Wale x Levis...Incase you didn't know

DC's own Wale has been taking over RECENTLY. You may have seen him featured in The Source or several LRG spreads in Complex. Now, he is one of the artist featured in Levis' "Live Unbuttoned" global marketing campaign which launched in July 2008. It is Levis' largest marketing effort ever and their first attempt at mass global marketing.

The message behind the campaign is to live outside the box and go beyond the expectations of the norm. Levis chose emerging artists and bloggers from all over the world who best embodies their vision. Wale was no exception. The supreme-unsigned-hype has had heavy hitting artist like Bun B and Lil Wayne featured on his mixtapes, and has joined the Roots on their recent album 'Rising Down' all without a record deal! As of late, he even had Seinfield cast member Julia Louis-Dreyfus do cameo skit on his "Mixtape About Nothing".

The online site features photos, a mini movie intro, and a downloadable remix of "Breakdown" off Wale's "100 Miles and Runnin'" mixtape. Wale can also be seen in several print adds rocking the ever-fresh 501 jeans. Check it out at levis.com/wale

FUCT has something to say

For the socially conscious or just offensive, FUCT has the ‘Killing for peace” tee. The tee was released earlier in the summer, but I had to put it up because I like it that much!!

This simple but in your face tee comes from a brand known for its raunchy yet thought-provoking shirts. Drawn using water based inks to achieve an old school cartoon look, the shirt shows a soldier who matter-of-factly states, “Killing for peace is like fucking for virginity....” And you know what? I think they’re right! These might still be available at Major DC.

Penny II dropping this weekend!!

Here's a last minute reminder for those of you have been waiting since the original release of the Penny II 12 years ago! The retros are exact to there predecessors' specifications. They are to be released this Saturday Sept 27, 2008 at a Foot Locker and DTLR near you. Major Dc will also be having the heat ready. More pics of the shoes at Nicekicks.com

DC’s New Street Wear Brand Has Time on Its Side

Clockwise Clothing is the newest of DC based street wear brands. Going beyond the urban market, they wish to become a national force in street and skate culture.

The clothing line is the brainchild of Northern VA resident and recent college graduate Collin O’Brien who made sure he was the first person to wear the newest and most fashionable clothing. “I always strived to be the freshest at school and made sure I was earlier than everyone else,” he said in an interview with Don’t Sleep DC.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, O’Brien was a freelance media designer throughout the metro area, now affectionately referred to as the DMV by its residents. During this time he built contacts and connections that afforded him the ability to develop Clockwise Clothing. “When I realized that I had the right talent behind me, unique vision and highly available resources & connections, I saw this idea as not only very feasible, but lucrative and profitable,” he stated in an interview with Don't $leep DC. He now runs the company with two of his friends.

Like many other street wear brands, the designs are largely based on the 80’s and early 90’s including colors, cuts, and even old tv shows like Who’s the Boss. However, he pays homage to his roots with an exclusive “Run DMV” t-shirt that uses the “Run DMC” template. “I really want to put this area on the map nationally by means of a clothing line,” O’Brien said.

The name Clockwise Clothing comes from the team’s philosophy to always keep moving forward. “Over here we beat the clock every day, all day, & every trip and Clockwise is the direction,” he wrote on the brand’s website.

Launched earlier this year, the line has been met with great fan fare. On the site you can catch shots of local celebrities Tabi Bonney and WALE holding the “Run DMV” t-shirts. Unlike DC staple urban brands like Shooters, HOBO, and Solbiato, O’Brien wants to appeal to a difference audience and gain national distribution. “We are more along the lines of D.C Brand, DURKL, with visions of going national and targeting not only the streets, but the skaters, rockers and shoe collectors,” he explains.

You can read the full interview between O’Brien and Don’t Sleep DC’s Cam at DontSleepDC.com. Clockwise shirts are now on sale at Clockwiseclothing.com.

