Twenty-Twelve was an important year for me. With the exception of 1985, and probably 1991, no other year has been so significant in my life. It has brought my life's gloomiest moments, as well as it's brightest.
My 2012 was lined with cross-roads, forks, dead-ends, freeways and intersections that has altered the course of my life for the better. It was no means an easy ride, but I would not have it any other way.
I can say the same for Locker Room Legends. This site which I've been grooming for close to 2 years now (painstakingly at that) has grown leaps and bounds in a year. The culture that it has been featuring, cultivating, and promoting has seen the same growth and "notoriety" in 2012.
Although 2012 has provided us with a handful of moments that we would much rather forget, it has also given us a boatload of things to be thankful for.
When I started lockerroomlegends, I promised myself I will never do a Countdown post or Top X List of whatever. Well, 2012 was so special I decided to snap that rule… DISCLAIMER: This list does not include the obvious entries - God, family, Cess, and other personal matters that are already constant in my life.
And so, just this one time, here are the TOP 12 THINGS I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THIS YEAR.
I would not strictly say "THE RISE" but this year, SIGNIFICANT local brands made a killing in the market. You might say, "Yo… They did the same last year!" Yeah… They did! But this was after some tree shaking, where corny brands and shallow concepts went good night. I would say that there are still some wack stuff out there, but they are few and far in between, and in danger of being extinct.
These brands did not only raise the bar with the genius they put out, they also made their joints more accessible and affordable. They have educated the masses; because of the product they put out, the consumers have become more mature: mature enough to recognize that you don't need to put out a lot to look good, you don't need to head on over to karmaloop and be all brand conscious to cop something dope… They got the shit you need right here. Local.
They made us look, basically.
I won't drop any brand names - I'm afraid I might leave some out (you know who you are anyway), but if you've been watching the scene for at least the year, you would know who I'm about.
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Twenty-Twelve gave us (top of my head) CRUEL SUMMER, PUSHA, 2CHAINZ, A$AP ROCKY, CHANNEL ORANGE, KENDRICK LAMAR AND GOOD KID M.A.A.D. CITY… and a whole bunch more. Do I need to say more, though?
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This year, we've seen the renaissance of the Running Shoe thanks to the marathon craze that has engulf Manila. Running Shoes are no longer exclusive to competitive marathoners and informed shoe collectors. We've seen yuppies, professionals, and hipsters (most in their expensive designer threads) hit the urban pavement hustling in their favorite Nike, NB and Asics runners. Personally, I wear a pair whenever I can because unlike other footwear types, they're slow to get old, their tough, they look good, and they meet the demands of most urban commuters.
Whether it be a vintage pair or on the tip of technological advancement, running and training shoes did leave a significant foot print on 2012.
On the flip side, Lunar Cushioning - Nike's technological darling - has been on so much silhouettes this year, one can't deny its dopeness! From running shoes, to the Nike Hyperdunk, to the Lunar Force Ones, all the way to Cole Haan's Lunargrands! Trust that this tech will remain significant, if not more, in the coming years.
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It's always been my dream to design and put up a website that stands on its own name. And in June of this year, it happened.
With the help of my good friend Mikki Dela Rea (aka SUPERMIKKI, aka THE OG SOLDIER OF LOVE), Locker Room Legends forged its own name… Reppin' the Philippines in the process.
Welcome to LOCKERROOMLEGENDS.PH.
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Although I do a lot of writing for the site, that does not mean it's my favorite thing to do. At the end of the day, I am still a visual person. I prefer to express my thoughts through photographs, colors, and forms.
Instagram, as soon as my girlfriend introduced me to it, became my visual drug. It provided Locker Room Legends and it's readers a cleaner and more concise communication line. It has helped me chronicle the progress of the site and our culture as a whole in real time, with little 'grams of my personal life here and there.
I did set a few boundaries with my account, though: no WDIWTs, no food porn, no photos of me with celebrities, and all that other shallow things that run rampant in IG. I guess it's my own way of keeping things visceral and interesting. I hope that did not disappoint you.
If you're on Instagram, follow us: @lockerroomlegends.
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Only one word comes to mind when you say "WELEGENDARY" -- and that's LEGITIMACY. The skating empire is LEGIT, and you can't tell me nothing. These guys know what they are doing, and they are good at it… I really can't say the same for others.
During the past 365 days, the team dropped strong releases every month, provided it's loyal fan base with crazy price drops, unleashed a series of sick tees (welcome back Specks!), and opened another store... all while killing skate comps left and right!
But in my opinion, the one thing that I am thankful for WeLegendary the most this year is the fact that, thru a couple of key releases, they have managed to introduce the common sneakerhead to a more elevated sense of footwear collecting. Good examples would be the Gourmet X Primitive Quadicis AKA Space Jams, the Koston 1 Heritage, and my favorite - The McEnroes, Nike Challenge Court SBs.
WeLegendary, by design or by accident, has bridged the general sneaker collecting public to skate shoes, at the same time introduced skaters to footwear they wouldn't be familiar with if it was not on wL's shelves.
Like I said: LEGIT. And you can't tell me nothing.
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There are only 3 silhouettes that I consider sacred in the whole of sneakerdom: The Nike Airmax 1, the shoe No. 2 on this list, and this. I can't stress enough how much the Uptowns mean to me… Let's just say that if we break bread and I'm wearing a pair, trust that I got your back for life. I don't fool around when I'm in my Ones.
