The Material Review

Issue 018: Zuck's Glow Up, Quitting Spotify, New Balance's Lofty Ambitions and a Spotlight On Foundational Footwear

Michael Williams

and

Taylor Stacey

Aug 03, 2024

Stories worth reading. Stop indexing the internet.

Is Nike Still Cool

“After decades of dominating the sneaker game, the Swoosh’s top-dog status suddenly feels vulnerable. GQ’s Noah Johnson examines how that happened.” [GQ]

Mark Zuckerberg’s New Image: Gold Chains and Gen-Z Curls

“The tech titan’s glow up comes just as Meta gets its mojo back. Coincidence?” [WSJ]

Why I Finally Quit Spotify

“The platform interface has gradually made it harder to find the music I want to listen to. With the latest app updates, I’d had enough.” [The New Yorker]

10 Sport Watches Made to Compete

“In the past two decades, the category has become a showcase for new materials, ergonomic advances and improved timekeeping.” [NYT]

Inside New Balance’s Plan to Become a $10 Billion Sportswear Giant

“In under a decade, the Boston-based company transformed itself from a brand for dads and runners into one of the hottest players in the sneaker world. Now, it’s using the Olympics and an expanding roster of collaborators, athlete partners and sports categories as catalysts to achieve its lofty ambitions.” [BoF]