In the first part of our series in collaboration with Reebok and Maison Margiela, we checked in with photographers Stephen Tayo and Raffaele Cariou, at home in Lagos and London respectively, asking them to share how they’d kept creative over lockdown. We also sent each of then pairs of sneakers from the two labels’ recent collaboration: the Club C Maison Margiela — the result of a marriage between Reebok’s Club C silhouette and the Parisian fashion house’s acclaimed trompe l’oeil technique — asking them to interpret the contemporary classic through their unique lenses.
Next on our tour of i-D’s global creative community, we speak to Tokyo-based model Sakura and Berlin-based Lukas Olgac, a founding member of maverick creative studio Sucuk & Bratwurst. Here, they reflect on what life’s currently like in the cities they call home and the benefits and drawbacks that staying put has had on their creative practices, and show us how they flex the Classic Leather Tabi and Classic Leather Tabi High, riffs on Reebok’s low and high top Classic Leather silhouettes that are elevated by the Margiela Tabi’s beloved split-toe motif.
Sakura
Where are you currently?
Tokyo!
How have you adjusted to living and working more locally over lockdown?
Almost everyone has to work more locally at the moment, so I haven’t looked at the current situation as a negative thing. I think it’s allowed me more time to put my energy into things that I’d never really looked into before. I’ve started making my own music videos, for example, thinking about I can really represent Tokyo in my work. Tokyo has such a strong street culture, and I think embody many different aspects of that — it’s a city where you can wear anything and be anybody and no one is going to say anything about it.
How has the past year affected your relationship to Tokyo and the community that you’re part of there?
Since the pandemic began, I think I’ve started to focus more on what’s important to me, and I have deeper connections and closer communication with the people who are important to me. I’m more focused on being here in Tokyo and what’s around me.
On the whole, do you think the impact on your work has been beneficial?
I’ve taken the situation really positively. After all, things happen for a reason. Before the pandemic, I never really used to like being home alone; I used to go out and try to meet new people every day. But now, I’ve had more time to really look within and become more sensitive to what I really feel, rather than what I look like. I’ve been bullied before for being mixed race, but now I know that that’s my strength — it’s what makes me special. I love to show what makes me different, and I think that that’s representative of the mindset of Japanese youth today.
How did you approach shooting the Classic Leather Tabi High sneaker?
Because it was a Margiela sneaker, I decided to be a bit more formal and put on a tailored jacket, instead of the leather jacket I’d usually wear. I still chose to wear jeans and keep my usual style, but I wanted to bring together formal and super casual vibes — to bring two worlds together.
Lukas Olgac
Where are you currently?
I’m currently in Berlin.
How have you adjusted to living and working more locally over lockdown?
It hasn’t been a big change for me, as I’ve always worked from home. It’s just a shame that we can no longer go to events and that all our meetings are now only taking place digitally.
How has the past year affected your relationship to Berlin and the community that you’re part of there?
Going for daily walks has actually allowed me to re-discover my neighbourhood in a new way. These days, my inner circle of friends is quite small compared to what it was in eventful, busy pre-Covid Berlin. This whole lockdown situation has really shown who is a close friend and cares about you.
On the whole, do you think the impact on your work has been beneficial?
Yes, because a lot of clients are now asking for CGI work. When the pandemic first hit, people were really limited in terms of photoshoots and this is a problem that has continued since. Accordingly, many brands are looking for alternative ways to produce content.
How did you approach shooting the Classic Leather Tabi sneaker?
I wanted to show what my life is like at the moment, during this pandemic; whether that’s at home just lying on the sofa, or outside, walking and discovering new environments. I also found it fun to play around with the split-toe.
Lukas is wearing the Classic Leather Tabi sneaker which will be available to buy on the 21st of May on reebok.com, maisonmargiela.com and in Maison Margiela boutiques worldwide.
Sakura is wearing the Classic Leather Tabi High sneaker which will be available to buy on the 18th of June on reebok.com, maisonmargiela.com and in Maison Margiela boutiques worldwide.
Credits
Sakura images
Model SAKURA (PUMP mgmt)
Photographer Saeka Shimada (@saeka_adamiss)