Once deemed ugly or uncool among the fashion-conscious crowd, Birkenstocks now grace Paris Fashion Week runways and are the subject of some high-profile collaborations.

But why, all of a sudden, are Birkenstocks considered to be cool? How did they become what they are today, which is a sandal your grandparents wear while gardening while simultaneously also being worn by some of the most stylish people around? 

What better way to start than to go way back, to 1774, which is where it all started for the German sandal manufacturer. I think that alone is pretty cool already. That this brand has been around for almost 250 years, and is not only STILL active, but actually considered cool.

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Ever since Nicole McLaughlin made her debut with a pair of custom L.L.Bean fleece slippers, the designer has cemented her identity through upcycled pieces imbued with a vintage flair. After leaving her position as a graphic designer at Reebok, Nicole refined her craft even further and turned it from a personal hobby into a business venture. The Mule Queen joins hosts Jian DeLeon and Noah Thomas on this week’s episode of The Dropcast to talk about life as a designer as well as her best style tricks and hacks.

First, the quick hits take us through the collections and collaborations dropping during Fashion Week. Highsnobiety got backstage access at Wales Bonner’s London Fashion Week show which included a look at the brand’s FW20 adidas collaboration (2:37). Noah pledges allegiance to adidas for their classic models, and the whole cast gives appreciation for the sneaker-dress-shoe hybrid. Still, since Noah isn’t feeling the adidas Ultraboost silhouette even with the new Ivy Park x adidas collab, he best be careful of the Beyhive’s sting (4:25).

Relevant Links:

Wales Bonner Debuts Its Tasteful adidas Collection at London Fashion Week

Here’s Your First Look at Beyoncé’s Ivy Park x adidas Ultra Boost

Nike Could Be Dropping This Super-Clean “NBA Paris” Air Force 1

Here’s Your First Look at BAPE x The Weeknd’s New SS20 Collab Capsule

Versace’s SS20 Runway Collection Is Now Available Exclusively on Highsnobiety Shop

2 Chainz’s New “Virgil Discount” Video Feels Like an Off-White™ Commercial

Justin Bieber Reveals He’s Battling Lyme Disease: “It’s Been a Rough Couple Years”

These Are the Products, Brands & Creative Directors That Defined the Last Decade

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Nothing got hyperactive 90’s and 2000’s kids to settle on the couch better than the intergalactic battles, valiant heroics, and epic animations packed into every episode of Dragon Ball Z.

Following the adventures of a good-natured alien named Goku, Dragon Ball Z is the sequel to the original Dragon Ball story written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama.

Between the inspirational tales of Goku defending the Earth from extraterrestrial villains and an immersive world of additional physical and digital media inspired by the franchise, Dragon Ball Z has become regarded as of the most influential anime of all time.

These days, you don’t even have to be a fan to at least know that spiky blondes mean business or have at least met one little kid who would clench their fists and try power up into “Super Saiyan” form.

In 2019, we see Dragon Ball Z referenced in more places than anyone could have ever imagined. The thirty-year-old series is as influential as Star Wars and Marvel Comics. Its blazing battles, mind-blowing transformations, and distinct visual tone can be found beyond the anime and now within contemporary lifestyle realms like fashion, music, video games, and even sports.

So *how exactly did this story about a monkey-tailed alien evolve into one of the most relevant and highest grossing media franchises of all time?

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Ronny Chieng is a comedian, correspondent, and actor who has achieved acclaim through his sitcom “Ronny Chieng: International Student” and role as senior correspondent on The Daily Show. Now, the self-proclaimed modern day philosopher is back with a Netflix comedy special “Asian Comedian Destroys America” and looking forward to covering non-political topics on The Daily Show for the year ahead.

On this episode of The Dropcast, Ronny brings his cool substitute teacher vibes, sets a distinction between envy and jealousy among fellow comedians and artists who participate in creative endeavors, and details his release of cool merch that he would want to buy for himself. Hosts Jian DeLeon and Noah Thomas find order in the madness that was the 2010s and ring in the new decade with the help of Ronny in the quick hits. 

A defining trend in the fashion industry has been the merging of streetwear with all forms of fashion, most notably the world of luxury — or as Ronny describes it: more expensive versions of comfort (4:48). 

Relevant Links:

The 2010s Were the Decade Luxury & Streetwear Became One

Op-Ed | Sorry, but NBA “Runway” Style Is Still Mostly Terrible

“Sneakerhead Kingpins”: Police Bust Heroin Ring That Took Jordans as Payment

eBay’s New Sneaker Resell Policy Could Change the Multibillion-Dollar Industry

Donald Glover to Drop Fundraising Merch for Democratic Candidate Andrew Yang

The Hidden Layer CLOT x Nike Air Jordan 1 Is Available at StockX

Here’s How CLOT’s Silk Royale Air Force 1s Became So Collectible

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When did the Space Age begin? In terms of astronomy, you can nail it down to 1957, when the Russians hurled a 183-pound polished sphere about the size of a beach ball away from Earth and into its orbit. Sputnik 1, the earth’s first artificial satellite, sparked a race to the cosmos between the United States and its Cold War adversary. NASA was established a year later, and in 1969 the US secured the crowning achievement by putting the first man on the moon. This period was a boon for technology and pushing the limits of humanity. But if you look at design, you’ll see America’s obsession with space predates these remarkable achievements. 

