Collection 3: A Boy's Mind
The children are playing outside and so should we as adults.
I think as we age it gets harder to play because there’s an unproductive feeling about it. Society prioritizes bettering oneself and improving your life in some shape or form. There’s a layer of pressure to achieve stability as you get older where playing is deemed for kids and working is for adults.
As I approach my mid 20s where some of my friends are full-on adults with their own families and others are just older kids who are still playing in the jungle gym, I ask myself where I stand. I think about my younger self and I don't think I've changed so much. I still feel healthy, young, and laugh at myself a lot more than I did in the past (Society telling me I’m unc tho). But I do acknowledge that growing pressure from family, society, and even myself to start achieving more stability, to lock in a bit more. I don't want to lose that youth and I'm trying to find different ways to satisfy my younger and current self. I'm still a boy at heart who wants to dive deep into a state of discovery and play but I want enough stability to not feel like I'm fucking up my life. This collection, matter fact this whole project Garment Log, has been an embodiment of these feelings. I hope I get some answers soon :) but in the meantime, this collection was built off that energy – being in a boy's mind.
As I write this, I understand the great privilege I have to even be able to think about these things. My parents, as well as all the other immigrant parents, pretty much took jobs that allowed them to survive. As a kid, my parents always mentioned how lucky I am to have struggles of choice in America. They spoke of kids in Vietnam being born into work. It’s hard to truly understand until you see it with your own eyes*. I have the highest respect for everyone who does what they need to do to survive. Everyone has their own struggles, but it’s hard to always remember that some people don’t ever get the choice to have that struggle. I’m trying my hardest to not take anything for granted :) and if you are in a similar position I hope you make the most out of it as well.
*Went to eat at a street vendor in Vietnam that opened at 11PM and lil bro was doing it all. Can’t even complain about working hard when I get to choose. Picture blurred for privacy.
ABM CHILDHOOD HOODIE
A gray hoodie and a blue hoodie, both pilling and a bit rough but so broken into that it always felt right. That’s what I remember as a prime staple in my school years. I can’t fully remember the brands but I want to say a few of them were Hanes, Champion, and other blank brands, not that it mattered much anyways. They started the school year bright, soft, and clean but that usually didn’t last long. In true boyhood fashion, they were abused yet loved. They weren’t carefully unzipped and placed in the corner neatly, where it would be safe from debris and people. No; it was tugged on, flung on the floor and at friends, misplaced a few times around the playground (probably because I filled it with sand and buried it), and dragged across the floor from being worn by only the hood. To put it into perspective, picture a kid in freeze tag doing everything he can to wriggle free when someone grabs him by the arm opening of his hoodie. That hoodie would be thrashed pretty quickly. But the more I played in the jacket, the more character it’d attain. Don’t get me wrong, the nice fresh feeling of a new hoodie always hits. But that rugged feeling where the hoodie is soft yet feels like it’s been everywhere – the inside is pilling, there’s maybe a stain or two and a few holes – makes it feel authentic; it screams childhood. That was the feeling I wanted to replicate in this collection. The childhood hoodies were perfect beyond means, arguably innovative. For example, the thumb hole in hoodies that some brands implemented with the means to “keep hands warm”, seems to be inspired by the kids who used to do that to their own hoodies. Once the fabric was thin enough, or by constant pressure, they’d create that hole themselves and they’d use it to protect their knuckles in the morning from the cold breeze. On a bigger scale, the rise of vintage distressing and enzyme washes have been on trend for a few years, and a main reason that I think adults identify with this trend is to replicate that worn-in feeling and look.* As adults, we are all chasing a piece of our childhood.
*Not speaking for everyone here, I’m sure there are individuals who resonate with vintage for multiple reasons such as: sustainability, cheaper pricing (sometimes), different styles, and higher quality etc. But I would argue some do it because they are collectors of a certain aesthetic/niche that may have originated from childhood.
Besides the look of a hoodie, individuality and self expression were important to kids as well*. Whether that be writing their name on the tag or on the inside of their backpack, scribbling in their notebook, or writing on the outsole of their shoes, ideas were endless and it made the clothes theirs. It was a way to express creativity and differentiate themselves when they were told to fit in through uniform.
* Inside my middle school jansport backpack
*Note: Rebel against the rebel: some kids felt that the customization of certain things was the norm and wanted to rebel in their own way by keeping their things pristine. Other kids had parents who wouldn’t tolerate any of that. The consequences varied and outside influences were always a factor.
For A Boy’s Mind (ABM) Hoodie, we added distressed details to the gray side but not the blue side to highlight that clean new hoodie feel. We also included a patch with a new character Mr. Gloggie, and a few lines that you can write on and customize if you’d like. Lastly, we included 4 color pins that allow you to customize the placement of the glog logo. We wanted you to be a part of the experience just as much as we did when creating it. At the end of the day, it’s going to be a hoodie that you will wear. I want you to feel like the hoodie has relevance to you in some way, shape, or form. I want you to give meaning to this possession. I want it to be special to you in a subjective way. Thrash it, keep it tidy, put additional pins, write your gf’s (or ex’s) name on the patch to win their heart, do whatever. Just make it your hoodie.
