Sounds good to us. Check a video of Kyle explaining the shoes technical side (including Sole Tech’s G2 Platinum gel to minimize heel bruise) here, or hit up KCDC in Brooklyn if you’re trying to get a pair. $65, etnies.com.

The Rap is coming back to etnies lineup for Spring, slimmed up, and looking solid. Don Brown and Pierre Andre Senizergues take us through the sneaker’s history in this new video. Yo PAS, make the O.G. solid-tone colors again!

Gourmet’s online shop is up and running. Get ‘em while you can. [Gourmet]

Yup, we’ve always wanted to be able to control a robot’s tongue with our brains. Oh Japan, you’re the best. [Crunch Gear]

Dress up your Dr. Romanelli doll in all of the new Spring/Summer F.C.R.B. clothing!!!! (oye) [Hypebeast]

Incase teams up with Schoeller for its EO collection. These bags are really really dope. [Incase]

Stussy x Dr. Marten’s. [Vagant]

We sat down with Pierre to speak about the collection, check the full range of 5 sneakers and the interview with the boss about why he did them after the jump.

Interview by Bradley Carbone

Complex: Pierre, we're looking at your newest collection of shoes. Nice Job. Can you tell us a little about it?

Pierre Andre Senizergues: Thank you. I personally design a collection every year, and this is my third time going through. It's a way for me to explore my passion, and every year I try to do something related to the age of etnies.

Complex: So this is number three. The first was for your 20th anniversary?

Pierre Andre Senizergues: Yes. In '06, I designed the Gratitude Collection, commemorating 20 years of etnies to thank everyone who helped me from the beginning. Last year was 21, so I did the DA (Drinking Age) collection, since people in the United States drink when they turn 21. This year is the 22nd anniversary of etnies. We used to have this saying in France when the cops showed up: “Vent deux, voila les flics!” it's more or less like how in the US you say “Five-0.” And same thing with the US, no one knows really why. It just is. You just say “Vent deux”, which translates to Twenty two in English.

Complex: How does that collection bring forth the theme?

Pierre Andre Senizergues: I wanted to get something around the origin of etnies through this collection. And I was going through all the old tear sheets and our press book from back in the day. We were this rebel company, so this theme of running from the cops and the idea of us doing our own thing kind of clicked. I looked back into our history and wanted to bring the classic etnies rebel themes to this series.

Complex: What specifically?

Pierre Andre Senizergues: Well, we used to do a lot of vulcanized shoes in high top and mid top versions. Consequently that's kind of a returning trend in skate right now, so choosing a mid top style worked perfectly. As far as colors, etnies always used a lot of red and black as well as the eighties camo and zebra prints. It was 1986, so those crazy prints were big. I thought, let’s bring back the prints and colors from when we started, but clean it up a little, with today's materials. The camo re-visits the idea of hiding from the cops. But of course it's the exact opposite with the bright colors, so there is that rebel nature weaved into the story.

Complex: Yeah, I'm not sure that these colors will help anyone hide from the cops!

Pierre Andre Senizergues: Haha. Yes I know, but it's kind of the idea. The bright colors go with the idea of celebration, but a lot of these materials and colors are heritage for us. We were doing croc and snakeskin materials in the '80s on skate shoes. This shoe is actually based around my pro shoe from when I was a professional skateboarder, the Senix.

Complex: Oh cool. Is it the exact shoe from the '80s?

Pierre Andre Senizergues: The Senix was my promodel shoe at the beginning. It came from my last name, because my last name is to long. When I was in Kindergarten they used to call me Senix, because it was easier than trying to say Senizergues. It's very similar to the original shoe, but when we looked at the original shoe, we saw that it had a lot of extra and unnecessary stuff. I wanted to deconstruct the original shoe and bring back in what was necessary. It's also part of the environmental approach we take with all of the etnies product. We have so much stuff. Sometimes its better to have less, you know? We don't need so much extra stuff.

Complex: Yes, but it's still fun to get new things and explore new product.

Pierre Andre Senizergues: Ha. Yes, I guess.

Complex: So do they still call you Senix?

Pierre Andre Senizergues: Ha. No. But my name, and the name of the shoe relates back to this European story, the children's book Asterix and Obelix. Have you heard of it?

