Author: Jake Archer
With an extensive array of colour ways under the Jordan brand’s belt, there are a few that have stood the test of time. The ‘Concord’ and ‘Bred’ are two of these colour ways that are instantly recognisable as two of the most iconic.
And it’s these two iconic colour ways that have been brought to the forefront in this most recent AJ11. The AJ11 ‘Concord’ that was worn during the ’96 season can be seen dressed across the upper whilst the ‘Bred’ has been reimagined on the outsole.
Although a mash up of two colour ways, the AJ11 stays true to its original form with signature details like the translucent outsole, the carbon-fibre plate and even the moulded sockliner, they all stay true to that worn by MJ.
To enter the ONLINE raffle (UK applicants only), CLICK HERE!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above form, this WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
Online raffle winners will receive a special code in which they’ll have a limited time to purchase their raffle win via a unique link. The raffle is limited to one entry per household! Multiple entries will be cancelled!
Ever since its founding, New Balance’s Tokyo Design Studio have been busy working their magic on collaborations such as AURALEE and even the outdoor supremos, Snow Peak. Now, they turn their attention back to the RC 1300. After a much more vibrant edition of the RC 1300 came to light, New Balance’s Tokyo Design Studio are back with another iteration of the much sought after silhouette.
This latest RC 1300 is dressed in a range of blue and grey hues that seems to take inspiration from the original New Balance 1300 which we saw revisited earlier in 2020.
The aggressive ENCAP and ABZORB cushioning is matched with a rugged Vibrant outsole whilst brand is kept to a minimum, letting the silhouette do all the talking.
To enter the ONLINE raffle (UK applicants only), CLICK HERE!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above form, this WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
Online raffle winners will receive a special code in which they’ll have a limited time to purchase their raffle win via a unique link. The raffle is limited to one entry per household! Multiple entries will be cancelled!
In early 2018, we started to tease the opening of our first store outside of the streets of Soho, London. Fast forward to 2020 and we’re now excited to be celebrating our 2 years of Footpatrol Paris. Opening its doors in May 2018, within the heart and soul of the historic district of Le Marais at 45 rue du temple. For this special occasion, in these unordinary circumstances, we have chosen to retrace these 2 years of fond memories and bring you a special event.
To begin, we look towards one of the biggest dates within the sneaker calendar, Air Max Day 2019. We welcomed in store the new model of Nike which also featured the latest in Air technology, the Air Max 720. This was a great opportunity to look at this latest, and most futuristic model to date alongside the past with each member of the team paying homage to Air by sharing their favourite of Air Max.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the Nike Tailwind, Nike set out on re-releasing the shoe in OG colour-ways. This launch also coincided with our first year anniversary. To celebrate, we teamed up with Nike for a joint celebration of our one year and the history between Air Max and Paris (let’s not forget that Tinker Hatfield was originally inspired by the iconic Centre Pompidou when envisioning the first visible Air Unit). To celebrate this coming together and with the help of Parisian creative agency Yard, we looked at those creatives, community figures and consumers that are around us everyday since opening our doors.
This all came together for the first year party which featured the portraits of those certain individuals around a loft space that brought a house party atmosphere to the heart of the capital.
In 2019 we brought you Footpatrol Paris’ first collaboration with the cafe Paper Boy Paris. This consisted of a selection of t-shirts and hoodies that saw the coming together of our Gasmask logo with their Running Boy logo. A party followed at Footpatrol at 45 rue du temple in Paris which turned more into a street party by the end of the night. Paperboy delivered on food and ‘Instagrammable’ drinks throughout the evening before making their way to our London store, bringing the Parisian style to the streets of London.
Fashion week in is part of the capitals history, hosting some of the biggest names within fashion for a week long celebration. With sneakers becoming more and more prominent within fashion week with numerous collaborations on show. To celebrate in Footpatrol style, we teamed up with Jason Markk by placing the JM throne in the window of the shop for free express cleans, making sure everyone had sneakers that were street style ready!
