Journal
HAVEN / ASICS NYC Field Tester
Pursuing excellence in the community.
To celebrate the launch of our upcoming collaboration with ASICS, we looked to New York City’s vibrant creative community, to highlight select individuals who bring a unique approach to their craft; pushing boundaries in ways that extend beyond their disciplines and surroundings, contributing to the city’s ever-evolving cultural landscape.
Name: Jared Blake
Profession: Co-Founder, Lichen
Location: New York City
What inspired you and your partner to open your store Lichen?
Desperation and ingenuity. Ed and I met on Craigslist in 2016 buying and selling furniture and decided our shared taste was stronger together than apart. I was a wiz at marketing and social media and Ed is a financial and management expert with a background in restaurant management. It was far from a sexy aesthetic or business model at the time but we knew home-goods and streetwear culture had to intersect at some point and we were poised to be there when it did. We opened in 2017 and never looked back really... I mean, we look back constantly but we don’t have a ton of time to ponder on it with the hustle in NYC.
How would you describe the design philosophy behind the pieces you curate?
That’s a good question because it’s changing... On one hand Empathy is key. Understanding people and what we need/want is critical to our decision making, but on the other hand we also have to keep elevating in every capacity. Quality, patience, consideration and realistically, Cost. Staying grounded in who we were when we started while gradually reaching for what we need/deserve. The Lichen carpenters are banging out very very very high quality solid wood furniture that will last a generation and we’re giving it away at a very reasonable price, probably the best in the market. Shout out Aidan, Dylan, Nelsan, and Liam holding it down. We hope the homies we sell to appreciate what they’re getting, but it comes with the responsibility of education on our end to explain why something costs what it does. Industrialization is such an intricate process.
What role does the city play in shaping Lichen’s identity?
What role does Lichen play in shaping the city’s identity? The answer to that is something I don’t take lightly. Happy to have an in person conversation with anyone who reads this.
Is there a particular piece in store or at home that holds a special meaning for you?
Plenty, We have a hand painted version of our very 1st run of coffee tables that our friend and ‘Canadiana’ sister Syd sold back to us when she moved back to Canada. That’s the first thing that came to mind. We made those tables with a fellow craigslist droogie and his uncle. This thing of ours is very easy and simple if you let it be and water profusely. Also Syd is back in NY, cheers to her.
How important is functionality in the way you approach your personal style?
Here’s the thing, selling furniture is an endurance sport. Carhartt, Dickies and Workwear MEAN IT in my world. If I can’t WORK in it, it doesn’t WORK for my life. I will say though, I’ve been trying to come back to my fashionable past before I was going down and up basements as a career and this HAVEN drip held it the fuck down. I’ve worn all of this gear you see in this feature everyday since this shoot, I’ve also been a fan of HAVEN for a minute, I used to run through Toronto way back in the day. Probably like 8 or 10 years ago at this point. Glad to see we could bring this relationship full circle. The HAVEN / ASICS kicks are fucking gas, people ask about them everyday. Onward and upward guys. The quality is understood and felt, I wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t.
Name: Hua Hsu
Profession: Writer
Location: New York City
What first drew you to writing?
I think I was a typical nineties teen, I felt like I had a lot to say, I just lacked the nerve to speak up. So I turned to writing to figure out who I was. I modeled myself after the music magazines and zines I was obsessed with, mimicking other people’s voices and outlooks until I figured out my own. Even then, there was a lot of pleasure in being able to put into words something I could only feel. My relationship to writing changed in college, upon the sudden loss of a close friend. Then, writing became a way of living in the past, and imagining a future. Years later, that writing became my second book, “Stay True,”
How does living and working in New York City shape your perspective as a writer?
New York is expensive, exhaustingly dense, perpetually on the verge of falling apart. But it’s also such a unique American city where you can see something weird or transcendental almost every single day. It’s hard to get too jaded. I have too much respect for New York to consider myself a New Yorker, even though I’ve lived here most of my adult life. Living and working here keeps me humble. You’re just another person trying to keep up with the hustle.
Alongside writing and teaching, you’ve also spearheaded a zine + record label, ‘Suspended in Time’. Does music play a big part in your creative process?
I started the zine when I moved away from music writing, which is what I did for most of my twenties and thirties. I’d spent so much time writing about musicians, I wanted to tell stories about fandom and obsession instead. I was especially drawn to ways of being part of music that might feel a little out of step with how things work nowadays. What it was like to take photos at clubs or design logos for rappers in the pre-Internet age, for example. So music is still a huge part of how I understand creativity and community, as well as the tensions between freedom and constraint.
What’s a piece of writing advice that has stayed with you throughout your career?
I only have one real piece of advice for people who want to write professionally and that’s to turn things in on time.
How important is functionality in the way you approach your personal style?
I love clothes that are practical and impractical in equal measure. There’s one component that I obsess over whether it’s a pair of running shorts or some weird, extravagant jacket: pockets. I once wrote a piece for the New Yorker about the history of pockets and my own fascination with them.
Name: Marcel Peña
Profession: Stylist
Location: New York City
What initially drew you to fashion and styling?
I'd say one of my first jobs as a teen drew me to fashion. I worked at a sneaker and clothing store in Spanish Harlem for a few years and it was during those years where I learned a great deal about the fashion and retail industry. The internet also played a part in this as well. I remember spending countless hours on sites like ISS/Sole Collector, NikeTalk and scrolling through forums like WDYWT "What Did Your Wear Today". Additionally, these sites were a great tool to exchange information about the industry and it was because of sites like these that I learned about what I consider some of New York's best retail stores. Stores like Nort, Recon and Nom De Guerre to name a few. Styling came a bit later in my career. I remember specifically producing a small shoot for a brand I was working with at the time and after wrapping the shoot, I had a conversation with the stylist about his work and how he got his start in the industry. That conversation just kinda stuck with me. It took me some time to step away from retail completely and focus on styling full time, but looking back I’m glad it worked out the way it did.
Are there specific neighborhoods or cultural influences in NYC that inspire your styling?
I'd say NYC as a whole inspires me and my styling. Each borough has its own distinct style and personality and you see it everyday when you're walking in different districts, waiting on the platform for the subway, or hanging out at a park.
You were born on Long Island and raised in Queens; how has growing up in NYC influenced your path?
I think it's had a big influence on my trajectory and where I am at today in my career. Over the years I've been fortunate to work at some of New York's top stores/brands and throughout those years I've met so many great people who have not only become good friends of mine, but have also helped me along the way. I think in this industry it’s not only about what you know, but also who you know is just as important. Also surrounding yourself with likeminded people is key.
Do you have a favorite movement in fashion history that you find still influences your work today?
Probably the late 90’s to early 2000’s in NYC. There’s one book in particular titled ‘Messengers Style’ by photographer Philippe Bialobos that I really like. The images in the book are portraits of NYC bike messengers from the 2000's displaying their personal style, and the photos show such a great mix of individual and unique style.
How important is functionality in the way you approach your personal style?
Functionally plays an important role in my personal style. I think style should be both practical and expressive, so I try to find that balance between feeling comfortable but also feeling good.
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