The Chosen One!

Aimee has been chosen as our opinion former and has been given the Gold Kick-Hi boots. Although she hasn't got long to wear them, she has said she is going to try her best to rock these shoes with different outfits and spread the word of Kickers!!

Louise x

Modern Toss+KicKers

This is another interesting collaboration of Kickers I found that links to the philosophy 'Feel Good' of the brand. Kickers are partnering with writers and cartoonists, Mick bunnage and Jon Link to produce a suite of cartoons animated short films in association with Modern Toss - all in the pair's crude and utterly hilarious style

Examples of Modern Toss cartoons characters:

One half of the duo Mick Bunnage said:

"It's not everyday you get asked to work with a piece of iconic footwear is it? We were also impressed to discover that the history of the Kickers brand centred on French students lobbing bricks at each other in the late 1960's."

"We've done a top notch Kick Hi 'red' with two flies licking the stitching and exchanging a topical observation. We've ordered a pair each already. Tasty!"

Modern Toss have developed 3 strands of film themes which appear as short skits in each of the 3 episodes that make up the Kickers presents Random Bandits series. Featuring a mixture of brand new and classic Modern Toss characters, oversized boots and flies mulling over some very bizarre celeb rituals.

The Random Bandits sketches are set to feature:

'Fly Talk'

A pair of celebrity-gossiping insects voiced by star of The Office MacKenzie Crook.

'Shoe Horn'

A footwear obsessed shopper.

'Dave Beeline'

A rowdy driver who refuses to accept the existence of any places not recognised by his sat nav.

This followed by Lou's post earlier - a 'cute' advert so here is another 'cute' videos :) enjoy!

(Credit to: http://betterneverthanlate.blogspot.com/2009/03/modern-tosskickers.html, http://www.tiscali.co.uk/tv/switched-on/competitions/kickers-competition.html, http://www.brandish.tv/2009/04/10/compeition-win-kickers-x-moder.html)

Aimee x

Which Foot?

Just a quick post...we have mentioned the red and green tabs that help you tell which shoe is for which foot, so here is a cute advert i found that shows this:

Louise x

KickerSpace

Not only do Kickers have Twitter and Facebook accounts, they also have a MySpace page! Add Kickers UK as a friend on MySpace to be eligable to win a FREE pair of Kick-Hi boots! In addition you'll be able to see cool videos and pics, as well as keep up on the latest news involving the brand! Here are some pics that I found which I thought were quite interesting:

Quite the conversation piece for the Kickers enthusiast!

Laurie xx

Searching for Who is Kicking it III

Name: Charlotte Osborn

Age: 23

1. WHERE CAN YOU ALWAYS BE FOUND ON THE WEEKEND?

Work

2. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MAGAZINE?
Modern Painters

3. WHO IS YOUR STYLE MUSE?
?

4. WHERE DO U SHOP?
Charity shops, Ebay

5. WHICH ARTISTS TAKE UP THE MOST SPACE ON YOUR IPOD?
Nick Cave, Chordettes

6. WHAT IS YOUR MOST OVER-USED PHRASE?
Ehm

7. DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS?

8. WHATS YOUR INITIAL OPINION OF THE KICKERS BRAND?
Retro, Red & Green

9. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THESE KICK-HI BOOTS?

Old Skool

Laurie& Aimee x

Searching for Who is Kicking it III

Name: Sarah Williamson

Age: 18

1. WHERE CAN YOU ALWAYS BE FOUND ON THE WEEKEND?
Work - Speak Easy, Rock City

2. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MAGAZINE?
Vogue

3. WHO IS YOUR STYLE MUSE?
Kate Moss

4. WHERE DO U SHOP?
Vintage, Warehouse

5. WHICH ARTISTS TAKE UP THE MOST SPACE ON YOUR IPOD?
The Libertines, The Cure, The Smiths, Joy Divivsion

6. WHAT IS YOUR MOST OVER-USED PHRASE?
Sick!

7. DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS?
Over-dramatic, raw, happy

8. WHATS YOUR INITIAL OPINION OF THE KICKERS BRAND?
I used to own a pair

9. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THESE KICK-HI BOOTS?

I like them alot!!!!