Looking back to that first anniversary, one of the DJ’s that hosted the evening, Kirou Kirou has joined us once again for to deliver us this exclusive mix in celebration of our two year anniversary. Composed of ingenious mixtures of Hip Hop and electronic music, find the mix below!
On the occasion of our two years anniversary, we’d like you to join us over on the @footpatrol_paris Instagram! We’ll have a talk with the store staff, surprise guests and one exceptional competition for one lucky winner!
Au début de l’année 2018, nous avons ouvert notre premier magasin en dehors des rues de Soho, à Londres. Nous sommes maintenant en 2020 et nous somme ravis de célébrer les 2 ans de Footpatrol Paris. Le magasin à ouvert ses portes en mai 2018, au cœur du quartier historique du Marais au 45 rue du Temple. Pour cette occasion spéciale, dans ces circonstances inhabituelles, nous avons choisi de retracer ces 2 ans de bons souvenirs et de vous préparer un événement spécial.
Pour commencer, nous nous tournons vers l’une des plus grandes dates du calendrier des sneakers, L’Air Max Day. Nous avons accueilli en magasin en 2019, le nouveau modèle de Nike composé de la dernière technologie Air, l’Air Max 720. C’était une excellente occasion de se pencher sur ce modèle, qui était à l’époque le plus récent et le plus futuriste de la marque. Chaque membre de l’équipe était invité a partager sa paire favorite d’Air Max pour l’occasion !
Pour marquer le 20e anniversaire de la Nike Tailwind, Nike a décidé de relancer la paire dans ces coloris OG. Ce lancement a également coïncidé avec notre premier anniversaire. Pour fêter cet anniversaire, nous avons fait équipe avec Nike pour une célébration commune de notre première année d’existence et de l’histoire entre l’Air Max et Paris (n’oublions pas que Tinker Hatfield a été à l’origine inspiré par l’emblématique Centre Pompidou pour créer la première unité d’air visible). Pour célébrer ce rassemblement et avec l’aide de l’agence créative parisienne Yard, nous avons invité les créatifs, personnalités fortes du quartier du Marais et les clients qui nous entourent tous les jours depuis l’ouverture de nos portes, pour créer une campagne inédite autour de la Tailwind IV.
Nous nous sommes alors tous réuni pour fêter notre premier anniversaire dans un loft caché au sein de la capitale. C’était aussi l’occasion de présenter de grand kakémono à l’effigie des figures emblématiques du Marais dont nous parlions plus haut.
En 2019, nous vous avions proposé la première collaboration de Footpatrol Paris avec le café Paper Boy Paris. La collaboration était composée de t-shirts et sweats à l’effigie de nos 2 logos, le Gazmask et le Running Boy. S’en suivait une soirée chez Footpatrol au 45 rue du temple à Paris ! Paperboy s’est occupé toute la soirée de la nourriture et des boissons avant de se rendre dans notre magasin de Londres, apportant le style parisien à SoHo.
La Fashion Week fait partie intégrante de l’histoire des capitales, accueillant certains des plus grands noms de la mode pour une semaine de célébrations. Au fur et a mesure des années, les sneakers ont pris de plus en plus de place pendant cette semaine dédiée à la mode. Pour célébrer cette semaine, Footpatrol à fait équipe avec Jason Markk en plaçant le trône JM au sein du magasin pendant toute une soirée pour des nettoyages express gratuits !
Rappelez-vous de notre premier anniversaire ! L’un des DJ qui a animé la soirée, Kirou Kirou, nous a de nouveau rejoints pour nous livrer ce mix exclusif à l’occasion de nos deux ans. Composé de mélanges ingénieux de Hip Hop et de musique électronique, retrouvez le mix ci-dessous.
A l’occasion de nos deux ans, nos vous proposons un événement inédit ! Retrouvez nous en live, sur le compte Instagram d’@footpatrol_paris ! Au programme, takl avec le staff du magasin, invités surprises et concours exceptionnel !
