ANTENNA Magazine
Premiere Issue

Harris Publications 2007

By Shane Marcone

The stunning breadth of modern streetwear can knock the breath out of you, particularly when gauging it all on the Web. Unlike the latest development on Katie Holmes’ bloody knee, the marketplace whirlwind that is new start-ups, superfluous colorways, established brands, resurrected brands, and incoming F/W T-shirt prints from around the globe is not well-suited for digital presentation or the sane mind looking for that definite vista on creativity.

ANTENNA , judging by its incredibly solid and slick premiere issue, looks to become the magazine of record for seasonal streetwear product. Unlike mags like the Marc Ecko-founded Complex, ANTENNA grasps that mixing urban lad mag editorial (superfluous Young Jeezy interviews, ridiculous bikini-clad model profiles) with consummate layouts of the freshest product is always a sloppy mission. It’s akin to digging into Sears’ Wish Book at 8 and being bombarded with Santa’s Top 10 Grindhouse Movies and Blitzer’s penchant for gold-studded reigns. It’s like, where the hell are the straight-up pics and prices for that newly designed Crossfire and the Power Glove (maybe next year Power Glove)?

The issue’s 180+ pages are set in alphabetized product displays that range from the expected (“Graphic T’s,” “Denim”) to a horrendously fascinating two-page “Oreos” spread (the variety is obese!) to obvious ignore favorite “Antlers” (containing one $400 “Stag Vermeil Ring” from Digby & Iona). Perhaps what we like best is the mag’s winking kitchen sink commentary on the emptiness of consumer-culture. It’s unserious. It’s also un-heavy on sneakers and Nike doesn’t go all Genghis Khan in that department—colorway us surprised. In an interview in the back of the book Invisible:Man’s Andrew Lee (Stussy, Neighborhood) even refers to sneaker-heads as trekkies. Agreed. And placing Lee’s quote after an interview with Undefeated is kinda funny (can those cool guys please give Black Flag a crumb of props for their logo btw?).

While everyone in the streetwear world seems to get a fair shake at inclusiveness in this first at-bat, there are a few names that were surprisingly absent (Rockers, Schwipe) along with a few other DIYers like Hello Minor, Cosby and Fuct that would allow us to hit backspace. Also, Arrive in Miami gets “reception” and last time we were there they were charging $125 for a $35 Garbege T. Besides that, ANTENNA’s pages are cleaner and smoother than a Gerber baby. Anyone got an unused grim reaper design to send LTD?

This discourse of ANTENNA Magazine was written by Shane Marcone for ignore Magazine, copyright 2007.