More than 300 people came out to celebrate the launch of the New Balance and Concepts’ Freedom Trail Collection hitting stores on Black Friday. DJs Doo Wop and Brek.One entertained the crowd into the morning while guests enjoyed cocktails and sweets. The Freedom Trail Collection introduces the first ever 875 boot and re-imagines the 1500 sneaker-both in buttery chocolate nubuck and red lace detail. The collection was produced in limited numbers and will only be available at Concepts and select stores around the globe.

This collection cleverly pays homage to Boston and its heritage making a statement about how to stay grounded and represent your home town.

More images after the jump…

Check out the latest and greatest from New Balance!!  The Freedom Trail® Collection takes a twist on its classic 1500 sneaker and launches the first ever 875 boot.  The new collection was inspired by one of Boston’s most celebrated landmarks, The Freedom Trail®.  Both New Balance and the Concepts sneaker store share headquarters here in this New England city, so it was only suiting to create this collection.

The classic 1500 was originally built as a technical running shoe back in 1989.  The new 875 is a boot designed for comfort and durability while keeping the New Balance traditional style.  This collections shoes will feature an all-leather hangtag embossed with “NB for Concepts” along with a red insert bearing the same tag.

More info and pics after the jizzzuuuummmpp….

For those of you in the Boston area, make sure to check out the Launch Party this Thursday night at Sanctuary on 189 State St. in Boston.

]]> http://www.vaporsmagazine.com/2009/11/new-balance-x-concepts-freedom-trail-collection/feed/ 2 http://www.vaporsmagazine.com/2009/10/new-balance-x-686-snowboardsneaker-launch-party/ http://www.vaporsmagazine.com/2009/10/new-balance-x-686-snowboardsneaker-launch-party/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:40:09 +0000 abappealp http://www.vaporsmagazine.com/?p=6488

Back in September we told you that New Balance was collaborating with snowboard company 686 to create a winter collection including boots, footwear, outerwear, and accessories.  Last night, New Balance and 686 celebrated the onset of cool weather with the East Coast launch party for this collaboration: the 686 Times New Balance Collection, which was held at renowned sneaker store, Concepts, in Cambridge MA.  More than 100 guests showed up for the celebration, including some key players from 686 and New Balance.

more pics and info on the collab after the jump

ABOUT THE COLLECTION:

At the forefront of the 686 X New Balance collection is the 580 Times New Balance Snowboard Boot. The boot combines proprietary New Balance patented technologies including Rollbar® stability and Abzorb® cushioning along with 686 BOA® FOCUS system and Recco® avalanche technology. The result is a fully functional, technically advanced snowboard boot with a sneaker-like fit.

To compliment the 686 X New Balance collection, we have customized one of our most celebrated silhouettes- the 580 – with Times collection colors and materials for off-mountain wear.

From its origins in the mid 90’s as a trail running sneaker, to the special modern day partnerships between iconic Japanese brands, the 580 has become a global object of obsession. The 580 Times New Balance Sneaker features timeless design qualities, premium materials and technological footwear advances in footwear.

While the 580 has a storied past, the special 686 models boast contemporary materials for clean styling and reliable comfort and fit. It is this combination of classic heritage and modern function that rests at the core of the 686/New Balance partnership.

The 686 X New Balance collection will also include: 575 Times Insulated Jacket featuring Infidry® dry technology, DWR durable water repellency and Recco® avalanche rescue system technology; 580 Times 3-Ply Jacket with fully taped 3-ply seams, water resistant technology and Recco® avalanche rescue system technology; 580 Times New Era Hat; Gradient Times Zip Hoody, Gradient Times T-shirt and Sole Times T-shirt.

The 580 Times Snowboard boot will be retailing for $300 and the 580s are retailing for $100.

Join Concepts for their “Better Late Than Never” grand opening party. Roll over to the shop at 37 Brattle, where you’ll be provided with directions to a secret location, just minutes from the shop, tucked away in historic Harvard University.

“What’d you do last night?” a girl may ask you someday.

“I went to Harvard University,” you’ll reply. It sounds spiffy, no? Might as well tell her you’re a Kennedy while you’re at it.

You might also meet notorious Vapors contributor Frank The Butcher.

Hello my name is…
Clinton Sparks.

Aka…
Mr. Get Familiar.

I was raised in…
Boston. Dorchester to be specific.

The reason that you’re reading about me is…
I’m a DJ, producer, songwriter, and a TV and radio personality.

I work for…
Myself, The Daily 10 on E!, Body English in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, and the fans.

Right now I’m working on…
Ludacris, Beyonce, Colby O’Donis, and Bun B’s albums, as well as my album and my new artist Supastar L.T.’s album. Also working on music with Akon, Ne-Yo and the PCD’s.

But I’d rather be…
I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing in my life, if I wasn’t I wouldn’t be doing it.

I’ve worked with…
Akon, Diddy, Luda, Bun B, Busta Rhymes, Kanye West, Clipse, Kardinal Offishall…

I’d love to work with…
Teddy Riley, Weezer, Pink, Jay-Z and anybody open minded and willing to experiment with new ideas and sounds.

My most prized possessions are…
My family, my team (Daouda: manager, Kamau: engineer, DJ BK: assistant engineer), and my ability to understand different personalities and deal with irrational, difficult people.

The first thing I do in the morning is…
When I’m at home: put my contacts in, have breakfast with my son, vacuum my studio, then get to work. When I’m on the road: check my Blackberry, then get to work.

