CCL stands for Connecting Creativity in Life and is not to be confused with anything else. A magazine formed by a collation of young minds with a common goal to give the people a complete view of the world around them in the best way possible.
Creativity is a skill we all hold but few have the venue to make it know. What self-expression is the power to leave the others behind and step into a untrodden path
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Mike 23
The number 23 goes back to a nostalgic era many know very well who the man was who gave 
the number so much respect. The Jordan era was a phenomenal age and can never be forgotten. But as time moves on the number begins to spread its roots. A seed planted by hard work and determination has fount itself in the soil of Scott Nelson mind. Scott Nelson created the Mike 23 brand to give the past a new stage in today’s world. Well know in the street wear industry Mike 23 is one of those brands that conveys to the people a blend of past, present, and future. Skating and basketball new and old these connections run deep and that’s why you can respect such a brand that blends so many ideas and keeps the designs jumping, a Jordan inspired label with the Jordan philosophy in mind. Scott Nelson a renaissances man gives the new generation a view of the past in a way few can do, we sat down with Scott to discuss his past and future ambitions and what the brand gives to the people.
First of let me say it’s a honor to be able have a opportunity to have a interview with you Scott love the work that you do and hope to see more heat from Mike 23
Well we know that you can’t run a company by yourself so name some of the main people the help you everyday.
Well, I have been running things for quite some time solo….just recently I hired who I felt would be main players for the team…both guys are named Michael and they both have worked for a major street wear brand here in NYC…
So explain to the kids who don’t know what your brand is and what it gives with its products.
MIKE is a tribute and homage brand to who I feel is the greatest person to ever lace up a pair of sneakers and play the game of basketball….that person is Michael Jordan….with product, I’m always searching for that new thing piece that will have people have to get…
Since your beginning in street wear how far have you progressed as a self taught designer and businessman?
You have to go back to 1986….I was making stickers and selling them at high school to other skateboarders…I was taking images out of CLUB HOMEBOY magazine, THRASHER and TRANSWORLD and making stickers…I was also screen printing t-shirts…now, 20 years later, I’m dealing with 80 plus accounts worldwide for MIKE and the brand is expanding on the daily…
A lot of people will say now a days that street wear is dead how do you feel about this statement?
Street wear is not dead but, many cornball people that have popped up in the last few years are killing it and giving it a bad name and false image…these kids are doing tradeshows and writing orders but just because you do a tradeshow does not make you a street wear brand…take a look around and tell me how many people have been doing this for 20 years…for me, this is my life…it is what I have always done and what I have always lived….I witnessed the explosion of street wear in the mid 90’s, when a bunch of cornball brands caked off….now any kid out any art a school with a handful of t-shirts and hats can claim that they are a street wear brand because they show up at some monster tradeshow and are placed in what they calla street wear section….
The Jordan era holds a special place in your heart do you feel like there will ever be another person as influential as Michael Jordan in basketball?
Tough one…who can live up to what MJ paved? I would not want that on my shoulders…That era was so special…back then I do not think anyone would have guessed the impact it would have had in today’s society….take a look around all of the hottest selling kicks are all from the 80’s and early 90’s….
Your brand is a great example of the human ability to bring ideas together how did you manage to throw so many ideas into your label and still come out with something hot?
I believe you have to.” love what you do and do what you love”….SERIOUSLY!!!! I have been designing graphics and clothing for 20 years…you have it or you do not…your either following others or blazing you own path…I choose to blaze my own path…
How has skating affected the direction of your life and your brand?
Skateboarding is my first love…it is an art form…take a look at what people do on a skateboard, its amazing…I still ride on the regular….and I have many friends that ride both professionally and for fun…everybody is into fresh gear and I hook up several people that happen to love what I do…so, it works….
Out of the new spring collection, name a couple of items that really stand out in the this year?
Accessories are what I focused on…bringing the consumer different pieces that they may not have seen…umbrellas, beanbags, sneaker wallets, aluminum wallets…and t-shirts…they are the best way to get your expressions for what you do out there…
Can we expect any collaboration this season?
