Julian runs the Nike account here at Wieden + Kennedy London. Julian's sister has brought him a present back from Mexico. Although not strictly Nike, his new moccasins have caused somewhat of a stir in the office today. Debate has raged harder than the US election. Are they horrible or sublime? Let the blogosphere decide.
Magic moccasins or shit shoes?
"I want to shake off the dust of this one-horse town. I want to explore the world. I want to watch TV in a different time zone. I want to visit strange, exotic malls…I want to live, Marge! Won't you let me live?²
Homer Simpson seems to sum things up well. While China is amazing, a lot of my experience has been similar to day to day UK life. Once inside the W+K office, I'm at work. It's like london, only I hear a bit more shanghainese or mandarin around me. Or more american accents. Ive done my first all nighter in China within 2 weeks. (I'm sure it took me two months at WK London).
My favourite Shanghainese habit is that people pop out in their pj's. It's all very casual. So I went up one of the tall buildings in shanghai, the jinmao tower, with Yaya from work.
But when I got up there it turned out to be the second highest observatory, not the highest. My book was 6 months out of date and they seem to have built a new skyscraper….Never mind.
They have a giant statue here in a stripy top called perks. (It's the taller one) Is it an omen?
The pic below is of us at Nike China, playing table football before a meeting.
Here is the Nike foyer…
We have a Hallowe'en party and the wk office clairvoyant had to check with the ghosts at the venue if it was ok, and they said the spirits said theywere looking forward to it! (Obviously they've not seen W+K party-goers in action).