Author: Bradley Martinez
At Footpatrol we’ve always liked to put the products we sell to the test so when Salomon’s latest collections come around, its a great opportunity to head away from the concrete jungle. The last 18 months or so have brought a really appreciation for whats on our doorstep and the beautiful wilderness thats on offer. With the arrival of Salomon’s latest fall collection hitting the shelves at Footpatrol, some of the team ventured out into the vast openness of the Dartmoor National Park with the French outdoor performance brand on foot!
With a tight offering of Salomon available at Footpatrol, we took our latest range of Salomon FW XT-4, XT-6 and the brand new Raidwind with us to test on the vast, open landscape. This gave us an opportunity to see just how comfortable and adapting they can be to what’s thrown at them. This was very quickly tested from the beginning with a 5km walk across loose gravel to where we planned on pitching up our tent and calling home for the night. All three of the options hugged the ground underneath them with a sense of security whilst their TPU mesh upper offered both breathability and stability.
Situating ourselves next to Foggintor Quarry, the landscape quickly became rocky, challenging and slippery underfoot however, with all of them featuring a rugged outsole there wasn’t any moments of worry… after all, this is what Salomon are known for! After testing the product over the course of a couple of days, we felt we got a real glimpse into the possibilities of what this brand has to offer and their values.
Take a closer look below at TEAMFP’s journey below and make sure to check out our range of Salomon available online!
Shop the latest Salomon collection here!
Behind the scenes we have had the opportunity to work with multiple creatives across a wide variety of disciplines. Styling is one area though that isn’t as widely spoken about… You know about them, but you don’t really hear much.
We wanted to meet up with london based Jack Ray to give a little more insight into what it takes to work within the industry. From music videos to marketing campaigns. Jack has had his little tastes of it all.
For the launch of the Mizuno Wave Rider 10 we wanted to work with Jack to show us a bit of a behind the scene look of what he would normally get up to. We linked up at Jacks Sons of Craft studio to make some magic and give people a little more insight into the world of a stylist.
Click here to shop the Mizuno Wave Rider 10!
Footpatrol: Jack it’s great to sit down and chat to you! How have you been?
I’ve been good thanks mate, how have you been?
FP: Not bad thank you! We have had the pleasure of working with you a fair few times now and have gotten to know you fairly well. For those Footpatrol followers who may not have had the pleasure of being introduced, could you give them a bit of backstory as to who you are and what you do?
So, my name is Jack Ferguson-Ray and I am a stylist, designer and creative consultant and currently based in east London.
FP: Let’s start from the very beginning. Bath born and bred, moved to London and now establishing yourself as a stylist. What was the kick starter into this journey, was this something you have always planned on getting into?
No definitely wasn’t something I planned on getting into. Initially I wanted to work in skiing. I’m not sure what career that would have led to but I just wanted to ski. I did that for a bit whilst in Canada. Then for one reason or another which I won’t get into now, I found myself back in the UK. From there I moved to London not really knowing what to do and soon after found myself working at Harvey Nichols, believe it or not that was my entrance into working within the fashion industry hahaha. I later went to a small boutique store in old street station called Ejder [which unfortunately isn’t around anymore] doing the styling, which was my first real taste of the role. I have done a plethora of other jobs; dabbled in wholesale for A Cold Wall, opened a store for a Japanese company and all sorts of freelance bits really.
At the moment I have been working on a company called Sons of Craft founded by two friends of mine. Sons of Craft is a collective which has outlets within a number of creative mediums like art, fashion, music etc… My role is very much fashion based though. I am also a design intern at Oswald Boateng and I am currently working on a brand with a friend. We are hoping to launch our first capsule in the coming months.
FP: Was there anyone that helped influence you to want to be a stylist?
Jack Ray: To be honest with you, not really. There are obviously people whose style has influenced and inspired me and I’m sure there are stylists behind them. But before getting into fashion I didn’t really know that styling was a job, let alone a viable career path. I probably still wouldn’t even call myself a stylist as this is only the start of my career. I am a long way off from fully establishing myself yet.
FP: How has it been trying to make your mark in what you do? It’s not an easy industry to get into.
JR: To be honest I don’t think I’ve really made all that much of a mark yet to talk about! Check in a couple more years and I will let you know though! From what I have been a part of though, So far, so good. It’s had its moments!
FP: How did you stay on top of what you do?
JR: That is a great question!
FP: Thanks!
