The 1st Annual Eastbay List of the Best Gear

In honor of the great sneaker institution of Eastbay, which has now been shuttered. I dedicate this annual list of the best gear that came out over the past year to it. Pour out a little liquor🫗

Here are some ground rules:

• I would personally rock everything mentioned
• No weirdo fashion – stuff you can actually wear on the street without small children staring and pointing at you
• No sponsored placements
• Item was released to retail sometime in calendar year 2022

We start the same way an autistic toddler gets dressed, with the sneakers first.

UNDFTD x AF1 Low Pink Prime

Not only would I wear these to send 12-year-olds into a fit of jealous rage, but if a famed chocolatier wanted to make an edible version, I would also inhale them expeditiously😤

Cop directly from the UNDFTD website.

Louis Vuitton x AF 1 Low

Every bootlegger’s worst nightmare came true last year when Nike officially collabed with bougie French fashion house Louis Vuitton.

The original retail price of $2,750 is more than rent in some undesirable parts of New York. If this doesn’t make one of your eyes uncontrollably twitch, pairs are now being re-sold for 80% premiums online. So more than rent in desirable parts of New York with no rat problem.

If you recently came into some money or just robbed a bank, you can get yourself a pair on StockX.

A Ma Maniere x Air Jordan 4

The description of this sneaker as having “a deeply rich Violet Ore and vintage cream tones” reminds me of the 90s cartoon Darkwing Duck

If you want to get as fly as a fictional cartoon duck, this is the pair to pick up. The original drop was all sold out thanks to 12-year-olds with access to their parent’s credit cards. So check StockX to cop from parents who are intent on getting their money back.

Off-White x AF 1 Low Brooklyn

In case it isn’t obvious by now, I like Air Force 1’s.

Even this green, Brooklyn sewer sludge-colored version.

Unfortunately, due to the brand name on the collab, which I couldn’t give a damn about so long as the shoe looks good. The price is four figures and firmly out of reach of the common pleb.

If you’re into window shopping, StockX has them with 360-degree views.

Estevan Oriol x Dickies

Dickies, like many women and men these days, are for the streets.

Can’t lie, as a fresh-faced, juvenile delinquent coming up in Inglewood. This collab has a soft spot in my cold heart.

Work pants, work shirts, and graphic tees are all items in my regular rotation. So whenever there’s an original twist on staple items, it gets my attention.

Many of the more popular items from this collaboration are already sold out. But can still get what’s left directly from the Dickies site.

ESSENTIALS Fall/Winter 2022 Hoodies

The pee-and-doo-doo aesthetic of FOG’s ESSENTIALS latest collection really speaks to me.

Beige, eggshell, brown, black…this is basically leisure wear for a fly Charlie Brown.

Can pick up most pieces on reseller marketplaces like StockX, as most pieces seem to be unavailable directly on FOG’s website.

Sidenote: I own an Essentials hoodie and they’re baggier than my pants were back in high school. Order a size down.

Custom Graphic Tees

In case your mom’s still buying your clothes from Old Navy, this is what I mean by graphic tee:

If you’re not a fan of serial killers from the 80s, you can get custom, one-of-one t-shirts made by places like DCMBR Studio.

This way you can rep whatever you’re personally into…like other varieties of killers or something less morbid altogether.

Sergio Tacchini Tracksuit

Tacchini tracksuits have been around for a hot minute. First rising to notoriety stateside by being the office attire of choice for street hustlers in the 80s and early 90s.

The OG tennis brand has remained relevant thanks to its uncompromising quality and contemporary designs, including some throwback styles.

A wide assortment of jackets and pants can be purchased directly from the Sergio Tacchini website. From the old, Irish mobster favorite of velour to the less flashy polyester.

Honorable Mentions

MiLB Caps

Hat Club and other bootleggers have created every MLB cap known to man and even stuck little metal pins on them that have set off metal detectors from coast to coast. I’m switching things up a little.

So if you’re into colorful baseball caps…which I know you are, then Minor League Baseball has some of the best around and you would be supporting a good cause – minor league player salaries. Every little bit helps🙏

Get your Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and Akron Rubber Ducks hats from the official league store.

Basketcase Gallery

A lowkey, NYC-based streetwear brand with an attention-grabbing name that in the past has produced cow-print pants. What’s not to love?

Besides the cow-print pants, the independent brand produces cool tees like the one above. It also makes varsity jackets, hats, hoodies, and the occasional cardigan sweater.

The web store is currently closed, but you can sign up via email to be notified when it opens.

19nine

Since this is a very obscure basketball blog, it only makes sense that we would feature a basketball brand on this list.

19nine pays homage to college basketball by creating original apparel that makes us feel all warm, fuzzy, and nostalgic.

The apparel line includes everything from licensed retro shorts, mesh jerseys, and even gym bags to carry your sweaty jockstrap.

So if you’re like me and enjoy crying Northwestern kid and other great moments in college basketball history, check out 19nine.

If you enjoyed this, you may also like The 1st Annual James Harden Worst Dressed List and Why Bucharest is the Nike Air More Uptempo Capital of the World.