For this season's batch of Mordecai wearables, I melded minds with one of my favorite creatives, Mr. Jesse LaLonde.
I've admired Jesse's design work for well over a decade, starting with his work for Gary Fisher, and Bareknuckle Brigade, then on to Twin Six and Northwoods Art Dept, now with his studio work and prime cuts for Donkey Label. We met for the first time back in 2016 through our mutual friend, Eric Lynn. Our orbits have digitally overlapped over the years, but we haven't chatted much. When I reached out, I was beyond stoked he was into the idea of working together.
I had a handful of themes in mind, some good, some less good. Jesse's taste is like a divining rod. His skill is a lightning rod. He translated, mutated, reenvisioned and refined. Our collaborative calls moved us forward over the summer. Jesse eschews video meetings. I pace when I talk on the phone, so I walked miles around the house and in the studio while working out these ideas with him, talking through everything from the ethereal to the aesthetic to the ephemeral to the athletic.
Jesse delivered a gang of great concepts. This is just the beginning.
Please place your orders asap to guarantee availability. Tees and hoodies will be shipping mid-December and hats will be shipping early 2025.
The SkOwl.
It's no secret that I love a good portmanteau, so when Jesse referred to this design as the "SkOwl", it made me smile. And while the owl is not actually scowling, and the spirit of this image is actually positive to me, the name is too good to resist.
Back when I worked at the bike shop, we had a hardware story as a neighbor, owned by Buzz and Trixie. One day, I heard Trixie ask one of her employees a question, to which she responded, "I trust you, but I'm going to check," then, looking at me, she said "Trust... but check. That's my rule."
It stuck with me, for some reason. It's simple but profound. There's an element of game theory to it, where both parties share responsibility.
When Jesse combined a few elements we'd discussed to create the SkOwl, a story wrote itself in my mind. The serpent presents a gift, the owl watches warily, with one eye closed for a closer look (what's more focused than an owl using one eye?). The owl can choose to receive the gift, but it will look closely before making the decision. It may trust, but it will check. Wisdom is justified by all her children.
What does this have to do with books? Not much, but it has everything to do with the ideas that inspire what I do at Mordecai Book Building.
Check out the SkOwl SS Tee in Midnight and SkOwl Hoodie in Black.
The SkAwl
Portmantwo.
The awl is a tool never far from my hand in the bindery. It's a classic bookbinding essential, especially when preparing and punching signatures. This image captures something of my creative nature. I love it.
There's a rare form of lightning called "ground-to-cloud lightning," which occurs when a pent-up electric charge reaches skyward to equalize with energy in the sky. Sometimes, that's what it feels like to have a good idea.
Check out the SkAwl Long Sleeve Tee in Ivory.
The MordecEye
Eyes are incredible.
Check out the MordecEye Surf Cap and MordecEye pocket book.
Thank you for your encouragement and support!
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