Nike Air Max 720
Footpatrol Paris 1st Anniversary x Nike Tailwind
Footpatrol x Paperboy
Footpatrol x Jason Markk, Paris Fashion Week 2019
When you think of sneakers, and sneaker collectors, you always think about other subjects that go hand in hand… Music and art are two that jump out straight away.
For this latest Footpatrol discussions, we reached out to a good friend of Footpatrol, Steph Morris. A Manchester based artist, Steph uses a traditional method of putting pencil to paper creating insanely detailed pieces of the things that bring us all together, sneakers.
Footpatrol: Hey Steph, thank you for taking the time out to talk to us today! For our readers please can you introduce yourself and what you do?
Steph: I’m an artist from the UK and I draw mainly fashion related subject. I use the traditional method of pencil on paper and I’ve been a full-time artist now for the past 4 years.
FP: And for how long have you been drawing sneakers? And why was it sneakers over portraits or landscapes for example?
S: For about 5 years. I’ve always had a love for sneakers so it was a natural subject for me. When I started drawing, I had no idea it would lead me to where I am now so there was never any pressure to be anything other than what I am. It was a very organic way to start.
FP: Looking back through your Instagram page, it’s amazing to see how your work has developed over the years. In the beginning a lot of your work was produced black and white without the introduction of colour. Could you explain a little about the transition into including colour in your work?
S: I didn’t want to limit myself. I wanted to improve technically and colour was something I hadn’t explored before. To me, black and white drawings can sometimes pass off as photographs so I wanted to move away from that. I’m also a big believer in continuing to develop yourself as an artist so with each piece I do I try to improve on the last, in whatever small way possible. I found using colour really difficult at first because you have to learn to mix (sometimes 5 or 6 shades) so it was daunting. As they say practice makes perfect though and after a handful of colour pieces I felt way more comfortable.
FP: What is it that makes you pick a specific shoe to draw? With so many launches these days and the hours that going into your work it must be a hard decision to make?
S: It is hard! If it’s not a commissioned piece then it is a sneaker that I love. It’s impossible to keep up with everything so as a theme I like to choose more iconic pairs that will stand the test of time. At the moment I’m working on an original worn 85’ Chicago. A lot of the time I look back to the past for inspiration. Nostalgia is something I like to explore through my work.
FP: Do you always work from the physical product in hand or image reference? For example, the Lego series did you have to physically make those first?
S: Most of the time yes, it’s much easier to work with the product in front of me so I can study the texture and true colours up close. For the Lego series, I built each logo, photographed them and then drew them so it was quite a long process. But I had so much fun with it. With sneakers, if I don’t have access to the actual shoe then I work from a high-res image.
FP: On footwear there’s so many materials that can be included from the corduroy on the Sean Wotherspoon to the translucent upper of the React 87. How do you find it moving between materials on a drawing? And is there one you particularly enjoy more than others?
S: For me, texture is what I love to draw so the more texture the better. I’ve pretty much covered every material used on sneakers so I’m confident in that sense. It can sometimes be tricky jumping from ultra smooth leather to something more textured like suede or nylon so I tend to get the piece done in sections of texture, working on one at a time. This helps to maintain consistency.
FP: Speaking of Sean Wotherspoon I see you got to meet him and deliver him a print. How does it feel when the moment arises where you get to share your artwork with the original designer?
S: Incredible! He is such a nice guy. I ran into a few people at ComplexCon last year and he was definitely a highlight. To know the designer of the very thing you’re drawing loves what you do is the ultimate approval I guess.
FP: One thing I would like to ask about is the Jeff Staple Pigeon Dunk print, how did that come about and what’s it like to see your work printed on apparel?
S: Jeff reached out last year and said he wanted to commission a piece. Once the piece was finished he said he wanted to produce limited prints and t-shirts off the back of the artwork. Everything sold out within a few hours and the response was unbelievable. That’s been one of my favourite projects to date. It felt amazing to see my work on apparel, as it isn’t something I’ve done before but would definitely like to explore more.
