While it's rare to see competing businesses work together, Atmos and Wish ATL have done just that.
The two boutiques teamed up with PONY to create separate versions of the Slam Dunk. Atlanta-based Wish used the Chinese calendar's "Year of the Horse" on the as their inspiration for its “Good Fortune” collection. Wish ATL's take on the Slamdunk features red and black pony hair and 3M reflective materials for a bold stamp on the old school sneaker. A clean white midsole sits on top of a bright red outsole for that throwback look.
“I wanted to come together on this project to show unity between small shops and boutiques. I respect and admire Paul’s [Lee] work and what he brings to the footwear and apparel industry," said Frank Cooke, head buyer and designer at Wish ATL. "With that being said, with this launch hopefully other small retailers will catch on to this same theory and we can do more projects like this together across the globe.”
Atmos’ Slamdunks take their inspiration from NYC for their “New York State of Mind” collection. Big Apple red and Statue of Liberty green grace plush suede while leather creates a textural contrast on stitched piping and across the throat of the sneakers. Gum soles give a neutral base while New York City details like the I "Chevron" New York woven label on the tongue and Statue of Liberty sock liner pepper the pairs.
A limited number of all three pairs will be available in handcrafted wooden boxes by Brooklyn’s Good Wood.
“At the end of the day, it's not about competition," said Paul Lee, creative brand director of Atmos NYC. "We all want to win, so why not support one another. I have a ton of respect for Frank [Cooke] and a lot people who do what we do on a daily basis. They motivate me to keep pushing.”
The three pairs of kicks will start to be available in the states April 25 and internationally in May.
[via PONY]
