Journal of the mental environment
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever"
Red hot update
Latest news on the Blackspot V1 Red (V1:R) experimental run.
- Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:50 pm — Posted by Lauren
- | 13 comments
A lot of buzz is happening around the experimental run of the new V1:R coming out this summer, and we want to keep everyone as updated as possible. So here’s the latest:
Word from our factory owner, Pedro, is that the shoes will be done production this week! The shoes will then make their way to our warehouses in the UK, Canada, and the US.
At this point we are looking at the shoes being a couple weeks away from hitting the streets and we are getting very excited for their arrival. Check back soon for pre-orders to open up in the culture shop to guarantee you get a pair!
Comments
Any idea how much these kickass shoes will be????
The pricing will be the same as the V1 sneakers. We're expecting them really soon!
I believe blackspot is a logo: it's distinct, recognisable, and is loaded with meaning and perhaps even a lifestyle to some degree. I personally don't have a problem with this, so long as everyone is aware of the spectacle of our consumer culture. If you choose to buy these shoes, do so because you want to support ethical business practices and/or you like the quality and look of the shoe.
Also, I don't think the shoe should have the spot logo on the side nor should it have a "Nike ass-kicking" red dot on the toe. Let the consumer place these signifiers on the shoe if they choose to.
I think the logo issue is a tricky one.
Should Blackspots come with absolutely no identifying marks attached to them, which method would seem to be more in line with an anti-Corporate, anti-commodification-of-the-Planet philosophy?
Or is it better to have them adorned with dirty great white marks that seem to say "look, there is no logo here"?
Which method was presumably decided on because it marks them out as NOT being products of [insert chosen large company name here].
I guess another factor in choosing this design was so that other people might ask the wearer "what kind of sneakers are those, and where's their logo?"?
Personally, I like the current approach, although I can understand why other people might prefer the totally logo-free option.
Well, if you think about it, it's not REALLY logo-free.
BLACKSPOT carries a logo, it's own "anti-logo" if you wish. That white marking on the side and the words Blackspot Shoes ARE a logo, it's a marking, a sign, something that makes you recognize this "trademark" (or anti-trademark)
And I think it's a little hypocritical of the people of Adbusters... creating their own logo-clad product and selling it to us while attacking trademarks, the very thing they're pushing.
Now, the fact that the shoes are made in a worker-friendly evironment with recicled materials makes them at least morally better than other products, but the fact that they're advertised as "logo-free" while they're not... I think it's just a stunt.
Excuse me but, I don't think you should Reject the one
thing in our society that's actually trying to make a difference.
The ONE thing? Jeez, man, relax. I'm not rejecting anything. It's a shoe, something to wrap your feet with, it's not like it's going to save the world, bring democracy and feed the african children, it's a friggin' shoe.
That's what Marx called fetichism of the comodity: giving supernatural qualities to an object, making it independent from society and men.
I recommend you to CHILL and be critic.
listen to the person from indonesia!
How many shoes do you have, ha? I myself in indonesia only have three shoes and that's all shoes i need. why do you buy shoes everytime the latest model come out?
Whoever left the last two comments are fools. Buying these shoes does not sponsor ferocious capitalism because they are produced under fair conditions with green, environmentally friendly materials. If you want to do yourself a favour keep the shoes you have until they wear out, then buy these. I suggest putting a black spot on your other shoes anyways.
To that person who left the message regarding the sturdiness. I admire the fact that probably you will end up buying one. Adressing your concerns on sturdiness i can tell you (and i dont know if you knew this) that these shoes are made with organic-grown hemp fiber. Hemp is known for its durability and sturdiness, it had been used for millenias to weave durable clothing as well as, anciently, footwear. George Washington was himself a hemp farmer. Until 1907,when a bill against the cultivation of cannabis was approved in the U.S.,hemp was still a widespread source for textiles.
I highly reccomend these shoes. Not only it would be the ethical choice on an environmental perspective, but also one that can raise social awareness.
Bravo. Well said.
Yes! Let's buy more stuff to save the world! Woo!
I don't think buying stuff will save the world, but since shoes are more or less a necessity at least much of the time, I'm glad for the opportunity to buy logo free shoes produced under fair conditions.
I just hope they're a bit more sturdy than the traditional canvas converse style sneaker or its many knockoffs. I loved my NoSweat hightops, but they fell apart just as quickly as the original model.
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