Laurie& Aimee x

Searching for Who is Kicking it III

Name: Adele Irwin
Age: 25

1. WHERE CAN YOU ALWAYS BE FOUND ON THE WEEKEND?
Work - Atomic

2. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MAGAZINE?
Vogue, Total Tattoo

3. WHO IS YOUR STYLE MUSE?
Mum

4. WHERE DO U SHOP?
Paul Smith, H&M, Zara

5. WHICH ARTISTS TAKE UP THE MOST SPACE ON YOUR IPOD?
Ryan Adams, Cooper Temple Claus, Jamie-T

6. WHAT IS YOUR MOST OVER-USED PHRASE?


7. DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS?
Friendly, Sarcastic, Childish

8. WHATS YOUR INITIAL OPINION OF THE KICKERS BRAND?
I love the old school ones that have white stitching

9. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THESE KICK-HI BOOTS? - Love them

Laurie& Aimee x

Footasylum ... sheltering Kickers from the Harsh reality?

After wandering around the stores of Nottingham, we stumbled upon a POS (Point of Sale) in Footasylum for the (in Footasylums staffs point of view) infamous Kickers brand.

The POS is nothing to rave about, but it was positioned at the front of the store which was beneficial. The range of the Kick-Hi Boots was pretty poor, the range was black and brown, none of the coloured or quirky ones, just the ones that you could get away with wearing to school - hence just re-inforcing the 'School shoe' image that Kickers already obtains by so many consumers.

Talking to the staff of Footasylum only solidified what we had originally thought and feared - That every other shoe make walks all over Kickers. No-one really purchases them, and the last person who purchased the Kick-Hi boot from their store was a middle aged man who was just after a sturdy shoe.

This is going to be a challenge ... I will say that again!!

Helena x

A Connector, A Maven or A Salesmen?

A Connector, A Maven or A Salesmen: which one is it going to be? As we all learned from Malcolm Gladwell's masterpiece The Tipping Point, every epidemic is started with one or more of these types of people. This means that in order for Kickers to become the next fashion phenomenon, Kickers need to come into close contact with one of these key players in the trend starting game.




So will it be the connector? A connector is someone who simply connects us to, well, everyone. This will be the person who will see someone wearing Kickers and simply mention it to a friend or blog about it. However, because the connector is so well connected, the word will spread like wildfire.
Or will it be the maven? A maven is basically an information junkie, that gets their kicks (no pun intended) from acquiring as much information (particularly market info), as possible. Although they may not be a trendsetter as such, once the maven gets to telling you about Kickers history and the changing trends in the footwear market with all the accurate statistics to back it up, you may be compelled to run out and get a pair after all.

Maybe it'll be the salesmen. A salesmen is a charismatic person with the power of persuasion, be it deliberately or inadvertently. This will be your friend or even a random person that will either influence you to buy Kickers because of how amazing they look in them or actually persuade you to but them while your contemplating the purchase in-store.

So which one of these people will be the driving force in the Kickers comeback? Let us know what you think!!

Laurie xx

Kickers: Music - Fancy Footwork by Chromeo

Kickers' commitment to music remains as strong today as it has always been. Kickers teamed up with American-based Funk masters, Chromeo in the Fancy Footwork campaign launched at music festivals last year where revellers were challenged to be filmed throwing down their finest footwork on-board a huge trailer for the chance to appear in a finished Chromeo video.

The video is a stop frame clip collage created by production animation house Lovebite, who wove dozens of people’s dance-moves together to create a mountain of feet that would go on to power the star of the video; the home-made, motion-powered incredible ‘machine’ unleashing Kickers shoes. Far from being ordinary shoes though, each is brought to life with additional limbs, wheels, helicopter blades and oodles of personality.

T4

'The Kickers Fancy Footwork activity was designed to get festival-goers using their feet in such a way that could be captured and used to create a unique piece of user-generated, branded content. With their feel good dance tunes, Chromeo provided the perfect soundtrack and the CSS remix gives us an exclusive track to go with the new video' Hugh Sweeney, Marketing Manager for Kickers.

Musics+Activities

Aimee x

[Credits to: mark191082 - http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/104861

Daniella Sapia - http://www.brightonlife.com/news/kickers-fancy-footwork-2678.html]

Kickers on TV!

This is a Kickers advert from 2007. It is very graphic and funky, with a catchy tune in the background, which shows that they have always been trying hard to tap into the teenage market. The advert also features the triple stitching and eyelets, keeping the essence of the brand strong.