I have a few things lined up…not able to drop names yet but, I can tell you they are household names in the street wear industry…
Is there anymore furniture productions slated for Mike 23 this year?
Furniture is something I’m very interested in…so yeah…things will be in the works…
We see you like to diversify your products what makes you continue to set your company apart from others?
I like to be a visionary… nothing better than leading and then having others follow…I push myself to come up with fresh new ideas and pieces…
As you were coming up in the game you met many people who the most influential person that you have met?
Many people…meeting Shawn Stussy in Orlando with my man Don Busweiler(PERVERT clothing) was big…I was young…I was and always will be a STUSSY fan…just meeting people in the early years was big…Rick Klotz from FRESH JIVE…Alyasha Owerkamoore-FIBER OPS….CLAW…J-MONEY. SSUR, and Dagan Ryan aka BODAGAN…
What are some stores in the NYC area that carry Mike 23?
UNION. The Reed Space, Frank’s Chop Shop, All Da Right Inc.
Name one of your favorite moments in Jordan history and how it changed your life?
The game wining shot over Byron Russell….I was living in MIAMI and wearing JORDAN 12’s…no body in street wear was rocking JORDANS, other than ball players…
So what advice would you give to an upcoming designer that might want to start his or her own label?
Do what you love and love what you do…be genuine and let others see that your have a passion for what you do…..
Mike 23 a brand that blends the diverse human landscape into one beautiful idea, taken from a man and his desire to achieve and beat himself Jordan. The same goes for Scott Nelson a man inspired by a legend we can all learn from the past and that is what makes life beautiful and us fortunate we have the ability to look at something that once was and use its ideals in a new form and bring it to the forefront of society.
Connecting the past and bringing it to life we all create be sure to get out and pick up some Mike 23 and experience the brand for your self. The past legends gave us the example to follow they left a burning path from all of there endeavors and people akin to Jordan inspire people like Scott Nelson and as time moves on its now your turn to take the world and make it yours and Scott Nelson has done it in the best way and created Mike 23 so enough talk go out and pick up the fresh new Spring collection at UNION, The Reed Space, Frank’s Chop Shop, All Da Right Inc. which are all in the New York area you can find more information on Mike23.com
By Andre C
the number so much respect. The Jordan era was a phenomenal age and can never be forgotten. But as time moves on the number begins to spread its roots. A seed planted by hard work and determination has fount itself in the soil of Scott Nelson mind. Scott Nelson created the Mike 23 brand to give the past a new stage in today’s world. Well know in the street wear industry Mike 23 is one of those brands that conveys to the people a blend of past, present, and future. Skating and basketball new and old these connections run deep and that’s why you can respect such a brand that blends so many ideas and keeps the designs jumping, a Jordan inspired label with the Jordan philosophy in mind. Scott Nelson a renaissances man gives the new generation a view of the past in a way few can do, we sat down with Scott to discuss his past and future ambitions and what the brand gives to the people.First of let me say it’s a honor to be able have a opportunity to have a interview with you Scott love the work that you do and hope to see more heat from Mike 23
Well we know that you can’t run a company by yourself so name some of the main people the help you everyday.
Well, I have been running things for quite some time solo….just recently I hired who I felt would be main players for the team…both guys are named Michael and they both have worked for a major street wear brand here in NYC…
So explain to the kids who don’t know what your brand is and what it gives with its products.
MIKE is a tribute and homage brand to who I feel is the greatest person to ever lace up a pair of sneakers and play the game of basketball….that person is Michael Jordan….with product, I’m always searching for that new thing piece that will have people have to get…
Since your beginning in street wear how far have you progressed as a self taught designer and businessman?
You have to go back to 1986….I was making stickers and selling them at high school to other skateboarders…I was taking images out of CLUB HOMEBOY magazine, THRASHER and TRANSWORLD and making stickers…I was also screen printing t-shirts…now, 20 years later, I’m dealing with 80 plus accounts worldwide for MIKE and the brand is expanding on the daily…
A lot of people will say now a days that street wear is dead how do you feel about this statement?