JR: Write stuff down and don’t put things off. A lot of the time, it doesn’t feel like I am on top of everything I need to do. It’s just a case of being as proactive as you can as well as being as organised as possible. I feel that’s one thing I didn’t really think about when getting into a creative career. You don’t really think of the oragnisational side of it and how on top of it you need to be. So it’s definitely been a learning curve.
FP: Having worked with brands, retailers, music artists recently styling a few music videos. Is there a specific type outlet that you try to dedicate your focus on or is it something you try to be diverse in?
JR: At the moment, aesthetically I think I am finding my niche. In terms of how I want to apply it I am open to anything, it’s still early doors………………………….. other than e-comm.
FP: And is there a list of dos or don’ts on a shoot?
JR: Depends on who you’re shooting with. Aside from the obvious, don’t cuss anyone out haha! Be proactive and don’t be afraid to try things out and ask questions. Make sure you know your role, there will be times you may only get to steam and pin things. If that’s the case, respect that and make the best of it. There will be other points where you have more creative control and it’s about being able to identify those opportunities and make the most from it.
Be nice to people, it costs nothing and at the end of the day it’s about making organic connections with people. Try to have a nice time…
FP: What about projects you’ve worked on. Any that have stuck with you as the most memorable?
JR: Of course I love working with Footpatrol! Salomon, Kiko Asics to name a few. I am sure there will be many more! Styling Brent Faiyaz was also great. I have been able to also work with some amazing people, particularly photographers; Alma Rosa, Marlon Francis, Tyler Little and of course Tom from Footpatrol. All definitely worth a watch if you’re not already.
FP: Let’s take a little side step now. I wanted to talk to you about Mizuno and the model we brought you in to shoot, the Wave Rider 10 OG. What are your thoughts on the shoe and the moves the brand has been making within the lifestyle market over the last 3 years?
JR: If I am completely honest. 3 years ago I didn’t know Mizuno at all. BUT! Over the last couple of years with some of the silhouettes they have been releasing, they have caught my eye. The Wave Rider 10 being one of them. I love the all grey pair! The Wave Prophecy is my favourite shoe from the brand though, it looks so hard! I think that shoe is mad slept on and I have no idea why. Also the Mizuno Right Here Right Now [RHRN] is one of your favourite shoes from them, I don’t have them yet but I will.
For a performance brand to come into a new market the way they have and be accepted across both footwear and fashion with such intrigue is a nice change from the general hype.
Put it this way. I would pick a pair of Mizunos over a pair of Nikes anyday.
FP: Jack it has been a real pleasure to talk to you. Before we let you go we want to ask if there was any exciting project or anything happening in 2021 that you want to give the FP followers and readers the inside scoop on or just get people excited for?
JR: There’s not a lot I can shed all that much light on at this precise moment, but there’s irons in the fire. We have some really exciting projects coming out with Sons of Craft. Also some music videos as well which should be exciting! As I mentioned earlier, I am working on a brand with a partner and the first collection should hopefully be launching in the not too distant future.
First founded way back in 2002 when physical publications were at their peak and were sought after collectables, Sneaker Freaker has turned itself from a DIY zine style into a global documentation that covers everything footwear related that makes them a go to for any sneaker collector.
For their 15th anniversary, Sneaker Freaker went all out with the creation of their frankly massive ‘The Ultimate Sneaker Book. What served as a massive back catalogue of 15 years of Sneaker Freaker, the book was a 700 page journey down memory lane that covered sneaker history in its most detailed and now, the guys over at Sneaker Freaker have worked their magic once again for their latest book, ‘Soled Out’.
When people say ‘Good things come to those who wait’, that couldn’t be more true than this latest book. 10 years in the making, Sneaker Freaker have curated another 700 page masterpiece that takes all us sneaker fans back in time to look at over 900 vintage advertisements. Covering 13 brands, ‘Soled Out’ looks back at some of the biggest, the best and opens our eyes to campaigns you may never have seen before but you need to see including certain brands going toe to toe within their advertisements but not to spoil anything, we’ll let you spot those!
Take a closer look at the book and some of the ad’s below and if you’re anything like us, this’ll be one that will be added to the coffee table!
Shop the Sneaker Freaker ‘Soled Out’ book here!
Coming into those winter months, it’s quite possibly the best time to shed light on a brand you should consider to have within your winter rotation. Where to begin when it comes to Columbia Sportswear… Based in the Pacific North-West, the brand began life back in the 1930’s and ever since they began, Columbia have continued to be at the forefront when it comes to innovating and exploring the world of the outdoors garments and footwear.
