Latest news with #BrickbyBrick
The Star
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
The latest Air Jordans? They're digital
In March, when Jordan Brand released the Air Jordan 4 Brick by Brick, a collaboration with the BMX athlete Nigel Sylvester, they sold out almost instantly, quickly doubled in value on the resale market and were championed by collectors as an early contender for sneaker of the year. But for some sneaker fans, the real fun began two months later, when the Brick by Brick became available in Fortnite – as a fully digital replica that could be purchased for 1,000 'V-Bucks,' the game's virtual currency, or about US$8.99 (RM38). Fortnite , the online multiplayer shooter by Epic Games, introduced Kicks, a vertical within its popular in-game marketplace dedicated to footwear, in November. Alongside a handful of quirky proprietary designs, the virtual shop sells shoes by Nike, Jordan Brand, Adidas, Vans and Crocs, which can be worn by player avatars and shown off during matches. For gamers – especially kids – these digital sneakers represent a form of creative self-expression. 'The younger generation sees what happens on the internet as no less important than the offline world,' Funs Jacobs, a technology and culture strategist, said. 'To older generations, it sounds insane, but it's a bit of an identity thing.' They're also a big business. Fortnite , a free-to-play game, has more than 500 million registered users and an average of over two million active players every day. Its US$5bil (RM21.18bil) in annual revenue comes almost entirely from the sale of virtual goods. Though Epic would not provide exact sales figures, a representative from the company said players had selected and applied Kicks to their avatars nearly seven billion times since November. Sneakers were first introduced to Fortnite as functions of other brand activations, such as the game's previous collaborations with the musician Travis Scott, an ambassador for Jordan Brand who has several popular models of Jordan sneakers. Kevin Durkin, the senior director of partnerships strategy for Epic Games, said that Kicks was an extension of that approach. 'Over the past few years, we've worked with many of these same brands and simultaneously outfitted musicians, athletes and celebrities with iconic footwear in-game,' he explained. 'It was a natural next step to empower players to choose this on their own.' Epic and its brand partners divide the revenue from in-game sneaker sales. But the sneaker companies have a more salient motivation. Consumers have been losing interest in sneakers, as the frenzy for retro shoes whipped up during the pandemic has gradually abated. Putting sneakers in virtual worlds is a way to drum up interest among younger consumers, who may be converted into ardent sneaker fans because they saw the shoes in their favourite game. 'Gaming has emerged as a pivotal touchpoint in reaching and influencing Gen Z and Gen Alpha,' said Thomas Wehner, the global head of Adidas Gaming, pointing out that Adidas was eager to 'authentically engage' with the 'vast community, creativity and cultural relevance' offered by a game like Fortnite . Younger audiences can be difficult for brands to reach through traditional media. Advertising in television, newspapers and magazines rarely reaches them, leading companies to look for opportunities across social media and video games for better reach. 'By partnering with Epic and Fortnite to launch Kicks, we're meeting the next generation of athletes where they are – in physical and virtual spaces,' said Nikhil Pandit, global director of gaming partnerships at Nike. The sneaker market is heavily nostalgia driven: Fans who grew up watching Michael Jordan in the '90s have spent billions collecting his classic shoes. According to Nike, selling shoes in Fortnite is partly about the long-term payoff – it wants to build future nostalgia among a new generation who may one day want to buy the real-life version of the shoes they once owned in the game. But brands are also helping to facilitate the sale of real sneakers to those invested in the digital ones. Recently, Nike began offering customers who purchased digital sneakers early access to highly coveted shoes via their proprietary app – making it easy for a virtual customer to be converted into another real-life sneakerhead. – ©2025 The New York Times Company This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dave Grohl, Cynthia Erivo Join Gustavo Dudamel and LA Phil at Coachella