SHANTS
End of the summer.
It was the trip that signaled the start of the school year. A few pairs of navy blue, stiff, knock-off dickies and some polos that were usually bought from various places: swap meets, uniform stores, Chinatown, and once in a while, Walmart. Sometimes we'd stock up and get a pair of shorts that were meant to be worn when seasons changed and the weather got warmer. But as a kid, logic was overruled often by emotions. The idea of being cool was better than comfortability, like not using an umbrella when it rained or not wearing bulky jackets even when it was cold. Tell me this was a universal experience and it wasn't just me learning how to be performative as a kid. And so, those spring shorts were often worn in the fall and winter.
Trend Hopper
The switch from baggy to skinny was a signal of the change of times. “Growing up!” was what it felt like, how naive. All throughout elementary I wore baggy pants, probably a bit more baggy than it should’ve been because I was so short. In middle school I remember the switch to khaki pants and trying to slim them down a bit. It wasn’t fully skinny yet, but it was starting to have that stacked skinny look and eventually it got to skater skinny. I went pretty extreme too; I remember having some really skin tight jeans lol, never again. Bringing it back to where it all began, the OG uniform, I wanted to create an item that captured a similar feeling of my elementary pants, but with a twist. Made with 100% cotton 12 oz canvas, YKK zippers and brass hardware, and combining a pair of shorts and pants, the Shants was made! Instead of having it the navy blue uniform color, I opted for black. Just a preference for black pants over navy blue at the moment.
SHANTS PATCH
I really just wanted to create a leather patch that was fun and playful. Similar to other designs in the collection, I imagined what I’d do in the classroom while bored. I loved to draw around borders as a kid, using lines that were already printed as a guide. I started by crafting the fonts and placement of the message and then drew around it with characters and adding other details. The final result was two Mr. Gloggies, one dragging a pair of pants around and another holding up a balloon.
WHO IS MR.GLOGGIE?
Since I can remember, I’ve always had an infatuation with characters, whether in general or from brands. I’ve had a Snoopy phase, a Calvin and Hobbes phase, a Simpsons phase, and so much more. I’ve loved characters and mascots from brands of all different styles and generations. When I was approaching middle school, I remember being into skate and surf brands. There was a brand called Neff who had a simple smiling kid with bangs as their mascot and I loved that shit. Heading into high school, The Hundred’s Adam Bomb was fully blown out with everybody wearing it. Later down in college, as I got more into streetwear, I discovered Verdy and Bluboy with their unique mascots. Never would I have imagined partaking in creating a mascot. But when I started Glog, I always knew that there needed to be a feature that distinguished the brand, whether that be a font, logo, mascot, or some other tactic. So I created Mr. Gloggie, put the logo on a body, and out he came. But I don’t want to stop with just one mascot/look. I want to expand it and have variations of Mr. Gloggie or even build a universe where it’s Mr. Gloggie and friends. My best work is so far ahead but for now, Mr. Gloggie is here. I imagine him to have a big head and short stubby body, he lives life with a bit of attitude and knows what he wants. He dresses in vibrant colors and enjoys lounging around. He lives along the garment log universe with his other friends (from previous collections/designs!).
*Note: Things change, ideas revamp, and it’s hard to feel the same thing for one thing forever. Maybe Mr. Gloggie will be just for this collection. Maybe he’s really just a remnant of a Boy’s Mind. But he’ll be the first and the first is just needed to open the door for others (more on this below!)
LOGO WORK
The official Garment Log logo for now, not completed and always in the works. I created this logo during my 2nd collection (there’s hidden easter eggs where I placed it in a few graphics and assets for Garment Log’s Nature’s Fruit Collection. If you find it lmk! I think I was doodling during work one day and I created a random pattern and decided this first draft would be the logo for now. I wanted something imperfect, something that can be built upon. I think with logos and work as a whole it’s important to see how it evolves to the maker and the world. For now, it’s a milestone to show me where I am as a creator and artist.
But the logo isn’t just a scribble without thought and reason. In theory it resembles the domino effect within perspective. The middle dot acts as a starting point and as actions or thoughts are created, there is a vibrational effect that amplifies your steps. Secondly, I like artwork with multiple viewpoints. Just as much as it was a reminder to be positive and to limit self limitations, the same goes for negativity. If you think too negatively about something or yourself, it brings about more negativity like a cascade. If you look at certain strokes in a specific way, a frowning face occurs. If you flip it around, a smiling face/determined face appears. Taking inspiration from my floral faces design, I wanted the strokes to form multiple faces, reflecting how perspective is formed by—and in turn shapes—how we see the world.
