Nike SB x FPAR Blazer Low
Designed in partnership with Japanese streetwear brand FPAR (Forty Percent Against Rights), the Nike SB x FPAR Blazer Low is a revised court classic enhanced with the Tokyo-based brand’s appreciation for conceptual DIY styling and their provocative, non-conformist beliefs in mind. Capturing both lux-like streetwear influence and archived basketball heritage via two unique profiles, the iconic Blazer Low’s contemporary remastering is one that finds itself well placed next to similar redesigns such as the latest Project X Blazer Low series.
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Founded by designer Tetsu Nishiyama, aka TET, in 1993 and renowned for their guerilla-like ethos that vows to work alongside evolutionary skate culture against mainstream media, FPAR’s inquisitive namesake is one based on a concept that if an original piece of artwork were to be modified by at least 40%, then ‘the rights to that particular piece of artwork don’t exist anymore’. Known also for being the director of utilitarian streetwear brand WTAPS, the visionary mastermind behind 2015 launched DESCENDANT and for his continued ode to childhood influences such as the ‘Godfather of Streetwear’ Hiroshi Fujiwara, fashion designer Sk8thing and to skateboarding in general, Nishiyama has continued to usher FPAR in the direction of self exploration ever since the brand’s beginnings amongst the rapidly evolving Harajuku streetwear scene.
Following on from 2019’s Nike SB x FPAR Dunk High release that borrowed fashionable elements from both the Air Jordan 5 and Air Jordan 6 and featured the likes of Nike SB Japan’s, Ryuhei Kitazume, Keyaki Ike and Ryo Motohashi within its Tokyo-filmed edit, former Harajuku master Nishiyama is no stranger to the collaborative, skate-centric game. Releasing the Japan exclusive Vans x WTAPS ABC-Mart Sk8-Hi in the ‘90s, followed by other releases such as the Vans x WTAPS OG 36 LX and the Vans x WTAPS Syndicate, Nishiyama’s FPAR has also been the focal point of collaborations with brands including Bape, Supreme and Stussy.
A tribute to the brand’s subversive narrative and with subtle reference to the mix-match ‘80s trend of ‘acid coordination’, the Nike SB x FPAR Blazer Low is a creative silhouette that combines a noted sense of rebelliousness with an ingrained ode to contemporary design. Arriving in both a wolf grey and rattan colourway, the fully vulcanised construction fuses the outsole to the premium plush suede uppers for enhanced resiliency and structural support. The grippy underfoot tread is complemented by an integrated Zoom Air unit in honour of the profile’s skate specific narrative, with the khaki coloured profile styled with subtle reference to contemporary workwear trends. A snake print ollie zone across both brings a lux-like twist to the design, whilst the cracked sidewall Swooshes create further depth of detail. A recessed 8 eyelet lacing system is styled with streamlined and smooth eyestay accents, whilst the left foot features a sparkling ‘FPAR’ dubrae and the right styled with a ‘Nike SB’ variant. Similar alternating details are also seen across the embroidered ‘Nike SB’ tongue tabs and across the rear of each collar in honour of the profile’s creative, court-to-concrete collaborative revision.
A two year follow on from 2019’s Dunk High, the highly anticipated release of the Nike SB x FPAR Blazer Low is also accompanied by a two minute edit shot by Kenya Koto featuring Nike SB Japan team riders Keyaki Ike, Kaya Sakakibara, Issei Morinaka and Yurin Fuji.
