Hypebeast Weekly Digest: Apple Vision Pro Review, Bernie Gross and the Nike Blazer, Salehe Bembury x Crocs and More

[Hypebeast] June 17, 2023 Weekly Digest ✊ FREE THE YOUTH Discusses How They're Paving the Way for Ghanian Representation "The Kids are Alright," from 'Hypebeast Magazine' Issue 31. Why It Matters: Together, co-founders Jonathan “Joey Lit” Coffie, Richard “Kweku Maposh” Ormano and Kelly “Kurlz” Sekfafor Foli (as well as Winfred “Shace” Mensah who passed away in 2021), prove that creativity is a viable way to not just live your life, but create a life for yourself. FREE THE YOUTH wants to inspire the next generation —and they're doing it through fashion. A Message That Starts With Clothes: The brand tells the story of life in Ghana with transparency and authenticity. Theirs isn't a hype mentality, it's one of lived cultural experience. “Our 'bigger picture' goal is to make it easier for every African youth to dream big,” explains Coffie. “We got it hard and we don't want it to be hard for the next generation.” To achieve this goal, FREE THE YOUTH operates a store in Accra, Ghana with a deeper purpose than just selling clothing — it's a creative community hub that welcomes anyone and everyone into its space to make friends, listen to music, create T-shirts, or just feel a sense of community. Read the full article [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🕶️ Apple's Vision Pro Is a Breakthrough in Photorealistic Mixed Reality Hypebeast was among the first in the world to demo the hi-tech $3,500 USD headset. Why It Matters: News of Apple's Vision Pro has been dominating the tech industry since its unveiling at the 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday. Described as the “world's first spatial computer,” the futuristic goggle-like piece of hardware operates on a new system called visionOS and has been making headlines, not merely because it marks Apple's foray into AR/VR but also because of its $3,500 USD price tag. Floating In Virtual Quality: Hypebeast was on-site at WWDC 2023, and had the opportunity to be among the “first people in the world,” per an Apple employee, to test out the prototypal Vision Pro. From its immersive capabilities in the form of a Panorama image captured in Iceland to a simulated outdoor setting where a user can simply hang out in, the Vision Pro is a groundbreaking device with incomparable quality and graphics and above all else, mind-bending immersion. It’s still hard to see it as a “spatial computer,” rather than a mixed-reality headset, albeit, a truly impressive one. The question of whether it’s worth the price, even if it’s arguably better than its competitors, still looms. With several months to refine the Vision Pro before it’s expected to launch in 2024, Apple likely has a few tricks up its sleeve. Read the full article [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 👟 Bernie Gross and the Nike Blazer Extra Butter's creative director riffs on his love of the Blazer and how he champions community through events and releases. Why It Matters: Bernie Gross — creative director at Extra Butter — approaches retail marketing in the same vein that he would breakdancing. You respect your opponents, but it's your job to compete, showcase your own style and take others under your wing so that they can keep propelling the culture in the right direction. The New York native has adopted this mentality throughout his career and has found purpose through various aspects of street culture, from design to blogging to retail strategy. More Than Just a Shoe: All sneaker purists have that one silhouette that they've established an identity with, and for Gross that model is the Nike Blazer. You could fill a large U-HAUL box with the coveted collaborations, unreleased samples and limited-edition colorways in his arsenal. Many of the iterations in his stash reflect his endearment for certain streetwear brands, adoration for various artists and connection to late loved ones. "It hasn't been a shoe that's been integral to the EB business, but when customers come in, and they're expecting Jordans or Yeezys but see a Blazer, I see that as an opportunity for our staff to start a dialogue and hopefully open the customer's mind to other ways they can bring out their own style," says Gross. Read the full article [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- ⌚ A Look Inside Zenith's Manufacture Experience how the Maison harksto its past in its journey to innovation and modernity. Why It Matters: Situated in the scenic and historic Le Locle, Zenith's Manufacture is about a one-hour drive from the center of Neuchâtel, Switzerland; classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stretching 9000㎡ today, the headquarters was initially constructed in 1865 by founder Georges Favre-Jacot, who “had the vision to gather all the different crafts under the same roof.” Today, the site has kept the bright and spacious environments that the founder had intended, along with many of its historical charms intact. Preserving and Progressing: To seek references from the past while paving a way to build and innovate for the future is a pervasive message that is constantly reminded at Zenith's headquarters. A prominent example of this spirit is evident in our sit-down session with Zenith's Chief Product Officer, Romain Marietta, and Laurence Bodenmann, Head of Heritage. “Our job is to create the bridge between the past, present, and the future,” says Marietta , “Aside from developing new products, it's important to discuss the past and find ways that we could create bridges between history and what we're doing now.” Read the full article [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Videos To Binge [📽️ Watch: Charlotte Kingsnorth is the Next Big Thing in Furniture Design]( [📽️ Watch: Why Surfing and Starting a Brand Are the Same]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Drops To Put On Your Radar [CLOT x fragment design x Nike Dunk Low]( [Hardies Hardware x Supreme Spring 2023 Collaboration]( 📅 June 14, 2023 🌐 Nike SNKRS 📅 June 15, 2023 🌐 Supreme [Salehe Bembury x Crocs Pollex Clog “Horchata”]( [Patta x Rapha Cycling Collaboration]( 📅 June 15, 2023 🌐 Spunge 📅 June 23, 2023 🌐 Patta & Rapha --------------------------------------------------------------- [Hypebeast] [Download the Hypebeast App]( On iOS & Android Devices [hypebeast facebook]( instagram]( twitter]( youtube]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Manage Subscriptions](=====)[Privacy Policy]( You are subscribed to Hypebeast’s marketing emails with the address: {EMAIL} Contact [subscription@hypebeast.com](mailto: subscription@hypebeast.com) for assistance on any enquiries. 2023 Hypebeast Limited. All Rights Reserved Hypebeast, 40/F, Cable TV Tower, No.9 Hoi Shing Road, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong