Get to know Jockum Hallin, one of the creatives behind the Swedish brand OUR LEGACY. Hallin talks with LUISAVIAROMA about the FW17 collection, the history of the brand and where they are headed.
Tell us about how you got started? You have started Our Legacy 10 years ago, correct?
OUR LEGACY was initially founded by Cristopher Nying and me, Richardos Klarén joined not long after. In 2005, we did a small run of mens t-shirts, put it in a sports bag, and went around in my car to the best stores in Scandinavia. They all liked it and bought our first little collection. To finance OUR LEGACY we ran a fashion agency/distribution for a year or two. I have always liked buying/presenting/selling. When I was younger I imported skateboards and clothes from the States and sold to stores in Sweden. Anyway, after a while the customers coming to our showroom were only interested in buying OUR LEGACY, so we stopped promoting other brands and developed our own line into a full collection. We showed in Paris 2007, and from then the focus has been an international audience.
What has changed since then?
A lot! The collection has over the years gone from printed t-shirts to revamped classic garments to progressive menswear, that both men and women wear
The industry and climate has changed a lot. The world is different. New rules.
Were the two of you friends first?
Me and Cristopher are from the same small town in Sweden called Jönköping. We hung out when we were young, playing junior ice hockey together at the age of 10.
What are each of your roles inside the brand and what were you doing before you started Our Legacy?
Me and Cristopher both have a graphic design background, Richardos came in from Acne where he did sales. At first we did everything together from designing the collection, sales, packing boxes, sending out invoices… Now Cristopher is the creative director, Richardos is the CEO since a year or so ago, and I´m the chairman of the board. I am also working on new projects, such as collaborations and OUR LEGACY WORK SHOP.
What’s behind the name, Our Legacy? How did you come up with it?
It has multiple meanings. Before we started, we romanticized about wanting to create something sustainable to leave to the next generation, a legacy that would live on. We also started with the idea of taking garments from previous generations, adapting them adjusting them to our time and our lives, inheriting styles and making them into our own legacy. We also wanted a ”neutral” timeless name that we would not get tired of.
You guys have really cool, innovative fabrics and prints. Can you tell us about your design process and how those elements play into everything?
Fabrics and color is not always but very often the starting point of every collection. We work close together with out mills and we try to make interestin,g progressive things that we feel are missing in the marketplace.
What’s the inspiration behind the FW17 collection?
It´s a minimalistic-western collection, futuristic cowboys meet 90´s club kids kind of thing.
What are your thoughts on all the collaborations going on right now in fashion? We saw that you collaborated with vans, any other collaborations in the future?
It´s a lot going on in that world. I think the product is the essential bit. Can two parties elevate a product to a new interesting level, ok, do the project, but most of the times it feels like PR is top of mind. Vans was our first proper collaboration, a great experience, but it will take a while until we initiate the next project of that magnitude.
Recently your brand has been in the spotlight and seen on many rappers and celebrities. Does that affect your design process at all for the future?
No.
Favorite cities in the world and why?
Stockholm, for providing a solid base for our families and our company.
Los Angeles, for providing the food, the weather and the waves.
Tokyo, for endless inspiration.
Best piece of advice ever received:
Keep your head up – 2 PAC
Quote or mantra:
We´ve got that P.M.A (positive mental attitude) – BAD BRAINS
Top songs on your playlist?
Fugazi – Waiting Room
Neil Young – Hitchhiker
Swami John Reis – Brown Room
Frank Ocean – White Ferrari
Dag Nasty – Can I Say
Outkast – Elevators
Favorite Books:
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand and Bruce Weber by Bruce Weber.
Favorite Instagram account:
@ourlegacyworkshop
Special Thanks to Jockum Hallin