Here are some of the comments from YouTube of peoples opinions on kickers:

"I'm a product of the 80's....and back then 'Kick Hi' were the ultimate thing to put on your feet. We'd buy them in one colour and then go in shoe shops stealing the leather 'fleurette' tags off Kickers of another colour...to mix and match them. It was cool to wear red Kickers with a blue tag or visa versa." (posted by slitheen)

"gosh cant believe I use to wear kickers 18/19 years ago, they were the days, remember I had to leave the tags on." (posted by jobymunch1971)

"i'm still yet to get a pair. they r quite expensive! " (posted by QTKittenz)

Louise x

Searching for Who is Kicking it ctd...

Following on from the last post, here are another two of our favorites that we found on our search around town today:

Name - STELLA DOWBENKO
Age - 24

1. WHERE CAN YOU ALWAYS BE FOUND ON THE WEEKEND?
Stealth or The Social (Bodega)

2. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MAGAZINE?
Vogue or Nylon

3. WHO IS YOUR STYLE MUSE?
Karen O

4. WHERE DO U SHOP?
American Apparel, Topshop and Zara

5. WHICH ARTISTS TAKE UP THE MOST SPACE ON YOUR IPOD?
Deftones

6. WHAT IS YOUR MOST OVER-USED PHRASE?
Honk Honk

7. DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS?
A Bit Strange

8. WHATS YOUR INITIAL OPINION OF THE KICKERS BRAND?
"One of those brands that will always be classic. It reminds me of being in primary school and having to buy a new pair of shoes every year!"

9. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THESE KICK-HI BOOTS?
"I actually think they are really cool!"





Name - DAN TURNER
Age - 19

1. WHERE CAN U ALWAYS BE FOUND ON THE WEEKEND?
Rock City/ Rescue Rooms

2. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MAGAZINE?
Vice or Sidewalk (Skateboard Magazine)

3. WHO IS YOUR STYLE MUSE?
Mike Caroll (Famous Skateboarder)

4. WHERE DO YOU SHOP?
Non-Stop Skateboard Shop or American Apparel

5. WHICH ARTISTS TAKE UP THE MOST SPACE ON YOUR IPOD?
Phoenix

6. WHAT IS YOUR MOST OVERUSED PHRASE?
Crikey!

7. DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS
friendly, polite and confident

8. WHAT'S YOUR INITIAL OPINION OF THE KICKERS BRAND?
"School shoes!"

9. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THESE KICK-HI BOOTS?

"I quite like them surprisingly! They are different and nicer than most people probably think Kickers would be"

Louise & Helena x

Searching for Who is Kicking it ---

Myself and Louise, went out on the streets of Nottingham this afternoon on the lookout for potential opinion formers to wear the Kick-Hi Boots. Here are some of the ones we loved and a little survery we got them to fill out!

Name - PSAIM HUMPHREY

Age - 24

1. WHERE CAN YOU ALWAYS BE FOUND ON THE WEEKEND?

Bar 11, Market Bar, Browns

2. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MAGAZINE?

Vogue Homme

3. WHO IS YOUR STYLE MUSE?

SJP (Sarah Jessica Parker)

4. WHERE DO YOU SHOP?

Everywhere

5. WHICH ARTISTS TAKE UP THE MOST SPACE ON YOUR IPOD?

Amerie

6. WHAT IS YOUR MOST OVER-USED PHRASE?

"Sista"

7. DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS

I Can Not

8. WHATS YOUR INITIAL OPINION OF THE KICKERS BRAND?

Don't have one ... so suprise me

9. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THESE KICK-HI BOOTS?

I like what I see!

Name - ALICE CHANCE

Age - 17

1. WHERE CAN YOU ALWAYS BE FOUND ON THE WEEKEND?

In Town, Stealth and Rescue Rooms

2. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MAGAZINE?

I-D, ELLE

3. WHO IS YOUR STYLE MUSE?

Alice Dellal

4. WHERE DO YOU SHOP?

Topshop, American Apparell

5. WHICH ARTISTS TAKE UP THE MOST SPACE ON YOUR IPOD?

The Maccabees

6. WHAT IS YOUR MOST OVER-USED PHRASE?

Meowww

7. DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS

Loud, Edgy, Annoying

8. WHATS YOUR INITIAL OPINION OF THE KICKERS BRAND?

Quite cool, like Doc Martins

9. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THESE KICK-HI BOOTS?