As mentioned, with the brand being based in the Pacific North-West, you can only imagine the amount of rich forests, snow covered mountains and rugged coastline that lays on their doorstep and it’s this terrain that has helped Columbia Sportswear become experts within the world of outdoors for 80 years!
Though Soho doesn’t quite have those luxuries, London does boast some of the most unique patches of scenery based within it. Whether thats Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath or Richmond, there is plenty of places to test Columbias latest offerings. For Fall 2021, we headed out to Richmond Park with the Columbia Flow Asphalt and Flow Borough Low to see how they’d fair up on the wet, muddy terrain.
Both silhouettes utilise a chunky, rugged outsole and both focus their attention on usability and function with the idea of tackling all conditions in mind. The uppers are both constructed from a mixture of mesh suedes that make the most of waterproof protection and non-marking traction rubber.
To shop this latest offering from Columbia, click here!
The YZY FOAM RUNNER VERMILION features injected EVA foam to provide lightweight durability. This model is made using algae harvesting technology that helps to keep lakes clean. The soft top layer in the footbed offers immediate step in comfort. The strategically mapped vents around the foot provide air flow and breathability. Additionally, the YZY FOAM RUNNER will usher in a new box construction that requires less material, which leads to less cardboard material waste.
Take a closer look below and make sure to get your entries in!
Please note, the in-store draw will be available in adult sizing only. A full family raffle will be available to enter over on the Footpatrol Launches App.
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE BELOW!
The in-store draw is now CLOSED!
ONLINE raffles will now be over on the Footpatrol app, CLICK HERE to download!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above forms, these WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
In-store winners will be contacted via email informing them of their win. Within this email, winners will be given a set of dates in which they must collect their win from our London store. To collect, you will need to provide the winning email and a valid photographic government ID matching the winners name. NO ONE can collect on the winners behalf. Failure to provide this, or failure to collect within the given dates will mean failure to purchase your win.
To sign up to the Online raffle, you will need to download the Footpatrol Launches app and complete a pre-authorisation payment of the retail price of the product plus shipping costs. This will be held until raffle completion. Those successful will have their raffle win posted out to the address entered during sign up. Those unsuccessful will see a return of their funds, this can take up to 5 working days from when the winners have been drawn. The raffle is limited to one entry per household! Multiple entries will be cancelled!
Nike and sacai are back once again bringing in another three way collaborator who adds their take to the Nike x sacai Collaboration. After bringing in the likes of Fragment Design and CLOT, Chitose Abe now looks towards another streetwear giant in Jun Takahashi’s UNDERCOVER label. After those previous two collaborations brought in inspirations from their own previous Nike colabs or archival colour ways from within the brands, Jun Takahashi also goes down this route bringing in those instantly recognisable UNDERCOVER colours from past colabs with the Swoosh.
After CLOT making the massive design change when it came to the materials on offer, UNDERCOVER instead go back to what we knew with the LDWaffle and brings a mixture of nylons, suedes and leathers.
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE BELOW!
The in-store draw is now CLOSED!
ONLINE raffles will now be over on the Footpatrol app, CLICK HERE to download! online raffle sign ups close on ?
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above forms, these WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
In-store winners will be contacted via email informing them of their win. Within this email, winners will be given a set of dates in which they must collect their win from our London store. To collect, you will need to provide the winning email and a valid photographic government ID matching the winners name. NO ONE can collect on the winners behalf. Failure to provide this, or failure to collect within the given dates will mean failure to purchase your win.
To sign up to the Online raffle, you will need to download the Footpatrol Launches app and complete a pre-authorisation payment of the retail price of the product plus shipping costs. This will be held until raffle completion. Those successful will have their raffle win posted out to the address entered during sign up. Those unsuccessful will see a return of their funds, this can take up to 5 working days from when the winners have been drawn. The raffle is limited to one entry per household! Multiple entries will be cancelled!
The YEEZY BOOST 350 V2 MX OAT features an upper composed of multi-toned re-engineered Primeknit. The post-dyed monofilament side stripe is woven into the upper. The midsole utilizes adidas ́ innovative BOOSTTM technology.
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE BELOW!