Street wear is not dead but, many cornball people that have popped up in the last few years are killing it and giving it a bad name and false image…these kids are doing tradeshows and writing orders but just because you do a tradeshow does not make you a street wear brand…take a look around and tell me how many people have been doing this for 20 years…for me, this is my life…it is what I have always done and what I have always lived….I witnessed the explosion of street wear in the mid 90’s, when a bunch of cornball brands caked off….now any kid out any art a school with a handful of t-shirts and hats can claim that they are a street wear brand because they show up at some monster tradeshow and are placed in what they calla street wear section….
The Jordan era holds a special place in your heart do you feel like there will ever be another person as influential as Michael Jordan in basketball?Tough one…who can live up to what MJ paved? I would not want that on my shoulders…That era was so special…back then I do not think anyone would have guessed the impact it would have had in today’s society….take a look around all of the hottest selling kicks are all from the 80’s and early 90’s….
Your brand is a great example of the human ability to bring ideas together how did you manage to throw so many ideas into your label and still come out with something hot?
I believe you have to.” love what you do and do what you love”….SERIOUSLY!!!! I have been designing graphics and clothing for 20 years…you have it or you do not…your either following others or blazing you own path…I choose to blaze my own path…
How has skating affected the direction of your life and your brand?
Skateboarding is my first love…it is an art form…take a look at what people do on a skateboard, its amazing…I still ride on the regular….and I have many friends that ride both professionally and for fun…everybody is into fresh gear and I hook up several people that happen to love what I do…so, it works….
Out of the new spring collection, name a couple of items that really stand out in the this year?
Accessories are what I focused on…bringing the consumer different pieces that they may not have seen…umbrellas, beanbags, sneaker wallets, aluminum wallets…and t-shirts…they are the best way to get your expressions for what you do out there…
Can we expect any collaboration this season?
I have a few things lined up…not able to drop names yet but, I can tell you they are household names in the street wear industry…
Is there anymore furniture productions slated for Mike 23 this year?
Furniture is something I’m very interested in…so yeah…things will be in the works…
We see you like to diversify your products what makes you continue to set your company apart from others?
I like to be a visionary… nothing better than leading and then having others follow…I push myself to come up with fresh new ideas and pieces…
As you were coming up in the game you met many people who the most influential person that you have met?
Many people…meeting Shawn Stussy in Orlando with my man Don Busweiler(PERVERT clothing) was big…I was young…I was and always will be a STUSSY fan…just meeting people in the early years was big…Rick Klotz from FRESH JIVE…Alyasha Owerkamoore-FIBER OPS….CLAW…J-MONEY. SSUR, and Dagan Ryan aka BODAGAN…
What are some stores in the NYC area that carry Mike 23?
UNION. The Reed Space, Frank’s Chop Shop, All Da Right Inc.
Name one of your favorite moments in Jordan history and how it changed your life?
The game wining shot over Byron Russell….I was living in MIAMI and wearing JORDAN 12’s…no body in street wear was rocking JORDANS, other than ball players…
So what advice would you give to an upcoming designer that might want to start his or her own label?
Do what you love and love what you do…be genuine and let others see that your have a passion for what you do…..
Mike 23 a brand that blends the diverse human landscape into one beautiful idea, taken from a man and his desire to achieve and beat himself Jordan. The same goes for Scott Nelson a man inspired by a legend we can all learn from the past and that is what makes life beautiful and us fortunate we have the ability to look at something that once was and use its ideals in a new form and bring it to the forefront of society.
