Words by Offspring Community member Seb Tobar @sebcreps
Growing up in Colombia, our sneaker and fashion style was heavily influenced by US artists and celebrities. Michael Jordan was a god in a country where football reigns supreme.
Fashion is very important in Colombia. From wearing your Sunday best to going out with friends (and perhaps hoping to catch someone’s eye), you always have to look fresh. There was no global Colombian representation to show the world what we can do, giving us a ceiling on what we could aim for.
Enter J Balvin
Mixing an entrepreneurial mentality with his musical talent, he’s seized the opportunity to expand his brand. Along with others like Bad Bunny, Karol G and Maluma, J Balvin is part of a very exciting generation of artists representing Latinos worldwide.
His influence goes much further than music with a foray into the fashion world, always championing Latino representation. From his work with Guess to a momentous collaboration with Jordan, the first Latino artist to team up with the Jumpman, that ceiling has well and truly been smashed. Colombian kids around the world now have a relatable role model to show them that they can achieve anything in life.
Coming from a country that has traditionally been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, he’s pioneering a change in perception, showing that our past does not define our future.
London has a very big and proud Colombian community, with many Colombian owned and run stores, restaurants and coffee shops. Goldhawk Road and the markets at Seven Sisters and Brixton are home to some of the best tastes from home.
Through the #offspringhqcommunity, I’ve met a lot of Colombians and Latinos that live in London and throughout the UK. Our love for shoes, along with our shared background, have brought us together and created great friendships. Having teased the shoe during the Latino studded Super Bowl halftime show, we kept each other up to date on any info or raffles that popped up during the build-up to the full release.
J Balvin’s debut collaboration was the Jordan 1, dubbed ‘Colores Y Vibras’ after his two latest solo albums. Vibrant, energetic and a true representation of expression, it evokes what it is to be Colombian. With a wide variety of laces and patches, it was made to give the wearer endless combinations to put their own twist on the shoe. @patchworx97 helped me realise my vision of putting the Colombian flag on a shoe with some bespoke patches.
With his next installation, J Balvin is tackling the Jordan 2, with this and the apparel taking inspiration from his personal journey with mental health.
The capsule features a brain icon, LED lights and a glow in the dark sole, along with a ‘blue sky’ concept to represent overcoming ‘dark situations in life’. This messaging truly relates to me and, not only am I excited to see more from J Balvin’s collab, but I’m also happy to see men talking more about mental health and promoting the importance of mental wellbeing.
Needless to say, I’m extremely proud of my heritage, my country and the community. I can’t wait to see what else comes from this collaboration along with the doors that it’ll open for other artists, designers and creatives. Big up the Latino gang!
Check out more from Seb on Instagram @sebcreps and OffspringHQ for info on the J Balvin x AJ2 release.
