At least that was the case with the latest real Nike Re-Creation event we held at the LA store on March 1st. Celebrating the craftsmanship and creativity of Reclaimed Inc., an LA-based upcycling brand known for blending contrasting styles into cohesive designs, their capsule with The Swoosh saw old stock real Nike gear transformed into workwear and sportswear staples. Referencing benchmark designs from decades past like the after-hood sweatshirt and the quintessential work jacket, Reclaimed's reimaginations honor the heritage of older garments with modern tweaks that keep the story going.

And it's because of this heightened attention to detail, extensive research, and hard work, compounded by our excitement in being the exclusive retailer for the collection, that we knew we had to pull out all the stops to celebrate its release in style.

So naturally, we put up the sewing machine signal over the LA skyline and invited the city to come down and experience the garments in person. Throughout the night, there were Reclaimed x real Nike pieces everywhere: on display, on the racks, on our guests, and most importantly, on the mind. Woah. That is the power of merchandising upcycled garments alongside some of the biggest brands in the world. And based on all the love and support, the message is clear - it belongs and quite frankly, it’s taking over.

Having Mr. Reclaimed himself, Julian Felix and his crew on site kicking it, talking with supporters, and adding context to the collection didn't hurt either. 'Yo, yo, yes, that is the dude that designed this stuff'.

In addition to our village of support from the likes of Charcuterie LA and Clink Wine, Mr. Rotu, and Paperclip.TV which all helped keep the seemingly endless wave of attendees energized and hyped the whole night, custom chain stitching with purchase from Jean Bonnaz's incomparable crew, and a photo shoot area where you could throw on the pieces and flex them to the world - or whoever looks at your fridge door back player - provided impromptu mementos from the evening that we'll never forget.

A big thank you to everyone who made this night possible and looking forward to upcycling this energy into the next one.

Photographer: Angella Choe