FP: As a piece can take you a lot of time, what are your tips for getting in the zone? I know you are going to put together a little playlist for us of your favourite songs to work to!
S: I love what I do so I find it quite easy to dive in and be fully absorbed. I do a few things before I get locked in for the long haul though, and my number one is cleaning the studio before I start the day. I’m a little obsessive with having a tidy and organised space so for me cleaning is like pressing the re-set button in my mind.. I always listen to music or have a documentary going on in the background whilst I draw, and before I know it 5 hours has passed.
Playlist:
8 (circle) – Bon Iver
Apocolypse – Cigarettes After Sex
Hollywood – The Black Skirts
I Like America And America Likes Me – 1975
Notion – Tash Sultana
when they party’s over – Billie Eilish
Streets of Philadelphia – Bruce Spingsteen
FP: For the next generation or the artists that may not have the confidence to show off their work, what advice would you pass on to them?
S: If you don’t feel confident, then fake it until you are. We’re living in an age where art is limitless and accessible to everyone. You don’t need to have a fine art degree or work with galleries to make money, so don’t feel you need to fit a certain mould if being an artist is what you want to be. There are no right or wrong answers, believe me. There is however a certain level of self-belief and tenacity that you need to have within you. At the beginning you will hear ‘no’ a hell of a lot, just as I did. With every setback I became more determined, so I think without that mindset it can be very hard to deal with the disappointment. Take risks, work more and keep growing.
FP: How you are coping with the current lockdown. Is there anything particular that’s keeping you going?
S: I’m in Spain currently so luckily for me I have the sunshine which makes all the difference! I’ve been working so much over the lockdown, but aside from that I’ve been watching lots of Netflix and reading books.
FP: And as it was trainers that brought all us together originally – what would you say is your staple go to for the following:
Working out – Yeezy 350 Cinder
Casual every day – Sacai triple white
Impressing someone – Cactus Jack J1’s
Staying at home – Yeezy Slides
FP: And last but not least you have kindly offered up an A1 print of your latest drawing for one of our readers to win! Can you quickly let us know a little more about this piece and how they can win?
S: Sure. This latest piece was completed over lockdown so it’s nice to see it out in the world finally. It took a little over 350 hours to complete and Thibo (DIOR Mens Head Footwear Designer) actually has the original piece on his wall which still blows my mind. It was a joy to work on and I hope whoever wins the print loves it as much as I do.
For details on how to win, head over to @Footpatrol_LDN on Instagram for more details!
Thank you,
Stay safe,
#TEAMFP
The timeless Nike Dunk began its reign back in 1985 in recognizable team colors. Still holding a sense of dominance, the Dunk now extends its legacy in to 2020. Kicking off 2020 with a number of colour ways referencing the past, we now see the return of the Dunk once again.
This brings our attention to this latest release, the Brazil-inspired Dunk Low that’s been outfitted in a familiar green and yellow combination that’s been seen for the first time in nearly two decades.
To enter the ONLINE raffle (UK applicants only), CLICK HERE!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above form, this WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
Online raffle winners will receive a special code in which they’ll have a limited time to purchase their raffle win via a unique link. The raffle is limited to one entry per household! Multiple entries will be cancelled!
Continuing to keep discussions alive during lockdown, we reached out to Nike Gel team to hear how they’re keeping focussed during these times. Coming courtesy of Clara Bonaccorsi, Clara works as part of product creation within Nike’s Gel Team focusing on the sneaker community of Europe.
Speaking digitally, we discuss Clara’s current inspiration, what footwear she’s currently wearing and what it’s like to be part of the team that create some of the most recognisable sneakers.
Footpatrol : Hey Clara, hope you are keeping well! For our readers please can you introduce yourself?
