetic. There’s some nice strong graphics in this range, my particular favourites from this range are the Bad Habits and Big Fish tees and Keeps it Gritty snapback. Hopefully Santa can bring me something for Christmas… In the mean time you can pick up Butter locally through Combined and Sneak & Destroy.

- t, Check out the full range online

Creative powerhouse and amateur astrologist Pete Le Chic drops his latest For The Homies range entitled “Straight Outta Costanza” it’s an ode to being a 90′s kid. Featuring imagery and references to stuff you remember from growing up in the decade, there’s sure to be at least one thing that makes you go “ahhh I remember that”. Alongside tees, Homies also brings their 5 panel cap in Zebra (the leopard version is hot property and long gone) and shorts. You can pick up the new range locally at Laced or via the Homies online shop.

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This Thursday December 8th, Aussie label Vanishing Elephant will be releasing a capsule collection created with streetwear powerhouse Stussy. Featuring shirts, tees, shorts, chinos a backpack and even shoes, the whole collection can have you ready for an inner-city hipster safari quicker than you can say “just wait for me to roll up my pants”.

Everything will be available through General Pants, Incu, Vanishing Elephant’s Melbourne store and their online shop.

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Australian menswear stars Vanishing Elephant have joined forces with legendary
streetwear masters Stussy to create a capsule range that delivers a whole lot of both
parties into one compact offering.

Taking classic styles and delivering them in unique patterns with modern twists is
something that has become the Vanishing Elephant signature approach. By combining
this with a more laid-back, distinctly streetwear aesthetic that is all Stussy’s own, the
result is a 10-piece capsule packed full of bold prints and casual silhouettes.

From relaxed chinos, beach shorts and shirting to logo tees and backpacks, the
collaboration hinges on two bold custom prints. First up a jungle scene in forest green
comes complete with an ark-worthy selection of animals. The second takes a more
ornithological approach with a series of exotic birds and plant-life set against a pale blue
backdrop.

Complementing the apparel offering is the classic Vanishing Elephant tan leather derby
updated with a bright red rubber sole, rounding off a collection sure to appeal to both
global fanbases.