Complex: No.

Pierre Andre Senizergues: Well it's basically a story of a little village of rebels on the east coast of France during the Roman Empire. And all of the rebels in the town's names end in “X”. So calling me Senix was kind of like calling me a little rebel.

Complex: [Laughs] So it goes all of the way back.

Pierre Andre Senizergues: Yes, so the story basically goes that the Romans own everyone and everything except for this one little village, these French rebels who have discovered this magic potion. The Romans are always trying to capture this village but they never can, because this little group of rebels have their magic potion. It's a lighthearted story, but this story is a lot like the etnies story. We started in France in a small village, kind of, with no strengths, and we had to be creative and do interesting things so that we could defy the big brands and get a hold in the marketplace.

Complex: Kind of the etnies allegory, huh?

Pierre Andre Senizergues: Yes!

Complex: Can you tell us about the release for the shoes?

Pierre Andre Senizergues: Well, with the collection I did last year, with the Drinking age that was very US, so we released that with Blends in Downtown LA and San Diego because it was a very American-based story. This one is a French story so I decided that I'd like to do this in a French shop. So I spoke with Sarah from Collete and she was excited about it. They will be carrying it starting early next week. They will be selling 11 pairs of each shoe in the shop, and if they don't sell out right away, you might be able to get them on Wesoldout.com. These shoes are called the Senix MV, for Mid-Top Vulcanized.

Complex: It's a very small run.

Pierre Andre Senizergues: Well I do this collection to inspire my designers. I'm still a designer in my head, even though I don't do it so much as before, but I still have that need. I like to do these capsule collections to get involved. So while it's not big, we use this as a platform to try new things that can influence the brand down the line. Like we have the eco-transparency facts on the box.

Complex: And what's that?

Pierre Andre Senizergues: It shows you how “green” something actually is. When you buy something to eat or drink, you have the nutrition facts, so why shouldn't the products that you use have their environmental transparency information? I think it should be necessary. So this is a good idea, and we're on the brink now. We want to be more transparent, so we can focus more on where we're coming from and how were making shoes. So this label tells you about the carbon footprint and the ecological sourcing for these products. We use recycled foams, water-based glues, natural rubber, and soy-based inks to cut down on the harm to the environment.

Check out an exclusive interview with the trio below to learn more about the sneakers, Adult Swim’s creative process, and an upcoming special called The Return of Freaknik that stars Lil' Wayne, T-Pain and David Banner .

Adult Swim Creative Director Jake Escobedo, left, and Senior Designer Brandon Lively

Complex: Can you guys bring us up to speed on why this relationship exists, and how this collaboration came to be?

EC: About two years ago, one of Adult Swim's representatives, Amanda, came to the Pool Tradeshow, where we were showing etnies+. She was a fan of the brand, and we both kind of felt that we shared a similar consumer to a degree, so we decided that we would work together on a project. This is the first of hopefully several collaborations to come. The shoe is launching in the next few weeks, through October.

Complex: I see that you decided to use one of the Mooninite characters on the more limited of your shoe offerings. I seem to remember him being quite an icon for the brand. What was that, two years ago?

JE: [Laughs.] What are you talking about?

Complex: Boston?

JE: [Laughs.] Oh man…. We've always sort of favored the Mooninite characters as icons. We love the design of them, so it was sort of a no-brainer to put them on a shoe. We just had to wait a while for that whole thing to blow over. But yeah. [Laughs.] We like them as the face of Adult Swim.

Complex: Did you start Adult Swim?

JE: I was working at Cartoon Network before Adult Swim, when Space Ghost Coast to Coast was airing late nights but there was no real animation block built around it. So in 2002 or 2003, they decided to put it on with a full block structured around Space Ghost and I sort of gravitated towards that. I started doing a lot of the design work for the show, and I went over to Mike Lazzo and was like, “You need me.” And it worked out.

BL: Jake was doing all the stuff by himself, and then we became friends in 2003, and he shortly pulled me over to help out. And we just kept doing it and getting bigger.

JE: So we kind of tag teamed on designing these shoes.

Complex: Who is Mike Lazzo, and how does he influence the overall feel of the program block?

