Symbiosis
September 25 2017 – David Elders
Noun:
'Interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both.'
It's a strange yet wonderful thing when things come together in perfect harmony. Both adding to the mix so that the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. It's one of the reasons why here at Original Casuals we never rest on our laurels and are constantly on the lookout for things we can bring to the party to make it all the better.
We're always investigating new fabrics, new printing techniques, new designs and indeed new designers who catch our eye for one reason or another. Prime example being award-winning illustrator and published author Marcus Reed who certainly made us sit up and take notice!
A graduate of Newcastle College with an HND in Advertising (Illustration), Marcus moved to London where he worked at Saatchi & Saatchi's in-house studio for four years, before turning freelance. He has since worked on a number of projects in illustration. Including Harrods, Le Coq Sportif, American Express, MTV, Major League Baseball, Mundial Mag, Ellesse, Puma, Original Casuals, Pilsner Urquell, and Gipsy Hill Brewing Company whilst contributing to publications worldwide from London to Tokyo. Word has it the lad likes to party too which never goes down badly at OC Headquarters!
We were intrigued by Marcus's innovative graphical use of iconic imagery as it tied in so closely with our own design ethos. Contact was made and we found we were singing from the same hymn sheet. We've since collaborated on various designs and collection pieces to great acclaim, with the latest being our Saturday's Kids piece from our Heroes & Villains Collection!
We asked Marcus what he felt was the back-story to our latest collaboration and this is what he had to say...
"Inspiration for Saturday's Kids kind of came from my baptism in to a lifetime of the UK Subculture scene. Growing up in the early 80's, these three alone sculpted me from a young impressionable age. I think I adopted the look of all three in a relatively short space of time. I see them as almost an evolution, the clothes conscious ethic of the Modernist, followed by the camaraderie and underlying aggression of Skinhead, merge those two together and you get Casual, all be it with Italian sportswear and German footwear. All of them are unique to a British working class ethos and something we should look back on quite fondly."
In addition to all that [and God knows where he found the time!], Marcus's first book is available now; Saturday's Kids - Ten Years Of UK Subculture Influences.
Purchase the OC x MR Saturdays Kids T-shirt here:
https://www.originalcasuals.com/collections/heroes-villains/products/saturdays-kids