Slam Jam x Nike Class '77 Launches With Party In Milan
The second Slam Jam x Nike Class ’77 collaboration celebrated with an evening of music and discussion at the Spazio Maiocchi in Milan. A follow up to the all-white re-imagining of the Nike Class '77 trainer released earlier this year, the event marked the general release of a new inverted colour-way whilst nodding to the cross-disciplinary nature at Slam Jam's core.
Slam Jam x Nike Blazer Class '77 initially launched with a limited release of 1977 pairs on the Slam Jam website (available by raffle), and with a party in Los Angeles in early November. The Nike Blazer '77 is a classic style, first re-imagined by Slam Jam in grey and off-white with an upside-down swoosh. This second release comes in an inverted colour-way in full black canvas with leather uppers, and the exposed sponge on the tongue and heel tabs reading '1977' and 'Class' nod to its vintage heritage. The party in Milan closed the collaboration's journey whilst opening it up for general release.
Having previously collaborated with NAPA by Martine Rose for a rooftop party, Slam Jam knows how to have a good time. The vast 1000 square meter Spazio Maiocchi space was originally conceived by Slam Jam and Carharrt WIP, with flexibility in mind in order to explore new ways of exhibiting and socialising simultaneously, having housed events for Stussy to Gucci. Opening on 28 November 2019 for four days, the Spazio Maiocchi was transformed for Slam Jam presents Nike Blazer Class '77. Inspired by Los Angeles River architecture, Nike trainers sat encased in glass boxes atop naked concrete plinths as skaters and BMXers whirled round the space under the moody red lighting of Nike swoosh tick neons.
Slam Jam presents Nike Blazer Class '77 celebrated the DIY subcultures both Slam Jam and Nike have heralded and dressed, whilst also alluding to the early underground culture from which Slam Jam- an Italian clothing company and cultural institution- originates. KALEIDOSCOPE's Katja Horvat hosted an invite-only talk and was joined in conversation by ONYX Collective's Isaiah Barr, Italian journalist Michele Bisceglia, skater Raffaelle Bragança and BMXer Luca Nosella to discuss the importance of creativity and its place in the city. This was followed by a live performance by sound artist Katatonic Silentio and an exclusive screening of a short documentary film 'Commonwealth' featuring North American band Ho99o9, the protagonists for the Slam Jam x Nike '77 campaign video shot by Daniel Regan. Slam Jam presents Nike Blazer Class '77 was the ultimate acknowledgement of the multi-disciplinary nature that makes those at streetwear's origins tick.