A Blank Canvas.
Photos: Matt Price
Q&A: Jon Jenkins
Getting tapped by Saucony to work on our first sneaker release has been an exciting process, albeit an overwhelming one at times. We've talked before about how designing a garment is a series of choices; and while we were not responsible for the backing technology of the Peregrine 15, the choices that were laid at our disposal were vast. We had to think carefully about what we wanted to communicate with this collaboration, and how to translate that intent into something customers could also easily understand. Some of that was accomplished through last week's hand-dyed prerelease, but we also wanted to highlight the versatility of the shoe we designed.
So much of fashion, in our opinion, has to do with context. What makes a military garment that was built for one function wearable in a completely different way? Or what allows a piece of workwear to be paired with a blazer? We had already seen how functional outdoors gear and trail sneakers were being repositioned in a fashion setting over the past few years since the pandemic, and we wanted to continue that conversation with the Peregrine 15. As a brand that’s only recently begun to explore the active space, the opportunity to design a shoe that could handle anything you threw at it was exciting. What if the shoe could be worn casually with your daily fits, but then taken on the trail on the weekends? And what if it would look better the more you used it, just like a pair of our jeans? That's where the idea for the Peregrine 15 "Gesso" was born.
Our campaign for the sneaker was directed by Jon Jenkins and produced by Kevin Wong of Practice Days. Entitled “A Blank Canvas,” our intent was to showcase the Peregrine 15 “Gesso” being worn by three different people for three different, but equally compelling, uses. We filmed all around Los Angeles with friends of the brand and sought to showcase the different ways the shoe fit into their daily lives, from craft to sport and everything in between. Alongside the video, we were honored to have legendary skate photographer Matt Price capture our subjects on film. We chatted with each of them and put their responses into a newsprint that will ship with each sneaker purchase. Some of their responses are shared below.
Hamza Abou Ammo - Barista, Heavy Water Coffee Shop
Is there a morning ritual or routine that helps set the tone for your shift?
I usually prep a cortado, set up the space, dial in the coffee, and put on some great tunes to set me up for the day.
What’s something about working in coffee most people don’t realize?
I feel like this applies to most service work jobs, but a good portion of working in coffee is getting to know your customer (especially your regulars) so that you can best meet their caffeine needs based on their preferences. So many times I get people coming in to the shop for the first time and they’ll ask me what I would recommend. It turns into a game of 21 questions trying to pinpoint what they would like, but it always works and they always end up leaving happy with their choice!
How do your daily interactions with customers guide your perspective on what’s happening in the world at large? How are you able to bring your own perspectives to the people you serve each day?
A big part of my job is talking and socializing with people. That’s what keeps me sane and engaged in my work. I try to build relationships with my customers through engaging in conversations about whatever is happening in their lives. Ultimately, we’re all going through something whether it be personally or collectively, and I try to help people feel a little better stepping out of the shop.
Can you talk a bit about how your personal style has developed and grown over time? What’s changed since your move to LA from the PNW?
I think the one thing that I can say confidently about my personal style is that it’s become super reliant on practicality. I love that every item in my wardrobe can serve a function beyond just looking good. I love to USE my clothes, like actually use them and put wear and mileage on them. Almost all of my clothes are stained, ripped, and faded. I’m a firm believer in your clothes telling your story through the work that you put into them, and I think that’s something that coming down to LA from the PNW has instilled in me.
Kam Casey - Runner, Model, Producer
You move between several roles — do they feed different sides of you, or do they overlap more than people think?
I think running and modeling go hand in hand. I got my start in it because I ran with a producer from Nike in Chicago who put me in a running campaign alongside one of the city's best photographers. From there, it gradually snowballed over the years. When I moved to LA, it all became an amorphous thing. I produce, and the people on my crews I met in the running community. I’m on shoots because people know the level I can run at. Moving to LA has made my work, running, and personal life very synchronous in the best way.
How has your practice as a runner influenced the way you show up in front of the camera?
I think for me, it’s just who I am and try to be every day. I’m someone who tries to have as much fun in life as possible, even when I’m working. I take every job seriously, and if they need me to be the serious runner guy on camera, that’s no problem; I can channel that from my years of high-level competitive running.
What’s your relationship with running right now — is it meditative, competitive, grounding?
Right now, I’m coming off a pretty severe ankle sprain. As of today, I’ve been back running for about three weeks and just trying to ramp up slowly. I missed it because it is very meditative and a way to center myself. Over the past few weeks I have had to focus on other outlets, like spending time with friends or engaging in different kinds of training. As someone who moves through both sport and fashion, how do you think about movement as a visual language? Movement has always been a language; on large photo sets, they have movement directors who help photographers capture the energy that the shoes or clothes are trying to convey. However, I think I’ve always considered running as an inherently intimate and artful thing. The colors, skin, terrain, jerseys, the sky. It's the moving blur of bodies and it’s really beautiful. And then you have the sounds, the sound of feet and breath, and the intimacy of running and listening to the breath of the person next to you.
Danny Dooreck - Ceramicist, Danny D's Mud Shop
Walk us through your creative process — how does an idea become a finished piece (or project)?
I have a few years under my belt now, so from a design perspective I reference a large lexicon of ideas, images, or photos I’ve taken over the years as a reference point to piece together an illustration. Vessel wise, we have a general idea of SKUs: tumbler, cortado, copita, vase, planter. Everything we do is freehand drawn. We don’t use any molds or anything. There’s natural variation between pieces due to the handmade nature of things.
How do you balance precision with imperfection in your work — or do you even try to?
I don’t balance it. I allow inconsistency in my work. I call it a 'perfect inconsistency’ and I’m being more and more open to the idea. If my clients wanted a perfect cup, they can shop at Walmart or Muji. That being said, when I receive larger wholesale orders to clients, I try to keep it relatively similar, but at the end of the day, these companies understand this too. If I sneeze, the cup is a slightly different curvature. I think theres a real beauty in this idea. Wabi sabi is the popular term.
Has your relationship with mud (or your medium) changed over the years? If so, how?
As the business develops and goes through its ups and down, I’ve learned to just relax. Sometimes things aren’t so fun, sometimes it’s the best. It’s finding that middle ground and understanding that nothing matters more than being true to the art form (in this case ceramics). Being fair and generous to the people that support what I do means a lot too. I want to build this small brand Into a lifestyle. The ceramics hold their place, but the overall vibe of the store, the work, merch, and essence of what we do is something I want to translate to people.
Who are the artists, builders, or makers who’ve influenced your style or philosophy?
A lot of tattoo artists, Japanese potters, and thrift stores. Motorcycle builders as well. I don’t ride, but there’s true beauty in those creations. I founded the name Danny D’s Mud Shop from a cool welder called ‘Fourth Floor Chop Shop.” Instagram and Pinterest is an amazing platform where a lot of my friends showcase their work, so I find inspiration through there too. I started this company without any mentors truthfully, so dialing down exact artists is tough. Magdalena Suarez Frimkess is top of the mind, always, however.
How do you balance growth while staying true to the original vision and craft?
This is the most difficult thing - we are still trying to figure it out. Enjoying life is as important as the handwork we put into the store. I’ve had viral moments and periods of slow, word of mouth generated growth. I prefer the latter as I can manage it better. Generating sales is important as we are a business, but nothing means anything if the quantity and attention to details get lost just because I’m scrambling to get orders out. Get back to me on this in a year once I start taking days off.