So by now you can just imagine how giddy I got when Nike unveiled their "XXX" Anniversary pull out packaging, complete with their vintage "graphing plane" finish. I went insane!
But packaging is nothing if what's inside is wack. Well, Nike just went stupid with this year's releases! My favorites are the Camo VTs with the full amber air unit, the 3M Digicamos, the Gold Medals, and the Lunar Forces. What are yours?
Personally, the Nike Air Force One was definitely a big reason why 2012 became an exciting time to collect shoes once again.
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1,110 guys on Facebook, 263 on Twitter, and 153 on Instagram. A small army with a big voice. Thank you for making all our efforts this year worth while! Believe that we will never stop making things better for you. This has been an incredible experience, the least we can do is throw back the love.
A big shout outs to all the people who gave props to what I have done this 2012; the good people who have come up to me and congratulate me on my work and such. A big shout outs to all the homies I've kicked with and the friendships that were forged… To think most of us were strangers at the beginning of the year.
Thank you for making this year dope.
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The pleasure and honor of having industry people and influencers as friends trump over everything that is dope about what I do. I am forever a student of the shoe game and it's economics, so it's always a treat whenever I kick it with people that shape the culture. Like a sponge, I just soak in the things they share, info that people usually pay for to know.
This is definitely the most humbling part of the job. No doubt.
Not to take anything away from the friendship -- these people are the coolest, realest, and most-down-to-earth individuals that I have ever had the joy of knowing. #WICKEDWEDNESDAYS, #SOLE2SOLE, and the other dope get togethers would not be the same, and definitely would not be as big, if it weren't for these homies.
For the record: I have worn my Air Force Ones with them. You know what that means.
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It's been my childhood dream to be associated with the Swoosh. I've been rocking Nikes for most of my life, and it has always been a source of pride having them on my feet and/or my back.
So when Nike Philippines reached out to me to be an online media partner, my heart just skipped a beat. It was one of the highlights of my 2012. In a small way, it is a dream come true for me. Don't get me wrong though, I have love for all the brands that Locker Room Legends rep, but this one is special. My affinity for Nike - as a brand, as a company, as an idea and a concept - has been a great source of admiration and inspiration.
I can't stress this enough: I am proud to be associated with this company. Its ideals, its discipline, and its tenacity… All of it I've been living way before we came together. They say you have to have a specific DNA pattern to understand a dude from Nike; it's something that I can not fully articulate, but it's something that I absolutely comprehend.
Nike Philippines has given me major love this 2012, and I think they're just getting started.
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Where do I start?
The Nike Flyknit, for me, represents everything that is magical about shoes. Not since the immortal Air Max 1 have I been so captivated by a product, that I wanted all colors… 2 pairs each. It has stirred my emotions like no other shoe this year, or this decade. It embodies the enchantment of the great sneakers from the 90's - where technological advancement and maverick design execution went hand in hand. It had the same charisma as the Nike Presto, the same technical magnetism of The Shox Technology, and the game-changing power of The Visible Air Unit.
It's the one shoe that is simple and complex, unexplainable and yet makes perfect sense. It's a sock, and a shoe. It is a paradox, a contradiction. In a word: Genius.
I love the Nike Flyknit with all my heart.
Earlier this year, I wrote a review on the Nike Flyknit… And obviously, I haven't published it yet. The report has grown so long now, I have no idea how to trim it down. It was my love letter to the greatest shoe of 2012… And possibly, of this generation.
Nike Philippines - If you are reading this, I would love to be a brand ambassador of this shoe. And the Air Force One. Holler at me. :)
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Titanomachy, Inc.: The great life-saver. More than an establishment, this entity has given me so much this year… And I'm not even talking about the shoes.
Yes, they broke out the Uptowns, the Jordans, the Yeezys, and every must-have shoe this year… But personally, I have more to be thankful for.
For the greater part of 2012, Titan and I have been working on a series of projects varying in media and difficulty. From their overhauled website, to the sticker series, to major key events - the collective of basketball geniuses has bestowed upon me their faith countless of times this year that I guess they thought of the next logical thing to do...
To make me part of the team. Full time.
It was one of the most exciting decisions I have to make in my life. Ever.
On a breezy Friday morning, we sat down and talked. I went into the meeting an architect, and I left a Titan.
No resumes. No interviews. Just friends wanting the same things, sharing the same love for the game.
I was hired directly based on the quality of my work, and the trust that we've mutually built. That is something that I will cherish forever.
Titan gave me the creative freedom to push the envelope of design. The ability to create new and exciting experiences for collectors such as myself. It has showed me a side of the footwear world that only a handful have ever seen and will ever experience.
I am part of the lucky few in the world where my dream job wants me as much as I want it. Sometimes I think back to my recruitment day and pinch myself: how many guys would kill to have my job, and yet here I am - hired directly without hesitation.
The ball's on my court now. Titan gave me a good 2012… I'm returning the favor next year. I can't really say what I do exactly in Titan. But believe me when I say it's the best job in the world.
For Love Of The Game… Now 'till infinity.
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Hope you guys liked that quick recap of Locker Room Legends' 2012. From all of us here, we would like to wish you the best possible 2013 and a bright and successful tomorrow.
--T.
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