Getting To Know: Kestin Hare – Kestin
As we are all encouraged to stay working at home during these difficult times, we connected with friends from some of our favourite brands here at Hip to get an insight into their worlds. This week, we caught up with Kestin Hare – Founder and Creative Director of Kestin to check in on his current situation at his home in Edinburgh.
Hi Kestin, please introduce yourself and your role?
Hi, I’m founder and Creative Director of my namesake brand Kestin (formerly Kestin Hare but we have shortened and rebranded). I’m also joint owner of the Welcome Edition, the Paris-based menswear showroom that’s held twice a year during Paris Men’s Fashion Week.
Where are you currently in the world?
At home in Edinburgh, Scotland where I live with my wife and two daughters. We are in an area called Trinity which is next to Leith, 5 minutes walk from the beach and 30 minutes walk into the city centre.
What’s your guilty pleasure working from home song?
I’ve been getting the vinyl out, currently playing a lot of oldies. Massive Attack, Talking Heads and Fleetwood Mac have been on a fair bit recently.
Your go to comfy WFH piece from Kestin?
Our whole collection is perfect for WFH as we focus on comfort and functionality. I’m really into the Appin Pant right now, ideal for wearing round the house and then working well for jumping on the bike for a cycle too. They’re made from breathable water-resistant cotton/nylon with handy zips for keys.
Sofa, desk or garden office?
I’ve just built myself a desk in my shed in the garden, I’m pretty pleased with the set up. It’s really important to have time by myself with no distractions to allow for the creative process.
Current media diet?
I’m trying to limit news consumption to stay positive, so reading scientific/business focused reports once a day. And other than that, exploring loads of new music, listening to Monocle 24 radio and introducing my kids to 70s/80/90s cult movies. My father-in-law dropped off 100s of old National Geographic’s so I’m enjoying going through those too.
Which objects at home are keeping you sane?
I’m really into making stuff with my hands, so I’m constantly working on something. My new project is making a shoe storage system, I’ve designed it and just waiting for the wood to arrive to start the build. My garden has also never looked so good, I find gardening really therapeutic.
What things in life have you come to appreciate more during these times?
My family and having time together, and having privileges I’ve taken for granted such as a house, food etc. Running your own business is full on, so being forced to slow down has taken time to adapt. It’s tricky trying to juggle homeschooling with running a business, but something which we are taking day by day and trying to make the most of by learning new skills and embracing it. The pandemic has also given me a new appreciation for businesses which really matter in my everyday life.
If the world went back to normal tomorrow what is the first thing you’d do?
Going for a pizza at Civerino’s, a pint in Leith and then watch a live football game.
There’s usually a silver lining with all tricky situations, what’s yours?
I’m spending time with my kids that I wouldn’t have had. They’re such great girls and they’re growing up really fast. I’ve been teaching them basic fashion design, how to use adobe draw and sewing which they’ve been getting really into, they’ll be with me in the studio before I know it.
Stay up to to date with Mr Hare here view the latest arrivals from Kestin here and keep an eye out for more in this series over the next few weeks.
Getting To Know: Joe Walsh – New Balance
As we are all encouraged to stay working at home during these difficult times, we connected with friends from some of our favourite brands here at Hip to get an insight into their worlds. This week, we caught up with Joe Walsh – Footwear Designer at New Balance to check in on his current situation at his home in Manchester.
Hi Joe, please introduce yourself and your role at New Balance?
Hi, my name is Joe, and I’m a footwear designer for New Balance. I work on Lifestyle product and have been with the company for just over 7 years.
Where are you currently in the world?
Manchester, UK.
What’s your guilty pleasure working from home song?
During this time at home I’ve dusted off an old laptop and found a lot of music that I’d not listened to for a while.. but I’m mostly listening to the latest album from Tame Impala, ‘The Slow Rush’.
Your go to comfy WFH piece from New Balance?
It has to be this grey logo sweatshirt, I picked it up at an NB outlet for about £10 – perfect for WFH. For footwear, the new NB ProCourt is what I’m wearing, it’s a lot easier to keep white shoes clean when they’re staying indoors!
Sofa, desk or garden office?
My time has been split between the rocking chair and the desk.
Current media diet?
Podcasts: ‘How I Built This’, ‘Business of HYPE’.
Books/Magazines: Lightning ‘Outdoor’, eye_C mag.
Music: Tame Impala, Blossoms, Fuzzy Sun.
TV: Jay Leno’s Garage, The Office (US series) – maybe this is subconsciously making up for being away from our real office..
Which objects at home are keeping you sane?
A mix of the exercise bike and the sewing machines. The bike is ideal for working out indoors, and I find that the sewing machines are great for the mind. I’ve made a few jackets on the sewing machines, and have a healthy supply of fabric here for the weeks ahead.
What things in life have you come to appreciate more during these times?
Time spent with friends and family.
If the world went back to normal tomorrow what is the first thing you’d do?
Visit family and friends, and enjoy being outdoors.
There’s usually a silver lining with all tricky situations, what’s yours?
I’ve quoted a recent piece of writing from my brother here:
‘Though it’s clearly far too early to begin counting the true cost of COVID-19, let alone imagining how a post-pandemic world may look or feel, hindsight teaches us that it’s often when faced with what seem like overwhelming odds that designers and creatives – as indeed humanity itself – are most wont to truly excel.
It’s that thought which can perhaps provide a modicum of comfort in even the darkest of times. For while design may not always be able to cure the sick or rebuild shattered lives, it can, does, and will no-doubt continue to illustrate humanity’s astounding ability to overcome adversity, shape our surroundings and work towards a better world in the long term – and that’s something we should all aspire to, now more than ever.’