Connecting the past and bringing it to life we all create be sure to get out and pick up some Mike 23 and experience the brand for your self. The past legends gave us the example to follow they left a burning path from all of there endeavors and people akin to Jordan inspire people like Scott Nelson and as time moves on its now your turn to take the world and make it yours and Scott Nelson has done it in the best way and created Mike 23 so enough talk go out and pick up the fresh new Spring collection at UNION, The Reed Space, Frank’s Chop Shop, All Da Right Inc. which are all in the New York area you can find more information on Mike23.com
By Andre C
Trendsetting 101
A lot of magazines will tell you what the upcoming trends are and yea there are very useful but once it’s typed up and put in to print a million people have already seen it. If you really want to be a trendsetter if you really want to be an individual your clothing is the perfect way to start. Your mind is unique so why not show it you don’t be a hypebeast and jump on the bandwagon be yourself and let your mind dictate your style. Understand when I say this I mean find clothing you like and blend it to your personal style. You don’t have to buy a set of matching clothing; this is what I love about the world.
Now trendsetting is a nice but hard skill to master and one person you have to love for staying ahead of the trend is Madonna. She takes her ideas and her likes and makes something got whether it’s Vogue or an American cowgirl. So its takes time to learn how to create your own style but that’s what this magazine is all about creating.
So what I am going to do is give you some steps to become a trendsetter.
Step one to become a trendsetter is simple make sure that you have your own look, think about it if you where in a crowd of a million people would your trademark style be able to set you apart like Waldo.
Step two find some accessories that you love and that you find useful, for example a few of my friends that take Cisco use cat-5 wire to lace there sneakers but I‘m sure that’s nothing new word gets around fast especially with the internet.
Now step three to becoming a trendsetter is know your body, we all have flaws and we all can’t rock a white pair of jeans or an oversized or undersized shirt. So if you know what looks good on you can’t go wrong everyone’s body is different so there is no concrete way to tell what look good you have to decide for yourself.
Number four is a easy one march to the beat of your own drum, do what you want be free with your style. It’s your life dress accordingly. So this means if your want to wear a goddamn rubber ducky on your shoulder if that is what floats your boat then do it don’t worry about haters they come with glory.
Step number five is know how to switch it up you don’t want to repeat the same look over and over so learn how to twist your closet to make it look like something new. A fresh look is always something good and it keeps your lip gloss popping.
The final step to becoming a trendsetter is customize your gear, show off that artistic ability and don’t be afraid to step out the box pick you self up some paint markers if your just starting out and have fun. Also if you really want to get crazy with it laser your own kicks i can break that down for you another time.
So I gave you six easy steps on trendsetting I only did six because the rest are up to you make your own list and find your own path it isn’t easy but if you perfect it that’s something that will always stay with you. So good luck in your creative endeavors and have fun with your style you only get it once.
By Andre C
Now trendsetting is a nice but hard skill to master and one person you have to love for staying ahead of the trend is Madonna. She takes her ideas and her likes and makes something got whether it’s Vogue or an American cowgirl. So its takes time to learn how to create your own style but that’s what this magazine is all about creating.
So what I am going to do is give you some steps to become a trendsetter.
Step one to become a trendsetter is simple make sure that you have your own look, think about it if you where in a crowd of a million people would your trademark style be able to set you apart like Waldo.
Step two find some accessories that you love and that you find useful, for example a few of my friends that take Cisco use cat-5 wire to lace there sneakers but I‘m sure that’s nothing new word gets around fast especially with the internet.
Now step three to becoming a trendsetter is know your body, we all have flaws and we all can’t rock a white pair of jeans or an oversized or undersized shirt. So if you know what looks good on you can’t go wrong everyone’s body is different so there is no concrete way to tell what look good you have to decide for yourself.
Number four is a easy one march to the beat of your own drum, do what you want be free with your style. It’s your life dress accordingly. So this means if your want to wear a goddamn rubber ducky on your shoulder if that is what floats your boat then do it don’t worry about haters they come with glory.
Step number five is know how to switch it up you don’t want to repeat the same look over and over so learn how to twist your closet to make it look like something new. A fresh look is always something good and it keeps your lip gloss popping.
The final step to becoming a trendsetter is customize your gear, show off that artistic ability and don’t be afraid to step out the box pick you self up some paint markers if your just starting out and have fun. Also if you really want to get crazy with it laser your own kicks i can break that down for you another time.
