Tyrrell Winston x Reebok - History & Interview
Ahead of his collaborative release with Reebok, we hit up Tyrrell Winston for a few questions about his upcoming release.
Most known for his installations of old basketballs, Tyrrell Winston is a Brooklyn-based artist who reuses and recycles to create mixed-media works. After moving to NYC for studies, he started collecting cigarette butts, old basketballs and nets he found left in the streets. With these mediums, Winston creates art that explores “embedded history” what Tyrrell describes as "the narratives perpetually lodged in other people’s discarded objects."
Everyone has been talking about Aimé Leon Dore's new UK flagship store and blasting the photo of the basketball installation inside it, but many may not know that it's Tyrrell's art on the wall. (See below). You might also have heard of Winston a couple of years ago when he signed his own name on a Michael Jordan-autographed basketball for the artwork "Signing Sessions." We hit him up on Instagram with a few things we wanted to know about his ideas for the collaboration. Read it below!
Why did you choose the graphics and aesthetic you did for the Reebok collab?
I chose these aesthetics because they reference my art without being art per se. Wanted these to be something myself and friends would wear regularly
Did you get to choose the Reebok models to work on? If so, what made you choose the Club C and Question Mid?
It was a mutual decision with Reebok to do the club c and Iverson. Club C is my go-to studio shoe and Allen Iverson is someone who has impacted my life on a pop culture level more than just about anyone.
Does your reusing and recycled aesthetic tie into the Reebok release?
I would say my reusing/recycling made its way into the shoe in the capacity, I didn’t want to add much, I just wanted to elevate what was already there in my own subtle way.
RELEASE INFO:
The footwear repurposes icons from one of his prior works, “The Smell of Money,” which now replace the Reebok branding at two spots: the left tongue of the Club C and the back heel of the Question Mid. Elsewhere, the shoes deliver simple, straightforward colour-ways, dressing up in white on cream and white on black, respectively. And though distinct in this regard, both have faux fur heel tabs and the artist’s signature along the outsole.
With a heap of all white and tonal Club C's being a major focal point from Reebok collaborators recently, including the BAPE, Eames, and Amongst Few - this one is our pick as one of the freshest. Winston's Club C brings the artist's signature touch with New York logo accent on the tongue. Super soft premium leather wraps your foot for understated comfort and style.
Known for his found-object artworks, Tyrrell loves basketball Heritage. A full grain leather upper and suede toe stay true to the original. Winston's signature shines through the ice outsole and a custom sock-liner showcases the collaboration.
The Tyrrell Winston x Reebok Collection drops Friday 10 June online only at 7am!
Sizes: UK7, UK8, UK9, UK10.
Tyrrell Winston x Reebok Club C 85: R2299
Tyrrell Winston x Reebok Question Mid: R3499