Cool Hunting

by Tamara Warren

In 1989 Chinese students protested in Tiananmen Square, Yo MTV Raps! made its debut and the original Reebok Pump hit the basketball courts. The first of its kind, the iconic sneaker has come a long way since it was sported famously by Woody Harrelson in “White Man Can’t Jump." This week is your last chance (last day is 14 December 2008) to hit the 3,000 square foot Reebok Flash Pop-Up Store, the seasonal launch pad for the new Pump and the Freestyle series.

The refurbished Reebok Bodega Court Victory Pump (above) is reminiscent of the kicks that took Michael Chang to the top of his tennis match. Reebok is also in the midst of releasing their limited editions series with artists Rolland Berry, John Maeda and the estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat.

The Flash Pop-Up Store is made with an homage to the ’80s cultures including visual cues to “Purple Rain,” “Miami Vice” and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Curator Sebastien Agneessens of Formavision cites the English arts movement Vorticism as inspiration for the vintage futurism.

Reebok Flash Pop-Up
Through 14 December 2008
169 Bowery
New York, NY 10002 map