Clara: HI everyone, my name is Clara Bonaccorsi, born out of the west coast of Scotland, with Italian roots I have lived most of my adult life in the Netherlands. I work at Nike in the team of Geo Express Lane essentially product creation for Footwear, focused on the sneaker community of Europe.
FP: How did you get into the role of PLM?
Clara: I followed my passion and love for sneakers all the way from the Isle of Bute to the Netherlands at the age of 18. I started working at Footlocker HQ as a BA. I spent many years there learning the world of buying and merchandising, & the European market. I made a huge network at footlocker including account executives from all the major Brands but Nike was top of mind for me. I got the opportunity to apply for a buying role in Nike in 2007 and have spent the last 13 years at the swoosh. The last 6 of them in product creation. A dream come true. Hard work and passion has landed me here.
FP: As a part of the Nike GEL Team you have been involved in some great projects, yet the team remains relatively unknown to the public. Are you able to shed some light on who the GEL team are?
Clara: The GEL team is an extremely talented mix of individuals from all corners of the world. We have Designers working across all aspects of Color, Materials and Graphics. Developers who work with our production factories to bring all of these ideas to a physical sample, and then there’s the product marketing team (PLM) who essentially lead every project from brief to shop floor. (a lot goes into that process)
FP: How is it to work collectively on projects within the team rather than individually working on a shoe?
Clara: ITS QUITE SIMPLE… You can’t work on a project individually. Every single shoe, every lace, every material overlay is carefully curated by experts so unless you have a degree in design, marketing and possibly engineering it’s impossible. Team work is at the heart of Nike culture
FP: We recently saw the launch of the Air Max 1 LDN & AMS which were instant hits within the sneaker community. Did you work on those projects and can you shed a bit more light into how and why it was those cities chosen?
Clara: I didn’t work on those projects however individuals in my team lead that one. This project is close to my heart as AM1 has always been my shoe of choice. When curating the story, it was no doubt that Amsterdam and London are the Air Max 1 capitals of Europe/The World.
FP: How does being a PLM for the European Market differ from say a PLM in Portland?
Clara: The fundamentals of the role are the same, our biggest difference in EMEA is that we only focus on the consumers in this geography. Where my counterparts in Portland take on the greater task of servicing the globe through their creations. My job is to be as connected and on the pulse as possible with our European consumers.
FP: One example of a product which appeals to a direct market place is the Air Max 95 ‘110’ which we recently launched as exclusive to Footpatrol and the SNKRS app. For me the storytelling within the product itself was great – how does it feel when you get to tell a story through a product?
Clara: The ‘110’ story was a work of art and luckily we have people in our team who actually called max 95’s that very name and grew up with it. So being able to tell a story so genuinely and being able to bring that to life through the products we love is very rewarding.
FP: Within the GEL team do you work closely with the wider marketing departments within Nike to help bring your products and stories to life?
Clara: As a PLM we are responsible for everything that a product needs to land at retail/.com. We work with every function in the business to ensure the narrative of our products is brought to life to our consumers after all its with their insight that these products make it so it’s like giving back to them what they give to us.
FP: Do you have a favourite project that you have worked on as part of Nike?
Clara: TOUGHEST QUESTION EVER – I work a lot with women’s products which has been a passion of mine, being such a fan of sneakers and watching the women evolve in this space has been amazing too see. Without naming specific projects (as most of them will land in June/July) I would say being able to really bring the sneaker culture that women have created through Nike Sneakers has been an amazing experience and continues to be.
If I had to single one out I would say the Berlin 180 that launched in 2018. I have a deep rooted passion for that City and the techno scene so it was really a dream come true for me..
FP: Is there a silhouette in the Nike archive that you haven’t been able to work on but would love to if the chance arises?
Clara: 20 years is a looong time to be working with Nike products, I am an AIR MAX fan to the core… I have had the opportunity to work on all of my favorites and continue to do so and I tell you it never gets old..
FP: Clara thank you for your time and to end the interview off could you let us know what your Top 3 Nike sneakers of all time would be?