The Los Angeles Philharmonic led by conductor Gustavo Dudamel was in full swing on Saturday for the second weekend of Coachella after appearing last weekend. It was a star-studded affair, which included surprise performances by Dave Grohl and Cynthia Erivo. The Foo Fighters frontman hit the stage with his guitar and he delivered two of his band's songs, including the grittily sung 'The Sky Is a Neighborhood' and merged the classical with the classic on 'Everlong.' More from Rolling Stone Watch Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll Join Post Malone at Coachella Tyla Brings the 'Bliss' With a New Song Tease at Coachella Morgan Wallen and Post Malone Team Up on 'I Ain't Comin' Back' Erivo also performed two songs. She began with the ballad that appeared from the lyrics to be 'Brick by Brick,' a track from her upcoming sophomore album, I Forgive You. 'Hello Coachella, nice to see you. Would you like a little Prince?' Erivo asked following 'Brick by Brick.' The crowd cheered. 'OK, Prince for you then.' She then launched into a rousing cover of 'Purple Rain' to close out the LA Phil set, as the fan footage below captured. Previously announced guest Natasha Bedingfield also performed, delivering 'Unwritten.' Other performers who appeared during the LA Phil's Coachella set last weekend returned on Saturday, including Laufey and Paco Amoroso and Ca7riel. The first weekend of Coachella featured a finale with LL Cool J, who dropped a medley that included 'Rock the Bells' and 'Mama Said Knock You Out.' The LA Phil sets the past two weekends marked the orchestra's Coachella debut. It's Dudamel's final season with LA Phil. Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
The Independent
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Time to build a better future
The Independent is proud to be able to thank its generous readers and partner organisations for the completion of a new bespoke safe haven for women and their families fleeing domestic abuse. Our Brick by Brick campaign, launched last September in partnership with the charity Refuge, asked for a £15 contribution per nominal brick for the buildings – and there was an immediate and enthusiastic response to the appeal. Construction of the first purpose-built house has now been completed, with a second to follow soon. As soon as Refuge's all-female team of decorators have finished up, the first residents will be welcomed into their secure and safe new home. Of necessity, the location of the properties remains confidential, which will lend additional comfort to those who have been subjected to horrific mental and physical torture. In particular, Refuge, the Persimmon housebuilding company and its charitable trust have devoted enormous effort and care to the design of these new homes – with flexibility in the accommodation for children and appropriate security measures. Especially thoughtfully, pets are also allowed. These will be places of kindness as well as safety. In the words of The Independent 's editor-in-chief, Geordie Greig: 'This is a monumental achievement, and I'm immensely proud of the role our readers and supporters have played in building this house – Brick by Brick.' Many politicians, royalty and celebrities have put their status to good use by lending their names to our Brick by Brick campaign, including The Queen, Sir Keir Starmer, Dame Helen Mirren, Dame Joanna Lumley, Olivia Colman, Victoria Derbyshire, Andi Oliver, David Morrissey and Sir Patrick Stewart. Despite the near ubiquity of domestic abuse, which takes many forms, it rarely dominates the news headlines – another reason why The Independent has backed this effort. It is so much more than an exercise in 'raising awareness' – a phrase that is often used but rarely matches up to the challenge of the problem. As so much domestic violence goes on behind closed doors, police and social services never get to hear of it – but the best estimates of the incidence of this type of violence and its effects are sobering. Last month, it was revealed that between April 2023 and March 2024, 98 victims of domestic abuse took their own lives – on top of the 80 who were killed by a current or former partner, and the 39 killed by a family member. Coupled with the 354 suspected deaths by suicide following domestic abuse since 2020, that brings the total number of domestic abuse-related deaths this decade to 1,012, according to the government-funded Domestic Homicide Project. There will be many hundreds of thousands more similar cases that have gone unrecorded, if not millions. One reason for these types of crimes – which are often described as an 'epidemic', and one with a long and often hidden history – is that it is just so difficult for women and children to get away from an abusive man quickly and safely. Without a refuge, they can become trapped in barbaric, controlling relationships. Shelters such as those provided by Brick by Brick will go a long way to remedying that. From a safe home, damaged people can begin to repair themselves, and their lives. They can also more readily seek what help they can from the authorities, as well as legal advice that will secure them justice. Such things are also crucial in rebuilding lives. More needs to be done, which is undoubtedly more difficult at a time when there is less money around. The social services departments of local authorities have suffered successive waves of austerity, as have police forces. Yet they are there to save lives and prevent injury, and there can be few better uses for taxpayers' money. More purpose-built refuges would also be a fine investment, saving on temporary accommodation and trying to fix problems when it is far too late to