Stay up to to date with Joe here view our latest arrivals from New Balance here and keep an eye out for more in this series over the next few weeks. Photos by Eilis Columb.
Getting To Know: David Keyte – Universal Works
As we are all encouraged to stay working at home during these difficult times, we connected with friends from some of our favourite brands here at Hip to get an insight into their worlds. This week, we caught up with David Keyte – Founder and Designer at Universal Works to check in on his current situation at his home in Nottingham.
Hi David, please introduce yourself and your role at Universal Works?
I’m the co-founder with my partner Stephanie and I’m the designer of UW, I do some other useful stuff sometimes, at least I tell myself I do anyway.
Where are you currently in the world?
In my office at home. I am lucky enough to have a spare bedroom that we made into an office 10 years ago when we went from two people working on Universal Works to three, and the kitchen table became a little too small to work on. It is not really been used for several years but now I am back in it full time!
What’s your guilty pleasure working from home song?
Eagles Hotel California, as right now it feels like I can check out but never leave!
Your go to comfy WFH piece from Universal Works?
Canvas Track Trousers every time.
Sofa, desk or garden office?
Well home office , so I guess desk
Current media diet?
I am still working 8/10 hours a day to be honest, I have more to do in this time than ever. I still check all the normal stuff online: my news come from the BBC world service, The Guardian website or the New York Times website. Im reading a book a friend gave me called “The View From Flyover Country” about the forgotten America and like most people when I have some time at the weekend I catch up on Netflix box sets, like Ozark and Schitts Creek.
Which objects at home are keeping you sane?
Workout classes on line, Spotify play-ists and alcohol (or is that doing the opposite?!?)
What things in life have you come to appreciate more during these times?
The biggest things is friends, I miss them lots so I appreciate them more. I am connecting online a lot, in the UK on the next street and across the globe. But I miss hugely hanging out with them.
If the world went back to normal tomorrow what is the first thing you’d do?
Well most likely I’d go to visit one of our makers as I like to be around the garments we make, but maybe first I would slip in a visit to the park, kick a ball around with some friends or go to the pub with a couple of mates and talk for hours about nothing, enjoying every moment.
There’s usually a silver lining with all tricky situations, what’s yours?
Spending more time in house, weird but I travel a lot in my job and its great to spend some time here, even if its forced.
Stay up to to date with David here view our latest arrivals from Universal Works here and keep an eye out for more in this series over the next few weeks.
Behind The Design: Daiki Suzuki Of Engineered Garments
During our visit to New York earlier this year at the Engineered Garments show room, we caught up with founder and designer Daiki Suzuki to talk surfing, opening Nepenthes London and his latest SS20 collection.
Thanks for your time Daiki – Firstly, what does your usual day look like?
My usual day starts early in the morning at 5:30am. I come in to the office around 7:00am. Checking emails first and then start working on things I have to do for the day. I finish work roughly around 7 and go home for the day. Nothing fancy.
How do you manage working within within the fashion calendar?
I don’t really manage much. I just do my part of the job, which are the designs and my sales team and development team take it from there. They are really good at what they do.
We’ve heard you enjoy going surfing in and around Long Island New York when possible, how is it going?
I used to go a lot more often but as I get older, I can’t go in the Winter anymore. My surfing season starts from May and ends in November. My board is getting longer and my favourite waves are beach breaks that range from small to mild. I just feel great in nature floating on the water.
Congratulations on the opening of the London Nepenthes location earlier in 2019, the store follows a similar unconventional approach geographically as the New York store. Please can you elaborate on how you found the location in Woburn walk and the thought process behind deciding to open up in Europe?
It was a project led by our Tokyo head office and the decision was made by my boss Keizo Shimizu. In the past 30 years, whenever we visit London we would stay at the same hotel in the Euston area, which is very near the location of our London store now. We knew the neighborhood very well and the old shopping alley was always something that caught our eye. Since we opened our first store in Tokyo, we have been opening our stores specifically in areas that were away from the major prime shopping places, so this is very much a Nepenthes way to me.
Despite EG being known well for not sticking to one set theme and being more of a combination of inspirations, for SS20 we have noticed rich floral all over and embroidered prints coming through in the new collection. What drew you to this direction for SS20 and are there any other under-lying themes we may have missed?
Something new that I did for this season was I found myself researching more towards the European style of workwear, military uniform and sportswear.
Your unconventional and unique design processes are well documented – drawing inspiration from your Made in USA archive and also everyday experiences. We were wondering if you could briefly explain the inspirations and utility aspects for these new and staple items from our SS20 Engineered Garments delivery?
Inspired by vintage French and some other European military pants. The way they set the cargo pockets is very much different from US ones.
It’s a mixed design of US old BDU jackets and the one they use now with some additional details from other military jackets combined.
The design is a very authentic American classic style, but I arranged for it to be bit oversize and picked some interesting fabric like this one, which originally came from a salesman sample fabric.
Indigo Denim Floral Short Fatigue Short
I always love our Fatigue shorts for the Summer and denim fabric has been a staple for this. I just wanted to add some fun with the floral embroidery to make it look fresh.
Hawaiian Floral Atlantic Parka
This is another staple piece of our summer jackets. Detailed as a vintage outdoor parka and paired with some vintage surf wear material of the floral micro fibre.
To finish off, do you have any advice for up and coming designers looking to build their own brand?
It’s a good idea to come up with your own concept or philosophy. It doesn’t have to be a big discovery. Just find something new from whatever you see, touch, hear, feel in your life and try to bring it into what you want to do.
The Engineered Garments SS20 collection is online now.