The last thing I do at night is…
When I’m at home: turn off my equipment and check out some online porn. When I’m on the road: I check out some porn then lie down and fall asleep watching TV.

I can’t travel without…
My Blackberry and laptop.

My momma always said…
I don’t know. I didn’t listen to her much, except when she yelled, “Turn that music down!”

I love it when people…
Help each other out and show courtesy to one another.

I can’t stand when people…
Are unappreciative—it’s disgusting.

I have too many…
Things I want to accomplish and friends.

I don’t have enough…
Time or real friends.

I spend too much money on…
My house and plane tickets.

The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen is…
My son being born.

The ugliest thing I’ve ever seen is…
My wife’s face while that was happening! Just joking, she was beautiful.

I really should…
Hurry up and finish recording my album so I can be making more records for other people.

If you ever see me walking down the street…
I’m in a rush, so it wouldn’t be the best time to get my attention with an “I’m the hottest artist in the world” speech.

My most notable run-in with the law…
Was when I was in the judge’s chambers and the judge gave the plaintiff the choice of me going to juvenile prison or home after I was caught breaking in her house and was going to mash her with a frying pan in order to get out of the house, but she walked by without noticing me so I made a break for it. She told the judge let me go home. Bless her heart!

If I had to say sorry it would be because…
I spend all my time working. That’s the reason I wrote the “Sorry Blame It On Me” record with Akon. It’s a true story!

The last time I swore I’d never drink was after a night of…
Watching my dad as a kid almost kill my mom when he was drunk when I was 5. I decided I would never drink. If there is more negative than positive with something, then I want nothing to do with it.

You can catch me…
On The Daily 10 on E! every Tuesday at 7:30 and midnight, at Smashtime Saturdays at Body English in Las Vegas, every week on my worldwide syndicated radio show Smashtime radio (also on Shade 45 on SIRIUS and smashtimeradio.com), smashing down a club in your country or city, and on clintonsparks.com.

Future projects and plans…
My album is coming out soon, Supastar L.T.’s album, announcing my first major record deal and a massive new mixtape I’m dropping on 2008 featuring Ludacris, Rick Ross, Jim Jones, Akon, Clipse, Yung Joc, Kardinal Offishal, Busta Rhymes…

And before I leave I’d like to give a shout out to…
Everyone that enjoys what I do and comes to the clubs I smash, bumps my mixtapes, and anyone that has ever told anyone else to get familiar with Clinton Sparks. Thank you!

Hello, my name is…
Greg Selkoe aka Jimi Cinnamon Throat.

I was raised in…
Boston, JP in the house! Same neighborhood as Donna Summers, Michael Bivens, and Joey Macintyre from the New Kids.

The reason that you’re reading about me is…
’Cause I founded and run a little website called Karmaloop.com.

Right now I’m working on…
Karmalooptv.com.

The first thing I do in the morning is…
Murder it.

The last thing I do at night is…
Kiss my girl, my dogs, and my cats.

My momma always said…
Greg, you ruined Christmas.

I love it when people…
Doubt and hate ’cause it feels so much better when you achieve something if you prove people wrong.

I hate it when people…
Take shit too seriously. Have some fun, lighten the fuck up, feel some rubs, enjoy life.

If you ever see me walking down the street…
You will be on the same street as I am.

My most notable run-in with the law…
When Karmaloop started, we worked in rat-infested offices shared with a crazy drunk guy and we got raided by the police and fire department because they thought a bomb went off in our warehouse but it was really this knucklehead who worked for me, knocking the bricks out of a bricked-in window with a sledgehammer in the middle of the day. All the bricks hit the floor at once and it sounded like a bomb to the people in the Wendy’s below us, so they called the fire department and police department who busted down the door to our warehouse which was above the Wendy’s. The cops and fire department saw all the clothes and thought we had some kind of shady sweatshop operation and called in all sorts of other city workers—it was a fuckin mess—they were grilling me. We finally convinced them that we were not sweatshop but they hit us with crazy fines ’cause our landlord was basically keeping the place like a slum, but we just sent the bills on to him.

If I had to say sorry it would be because I…
I have ADD and I am not paying attention to you.

Yo, you see this scar, I got this when I…
Was attacked by a crazy German shepherd in a small village outside of Moscow—this is no joke—this crazy mofo dog that was my girl’s uncle’s tried to kill me. I was trapped in a small yard with a 10-foot fence all around; I stuck my hand out for it to smell and it chomped down on my hand; maybe I shouldn’t have eaten those rabbit pimeni with my hands! I yanked my hand out and blood started squirting all over the place. Then the dog lunged at my throat, luckily I blocked it with my arm, but it ripped a big chunk out of my arm. I kicked it in the stomach several times while it was latched onto my arm, pulled free, ran, then it bit me in the ass. Luckily her cousin heard the commotion and ran outside and gave the dog the secret command to stop attacking. I would have been in big trouble. Let’s just say the hospitals in Russia suck!

The last time I swore I’d never drink was after a night of…
Staying awake for three days.

Future projects and plans…
Karmalooptv.com.

And before I leave I’d like to give a shout out too…
My girl DinaSki, Wil Penus, Holland “Daze,” Gio Cubana, Blaked, Dennis the Kid, Redd Foxx, “Donkey Free” Daouda, Clinton Sparks, Anando, Masano, Alejandro, Triptin, RawCash, Sophie, Renada, Free, Baldy, Jackee & Bear, MastaLegal, Pitch Control, and all my homies in the Bean and beyond…don’t be a donkey and don’t change!