Rob-L (Pimp my Clydes)
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Welcome to SoleHeaven Rob. Thanks for producing these wonderful SoleHeaven Puma Clydes. They are truely polygontastic, and we love em!
Tell us about yourself...whats your background?
I'm 31, I live and work in Bristol as a artist and designer, but I'm originally from Hull. My background is in graffiti, but now I've separated that work from my design work, and I'm using my real name, not a pseudonym.
When did you discover your passion for sneakers?
Really from being a little kid. I grew up in the 80's, so at school there was a mixture of football influenced fashion and also early Hip-Hop clothing influences. It was the time when if you didn't have 'good' trainers, i.e branded trainers then you were called a 'tramp' and it was seemingly a legitimate reason for kids to get picked on. I guess my initial motivations must've come from the need to fit in as a very young kid, but where it became more of a passion was when I got properly into graffiti and Hip-Hop around 1988 (aged 12). From there on it was always about the Puma States, and anyone who's known me since that time always associates me with that shoe. They were in and out of fashion at various times over the years, so the mentality of hunting them out was born through that I guess.
What was your 1st custom project?
Lets think... Well, as a kid I used to draw onto my shoes, but not just random shit. I remember having a pair of Windrunners when I was a young teenager and drawing some kind of 'tech' pattern into the midsoles with an OHP marker. I also had to have fat laces for my States, but since there weren't any in the shops I used to get 3 metres of 3cm wide cotton braid from a department store, half it to make two laces and painstakingly thread it into the shoes using my teeth to pull it through the lace holes! The first customs I did in later times - I guess you could say the start of my customisation career - were some graffiti things back in about 2004-5 with classic graffiti on a white shoe. I quickly realised that this was a pretty limited approach and switched to doing colourways and patterns under my own name.
What type of paints do you use?
I use Angelus leather paint for all the leather work. It's a really reliable medium, and I get on well with it. I also use alcohol based graphic markers for suede stuff, so Letraset Promarkers in the main, but also Copic, Magic Markers, Pantones or ZIG Kurecolors. In addition, I sometimes use my own mixes of paint for specific things, and I'm also starting to work with screen printing on stuff like insoles etc.
What keeps you awake at night?
Usually my own brain coming up with more ideas! I tend to have quite a few different projects on the go at any given time and I rarely switch off from that mode of thinking. A classic is to start thinking about something from that day or something I'm working on and then I have to get up to write some notes or do a thumbnail sketch on the back of an envelope.
What is the worst job you've ever done?
Data entry in a call centre. The definition of how to crush your soul.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Well, having my own signature Clyde coming out from Puma is probably up there. A childhood dream realised I guess! - PUMA x ROB-L Archipelago Clyde
What is your most treasured possession?
Actual material object style, erm. It's hard to say. Despite hoarding trainers I'm not actually that materialistic. I tend to own and revere things on a practical level I guess, so I'd probably have to say my Mac. What I really treasure most is my family and true friends though.
Where do you draw your inspiration?
If I had to boil that down, I'd say it all comes from the need to solve problems. A lot of my work is like a mathmatical puzzle in essence, either more literally in the case of the Soleheaven Polygon Clydes, or when I'm doing a design job or something I enjoy the challenge of trying to figure out how to make something work on Photoshop etc. I've also always been motivated by having to be resourceful - it's something I learned from my Dad from the word go. At home we'd never usually go and buy new stuff, my Dad would know how to fix old stuff up, or build things from scratch. A true inspiration to a little creative kid for sure, and I guess the reason why I can see possibilities in so many things. My Mum's an artist too, so I also learned about colour and composition from her from a very early age. Thinking about it, they have had a pretty big effect on how I think creatively today.
If you want to see the SoleHeaven Clydes in person they will be on display with the rest of Robs work, and his new signature Puma (global release) PUMA x ROB-L Archipelago Clyde at The Jago gallery in Shoreditch, London, E2 7DJ between 22nd & 27th June.
If you just want to see the images go to www.rob-l.com
If you are a customiser and want to be part of this series contact dale@soleheaven.com
