Nike x Wood Wood LunarWood TZ – Part 2

You caught a glimpse of the new Nike x WoodWood “LunarWood“ last week. This week you get to read a Q & A on how the model came about and the idea behind it. You will also get to see some nice photos of what this newcomer was designed for, with real life images of the shoe.

Here you will see how well the shoes held up on a nightly hang out and the progressive thoughts behind the making of the LunarWood.

As an avid sneaker wearer (and past collector), I am always curious to find out about other people’s habits in that regard. Why they like shoes, whether they wear or collect, how they are treating their footwear, what other shoes besides sneakers they are into and so on. The upcoming release of Wood Wood’s LunarWood TZ with Nike Sportswear was a good occasion to hook up with Brian from Wood Wood to get his insights into the matter. After the Q & A you will find some great photos that depict the LunarWood TZ in Action, too!

Introduction

Jörg: What is the first pair of trainers that you bought yourself or that you ‘pressured’ your parents to get you, not because you needed them but because you wanted them?
Brian: I have a terrible memory, but I remember somehow convincing my mom that it would be a good look to wear Converse Lakers Weapons with a white suit for my confirmation.

Are you guys ‘keepers’ or do you discard kicks once they are ‘finished’?
They are usually either trashed or given away.

What are you looking for in a good pair of sneakers – maybe a few years back getting something very limited was cool, these days maybe it’s more the actual style that matters?
I tend to wear more basic styles these days, but I try to keep an open mind to new things and I really appreciate the idea of progress. Different shoes have different qualities I guess. I don’t believe nostalgia is healthy, and wearing a shoe just for the rareness is silly.

What role does footwear play in the design process of your collections?
Show shoes are picked to fit the overall concept of the collection/show.

Besides sneakers, what other types of footwear are you interested in at the moment?
Boots, brogues, slippers.

Nike LunarWood TZ

What are the main characteristics of a shoe that is quintessentially Scandinavian?
Basically they should keep your feet warm and dry. The nordic environment was the initial inspiration for this project, and in the first drafts we were more specific about the scandinavian references. However we didn’t want the shoe to be too gimmicky, and in the end the scandinavian aspect is probably more present in the process than in the final product. We actually discussed doing a Scandinavia only release, but it felt a bit forced.

The LunarWood combines design/style with very specific technologies. What is the ratio between these aspects and how did you balance the two?
This happened very natural. We worked with Jesse Leyva from Nike who really understood what we wanted and he came with a lot of input. For me the most important aspect of this project was doing something progressive, and not just the standard sneaker collab.

What are the innovations on the new LunarWood?
The upper has been treated with this nano-coating called ion-mask to make it water repellent, and the Lunar sole incorporates a new Nike technology called Dynamic Support that adapts to a runner’s gait with each step.

How did you apply the Wood Wood design credo/style to this shoe, how is this shoe typical for Wood Wood?
Actually we didn’t necessarily want this shoe to be a typical WW shoe. We like to surprise and I hope this project came a little unexpected.

The pictures on the following pages show the LunarWood in a rough city environment. Tell us a bit about this shooting – who are these guys, where did you go, how did the shoes perform?
Basically we wanted to present the shoe in the setting we had imagined them in from the start. At night in the empty streets, roof tops and abandoned buildings.

The photos were shot by Thomas Skou who I have known for some time but never have had the chance to work with before. We spent the most of a sunday night with some local kids exploring different spots in Copenhagen. The shoes took a beating but held up nicely.

It’s quite cool to see this special model being treated like that. Do you think kids will actually take them out and beat the s*** out of them?
I certainly hope so!

They are not meant to be a collector’s shoe.

What is the general look that works well with the LunarWood?
I guess what you see in the photos; dark hoodies, shell jackets and jeans. Classic Scandinavian writer style.

The theme of the traditional outdoors is extremely popular at the moment – is this just another fad or could this be a sign for a more eco-friendly future?
For some people this is the only way. Functional clothing that keeps your body warm and dry. But if you talk about this vintage outdoor look, I believe it’s just a trend like so many others, where styles were adopted briefly and later abandoned for something else.

Sorry…

Finale

You are opening a new store in Vienna this month?
Oh yes, actually on the day of the LunarWood release. This is something we are very excited about. New frontiers.

What is the theme for your upcoming collection?
The overall theme is traveling / tourism.
Coming early ’10.

What is on your agenda until Christmas?
This week we´re going to Vienna for the opening, and then we’ll probably have a few more christmas lunches to attend to.

No more shoe releases for now…

Thanks for taking the time and good luck with the launch of the LunarWood TZ!

So there you have it. A shoe designed for everyday use, rugged walks and runs through all types of environments. No matter what the challenge, it seems as the LunarWood conquered them all. These will release at Wood Wood’s Copenhagen flagship store on December 11th. Then they will release at select Nike Sportswear retailers on the 19th of the same month.

It’s always pleasing to see brands think outside the box. As a fan of the LunarGlide and the up and coming LunarSwift, these have got my fingers on the trigger already. Even though this colorway may be a TZ release, I don’t doubt that these will see a GR future with other color-ups. At least I’m hoping it does…

-Vagrant-

images and interview via: Being Hunted