stop the harm. The children, after all, carry the physical and mental scars for the rest of their lives. In its election manifesto, the Labour Party tried to build on the pioneering work in this field done by generations of campaigners and some politicians who cared enough to make a difference, notably Theresa May, whose government passed laws on disclosure and 'controlling coercive behaviour'. Mercifully, even in these polarised times, this is not a partisan matter. Labour, in its turn, promised to 'introduce domestic abuse experts in 999 control rooms so that victims can talk directly to a specialist, and ensure there is a legal advocate in every police force area to advise victims from the moment of report to trial'. The party also promised to halve abuse against women and girls (much of it in the home) within a decade. Disconcertingly, the home secretary Yvette Cooper last November had to concede that she didn't know how to measure 'overall violence' against women and girls, nor 'how you look at domestic abuse'. Of course, if any government sets a target (even one that may exceed its own lifespan), it needs to be able to quantify its success, but that should be no excuse for not getting on with the job and maintaining that momentum. The creation of more safe refuges could be transformative in this effort, and it is something that should take its place in the ambitious housebuilding programme being overseen by the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner. There are women at the top of government who understand the problem of domestic abuse, are committed to improving the situation of women and girls and have the power and responsibility to do something about it. They should build a better future, brick by brick.
The Independent
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The house the Independent built: First safe haven for women fleeing domestic abuse is finished
The keys to the first of two safe havens built by The Independent's Brick by Brick campaign for women fleeing domestic abuse have been handed over. Construction of the first purpose-built safe house was completed this week, after the hugely successful campaign launched in partnership with leading domestic abuse charity Refuge was backed by readers, politicians, royalty and celebrities. Stories of the reality of domestic abuse, including brave survivors such as Esther who spent a week held hostage in her own flat, kickstarted a national conversation about the prevalence of domestic abuse in the UK. The new house, which is built in a secret location to protect survivors, is a semi-detached home with a living room, open plan kitchen and dining room and allows pets. The home also features a private garden for survivors to enjoy secure outdoor space and includes a number of safety features, including CCTV, a fireproof letter box and enhanced locking features on windows and doors. Geordie Greig, editor-in-chief of The Independent, said: 'This is a monumental achievement, and I'm immensely proud of the role our readers and supporters have played in building this house Brick by Brick. 'Together with Refuge and Persimmon Homes, we have delivered a state-of-the-art property which will provide sanctuary for countless vulnerable women and children. 'There's more to come with the construction of the second home well underway, and we will continue to use every means at our disposal to increase awareness of this national crisis and create lasting change.' The home, which has been built by Persimmon Homes, has two double-sized bedrooms, a downstairs bathroom and built-in cupboard storage space. It also has a private drive with off-road parking and solar panels on the roof, making it 30 per cent more energy efficient than older properties. It will now be finished off by Refuge's team of female decorators to create a trauma-informed home, complete with furniture and furnishings. The home is the first of two identical safe houses being funded by the Brick by Brick campaign, which was launched in September 2024 in response to the nationwide domestic abuse crisis. Thousands of women across the UK face danger in their own homes, but one woman is turned away every two hours from a refuge because of a lack of space or capacity. The Independent has heard testimony from a wide range of survivors, including women who were beaten, lost their jobs, friends and children while others were simply too terrified to leave. BBC broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire recalled how her father threw scalding soup over her as she stood in her school uniform and beat her mother so badly on one occasion she broke a rib. When the initial target of £300,000 was reached after just a month of fundraising, The Independent decided to build a second house with over £576,000 raised in total by our generous readers. Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, said: 'Today marks an important milestone in our partnership with The Independent, with the completion of the first of two safe houses built with funds raised through our Brick by Brick campaign. This house will offer a safe, supportive space for survivors of domestic abuse, giving them the opportunity to rebuild their lives free from fear. "We are incredibly grateful to all those who donated, raised awareness, and supported Brick by Brick. This achievement is not just about the physical building, but the new beginning it represents for women and children who desperately need it. "While today is a cause for celebration, the reality is that domestic abuse continues to devastate lives. This is just the first step, and we will continue working tirelessly to ensure that more survivors have access to safe spaces and expert support to overcome the impact of abuse.' The property will look exactly the same as those surrounding it, to ensure that victims do not feel isolated. Survivors - including those with older children - will be free to bring pets with them, something that many refuges are not able to accommodate. As the house will see many survivors pass through it, Refuge will carry out maintenance and a deep clean between each family. During a family's stay, Refuge staff will provide emotional support and legal advice, and will support women with safety planning, budgeting, finding a safe new home, dealing with debt and applying for welfare benefits, accessing health services, and finding nurseries and schools. Anthony Vigor, chair of the trustees for the Persimmon Charitable Foundation, said: ' We are delighted to be handing over the keys to the first Refuge home built by Persimmon. It has been a real privilege to be involved with this project and the life changing benefits it will deliver. 'Everyone has a right to feel safe and we are pleased that this home will shortly become a much-needed sanctuary for a family surviving domestic abuse.'
The Independent
17-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Only one in three women fleeing domestic abuse can be helped by refuges as services on ‘brink of collapse'
Only one in three women fleeing domestic abuse can be helped by refuges, the chief executive of Women's Aid has said, warning that the sector's services are on the brink of collapse. Giving evidence to the Commons Public Accounts Committee, Farah Nazeer warned that she has seen more services close – or sit on the brink of closure – in the last 7 months than she has in the previous four years. 'We are in a real state of crisis and we are now at a point where we have a 65 per cent refusal rate into refuges, and a 50 per cent refusal rate into community based services', she said. 'You have survivors desperate to access services, and people don't go to services as a first resort, they go as a last resort - so they are at a point of crisis generally and [these services] are saying no. 'So, in the current equation, we have no way of even beginning to address this issue.' The warnings come after construction began on two safe houses for survivors of domestic abuse and their children, which are being built as a result of The Independent's hugely successful Brick by Brick campaign. The campaign, in partnership with Refuge, raised more than £500,000 in total and the two safe houses are expected to be completed by spring. Explaining the problem facing services, Ms Nazeer said: 'Demand is as high as it ever was. Demand has become more complex since Covid - people have lived in circumstances that are very challenging for longer period of times.' Meanwhile, funding has become more volatile, meaning that services are 'haemorrhaging very experienced staff', she said. Giving evidence alongside Ms Nazeer, Nicole Jacobs, the domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales, warned that 'we haven't touched the sides of what we need to do' when it comes to tackling violence against women and girls. While Ms Jacobs said she doesn't want to ignore the 'strides that have been made' in this area, she added: 'The fact is, we still have some very chronic fundamental problems that have been left unaddressed.' The deep concerns come as Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Josh Babarinde continued to push for a new law specifically making domestic abuse a crime. Currently domestic abuse is only covered by other crimes, such as assault or grievous bodily harm. Mr Babarinde used an adjournment speech in parliament to push for a specific law to be created as part of the Crime and Policing Bill going through parliament. It comes after ministers admitted they have no idea how many people guilty of domestic abuse are in Britain's jails. A number were allowed out early as a result of measures taken to tackle overcrowding. Mr Babarinde told The Independent: 'It is extraordinary that it is impossible to say how many people in prison are guilty of domestic abuse. How on earth can the government commit to halving violence against women and girls over the next decade (a very good aim) if the MoJ isn't even measuring domestic abuse? 'And how can we know what interventions are successful at reducing reoffending among domestic abusers if the government is not able to measure their reoffending rate? It is a scandal.' The government has been contacted for comment.