So I gave you six easy steps on trendsetting I only did six because the rest are up to you make your own list and find your own path it isn’t easy but if you perfect it that’s something that will always stay with you. So good luck in your creative endeavors and have fun with your style you only get it once.
By Andre C
Protecting Yourself From Fakes
In today’s world where shoes are hyped to the fullest, and people will pay $350 for a pair of shoes. There is a large market for fakes; anyone who could produce a good fake can take advantage of an uninformed person. No one wants to end up with fake Dunks, or to get ripped off for some shoes that they didn’t want. The only way to protect your self is to arm your self with as much info as you can get. So for all those who are inexperienced or just need a little help here are some tips to tell if the Dunks you’re looking at are real.
One of the biggest things to look for is an uncharacteristically low price. If you’re looking for a pair of Dunks that are hyped up and limited, but you see them for $60, they’re more than likely fake. Or you may want a pair of Jordans that retail for $150, and they are $90, unless you have a size 5 shoes, they are fake. The main exception to this rule is if you are buying stolen goods.
Another easy way to identify a fake is when they are in a completely different color scheme than was ever released. It’s even easier when there is clear leather on a pair of Jordans, not one pair of real Jordans has ever had that clear plastic on it. Those two things should be a dead give away.
The first part of the shoe to look at is the upper back heel section at the NIKE font and embroidery. If it’s real the font will be bold, the length of the E’s lines will decrease in descending order and will slant parallel to each other. Another way to tell is the lace bag; it should be 7.5 cm. wide and 13.5 cm. tall. Also, the pin tag hole should be above the zip lock.
One of the other ways to tell if your dunks are fake is by the sole. On the sole there is the Nike swoosh logo and the “R” registered trade mark symbols on the sole. These symbols will look and feel raised from the rest of the sole. The other way to tell is to look at the “grip button.” It’s the little circle at the toe half of the sole. On fake Dunks the button will have a clear and defined edge where on real ones it is rounded off and sloping
The Zoom Air insole is the best way to tell if Dunks are fake. On real Dunks the Zoom Air insole will be off white, or yellowish and transparent, it will be neat and clean with no glue; which is an easy tell on most fakes. The insole will also fit in nicely with out any gaps. The air button is almost in the middle.
This is so far the best and easy way to spot fake Dunks, beside the zoom air insole or if the barcode is touching the number or not. The font will help to decipher when a pair of Dunks are fake or not. There is a certain standard font if you notice that all SBs, Air Max’s, and Jordans, etc. come in. Each type of shoe has their specific type of font to look at and today the people that mass produce fake shoes still have yet to figure out the type of font for Dunks and others. The 2nd way is to check the upper case letter Q in FABRIQUE, the tail should start inside the opening, the fakes start at the outer edge. 3rd the C in the copyright symbol should be a serif font while the fake is a sans serif. Made in China is the wrong font. Plus, look at the stitching that holds the label on, the fake label looks cheap in quality, and looser than the real one.
I think that the more successful the shoe is the more drive there is to fake them. Think about would you make a fake pair of shoes that you know no one will buy, no you’re going to take the best selling shoe and try to sell copies of that. The longer a successful shoe is out the better the fakes are going to become. I found a stand in NJ the other day selling fake Jordans that looked so real I almost bought a pair till I realized that they had the Nike Air symbol instead of the jump man logo. As long as people are fooled by an imitation people will fake any thing that they think they can make money off of. Not all people who buy fakes are fooled some just can’t afford the real ones. If people give the fakers a market they will take advantage of it. So Stop Buying Fake S**T!
Here is a list of box color schemes that are used by Nike as of now and all the sizes that they come in.
