A message and video from the good people of Kicks/Hi about the brand’s 10th year anniversary, the upcoming release of the Kicks/Hi x Converse Chuck Taylor All Star HI, and a facebook contest for your chance to win a pair of their anniversary Chucks for FREE:

“When we opened our first KICKS/HI door 10 years ago on Makaloa St in Honolulu, we felt that a boutique that was built upon our collective aesthetics and firmly rooted in island lifestyle would work, but little did we know that it would grow to become one of the premier shops and brands worldwide. It has been a humbling, organic journey that was been laced with as many pitfalls as there has been success, but therein lies the beauty of a strong business with ties embedded within and drawing energy from the community and people it services. We have always strove to put on for Hawaii and the shop with as much forward thinking and design as it is drawn from the rich traditions and cultures that are bountiful here.

This limited edition Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Hi is a milestone in our 10 year anniversary. A shop mascot of sorts, and recurring motif since we first opened for business September 12, 2001, has been the tiger shark, which is native to the island waters. With this shoe being our third collaboration with Converse, we wanted to step outside of a material play and run with a pattern, which we chose a tiger camouflage to do so. The tiger camo is a subtle reference to our tiger shark mascot. The camo pattern is technologically advanced in that it is pin-point laser-printed on the material used for the upper. The orange outsole is an ode to our signature shop color: orange.

The video for the release not only celebrates the launch of the shoe, but it also embraces the friends, family, and Hawaii living that has got us this far – with 10 upon 10 upon 10 more years of continued growth and success shining brightly in our future. Special thanks to: Luke Aguinaldo for the video edit, Tassho Pearce & Syze One for licensing us their song for the soundtrack, and Converse for always showing love and support of the shop.

Love + Aloha, KICKS/HI”

via kicks/hi

For those who may not know, Converse Addict, a luxury-based line available through Converse Japan, is gearing up to release another exclusive for the 2011 fall / winter season. The line has established success in the past with collaborations from powerhouses like Givenchy. The Givenchy Converse Addict All-Star Hi was designed by Riccardo Ticci, the creative force who is also responsible for bringing us Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Watch The Throne” album cover and artwork.

This season, we can expect nothing more than the usual excellence that the brand continues to deliver. The new Converse Addict’s will include a Silver Chuck Taylor Metallic Hi and Gold Chuck Taylor Metallic Hi that will retail for ¥26,250 JPY (approximately $341 USD), and the Maroon Chuck Taylor Canvas Hi that will see a price tag of ¥16,800 JPY (approximately $218 USD). All models will use elegant materials that will again prove the classic sneaker’s place in high fashion. These exclusive items will be available October 10, 2011 at select Converse Addict retailers.

via HB

After showing you a “leather jacket” Converse All Star hi, we bring you a collection of that very Converse silhouette with a “fruity” influence. Pictured here is one Converse All Star hi in a yellow lemonade upper, and another in a red strawberry upper. These interesting colorways are being offered specifically by Converse Japan and a part of the line’s Spring/Summer 2011 sneaker collection.



Via HighSnobiety.

Apparently, some brands have decided to continue in the spirit of a recent string of “leopard” inspired designs released by such brands as Vans and even Givenchy. This time, the exclusively Japanese Converse Addict line will be releasing the All Star Hi pictured here in a “leopard” print starting in the month of April. So make sure you have all your connections worked out by then if you’re liking what you see here.


Via Nigo.

Released in 1917, the Converse All Star has become a translocal icon for its simple canvas upper, rubberized outsole, and metallic eyelets. Initially sported by Chuck Taylor as a high-performance basketball sneaker, the minimalistic shoe has taken on a more artful role in the past decade, its canvas literally paving a way for artists to act on creative self-indulgences. This “Pink Floyd Animals” variation pays homage to legendary Brit rock troupe Pink Floyd. Crafted in a unique white/black/grey tonal scheme, the shoe features album artwork and a unique pig graphic. The band’s name rides form bottom along the heel. The Converse All Star Hi Pink Floyd Animals is available at select accounts worldwide.

Via Overkill.