If you haven’t been living under a rock the past year, you know we’re fully into Joy Division mania with the recent release of the Ian Curtis biopic Control, album reissues and T-shirts to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the iconic group’s formation. Added to the merchandise earlier this year was an all-white Joy Division-themed New Balance shoe designed by Dylan Adair, which got people in discussion forums (including me) all hot and bothered, and to this day, still no one knows for sure if they were ever sold. Now there’s talk about a Nike Blaze pair, also by Adair, sporting the same minimalistic look. These prototypes have Peter Saville’s famous Unknown Pleasures album design on the front of the tongue, with lyrics from the band’s songs “Atrocity Exhibition” (”This is the way/Step inside”) behind and “Insight” on the swoosh (”But I remember when we were young”), plus reference to the album’s catalog number on the back. To store these collector kicks, Adair’s created a matching hinged plastic box with the Factory Records logo. Wow. Someone throw me a towel here! Let us know if you hear anything about its release because I need these to feed my Joy Division diet.


bernard sumner Tuesday, 10.23.07 @ 2:08 pm

wow. what could possibly be less fucking punk rock than custom nikes. talk about an atrocity exhibition. thank god ian didn’t let himself live long enough to see this crass elitist bullshit.


PAVEMENT Tuesday, 10.23.07 @ 3:41 pm

no shit, ian curtis would be rolling around in his grave right now. is nothing sacred. fuck these goddamn hippsters


speedrail Tuesday, 10.23.07 @ 3:54 pm

surfaced about 6 months ago – art project, displayed in Manchester sneaker store, will not be put into any kind of production.

and let’s not forget that peter saville’s original, iconic images were ALL ads to try and get people to part with their disposable income. not sure why sneakers would make ian curtis roll in his grave any more than a flyer or poster or tshirt would.


bernard sumner Tuesday, 10.23.07 @ 5:08 pm

true enough, but then these aren’t “peter saville” trainers are they? funny that when you resurrect joy division, you resurrect the struggle with commerciality along with it. i think it’s safe to say, ian might not roll over in his grave, but he’d definitely roll his eyes.


tock Thursday, 10.25.07 @ 9:23 am

One pair only:

http://www.thedailyswarm.com/swarm/joy-division-new-balance-sneakers-really-limited-edition-1-pair/




Sponsorship:

Joshspear.com brings a dedicated, young, and influential audience to brand advertisers.

Please contact us for more information.

Regular content continued below...





Visvim Skagway Spring Summer 2010
Karim Rashid’s Bobble
Lunchbox Paintings
Simon Page’s Colour Shambles
Osprey Hydraulics
Live Firework Art: Rosemarie Fiore
Eeepmon: Yamaha Ginza Tokyo
3D Soundclash: London
Enabling: The Work of Minimaforms, London
Cross-Legged Living Chair