Style Andrew Lee Talks Invisible:Man & His New NYC Store

After a start in NY at Recon and then a series of clothing lines and I:M branded Japanese retail outlets, the Invisible:Man, Andrew Lee, moved his version of streetwear to the U.S. and opened two Commissary stores in Costa Mesa and in San Diego. Lee’s Cali outposts of awesomeness carry the hard-to-get New York staples from Supreme and DQM and the even harder to get stuff from Japanese lines like Original Fake, Bounty Hunter, Neighborhood and his own lines, Invisible:Man and Bastard Squad.

Tonight, as Lee officially opens his NYC space, he won’t be competing with the New York brands but it will instead mark the first time that a lot of rare Japanese product will make it to the Big Apple, as well as the first series of Invisible:Man product created completely in the United States. Read on to learn more about the store you can’t miss when visiting NYC, and also to get Lee’s thoughts on the current status of streetwear…

Style A Recent History of Disney Collaborations

Jeremy Scott’s fall Ready to Wear collection images hit the ‘net over the weekend, featuring a variety of Mickey Mouse-inspired pieces. Since it’s high fashion, and since this dude kind of does whatever he wants, we’re guessing JS didn’t go ahead and officially collaborate with the entertainment house (the adidas are probably going to be a problem with infringement).

Disney does love getting the brand out there, though, and maybe Mr. Scott should have hit them up. There are a lot of other brands who’ve collaborated with the mega-brand in the recent past, and this nod would have gotten the guys excited. Enough to take Walt’s head out of the freezer and show him? Probably not, but you never know. Click through for a rundown on Disney’s greatest recent attempts at being relevant to people over ten…

Kicks of the Day The Hundreds Johnson Mid

When street wear labels dip into the sneaker game, the results can get tricky. The Hundreds, however seem to have nailed their first foray into an overstated sneaker market with these simple, subtle Johnson Mids. You've heard about them for months, and they've released at the brand's flagship stores on the West Coast, but if you're looking to cop the sneakers with no hassle, they just went up on active. Full sizes are available, but get there quick, nothing TH lasts long.
$69.99, www.activerideshop.com

Music Blu Talks Roc-A-Fella Rumors & MAGIC Trips

“Photo by: Andrew Queseda

In the digital age, rappers come in various packages. You've got your hood celebrities, your collar popping trendsetters, your so-called genre defying extraterrestrials. But then there's the one who manages to gain stardom by relying solely on talent, not marketing and promotion (word to KRS). That's Blu'Okayplayer's favorite color, and the current topic of interest amongst hip-hop snobs who masturbate to Primo beats (true story).

After turning down an early offer from Suge Knight, Blu went independent and pushed forth three critically acclaimed collaborative albums within 13 months: Below The Heavens (with Exile), C.R.A.C.: The Peace Talks (with Ta’Raach) and Johnson & Jonson (with Mainframe). Check out our interview with the MC to get his take on other young rappers, his past experiences at MAGIC, his future ambitions after music, and his affinity for J*DaVeY…

Style Streetwear Brands Love The Futura Font

Paul Renner invented a font called Futura in 1928. Almost a century later, brands still love using it for its mysterious power over consumers.

But the problem with using an inexpensive a font like Futura to create your brand’s logo is that anyone can rip you off. The new lookbook from ATL-based clothing label The Process just dropped, and its font looks eerily similar to the logo favored by The Hundreds. But Futura’s history in the American streetwear world goes even deeper…

Style Retail Spotlight: Commissary

Streetwear’s O.G.’s are often seen, but rarely heard. From stores to parties, they’re everywhere that makes up “the scene.” But few give their brand a voice as loud as streetwear icon Andrew Lee does as the owner of clothing line invisible:man and retail chain Commissary.

Though the Brooklyn native is always opinionated, he prefers to let his bold BMX/skate/heavy metal inspired clothing do the bragging for him. Lee opened his first Tokyo flagship in 2001, and is now based in California with two more stores under his belt'one in San Diego, the other in Orange County (pictured above). In addition to invisible:man, Commissary carries brands like Original Fake, Bounty Hunter, and Acapulco Gold. We caught up with Andrew Lee to talk about his stores and get his take on the the influence of online shopping on today’s retail business. Read the quick interview below.

Events Just Blaze Wraps Up L-R-G & Courvoisier’s Spring Tour

L-R-G and Courvoisier have travelled a long road together in the past month. The two brands put their heads together for a partnership that has produced an exclusive line of products (jackets, mountain bikes, Nintendo Wii’s, to flat screen TV’s, etc), giving consumers an up-close preview of the limited edition line at pop-up shops nationwide.

Last night, for the final leg of the tour, super-producer Just Blaze and Complex’s DJ Treats turned the Lower East Side’s Reed Space into a virtual sweat box, pumping out heavy-hitting tunes for a memorable close to an even more memorable collaboration. See more photos of JB (sporting his Megatron Don x LRG tee), The Alchemist, DJ Clark Kent, and LRG rep Jonas Bevaqua after the jump.

Style Retail Spotlight: Alife’s Tokyo Flagship Opens

Alife’s modest approach to cool streetwear and sneakers has brought them pretty far since operating out of NYC’s Lower East Side store front for over a decade. Try three more stores: Vancouver in 2005, Los Angeles in 2007, and now the brand new Tokyo flagship, all with their own unique design concepts. The latest Tokyo store follows the aesthetic with a quote that greets customers, “Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way.” Once inside, a giant tank with a collection of their signature RTFT and ARC shoes are on display. See more photos of the Japan’s newest import after the jump.

Events Bun B Welcomes L-R-G and Courvoisier To Texas

You don’t have to be a UGK fan to know that Bun B is the man. Take the recent Complex party with L-R-G and Courvoisier for instance. The underground king hosted the Houston leg of L-R-G spring tour at End Zone Fashions, where he and guests like super-producer Manny Fresh greeted some of H-Town’s finest eye candy. Oh, L-R-G and Courvoisier’s cool line of products from their recent collab were on display too. See what you missed after the jump.

Style Brand Profile: Amongst Friends

If you’re looking to hang out at the country club this summer, be aware that the mimosa-sipping retirees might look down on the bold, youthful graphic tees of today’s streetwear. While most of the sports associated with streetwear are skate and snow, Amongst Friends is open to more leisurely sports like golf and tennis, without forcing you to check your style at the door. Founder Mikol Stambough launched his spring/summer line to match the season’s soft colors on their signature New Eras and polo shirts. See a gallery of products from their ‘08 lookbook after the jump.