VANS has launched a whole new breed of artist collaborations, in conjunction with a new website called Vans Apparel. The new site serves as a cleaner, more modern showcase for Vans new product lines, and a foray into more design-oriented crossovers.

One of the new lines being showcased is as crossover in respect to the late, great Johnny Ramone. Ramone, a true influence in punk music, and named by Rolling Stone as the “16th greatest guitarist ever” passed away in 2004, but as with so many thing, the legend lives on.

Direct from the mouth of Vans –

“Vans pays homage to the roots of punk with the Johnny Ramone Collection. As the legendary guitar player for the seminal punk band, Johnny’s fast and furious guitar work laid down the foundation of all punk to come and influenced many of today’s top artists. The collection includes two t-shirts, one with a classic concert shot while the other is emblazoned with the band’s seal, and a Johnny Ramone Skinny jean. A pair of Johnny Ramone Classic Slip-On shoes complete the collection.”

You can check out more pics of the apparel after the jump. (more…)

It hasn’t even been a year since fans were up in arms over Dr. Marten’s and its use of dead celebrities in a footwear ad campaign, but it looks like we’re going to catch another glimpse of some ad exec’s “great idea”.

Converse is next in line to take a stab at reaping the bad-press-is-good-press wave that I’m sure will come with their new sneaker/dead musician campaign. For they too are planning on using Gen-X posterboy, Kurt Cobain to hock their footwear.

Hey Converse! If you haven’t written your public apology yet, you can always refer to Dr. Marten’s as a guide.

Ladies and gentlemen, the next attempt to milk the Cobain cow… (more…)

Last month, we brought you the news of the new Adidas collection, initially featuring a collaboration with Blue Note Records. As of today, they’ve got the minisite for the full collection up and running, with the full Motown Records collection now available as well.

The Motown Superstar features a slick black colorway, with patent stripes and the iconic Motown Records logo on the tongue. Also featured in the collection are a polo shirt, t-shirt and other apparel items.

Also to be seen on the mini site - a section where you can make your own tracks, based on the genre of each collection in the package (Blue Note, Tuff Gong, Motown, etc), as well as a short film by DJ & Producer Theo Parrish dicussing the philosophy of a city’s individual “sound”. (more…)

The topic of this post brings up two of the central issues targeted in the movie Joe Versus the Volcano – Luggage, and Fashion. Can’t help it, I just love that movie.

Regardless, what we’ve got today is the announcement from the Alife Rivington Club that they’ve got the new 2008 New Balance Super Team 33 pack in-store and ready to ship. The theme of this collection being…luggage.

That’s right, the ultra high-end line from New Balance that launched last year is back for ’08, with their first collection coming in three shoes themed on three styles of travel gear. (more…)

The Adidas Superstar is widely considered to be one of the most iconic pieces of HipHop fashion, thanks in part to RUN DMC’s sporting thereof, back in the day. Adidas has never forgotten this, having released collabo’s with RUN DMC in the last few years, as well as many other artists spanning the musical globe, including Missy Elliot, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and more.

But now they’ve stepped it up, having going back even further into the roots of musical influence… (more…)