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Project & MAGIC: A Fashionable Double Team
Kimatni “K-Raw” Rawlins & Ian “iCan” Callender, 02.28.07
This year’s first installment of the MAGIC tradeshow jumped off to its usual hot setting. And you can’t rock a sweet ride without the proper attributes from the fashion world. So Automotive Rhythms headed to MAGIC to do some window shopping while pushing the 2007 Audi S7. Brands from L-R-G, Akademiks, Live Mechanics, Rockawear, Foreign Family, House 33, 10 Deep, Blac Label, Nike, New Era and more all combined making MAGIC and Project a huge success.
 The first day of MAGIC saw over 30,000 business owners, wholesalers, and retailers alike peruse the massive Las Vegas Convention Center placing future orders for their retail locations for a summer/fall/winter delivery time. MAGIC is normally known as the street wear mecca of the fashion industry creating a collaborative mix of music, cars, entertainment and, of course, footwear!
Our first stop was L-R-G. Known for its strong connection to the community, we linked up with Sports Marketing guru Saia Makakaufaki and Brand Manager Kevin Delaney, as they showed us an exclusive look into the future of L-R-G, and let’s not forget Luxirie for the ladies. The booth almost resembled Fort Knox, with close knit security and one way in one way out mentality. L-R-G was leading the way with its creativity push for MAGIC, complete with custom helmets donning the L-R-G logo and tag lines. The brand separates itself from others by connection. On every article of clothing you find a unique creative thought. For example, inside a fresh colorful hoodie, you would find the normal phrase “LRG equipment for life’s journey” stitched smoothly in the main lining, and others like “LRG - deeper roots, stronger branches, 147% made with love/respect.” This kind of love creates a connection between a corporation and a consumer, and that’s what counts.
 Beyonce was centrally located signing autographs at Deréon across from Rocawear’s department store setup while Oketo Burks showed us why and how K-Swiss is competing against the greats and Live Mechanics attracted showgoers with ubiquitous urban art. New Era dominated the cap game with their cadre of energizing fits for the streets. We also got down with Lee J. Kerzner of Brooklyn Remix who’s ideas of sneaker customization allows for personal individualization when stepping on home or opposing turf.
Shooting over to Project at the Sands Convention Center behind the Venetian Casino and Hotel saw a calmer environment. At Project you can find more trendy retailers and brands that wouldn’t hold an urban title, but still reach equally across the fashion industry. Here we visited a few unique retailers specific to the footwear industry. Booths from Creative Recreation, Puma Black Station, Converse, and Reebok had an awesome array of sample footwear on display. Puma Black Station is a division of Puma that has higher quality product, more raw denim, and exclusive footwear items only found at select Puma Black Station boutiques worldwide. Similar to Puma, Converse also has a new wave of apparel on the rise. In conjunction with a new sneaker presented by Converse, the “Wade. 2.0,” President of apparel Dave McTague indicated that the new line will represent what other brands have failed to do - offer a unique creative attention to detail focusing on 200% quality while still having a grasp on the quantity factor.
 Later in the week, we stopped through the gifting suite sponsored by L-R-G in the Venetian Casino and Hotel. Here, celebrities, athletes and entertainers all came through to get some hot gear courtesy of the team. The suite had team members from Creative Recreation and media folk like Skull Candy, a new wave of entertainment for your ears. Games, food, fun and of course photography was had within the suite making all entrants feel right at home.
Kimatni with the latest from Akademiks, Rocawear, Live Mechanics, Nike, Breitling, New Era & BVLGARI
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Are you a Live Mechanic
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www.ARtvLiVE.com
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Kimatni & Oketo Burks
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Kimatni & V. Moore
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Ian Callender, Saia Makakaufaki, Jr. & Kimatni
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New Era Fits
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Rolls Phantom
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Sean McKoy & Kimatni
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