In-Store Raffle now Closed
ONLINE raffles will now be over on the Footpatrol app, CLICK HERE to download!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above forms, these WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
In-store winners will be contacted via email informing them of their win. Within this email, winners will be given a set of dates in which they must collect their win from our London store. To collect, you will need to provide the winning email and a valid photographic government ID matching the winners name. NO ONE can collect on the winners behalf. Failure to provide this, or failure to collect within the given dates will mean failure to purchase your win.
To sign up to the Online raffle, you will need to download the Footpatrol Launches app and complete a pre-authorisation payment of the retail price of the product plus shipping costs. This will be held until raffle completion. Those successful will have their raffle win posted out to the address entered during sign up. Those unsuccessful will see a return of their funds, this can take up to 5 working days from when the winners have been drawn. The raffle is limited to one entry per household! Multiple entries will be cancelled!
For 2021, Reebok have teamed up with a handful of big names within the world of streetwear and fashion from the likes of Patta, to New Yorks Awake to the fashion giants, Maison Margiela, each of them have brought their unique vision to the Reebok archive.
However, for their latest collaboration, we take a step away from the world of streetwear and instead we take a step back in time to one of the biggest names within modern furniture and architecture design, Charles and Ray Eames. Known for their playful, yet purposeful design, the husband and wife team always set out to create everyday objects that looked to enrich our lives with a greater connection to that objects function.
With these design ideas at the heart of this latest collaboration, the Eames and Reebok create a Club C that is made for everyday wear. Recrafting this timeless archival silhouette, the Club C takes the accessible design we’ve come to know and love and is teamed with simplistic branding details making these an easy go to that can be worn perfectly with any wardrobe. With two colour ways on offer, they’ve both been finished in a rich black and white leather whilst the insole adds a burst of colour with a triangle print which pays tribute to Charles and Ray’s gifted eyes and the Eameses’ sublime mastery of detail
with the Club C launching 21.10.21, take a closer look below and keep an eye out for more launch information coming soon!
Mental health is a topic of conversation that we think should be spoken about on a more regular basis. As the time has passed the footwear community has grown at such a huge rate. The level of support we see from some individuals and groups is what makes this community so special to many of us and why we immerse ourselves deeply into it.
For World Mental Health Day we wanted to help push that message forward and met up with one of the founding members of the charity Ifucareshare, Matthew Smith. Ifucareshare are a mental health charity that help those who have experienced a loss through suicide or at risk of suicide. Supplying as much support as they can they even work with local authorities within the northeast to help reach out to those within 48hrs of experiencing a loss.
Our community is important to us. We want to be able to offer the right resources to you in order to help at least 1 person through their time of need. Don’t be afraid to share your stories, the community is here to listen. If you would like to find out more we recommend heading over to the Ifucareshare instagram page or their website. Alternatively if you need someone to talk to please text IUCS to 85258 and somewhere will be there to support you.
Matt, thank you for letting us spend some time with you! Before we get into things we always like to ask people we interview how they are. So, Matt! How are you?
I’m good, yeah! Had a good day, got to enjoy a little bit of sun in the North East which is very rare! Otherwise doing well and looking forward to chatting a bit more.
How are you?!
I’m good thank you! I must admit you don’t get asked that a lot as an interviewer so appreciate you asking.
Could we start off a little bit about yourself and what you do?
I’m Matthew Smith, I am one of the founders of Ifucareshare. Ifucareshare are suicide prevention and bereevement charity based in the North East. Working with many people within the North East but also across the country – young people, businesses working with anybody really. We look to talk about mental health and to talk about sucide in a way that it’s not normally talked about. In a real way, in a personal way. While also supporting those who have lost someone through suicide or who are at risk of suicide themselves within the North East.
How did you start Ifucarehshare?
It comes from a family story, of losing somebody to suicide. I lost my brother in 2005. Dan was 19 when he took his own life, he was just a normal 19 year old lad and we still don’t know why he made that decision. Unfortunately you often find that it’s quite commonly the case, people not wanting to speak out. We decided that we wanted to help stop other people having to go through the pain we went through as a family, but also help people through what Dan was feeling before what happened and we will continue to do that as the years move on.
How did the name come about? It’s super easy to remember.
It’s got quite a personal story in how it came together. It was after Dan died. Dan took his own life in our own house and moved into my aunties house where she put us up for months. I was sat one night with my cousin Sarah who is a year above me and wanted to do something so that we could remember Dan. Wristbands were very in at the time and thought right we want to put Dan’s name on the wrist band and also something else. I wish I could take credit for the name but it was my cousin’s idea. We bounced around ideas like sharetocare, caretoshare and Ifucareshare was something that came up. The idea was that if you care about your friends, family and most importantly yourself then you should share. Sharing is everything we do and want to try to encourage everybody else to do at the same time. We firmly believe that talking will and does save lives.