"I like them!"

Helena and Louise x

If Dr. Marten did it, Kickers can!

Dr Martens boots follow a very similar story to that of Kickers.
The company began making shoes in 1947, however it wasn't until 1960 that the now famous Dr. Marten boot was launched. They took a while to take off but gradually became more and more popular. They began as a favorite with postmen and factory workers for practicle reasons, later being worn as a fashion statement by Skinheads, British Punks and New Wave musicians.
However, in the 00's sales began to decline and by 2003, Dr. Martens company ceased all production in the UK. It wasn't until 2007 that the company began making footwear again. Their popularity gradually increased, helped along by celebrities like Agyness Deyn and Pixie Geldof.
Dr. Martens are now selling more pairs of boots than they ever have.
The point being made here is that Kickers have every chance of making a comeback. Dr. Martens went completely out of production and came back stronger than ever as a trend. All it takes is for the right people to be seen wearing the shoes...

Louise x

Kicking it with the Collaborations ---

Why is it that so many of us 90's children just view Kickers as a cool brand for school shoes?! Kickers was born from Denim, and had people such as Noel Gallagher rocking them out on stage!

Over the past couple of years Kickers have tried to to turn this 'School image' back around, by doing many many collaborations with a hot mix of British designers, stylists and illustrators in 2007.

SO why do I feel these efforts have almost gone without the deserved recognition?!

Husam el Odeh

I am fond of this Jewellery designer and already have a little necklace of his. He has done alot of work for Marios Schwab's catwalk collections. Hence, when I discovered these blinged up Kickers, much to my suprise, I became completely smitten by them! Husam added silver plating onto the heel, the collar, the facing and the laces are made of a silver fleurette necklace.

House of Holland

Happy Multi-coloured boots with an attitude! Even Agyness Dean rocked out a pair! Not too sure about them myself ... but if Agyness can wear a pair, why can't I! Here they are on the catwalk!

PS - Got to love the quote on the last images T-shirt - "GRAB MY WIENER"

Charlotte Mann

ReallyReally love these boots, the illustrations completely re-vamp and give them a different edge. Add these to my wardrobe and I would be more than chuffed. The left boot has a drawing of an oak tree on it and the right boot a beech tree, the boot comes with 16 different tags 8 girls and 8 birds.

Simon Foxton

The Fashion Editor of I-D magazine designed these boots, with almost a workwear/DocMartin edge to them, they have effortless style.
Peter Jensen

Turtle Print? Not too sure, but they are suddenly quirky, which fits in with the Kickers brand identity, and the down-to-earth almost hippy image that the Kickers brand was born from.

Noki

Noki planted an urban street style onto the Kickers, the use of receycled leather jackets on the quilted leather is a great idea.

Siv Stoldal

Out of all the re-vamped Kickers, Siv Stoldal's are my least favourite, nothing about them draws me to them, or makes me have a second glance ... a subtle change on the underneath of the shoe does give it a unique advantage. The theme of the shoe is safety and it is trimmed with a special reflective material as well as having a flashing red light in the heel that is triggered by motion sensors. But is this not just a copy of the children's light-up flashing trainers, I'm going to need some convincing!!

Helena x

Did You Know?

Here are a few short facts about Kickers to help you get to know the brand:

-The brand was founded in 1968 by Daniel Raufast .
-Jacques Chevallereau designed the first 'Jean Boot', that would later be known as Kickers. It was different to other shoes as it was more like a short boot than a regular shoe.
-This boot and all Kickers shoes designed since have unique features that show its denim influences, such as eyelets, rivets, panels and its trademark contrast stitching.
-The kick-Hi boot was released in 1975, however it wasnt until the late 80's and early 90's, that the shoe really gained a following.
-Every pair of Kickers shoes have a red tab on the left foot and a green tab on the right so that children know which shoe to put on which foot!

Louise x

Kickers loves twit-twit-twitteringgg ---

For some reason, it took me by suprise that Kickers had a twitter page, and is constantly updating it with competitions and their latest news. Is this Kickers brand more with it than most people give it credit for?

http://twitter.com/kickersuk

Helena x