Image via Packer Shoes
Polo and sneakers have always been a strong combination, and few people personify this look better than DJ and producer Just Blaze, who's on his second Ralph Lauren-inspired footwear collaboration with Saucony and New Jersey sneaker store Packer Shoes.
The first project revolved around a pair of Grid 9000s modeled after the "Snow Beach" jacket, infamously worn by Raekwon in Wu-Tang's "Can It Be All So Simple" music video. The second design is on the Grid SD, but the colorblocking comes from a less obvious place. Just Blaze and Packer took cues from the "Casino" shirt, a garment associated with '90s Polo enthusiasts, which has a roulette wheel on the back.
We got the chance to speak to Just Blaze and Mike Packer, the owner of Packer Shoes, and they broke down this sneaker release.
The shoes will come out this Friday, October 14, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at a special pop-up space on 118 Orchard St., NYC. The sneakers will be sold in bundles with limited-edition tote bags, T-shirts, Bicycle playing cards, and cee-lo dice only available at the space. There will also be a bucket hat sold separately. The pop-up release will be followed by an online release at 12 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, at Packer's webstore.
In the meantime, get everything you need to know about this collaboration from the people who made it happen.
Just Blaze wanted to put people onto vintage Polo pieces.
"When people see the [the Snow Beach] sneaker, they automatically think of the early ‘90s, they think of Wu Tang," Just Blaze says. "'Casinos' are from the same era, but it’s a piece for the people who invested time in the culture. I wanted to shift directions, do something different, and to take the opportunity to educate people on the lesser-known pieces."
This project was for the love of sneakers.
"It wasn’t a money thing. It just like, alright, let’s do something we both love," Just Blaze says. "At the end of the day, we are shoe geeks. So that’s why the whole thing came about," Packer adds
How they designed the sneaker.
"The material we used on the shoe and everything around it gives it the right look and feel. You can’t just take the 'Casino' graphic and put it on the shoe. It would look like something a two-year-old did with crayons, right?" Packer says.
Has Ralph Lauren said anything about the sneakers?
"I know plenty of people between retail and corporate and being an aficionado of the brand for so long, but I haven’t had any conversations on the shoes themselves, other than employees asking me for them," Just Blaze says.
Here's what you need to know about the pop-up shop this weekend.
"We have the pop up this weekend. I'll be there. We'll have a live roulette and prizes to win. It’s not just going to be a pop-up shop, but a pop-up casino," Just Blaze says. "[Just] will be signing boxes, and Dallas Penn will be there. He'll be the spinner of the wheel, and if you get that ticket you get a pack for free. It's going to be fun," Packer adds.