1. Pink Box with Black Tag
2. Pink Box with Orange Tag
3. Black Box with Black Tag 2006
4. Silver box with Green Tag
5. Silver box with Green tag but pink box font
6. Silver box with Orange Tag
7. Orange Box with Orange Tag
Size available 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, and 13
A few sites that I have come across in my web browsing days that sell fake shoes are…
1. Cankicks.com
2. Toplineshoe.com
3. Vipkickz.com
4. Sbkicks.com
5. Omarskicks.com
Here are some sites that I will guarantee are real and you can find almost any thing you want…
1. Pickyourshoes.com (they tend to get some things in a week or two early but will cost like twenty dollars extra)
2. Sneakerhead.com
3. 23isback.com (Can be a expensive some times)
By Steven Brennan
One of the biggest things to look for is an uncharacteristically low price. If you’re looking for a pair of Dunks that are hyped up and limited, but you see them for $60, they’re more than likely fake. Or you may want a pair of Jordans that retail for $150, and they are $90, unless you have a size 5 shoes, they are fake. The main exception to this rule is if you are buying stolen goods.
Another easy way to identify a fake is when they are in a completely different color scheme than was ever released. It’s even easier when there is clear leather on a pair of Jordans, not one pair of real Jordans has ever had that clear plastic on it. Those two things should be a dead give away.
The first part of the shoe to look at is the upper back heel section at the NIKE font and embroidery. If it’s real the font will be bold, the length of the E’s lines will decrease in descending order and will slant parallel to each other. Another way to tell is the lace bag; it should be 7.5 cm. wide and 13.5 cm. tall. Also, the pin tag hole should be above the zip lock.
One of the other ways to tell if your dunks are fake is by the sole. On the sole there is the Nike swoosh logo and the “R” registered trade mark symbols on the sole. These symbols will look and feel raised from the rest of the sole. The other way to tell is to look at the “grip button.” It’s the little circle at the toe half of the sole. On fake Dunks the button will have a clear and defined edge where on real ones it is rounded off and sloping
The Zoom Air insole is the best way to tell if Dunks are fake. On real Dunks the Zoom Air insole will be off white, or yellowish and transparent, it will be neat and clean with no glue; which is an easy tell on most fakes. The insole will also fit in nicely with out any gaps. The air button is almost in the middle.
This is so far the best and easy way to spot fake Dunks, beside the zoom air insole or if the barcode is touching the number or not. The font will help to decipher when a pair of Dunks are fake or not. There is a certain standard font if you notice that all SBs, Air Max’s, and Jordans, etc. come in. Each type of shoe has their specific type of font to look at and today the people that mass produce fake shoes still have yet to figure out the type of font for Dunks and others. The 2nd way is to check the upper case letter Q in FABRIQUE, the tail should start inside the opening, the fakes start at the outer edge. 3rd the C in the copyright symbol should be a serif font while the fake is a sans serif. Made in China is the wrong font. Plus, look at the stitching that holds the label on, the fake label looks cheap in quality, and looser than the real one.
I think that the more successful the shoe is the more drive there is to fake them. Think about would you make a fake pair of shoes that you know no one will buy, no you’re going to take the best selling shoe and try to sell copies of that. The longer a successful shoe is out the better the fakes are going to become. I found a stand in NJ the other day selling fake Jordans that looked so real I almost bought a pair till I realized that they had the Nike Air symbol instead of the jump man logo. As long as people are fooled by an imitation people will fake any thing that they think they can make money off of. Not all people who buy fakes are fooled some just can’t afford the real ones. If people give the fakers a market they will take advantage of it. So Stop Buying Fake S**T!
Here is a list of box color schemes that are used by Nike as of now and all the sizes that they come in.
1. Pink Box with Black Tag
2. Pink Box with Orange Tag
3. Black Box with Black Tag 2006
4. Silver box with Green Tag
5. Silver box with Green tag but pink box font
6. Silver box with Orange Tag
7. Orange Box with Orange Tag
Size available 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, and 13
A few sites that I have come across in my web browsing days that sell fake shoes are…
1. Cankicks.com
2. Toplineshoe.com
3. Vipkickz.com
4. Sbkicks.com
5. Omarskicks.com
Here are some sites that I will guarantee are real and you can find almost any thing you want…
1. Pickyourshoes.com (they tend to get some things in a week or two early but will cost like twenty dollars extra)
2. Sneakerhead.com
3. 23isback.com (Can be a expensive some times)
By Steven Brennan
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