Air Max 1 OG (Both colours)
Air Max 180
Air Force 1 (I was born in 82 so always felt connected 😉
Thank you,
#TEAMFP
Clara: Lifestyle
Clara: Inspiration
Clara: Projects
Clara: What I’m currently wearing
Honouring the Air Max 90’s 30th Anniversary, for the second time this year Nike have introduced a Camo inspired Colourway to the ever expanding line up.
Dressed in camo, this AM90 receives a burst of vibrant ‘Green Camo’ across the toe, heel, outsole and Air Bubble which sits similar to the recent Reversed Duck Camo AM90 from this years Air Max Day celebrations.
To enter the ONLINE raffle (UK applicants only), CLICK HERE!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above form, this WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
Online raffle winners will receive a special code in which they’ll have a limited time to purchase their raffle win via a unique link. The raffle is limited to one entry per household! Multiple entries will be cancelled!
Bringing back the idea of ‘T-Shirt for your feet’ dubbed for the original Presto, Nike revives this story once more with the introduction of the Nike Air Presto ‘South Korea’. Playing on that t-shirt theme, this iteration pays homage to the country’s football kits that were due to be worn at the now delayed Olympic Games.
Dressed in a stripped back colour of black and white, this Air Presto is brought to life with a zebra print Camo that is drapped across the entire silhouette. A colour gradient also features across the Presto’s cage which blends from Red on each shoes medial side with a subtle blue on the lateral.
To enter the ONLINE raffle (UK applicants only), CLICK HERE!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above form, this WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
Online raffle winners will receive a special code in which they’ll have a limited time to purchase their raffle win via a unique link. The raffle is limited to one entry per household! Multiple entries will be cancelled!
The YEEZY 500, since its its introduction has managed to cement itself as one of the most go to models when it comes to releases due to its unique appearance and unbeatable comfort.
So after the introduction of the 500 High back in late ’19, adidas and YEEZY have once again reimagined the silhouette with a new Colourway of the 500 High. Keeping its unique multilayered upper constructed from a mixture of cow suede and premium leather, it’s now been extended up to the ankle.
With the 500 already being known for its comfort, the 500 High keeps hold of its adiPRENE+ cushioning which with the updated materials, means you’re suited all year round.
To enter the ONLINE raffle (UK applicants only), CLICK HERE!
To enter, you’re required to sign up via the above form, this WON’T be available in-store to sign up on.
Online raffle winners will receive a special code in which they’ll have a limited time to purchase their raffle win via a unique link. The raffle is limited to one entry per household! Multiple entries will be cancelled!
Next up in our Concept to Reality series is none other than London based creative agency, Generation Works. Set up by Ben and Will, Generation Works specialise in bringing brands to life with their unique approach to branding, design and their content creation.
Having worked closely with them in the past on our Converse collaboration, we sit down with founders Ben and Will to discuss their paths and the ways they bring their unique ideas to life.
Footpatrol: Hey guys, how are you? Thank you for taking the time to talk to us today! We have worked together in the past and know all about you but for our audience can you give them a little insight into yourself and what it is you do?
GW: We are Ben Ari and Will Kemp, co-founders and co-directors of GENERATION.works, a creative studio based in London. We specialise in branding, design and content creation, but also do things like exhibitions and events, research and consultancy.
FP: How did you go about starting the agency? And what difficulties did you have at the beginning?
WK: Ben and I have been friends for years ever since we first met back in 2007-ish when I was doing my streetwear brand Second Son, and we started working together on that. We stopped Second Son in around 2010, but we’d always said we wanted to work together again in the future doing something that brought the best of our mates’ talents together.