I think your spot on it really is a life saver. Being a part of such a great cause must be very rewarding when you see people slowly getting back up on their feet.
Yeah 100%. This is a subject that doesn’t discriminate, also something that affects us all and we all have our own different journeys with it. We are fortunately there for those who may be struggling with their journey in those difficult experiences and within those dark times.
It’s a mission for me. Personally from when we first started I remember being 10 years old sat in front of the camera and being asked similar questions like why Ifucareshare and things. I just wanted to prevent 1 brother from having to go through what I went through and help one family member/loved one from feeling that pain I felt. That’s what continues to drive me, continues to drive us as an organisation but also as a family because now we are all one big family here. That’s where the reward comes from. Knowing that I am able to continue to drive this mission and keeping Dan’s legacy alive.
Have you found learning about and helping others with their experiences has helped you with your own?
Biggest thing I have learnt is about myself. In terms of my own grief and managing that grief, it doesn’t go away as much as you try to keep it away. It’s always still there. Understanding that, I will still manage that. I can’t just pretend to just tuck it away. Also the importance of not just giving to others but giving to yourself. We spoke about it just before – in order to be able to help someone else you need to be able to help yourself. That was one thing I learnt quite often. I am always learning though, things that make me tick, things from other people and I think one of things I learnt from the worst situation I have ever found myself in, is that I have had the opportunity to meet some of the most amazing people and organisations creating the opportunity to have conversations like we have today.
Before we started this interview we spoke about your tattoos which to me were almost like a symbolic mantra that you follow. Could you tell us a bit more about those?
I do have different tattoos that are symbolic to what I wanted to carry. It kind of came from the wrist band idea if I’m honest. The wristband idea was that I always wanted Dan with me, so I wanted to do the same thing with my tattoos. I got it on my wrist, his name and also our star signs – Dans, mine and my little brothers. I have also tattooed the semicolon. The semicolon is all around suicide provention and that your story contiues, its not the end of somebodies story. Dan’s death was not the end of my story, I still have a story and will continue it. For many others when they feel the end is there, it’s often the case it’s not. There is a life after suicide. Theres a story after suicide. We just want people to be a part of that story and stay for the story, because life is tough but life is also amazing.
For those who are either struggling at the moment or looking to find support, what would you say to them?
I think whenever anybody gets asked this question of what do you do. Your first response tends to be – talk to somebody. Which is true, talking, sharing that’s why it’s in our name, but it’s hard. What I always say is to try to understand yourself and what works for you, because we can’t all just sit down and pour our feelings out. I also find it hard. Somethings yeah sure I can talk about them but some of those deep down feelings are sometimes too hard to verbalise. So I might text them or write them down. There’s different ways of communicating but as well as all this you need to take into account selfcare. What are you doing for yourself? There are so many things we could be doing from managing our sleep, our diets, exercise, and communicating. There are loads of stuff we could all be doing to better ourselves and look after our own well beings. As a kid you are always taught about having your five a day and how important it is in our lives. There are probably at least 5 things a day we could be doing for our own mental health – we could be talking to people, exercising, helping others, and keeping learning etc…
But for somebody who is in a dark place, it’s tough I can’t lie. There is always hope and there is always something that can be done. Maybe it starts by holding up our hands and saying I need a bit of a helping hand.
What would be the best way for someone to reach out to you guys?
So in terms of communicating with us. We are still a 9-5 service, Monday to Friday. We are always looking for new way to communicate with people and social media has been a big thing for us and the way we engage with so many people and get support from so many people. It brings it back to the family side of this. We are a huge family and we want other to be a part of it. For those who are really struggling, we are fortunate enough to be part of a text service. Where people can text the letters IUCSF to 85258 and receive completely confidential support any time day or night.
One thing I want to ask about is some advice to people who want to support someone close to them or that they know but are not quite sure how to open the conversation up with them. What knowledge could you pass on to those individuals?
