When Punk Rock Get’s PUNK’D

  Hello again, hope this edition of the blog finds you in a good place and gives you some sort of takeaway. I don’t think the copy itself will be full of the usual running and feelings as posts of the past. However,  if you can leave with something it will be to not give a shit about what other people think, start the project ( or whatever it is ) and the rest will fall into line as it should. 

For context I worked in a skateboard and snowboard shop for a long time, as two “sports” or cultures that are meant to break the mold and be different its kind of ironic how they both have some of the most judgemental characters and rules baked into them. As a simple example you were absolutely under no circumstances permitted to “double rep” . IE: wearing Nike socks with Vans shoes. That was considered ILLEGAL. Or even people who wore a helmet were clowned. It was a space for individualism but just not too much.  SO, this week will be focused on the idea “ WHEN PUNK ROCK GETS PUNK’D.” 

I don’t personally care how you choose to wear your clothes, you do you. For whatever reason I have been thinking about this for a while. It just might be the most nerdy and unnecessary shit ever but let’s give it a go and see what unravels. 

SATISFY as many of you know have made a significant impact and could even take a large chunk of credit for the growth of running as a culture and not just a sport your uncle did. “Culture” being the addition of fashion, music and art to what was a fairly stale thing pre lets say 2015 ( aside from Nike Gyakusou) Not many brands took risks or felt the need to set themselves apart based on the fits and colors people who ran had the options of. They are widely known for their punk rock ethos, which is part of their visual identity through graphics which extends into the tone of voice they use and then the soundtrack to the universe they are creating. They have subtle visual cues on their clothing that allows those in the know to identify the product as one of their own. In this case it’s the tag that hangs on the outside of every product.

This tag, like everything they do tells a story and adds to the experience of getting you; the runner less distracted on your way to get “high.” They say it’s on the outside so nothing rubs against your skin. Older models of hats had it as a patch which later adopted the same tear away style you see on everything in the current line up.

Now, you might ask “ flowerboy, why are you writing a blog about a removable care tag? “  

I like the idea that a company with said ethos and clear visual aesthetics rooted in punk rock culture has reached an audience that has began to punk them. Maybe. It’s clear to me in all their photos, team and campaigns that this tag is to be removed. So thats where this whole thing comes from. The company puts all this effort in to solidify their niche, takes a decade to be more widely recognized then get’s PUNK’D.

I guess you could say they have infiltrated the main stream when something like this happens. Or maybe it’s giving the user an option. It is indeed a movement especially here in Indonesia. The support and brand loyalty is incredible. Friends on the ground at the latest BRODER 50 km trail race in Java reported a majority of people wearing the brand from head to toe.  Turning a dirty and dusty run into a fashion show at one of the most beautiful places we have ever got to run. It seems like with any brand that has success early adopters and keyboard warriors will hate on it and say they sold out and reminisce on days old.

It’s inevitable that as anything grows the original story gets passed along. Through every hand it passes that story changes a little bit and eventually nobody knows anything about it besides the fact it’s cool. I look forward to see how SATISFY will hold the interest and loyalty of the early adopters while continuing to grow and support running culture on a global scale.

So maybe next week I will tell you the story of Flowerboy so you can tell your friends and they tell theirs. The story will get passed down the line until nobody knows we actually are a small cafe that sells flowers ( when we have them ). 

Until then, hope to see you in Jakarta for LSD or at run club so we can share some movement and a coffee together.

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