BA: When we both left our jobs and went freelance back in 2017, we joined up with another old friend of ours, Ry Barr from The Drop Date. Initially we worked on helping set up the clothing side of the business, and later this evolved into establishing a creative function to support The Drop Date through things like media partnerships and events. Fairly quickly we realised we all really enjoyed working together and wanted to push things forward even more, so we set up GENERATION.works in 2018 as a fully-fledged creative studio. We were incredibly lucky to have a platform like The Drop Date help support us in those early days and we still work really closely – it allowed us to grow things pretty naturally, and it’s been non-stop from project to project ever since.
WK: From there, one of the key things for us was the network of creative talent we already had around us, and our existing brand connections meant we were able to hit the ground running in terms of projects. We’re both much more comfortable being behind the scenes so self-promotion isn’t something we really focus on. I mean, our website has just been a holding page for two years…
BA: Proper site coming soon, we promise!
FP: What were you doing prior? Was it a creative job? Freelance? Or something completely different?
BA: In my late teens I was mainly roaming around East London doing things I probably shouldn’t. I discovered places like Kazmatazz and Gloria’s (a couple blasts from the past for the older heads) and would spend most of the cash I made there, it was a real introduction to stuff for me which was a world beyond what I knew. Eventually Pete Yak introduced me to Will who was running Second Son at the time as it was stocked at Gloria’s, and that’s how we first connected and I started working on marketing and events for the brand. From there I was lucky to have a couple of great people take me under their wing, first by Steve Monaghan in the really embryonic days of his communications agency, SANE and later by my friend Marc Chamberlain who was re-booting French sportswear brand le coq sportif. Initially I handled Brand Communications, and then moved on to developing their Made in France Apparel range and some of the footwear collaborations, splitting my time between London and Paris. It was hugely challenging working with a small brand with limited budgets and a big history, but the learning curve that came with it was invaluable. I’ve sort of done a bit of everything over the years, and I think it’s the same for Will.
WK: Very much so, I think we’ve got a broad range of experience in various aspects of this industry – we’ve all swept the shop floor, and I think that ground-up knowledge is instrumental to our creative approach.
I started out studying graphic design and working in illustration. I was working part-time at Bond International off Carnaby Street, which was the UK’s first streetwear store and acted as a social club for a huge amount of people in the local and global industry today, (including the OG Footpatrol team). I was a skater who was far more into design than fashion – still the case in many ways – but I consider my time at Bond as a kind of apprenticeship that introduced me to a wider range of subculture beyond the ones I already knew, plus a lot of good friends and future clients. I did graphic work for brands like Carhartt WIP while doing design and creative direction for my own clothing label, dabbled in some fashion journalism, and worked on other design and branding jobs both in and out of the fashion industry. Then when I had a baby I moved to a full-time job doing graphic and apparel design for a clothing brand. It put food on the table and gave me a lot of useful experience at a bigger brand level, but it sapped my soul so I left to go freelance again after a few years and that’s when the stars aligned and allowed us to begin what we’re doing now.
FP: What we would like to know is how you get from concept to reality. Would you be able to choose ONE project that you have worked on and summarise into 5 steps the process from the client’s initial email to what the consumer sees?
STEP 1
Once we receive the brief from the client, we take some time together to work through our initial ideas. This process is generally about us trying to find a middle ground between what the client thinks they need, and sometimes what we really think they need. I’m sure that’s lost us some work over the years but we sleep slightly better at night knowing that we generally get to do things the right way.
Being mates helps loads with this process because we are naturally on the same wavelength a lot of the time and approach things the same way. We’re really collaborative in our process, from client conversations right through to the final product.
STEP 2
When we’ve decided the direction we want to go in, we bring relevant members of the team into the conversation to start pulling things together. We’ve got a combination of industry veterans and new blood, all rooted in a passion for product and knowledge.
The deck that we send back to clients is usually pretty exhaustive; we try and be as thorough as possible in working through our concepts and providing options. Our detailed approach goes back to our roots in product and really being obsessed with aspects of things most people don’t notice but that for us, make all the difference.