Established in 1936, Ray-Ban had made its name by designing sunglasses specifically for the Army.

In 1952, designer Raymond Stegeman shifted the companies eyes to the future with the Wayfarer. They were the first sunglasses to be made of plastic, and its lines were a reference to the iconic Cadillac tailfins. Another point of reference was the Eames Chair, another classic design born of the era. According to design critic Stephen Bayley, the “distinctive trapezoidal frame spoke a non-verbal language that hinted at unstable dangerousness, but one nicely tempered by the sturdy arms which, according to the advertising, gave the frames a ‘masculine look.’”

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On this week's episode of The Dropcast, hosts Noah Thomas and Jian DeLeon welcome the new decade with Nicolas Heller, better known as NYC anthropologist New York Nico, and illustrator Naomi Otsu.

Though they've both accomplished impressive creative careers in their own respective ways, they're also low-key relationship goals in the fact that they've gotten the chance to work on some really cool projects together, whether it's campaigns around Opening Ceremony's gigantic tote bags, or one of the most deadass memes of the decade: a Baby Yoda that only a New Yorker could love. Listen to how the meme came together at (16:58).

Relevant Links:

This Genius Agency Just Spent $10,000 on Blank Ad Space to Give Our Brains a Break

Take a Look at Ninja’s First adidas Sneaker, Dropping This Month

The North Face x DSM Just Upgraded Your Outdoor Flex With Matching Tent & Fit

We’re Not Sold on Manchester United’s Crazy Chinese New Year Kit

Pharrell Williams Finally Puts His Spin on an adidas 4D Sneaker

How Margiela’s Tabi Boot Became a Status Symbol for Fashion’s Elite

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In his 2003 novel, Pattern Recognition, William Gibson creates the coolest character ever to grace the pages of a book. Cayce Pollard is the world’s best coolhunter, and her highly astute ability to judge brands is largely due to the fact that she’s literally allergic to corporate logos and mascots.

She wears a series of uniforms referred to as “Cayce Pollard Units,” or CPUs. Gibson describes these as “things that could have been worn, to a general lack of comment, during any year between 1945 and 2000.” Her go-to items include shrunken Fruit of the Loom T-shirts, a Buzz Rickson MA-1 bomber jacket, and black Levi’s 501s with the arcuates on the back picked out and the branding on the buttons filed off.

It’s just one of many testaments to the humble jean’s ability to transcend trends. Its straight leg, regular waist, and enduring appeal will truly never go out of style. Of course, the main leg up Levi’s has on its competitors is a big differentiation point: They literally invented the modern jean.

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Consultant, producer, and all-around Instagram flex god Upscale Vandal stops by this episode of The Dropcast just in time to spread some post-Christmas cheer.

If you're not up on on his Instagram account yet, consider this your opportunity to soak up some game.The conversation gets spicy when they begin to talk about Jordans and the state of sneaker culture. Vandal thinks the Dior x Jordans were a missed opportunity to elevate some of the Jumpman's lesser known silhouettes. (8:05)

Relevant Links:

Sneakersnstuff Celebrates the Past, Present & Future With Exclusive Jordan Pack

Takashi Murakami & Drake Are Releasing a New OVO Collab Collection Tomorrow

Virgil Abloh Says Streetwear Is “Definitely Going to Die” Soon & Predicts What’s Coming Next

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Timeless is a word so overused nowadays that its meaning has almost become redundant, but the Stan Smith is one of the few products that’s design has really stood the test of time, transcending trends, music genres, and subcultural movements. So many other brands have tried to copy its minimal aesthetic and adidas itself has dropped countless versions and collaborations, but almost 50 years since it first hit the court and it hasn’t lost any of its character.

In the fickle world of fashion, the Stan Smith opened up the floodgates for a new generation of female sneakerheads. You can pinpoint the moment when the stereotype of the so-called “fashion girl” went from Jimmy Choo heels to comfortable sneakers. It was those ten seconds when Phoebe Philo walked onto the catwalk to take her bow for Celine’s Fall/Winter 2012 runway show wearing an olive green turtleneck, straight cut black pants, and a pair of Stan Smiths. 

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Earlier this week, Highsnobiety recorded its first live show of The Dropcast at adidas Originals’ store in Soho, New York City. Guests sipped on ZX cocktails as they formed an audience in the presence of hosts Jian DeLeon and Noah Thomas who discussed the past and future of the revolutionary ZX series with adidas’ NYC culture ambassador Tyler Busher. The ZX launched in 1984 as a series of progressive running shoes for performance athletes, and continues to reinvent itself with innovative technology after more than 30 years.

While Tyler makes up half of The Binary Group, a synthesis company that seeks to bridge the gap between fashion, music, and design, he brings social and environmental awareness to footwear through projects like the fully recyclable adidas Futurecraft.Loop sneaker. The adidas-head gives a breakdown on the ZX series’ history and influence on sports and subcultures, his alkaline diet, and Ferrari Testarossa dreams. But before that, the episode kicks off with a quick foot check (3:22).

Relevant link:

https://www.adidas.com/us/zx

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