I had a shift in mindset this year surrounding ideas of myself and creating as a whole. I used to see how far others were and think of all the factors in play besides the starting point: the mind and attitude in which that person would approach life/goals/tasks with. I think we often forget that the mind is equally important and arguably more important than most factors when it comes to performance. For the longest time ever I felt like I only excelled in what I allowed myself to be good at. Seems like common sense right? Allow yourself to be something in order to be it. But the mind is so good at creating fears, doubts, and telling yourself to be a certain person. I'm trying hard this year to nip that in the bud and I think I should see what I want and tell myself that I can be my version of it.
As a kid I was never artistically gifted when it came to drawing, so when I started graphic design, I liked the idea of not needing to physically draw something and just using vectors/computerized lines. Looking back, I should have had the mindset of learning how to draw rather than finding an alternate solution (I now use physical drawing in graphic design way more than I thought). Taking shortcuts and being afraid to fail or look dumb held me back. We not doing that no moreee.
Additional assets:
Find 4 G & L’s :)
ABM video and photoshoot
ABM FILM
With little to no budget for this collection, I had to think of a way to create a campaign video. For a while I sat on this idea because I truly didn’t know if I could create anything that would be acceptable for me to post. The first campaign video I did for Garment Log was done with a small team (Shoutout Alex and team! @alexq.dir). But with all good things, it takes time, money, and work. I had no money for this collection, but I had time and work. I was pretty fearful things wouldn’t turn out right but I went at it anyway and taught myself different things surrounding creating a short film like ABM. It was fun and I realized I learned a lot in a short time. But at the end of the day, I know there’s levels to this. What Alex and other directors/DP/etc. do is on a whole other level compared to what I did. But I think for my first film, I did ok (and plus I had fun!). Voicing it was also another concern. I had a few people I wanted to help me narrate but things didn’t work out and I ended up having to do it on my own. I’m no narrator and so I felt absolutely cringed for this part. Editing was a whole different beast from colorgrading, cuts, etc. Shout out to my girlfriend who I dragged along to help hold the tripod or help with lighting and all (love you!).
ABM PHOTOSHOOT
Photoshoots are always fun :) Shoutout to Leila Keftaro (photographer,@leila_Keftaro), Kris(lighting, @nowlifeislivingyou), Jaymo (model, @jay.mo001),and Sarah (model, @sarahmikaylaf). Shot at Rocketship Park, Torrance CA. Photos came out great and the team made it so fun.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
My own timeline.
Although this is only my third collection, I’ve found that after every collection I feel a sense of urgency to push out the next. I started comparing myself to a lot of brands and felt like I was so slow in creating anything. Fashion and brands as a whole have this cyclical timeline that pushes designers to release at a certain time and date with repeating trends/cycles etc. (Tom Ford, Star Sessions, 2014). It’s exhausting. I struggle with this and I release at a rate that is incredibly slow. Sometimes I feel ashamed of what I’m doing because it feels like I’m not a real brand or a real creator because of the slow output. And there’s so many things I could be doing better; yes I can work faster, yes I need to avoid more mistakes and get better, yes I need a team, and yes there’s a million things I could do to make the brand grow faster. But I realized while all of that is true, I’m also on my own timeline as well. I’m learning everything from scratch. This is the first time I’ve picked up any design software, let alone a pencil to sketch. My first time doing different things. There’s no direct blueprint on what someone does to make it and I’m trying to remember that. I kind of like creating at my own pace, but I know things have to change for things to grow. At the end of the day, yes this is my brand but it’s also a personal journey for me. I don’t want to run through the finish line without stopping at each stop to admire the view. I just hope this is actually what matters and not me coping because I’m not where I want to be yet.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Planning to continue to create and improve. When I mentioned there’s things that I can do a lot better, there’s so much I can really change. I hope to learn from mistakes and I’m excited to show the next few things I make. ABM may be a continuing collection with parts but for now I have a few other collections I’d like to explore. Overall, I just want to improve my craft and grow as a person.
When I think of Garment Log’s goals a year ago, it was so different from what I think of the goals now. I’m not sure exactly whether this stays a personal project or a full blown brand. I think feelings surrounding what you want in life can change. I think change is fine. But one thing I do know is that Garment Log won’t die by itself. It can’t. Because it’s already the dream. I’m making things no matter how long it takes. If it dies, it’s because I choose to kill it and I’m grateful for that (although I do know one day I’ll need to face the financial aspect of this venture hahaha). I feel like I need to define success for myself before someone else or society does. And this extends past Garment Log :)
THANK YOU
I’ve been thinking about the idea of sonder a lot. It’s been trending recently and I just want to say thank you for allowing a piece of my world into yours. Whether you purchased, supported on social media, viewed the glog, or even talked about the item, thank you so much. I think maybe in your head it’s not that deep, (which I completely understand, it’s just clothes at the end of the day), but it’s also been a personal growth journey for me. I’m still learning to be a better artist everyday so thank you for supporting that. Love you all always, see you at the next one. Thank you to my existing supporters and my new ones!
Sincerely,
Gordon