No Duck Walk Required

Many of us have a treasured pair of sneakers that leave us torn between two ideals…keep them fresh/deadstock for show or rock ‘em to show off. Those who choose the latter have devised a simple way of achieving a happy median…The Duck Walk aka the new kicks strut. The exact gait is unique to each person, but the ‘sole’ purpose is the same—DON’T CREASE THE SHOE!! A bent toebox can be as detrimental to the look and value of a shoe as an ink stain because once it’s there, ain’t no getting it out. However, the Duck Walk is a fallible solution. Eventually, you will take a wrong step or may have to run and that’s when the crease will strike.

Luckily major brands and shoe aficionados have taken notice to sneaker culture’s obsession with keeping kicks deadstock. The Jordan brand and Nike in particular recently began to include cardboard inserts instead of paper to fill some of their more noteworthy models. The cardboard keeps the shape of the shoe better and can be worn with the shoe. However, the insert is still pliable so don’t get too excited--an alleviated Duck Walk is still needed. For the rest of your collection Chef of GourmetKickz has developed and released The Decreaser™. You wear this plastic, five finger insert with your shoe to [what else!?] eliminate creases. It stops creasing by forming to the shape and height of your shoe's toebox. The comfortable Decreaser™ is well worth its price tag of $10 a pair since it will increase the life or your kicks tenfold.

Unfortunately nothing is perfect as the product’s website warns, “The Decreaser™ is not intended to be worn during sports or heavy running.” With that said, don’t expect them to withstand the torture of a 5-on-5 pick up…ain’t happening.

These will help you stay Fly without a Duck Walk to keep them Birds chirping. Ya digg!

Brought to you by Your EveryThing Man™

Fairfax is 'Gooing' wit dunks

Elite Boardshop received a shipment of the elusive Nike "Shoe Goo" dunks a few days. Run to Fair Oaks mall in Fairfax, VA to see if any are left.

The shoes are named after the famed shoe protection product. They feature duct tape print on the side panels and rear ankle support section, which was created by scanning real scanning duct tape. There are plenty of other cool details...just take a peek at the picture.

Midnight shopping on U street

Within the next few weeks, DEKKA fashion, music, and art studio will be opening their doors Fri and Sat nights (9:30-midnight) to offer the hot U street crowd a unique "after hours shopping experience". The nights will have live interactive video on our new flat screen, featured artists/designers, With co-owner and DJ Joshua T. rockin the mic as the MC host.

DEKKA is new concept for U Street shopping. The boutique will be a co-op, bringing together work from local clothing and accessory designers, visual artists, and musicians.

They are located @ 1338 U street NW, 2nd floor. Washington DC

dunkxchange in DC this Sunday!!

For the sole fans throughout the DMV, here is your chance to trade, buy, and gawk at other collectors' boxes of gold (or pink for that matter). You know its gonna be off the hook if Major is backing it!!

Forget ROY.G.BIV. Learn the Shoe Spectrum

That iconic name…ROY.G.BIV, the acronym for the light color spectrum, everyone knows it but how often do we really need it? Well I offer you a new spectrum to remember: black, brown, and white aka BBW (stop being a perv!). Like the seven colors of light, BBW makes up the basic colors of any man’s shoe collection. This is the break down using shoes that too should be in your closet because like ROY and BBW, they are classics…

Black: It’s the color that matches everything! More importantly, it should be the color of your lace ups for suits and casual nights out.

For my man getting it in, it should be the color of your Nike Boots (not blue or white!!). The latter comment is for the DMV, apologies if you feel excluded.

Brown: This is the secondary color noted by GQ to be the ‘new black’. Dark brown or mahogany shades go great with a dark blue or black suit paired with a complimenting tie. If Docker’s is the most prevalent name stitched on your ass, then a good pair of brown Rockports or Clark’s will do fine.

For my mans’ out there clockin’, you gotta have the OG tan nu-buck Timberland’s (we call them Buttas), rocked with the right cut jeans and proper shirt, these will carry any hoodstar’s outfit. *Note: Buttas should be left untied unless running or stomping*

White: The original white-on-white Nike Air Force 1…. Need I say more? *Note: you can throw in a pair of black/white Converse Chuck Taylors too.*

So there you have it, BBW, the primary colors of a man’s shoe collection and corresponding shoe types.