I would approach that person and say ‘I noticed that you’re struggling but I don’t really know how to start this conversation’. I think that we often convince ourselves that we need to be an expert in something to be able to help, when actually being there for that person is huge. Sometimes you don’t even have to say anything. Just being there for that person, when potentially no one else is, is massive. I don’t think there is anything wrong with showing vulnerability to a person that already feels vulnerable. With what I do, supporting people I also in my own personal life have had friends who I’ve clearly seen are struggling and I don’t have the answers at that time for that need. But by being there and asking them something as simple as ‘how are you doing today, is there anything I can do?’. That then creates that idea of problem shared, problem halved and where I think we can save more lives. If we can all invest more in conversations with other people I think that we can all save more lives. We’ve spent so long saying that we need to talk, I think we just need to get better at listening as well in the right way for that person.
To join your team do people require to be trained in Mental Health Support and if so how can people get involved who may be interested?
I think it’s about understanding the mission and what you want to achieve. There are so many amazing people up and down the country playing their part for people that are struggling. I naturally diverted into things I was into like Footpatrol and things that Dan was interested in. We wanted to find a way that we felt we could start the conversation. It’s all about what you want to achieve and don’t be afraid to reach out to other organisations. I am more than happy to talk to anyone that wants to take part in this, it brings it all back to the communication side of things. We all want to achieve the same thing and we all want to work together. We worked with some fantastic organisations all over the country all wanting to do the same things. So if you are serious about it. GO FOR IT! If you help one person, it’s worthwhile doing.
Just before we let you go. Could you tell us a bit more about what you do with Football clubs? It’s a tough industry to be a part of mentally for players.
The first association we had with football was that we as a family love football. It was a huge part of mine and Dan’s relationship/friendship, he educated me in football. I used to be at an academy and he would come watch all sorts of things like that. It played a huge part in our lives. When we decided we wanted to work with young people, we contacted a family friend and mentioned that this is what we wanted to do. He worked at a football club. So we went in and the rest is history so to speak. We were very fortunate that we were able to partner up with LFE (League Football Education) which works across the football league, the premier league and also with the WSL now as well. We have been working in partnership with them now for the last 10 seasons talking about mental health and suicide in a normal relatable way.
I feel that we quite often think that in that industry, in that world because they live this amazing dream that they are immune from these issues. There are still people that still have life to deal with, but also it’s a tough industry, it’s a competitive industry by its nature as its all competition. There is always insecurity, uncertainty and not every footballer is living in a huge mansion and driving xyz cars. There are players up and down the country that are fighting for bread for their families because at the end of the day it is their job. It isn’t always the fortunate position where you are consistently getting enough to cover everything. You have a lot of players that are out of work by their mid 30s and if they are lucky 40s/mid 40s. That then can lead to a lot of players losing their identities as that is all they’ve known since they were like 9. So the question around that is how do we replace that.
There is a lot of work being done in football. I always feel passionately that football has a voice to amplify that to so many different types of people and talk to them in so many different types of ways. We spoke earlier about the sneaker community and streetwear community and how there are loads of these different types of places where we can help and amplify that message.
Matt thank you so much for your time today, we really do appreciate and enjoy talking about the wider mental health topic. Before we let you go, is there anything else you would like to share with the Footpatrol community that you think they need to hear?
First and foremost thank you to you guys for letting us do this. For me I just want to spread a little bit of hope. No matter what you’ve gone through, no matter how difficult it may feel; you can get through it. Suicide is a perminate soluation to a temporary problem.
If anybody or any reader in any way can take anything from this. It’s to take that hope and use it to talk, to listen and to support. The only way this issue will go, is that if WE as a community start talking about it and if the people reading this can do that then its job done for me, I would be more than happy.
There are some brands within the world of fashion who when they reach a certain milestone, you have to almost take a step back and appreciate where they’ve come from and their history within streetwear and for 2021, C.P. have entered their 50th anniversary.
As part of these celebrations, last week saw them open up their ‘Cinquanta’ exhibition in Darwen, Lancashire that looks to tell the extensive history of the brand. Having always had its roots deeply planted within the world of Football culture, Darwen made for the perfect setting due to it historically being the original birthplace of professional football. With that and the ties the northwest of England strongly has with the C.P. Company brand through these subcultures and the fashion that has surrounded the sport, it made for a fitting location. It’s these roots the exhibition navigates as it took us on a journey and that this Italian brand has become a mainstay name for British football supporters.
With these strong ties, the ‘Cinquanta’ exhibition is part of the 2021 British Textile Biennial program and acts as a detailed presentation that spans over five decades of Italian sports and casual wear.
Closing on the 10th October and not wanting to miss out on this, we headed up north this week to visit the space and explore so join us by taking a closer look below.
