Red Topps by Slam!

I think it is always essential that we know our clothing before we wear them. For example, what a label represents, what inspires its clothing line, etc. And it’s even better to have someone, who knows shit, fill you in on a new/old label that’s low key or pumping hype. And so here I have an email from Slam with a lil' ups on the clothing label Red Topps. All credits go to Slam.

"Did any of you collect Baseball Cards back in the day? Strange thing to collect here in NZ, but they were available. Of course it wasn't just Baseball Cards you could get your hands on. Basketball, Soccer, NFL and more were all available with a stick of gum. The company that made these cards was 'Red Topps'... 15 years on since I last bought a pack of Red Topps, Red Topps has arrived in another form.

NYC Graff artist Kenji aka Fanta one of the founding members of Irak (which if I can clarify, is pronounced I Rack, and named after the crew's infamous ability to steal pretty much EVERYTHING) started Red Topps 4 years ago. He started it about the same time as aNYthing and before Irak started their own tee's, but he has never actually sold his tees. Red Topps was only ever produced in order to give tee's away to all Kenji's friends. Walking round NYC you'll see a few Red Topps tee's, but you'll know that if that person is wearing one, they must be someone. They must know someone who knows someone..unless of course they just Racked it? But basically you can't get one of these tee's, you can't rep Red Topps unless you are Irak crew or some High Roller that supports Kenji's drug habits someway.

There's a small Kiwi connection with Red Topps too.. Kenji lives with a very famous NZ born/NYC based fashion designer.. and it was her screenprinting tools that were first used to hand screen Red Topps at home in their apartment. I wont name names, but this person was the biggest designer to have ever left these shores.. Her collections stopped after 9-11, but her work still passes through some of the biggest companies around the world.

If you can tell me her name.. I'll send you a little package too.. Red Topps Zine, Neckface Zine, some badges etc. email me if ya know who I'm talking about. Oh! And you thought Karen Walker was big? She ain't got shit on this lil' gal.

For the first time EVER, Red Topps will be available in a retail outlet, at both Catalytic Stores, Auckland and Wellington and at NYC's Gangstore. AND THATS IT! If you want exclusive shit that no one else has, that has meaning in the street world, this is it! It doesn't say Limited edition on it, cause it doesn't have to, it doesn't have people queueing for it, cause no one's cool enough to know it. This is the real deal! If you can come to the Wellington Store and tell me the names of 3 Irak crew members, I'll give you a free Red Topps Zine.

Kenji only made 25 of these Zines, with the help of Supremes photocopier haha.. I have about 10 of them, A-Ron has about 10, and I saw about 5 of them being chopped and rolled at Alife last month. "

With Love To The SlmXHyp Crew. Tsk