Local specialty retailer, Titan, has always been at the helm of basketball culture in the Philippines. As the first and only basketball concept store in the country, this homegrown brand has achieved many feats in the sneaker scene over the years, and it’s about to achieve one more.
Titan has collaborated with Nike Basketball in coming up with the latest LeBron 16 Low ‘Agimat.’ As its name suggests, the series is inspired by the great warriors that permeate Filipino folklore. Now on its third year, this particular release pays homage to LeBron James’ own journey from warrior to king, and it may just be the best Agimat yet.
The team-up with Nike has been a project that’s been in the works for over a year now. “Ever since we opened in 2010, we’ve had an incredible working relationship with Nike Basketball,” shares Nikko Ramos, Titan’s Brand Content Director. “Ultimately, it became a very organic decision from both parties — the time was finally right, the story was perfect, and the collab was born.”
Titan’s Director for Design, Allyn Martin, worked alongside Nike’s designers in coming up with a design that seamlessly merged the two voices of the brands. “It was a very open dialogue — a sharing of ideas that included our team sharing our interpretation of the Agimat story and the LeBron team sharing their expertise with the materials and makeup of the shoe,” says Ramos.
The sneakers’ sleek silhouette is constructed with navy and gold tones, similar to its previous releases. Yet what sets this model apart are the all-new motifs etched on each pair, including a shield, which takes its cue from the traditional armor of the Bagobo tribe, and a lightning bolt to exemplify power. The latest Agimat also features a combined cushioning system, custom lacing, and a stretch collar, allowing you to slip in and out of them with comfort and ease.
On being the first local brand to team up with Nike, Jino Ferrer, the Country Marketing Manager of Nike Philippines expresses his excitement over the special collaboration. “Titan’s infectious passion and love of the game has helped establish them as an authentic and vital lifeline of Manila’s street and basketball scene,” says Ferrer. “We are confident that the Agimat aptly inspires athletes to raise their game on and off the court; to the next level and beyond.”
On the other side of the court, Ramos sees the team-up as only the start towards bigger projects for the decade-old brand. “It’s not so much a culmination of everything we’ve worked for since 2010. We see it more as the perfect way to kick off our tenth year, #TitanX, and set the tone for where and how the brand goes from here.”
LeBron’s signature line initially came about after a visit to the Philippines. The first model premiered in 2017 with the Nike LeBron 14 Agimat. It was followed by the release of the LeBron Soldier 12 Agimat in 2018. And this year, it is the Nike LeBron 16 Low x Titan ‘Agimat’ which will be available on August 31, 2019. Cop a pair at Nike’s website, or at any Titan store, the Titan App, and Titan website.
