London-based brand Corteiz, founded by British-born entrepreneur and designer Clint Ogbenna aka Clint 419, made waves with the label’s second Nike Air Max 95 collaboration, this time a black model featuring bright pink air pockets and details.
The shoe was launched in New York with an in-person event announced on the label’s Instagram feed where followere were provided with a time of 12:05 PM EST along with with the cross streets 34th Street and 7th Avenue. Those who arrived at the address were greeted by a billboard providing geographic coordinates 40°43’20.2”N 73°58’48.6”W. Hundreds of eager sneaker enthusiasts immediately were off to the races, flocking by train, car and bike to a Corteiz-branded bodega, located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
As reported by Complex, the event quickly turned chaotic as a security guard was mobbed while handing out wristbands for access to the pop-up. Eventually, police had to be called in to maintain order. While the brand has been bubbling for quite some time (Virgil Abloh was a fan), the launch officially put Corteiz on the map as a brand to watch with fans entralled with the brand’s low key, authentic approach.
Founded in 2017, Corteiz embodies the essence of streetwear. Clint 419, the child of Nigerian immigrants, has built a brand that truly represents the culture and community it comes from. Unlike other streetwear brands that have been bought out by corporations and lost touch with their roots, Corteiz remains true to its origins.
In a recent appearance on Nike’s SNKRS Live app, Clint 419 spoke with legendary sneaker designer Tinker Hatfield about the inspiration behind Corteiz’s sneaker selection. He explained, “Storytelling wise, I know what the 95 means to London. I know what it means to England and I don’t just speak for myself but for a community of people. If there was a working-class shoe, it’s a 95, you know what I’m saying?”
With a deep understanding of the culture and a dedication to authenticity, Corteiz is sure to continue making waves in the streetwear world.
A look at highights from the launch below via Clint’s Instagram below.