JE: Most of the direction comes from Mike Lazzo. He's the creative genius behind all of it. He started it in the mailroom when Ted Turner started up CNN and Cartoon Network, and essentially cut Space Ghost together in a broom closet. He has overseen every piece of animation and really constructed this interesting collective of people to make all of the shows. The crew didn’t necessarily have a background in animation or comedy to start out, but everyone has been able to bring something completely different to the table.

Complex: How are new shows decided on? Are you pitched?

JE: For a while we were taking pitches, but it became overwhelming. We started getting so many great ideas from within the community that we didn't need to go outside our creative group. Occasionally a pitch comes through that raises eyebrows and it works, but most of the content is generated in-house.

Complex: But from time to time, you have guest artists. You worked with REAS on the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie?

JE: We have good relationships with a lot of those types of artists, and Todd James is one of our favorites. Also Devon Flynn. Those two worked together on that movie opening. We've also worked with Gary Panter a lot in the past…

BL: And Ronnie Land as well.

JE: Gary Panter by far is one of our all time guys.

Complex: You bring them in for special projects?

JE: With Aqua Teen Hunger Force, the show creators were actually the ones who came with the idea of using Todd James and Devon Flynn on the open, but for the movie poster, we wound up reaching out to the fantasy artist Boris Vallejo. He did the Meatloaf album cover.

BL: And all the National Lampoon stuff as well.

Complex: The poster is amazing.

JE: Yeah. And when I was searching for ideas, I saw that album cover and I was like “Wow that would be so amazing.” So luckily the creators [of the show] were open-minded enough to do that. We told the artist, “We want ninjas, volcanos…we want scantily clad women on motorbikes! And then you know, include the main characters, of course.” They came back to us with this drawing and we were completely blown away. We were like, “Holy shit, this is amazing!” We made the type really small just because the art was so great.

BL: It's actually a husband and wife team. Julie Bell and Boris Vallejo.

Complex: That's what they do?

BL: Yeah, they're full on fantasy artists.

JE: I was actually afraid to approach them, because I didn't want them to think that I was making fun of their art. I wanted them to take this project really seriously. So I was like, “Are you familiar with Aqua Teen Hunger Force? It's this show about a wad of meat…” And I’m waiting and there was a pause on the line, and then they were like, “Oh yeah, we're totally into it.” And it worked out really well.

Complex: So do you have that painting in your office?

JE: No, that would have cost a lot.

Complex: But that painting exists somewhere?

BL: Yeah, it does. We should have bought it, but you know, didn't really have the budget.

Click “NEXT” to see pictures of the shoes and hear about the new cartoon starring T-Pain, Lil Wayne, and David Banner.

Etnies wanted to team up with a company that has remained skateboarder-owned and operated, and has continue to kill it without selling out to the pressures of going corporate'so SHUT was the lay-up choice. Check for these to hit Etnies retailers for Holiday 2008.
$110, www.etnies.com, http://www.shutnyc.com/

Keep hating, dude's laughing straight to the bank, and the he nailed his first foray into designing a non-skate shoe. Check for these at Etnies retailers this month.
$50, etnies.com

[Hypebeast]

Anyway you look at it, there's nothing good about a red-eye flight. But cheapo airliner, Jetblue has changed all that (at least we thought). In a recent promotion, the company partnered with New York spa, Bliss to bring beauty rest to late night's unfriendly skies. Sadly, the refreshing kit of lip and body moisturizers and earplugs weren't passed our way during Complex's return to NYC from last weekend's etnies GvR skate competition in Lake Forest, CA. In its third year, amateurs and pro-skaters challenged their riding stance (goofy versus regular foot) with a chance to win cash prizes. Money, cash and ahem, women also followed the pack of skate rats from the park to the etnies 20-year anniversary party where the Beastie Boys also performed. After their 20-year run in rap, the Beasties alongside turntable wizard, Mixmaster Mike still got the props, well, rather the crowd's adoration, and not the giant phallic from their heyday. Check out the photos from the party while we take a nap.

Etnies founder and owner, Pierre Andre (left) and 17-year-old pro-skater, Ryan Sheckler (right).

Hey, don’t kill the messenger.

Mixmaster Mike (background) gave the illest warmup routine for the classic Beasties.

Mike D rocking a BAPE hoody with the “Jew-fro.” Nice.

/>
DJ Mike Relm synched his set along to some sick skate videos and movie clips.

This man needs no introduction, or maybe he does. Archbishop Don "Magic" Juan.

Um, we’re not skaters, but we flip a mean ollie. Holla!

This is not the after party for your prom. Go home!

All those that slept late after being wowed by the pro-skaters on Friday night, are kicking themselves for missing Saturday's etnies Girl street jam. Not to be outdone by some of GvR's all-star lineup of skaters, the ladies ripped through all three heats, for a chance to win cash prizes and advance to the finals. Judged by their best, most consistent tricks, riders like Lauren Perkins (Goofy), and Evelien Bouilliart (Regular) dazzled the crowd with back-side 50/50s, and Emerica’s Marisa Dal Santo (Regular) gave the other girls some stiff competition hitting crazy lines at both ends of the course'vertical ramp to the bank. Here's the rundown of the winners:

1. Marisa Del Santo (Regular), USA
Sponsors: Emerica (Flow), RQ Boardshop

2. Evelyn Bouilliart (Regular), USA
Sponsors: etnies Girl, Element

3. Lacey Baker (Goofy), USA
Sponsors: Billabong, Es, Bones, Venture, Utility Boardshop, Element

4. Lauren Perkins (Goofy), USA
Sponsors etnies, Volvom, Nixon, Oakley, World Industries

5. Amy Caron (Regular), USA
Sponsors: Villa Villa Cola, Popwar, Rockstar Bearings, Circa, Krux, Speed Metal

The 16-year-old, goofy footed Lorena Lima repped for the etnies team with some sick kick flips and manuals.

Marisa Dal Santo nailed this ollie over the cone and landed first place in the street jam.

After enduring a grueling flight from New York, Complex finally touched down in Lake Forest, California last night for the etnies Goofy vs. Regular contest. Judged by the World Cup of Skateboarding, the three-day competition pits the world's best goofy (right foot forward) and regular (left foot forward) riders against each other to declare which stance is better. Last night, the weekend-long contest kicked off with series of bowl jams ' Omar Hassan took the top spot for the pros while Steve Caballero won the Grand Masters and Holly Lyons repped for the ladies in the etnies Girl Push Jam. See the other top winners below and check Complex.com for more daily updates.

Pro Bowl Jam Final Results

1 Omar Hassan Costa Mesa, CA (USA)

2 Rune Glifberg Copenhagen, DEN

3 Brian Patch Huntington Beach, CA (USA)

4 Bruno Passos Rio de Janiero, BRA

5 Taylor Bingaman Sacramento, CA (USA)

6 Chris Cudlipp Kehei, HI (USA)

7 Aaron Astorga San Diego, CA (USA)

8 Jimmy The Greek Clearwater, FL (USA)

9 Vince del Valle Kenmore, WA (USA)

10 Tim Johnson St. Marys, GA (USA)

Grand Masters Bowl Jam Final Results

1 Steve Caballero San Jose, CA (USA)

2 Lance Mountain Alhambra, CA (USA)

3 Lester Kasai Anaheim, CA (USA)

4 Jeff Grosso Arcadia, CA (USA)

5 Micke Alba Montclair, CA (USA)

6 Glen Charnoski Boulder, CO (USA)

7 Pat Ngoho Venice, CA (USA)

8 Mike Smith Hermosa Beach, CA (USA)

9 Steve Alba Badlands, CA (USA)

10 Jesse Martinez Venice, CA (USA)

Etnies Girl PUSH Jam Final Results

1 Holly Lyons Walnut Creek, CA (USA)

2 Cressey Rice Phoenix, AZ (USA)

3 Heidi Fitzgerald Clearwater, FL (USA)

4 Kristi Sanders Orange, CA (USA)

5 Julie Kindstrand Santa Ana, CA (USA)

6 Mandy Esch Orange, CA (USA)

7 Alize Montes Seal Beach, CA (USA)

8 Heidi Kreis San Pedro, CA (USA)

9 Melissa O’Grady Santa Monica, CA (USA)

10 Melissa Dafnos Costa Mesa, CA (USA)