Kevin Joo Hwang

A fisherman-inspired thesis project turns heads with gender-bending utilitarian chic

Parsons grad Kevin Joo Hwang‘s thesis collection mixes a traditional menswear palette with a feminine take on early twentieth century Southeast Asian fishermen. The 25-year-old California native focuses on making wearable clothes, emphasizing the utilitarian side of his inspiration with details like oversize patch pockets. “Even if clothes look great,” he argues, “if it doesn’t really serve a purpose, I don’t think a lot of …

Shaun White Shoes for Target

Lifelong skater (and Olympian snowboarder) debuts his affordable skate shoes for Target

Building out his line for Target, gold-medal snowboarder Shaun White’s first collection of skate shoes drops in stores this week. In of-the-moment colors like electric blue, gray, black and maroon, each pair makes a bid to be an everyday shoe, covering all the bases with fat laces, thick outsoles, suede uppers and double stitched construction. Target sent over a pair for us to check out …

Sak for Converse First String

Exquisitely old-world, hand-crafted remakes of the Jack Purcell and One Star

In yet another display of exquisite craftsmanship, Ryusaku Hiruma of Sak releases his second lineup for Converse‘s premium label, First String. His old-world interpretations of the classic Jack Purcell and One Star 1974 speak to the enduring legacy of the brand and artistry of shoemaking. Mastering traditional Italian techniques, Hiruma has made Florence, Italy, his home for a decade. The uppers—in timeless, natural shades of …