STEP 3
Once the approach and timeline have been agreed with the client, we move on to executing it using members of our own core creative team and bringing in external collaborators where we think it’ll add something unique to the project. The first Converse x Footpatrol project we worked on was a good example of the way we combine research, campaign creation and community seeding. Footpatrol had designed the shoe with a wealth of references from classic collegiate sportswear and Converse history, and we wanted to reflect that. We drew on our apparel side project SOUVENIR.works to create a huge patchwork quilt made from vintage sportswear in the same colours and materials as the shoes, stitching it all together around the star emblem that appears in both the Converse and Footpatrol branding. This patchwork became the basis of the whole project, from campaign shoot to in-store display.
STEP 4
Once the shoot was wrapped, we moved to the in-store displays. The patchwork was a way of literally stitching together the influences behind the shoes, and we continued this collage approach for the window display. We worked with sculptor Joseph Bond to create an assemblage of sports trophies and relevant items like Badminton racquets and basketball hoops, all built on a podium-shaped base and coated with layers of orange spray paint to reflect the pop colour of the shoes which it displayed. The hoodies were hung on a vintage sports hall bench we had taken apart and recoloured to match the rest of the build, and the vintage sportswear patchwork was hung from one wall.
STEP 5
With the campaign imagery going out on Footpatrol channels and in the wider fashion press to tease the release, we organised a small, intimate in-store seeding event to involve relevant members of the Footpatrol community and reflect the team ethos behind the shoes. When it comes to seeding, we’re rooted in a wide and varied community of footwear enthusiasts and we always aim to tailor things so we’re only approaching people who will really be into the products. We value real resonance with the products over Instagram likes; it’s more meaningful for the people receiving the products and invitations, it leads to a real sense of community and conversation at events, and it works better for the client too.
FP: Would you have any advice that you could share with our readers?
WK: I think it’s important to look beyond your own immediate industry for inspiration. And to ensure you’ve got a good base of knowledge – or that you work with people who have. The internet means anyone can get surface knowledge of even the most niche subject, but if you aren’t able to see where things evolved from, you won’t be able to anticipate where they’re going.
BA: Absolutely, don’t try and be an expert in everything all on your own; keep a thirst for learning and improving, it’s much more important to surround yourself with knowledge and good people and work collaboratively at every opportunity. The strength of the work we do is as much about the team as it is about us as individuals and that’s probably what we’re most proud of.
FP: How you are coping with the current lockdown. Is there anything particular that’s keeping you going?
BA : I have a 3-year-old daughter, which is a real blessing in terms of keeping me busy and sane, but not so good for getting work done. I’m slowly making my way through a pile of books I’ve been trying to read for about 5 years. We’re also getting to focus back on our SOUVENIR.works side project, which focuses on exploring references from the past and re-imagining them through products. We might even finally drop some new bits, maybe.
WK: My kids are keeping me going for sure, and they’re an endless source of creativity. I’m enjoying reading more, listening to a lot of music that’s new to me, and taking the opportunity to step away from the laptop and get back into research and hands-on, messy experimentation, both of which I think are hugely important but can easily be sacrificed amongst all the day-to-day demands of office life. Creatively, I like working within constraints as it pushes me to be more resourceful and imaginative, and I think that’s true of daily home and family life in the current circumstances too.
FP: And finally as it was trainers that brought all us together originally – what would you say is your staple go to for the following:
Working out
BA: New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v10
WK: New Balance 1080 for running, Chucks for the gym.
Casual every day
BA: Nike Spiridon OG or Reebok Workouts
WK: Chuck ’70, Nike Blazer Mid 77, New Balance 990v4, Reebok Club C
Impressing someone
BA: New Balance x nonnative 997 or Only In Soho’s
WK: I don’t think I have many impressive shoes. Maybe Visvim (old man hype) or New Balance 1300 JP.
Staying at home
BA: Jungle Mocs, Woven Footscapes
WK: Suicoke or Nike Air Moc. I’m a slipper nerd.
Thank you, stay safe!
#TEAMFP
