This Saturday we will be launching our very first collaboration project with New Jersey's very own Samuel Falzone. Sam will be in-store on Saturday 17th August 2024 from 3pm-6pm to introduce his re-Constructed footwear using hand picked vintage Nike shoes.
To support the launch, this week's blog post was written & executed by Ali Marsh from Whatcomesaround_vintage a friend and customer who caught up with Sam on a recent trip to New York that perfectly coincided with this whole project:
AM. I’m a Nike nostalgia head who collects and sells iconic pieces from the 70s-90s via my Instagram page. So when Chris, Carlan and Ben asked me to interview Sam and talk about his incredible creations, I jumped at the chance.
AM. Hey Sam, please introduce yourself and tell us a little about your practice
SF. Hey Ali, my name is Samuel Falzone, I'm a designer based in the US, focused on producing one of a kind, hand made product. Such as footwear and leather goods.
AM. What was it in particular that got you started with these amazing projects?
SF. I've always been interested in working with my hands, whether it be creating for necessity or personalizing things to be uniquely mine
AM. Your background is in industrial design, what influence has this had on creating your products?
SF. My education in industrial design has played a pivotal role in how I approach product. Not only has it given me the technical knowledge and know how to create products efficiently, but it has opened my eyes to the enormous amounts of consumption in our world. And has challenged me to take responsibility in how and what I create.
AM. What made you want to breathe different life into the traditional sneaker? And how did it turn into what it is now?
SF. Honestly, it was out of necessity, skill set, and that responsibility mentioned earlier. I had a beloved pair of Nike Air Captivates whose soles totally fell apart on me, but had near perfect uppers. So I set out to save them, sourcing Vibram soles, and applying traditional leather work.
This caught the attention of friends and followers. I started to look at shoes differently, especially during my trips to the thrift. Shoes I would've stayed clear of due to conditions quickly became job opportunities. Having reconstructed over 200 pairs to date.
AM. Having done so many, which do you think your favourite pair is?
SF. Each pair has sentimental value to me, whether it be who they were for or the memory a shoe has restored for me from my childhood. My favorite pair has to my personal pair of reconstructed 1996 Nike ACG Torre mids.
AM. That being said, is there a particular shoe you'd really like to create something from?
SF. I get really excited by 80-90s athletic shoes with real leather uppers. Like Nike's Field General renditions and their Golf line. I can't seem to get enough of those!
AM. Chris’s uncle was a UK Nike rep in 80s & 90s, some of the pinnacle production eras for Nike. I know manufacturing processes are very important in your shoes, can you tell us a bit more about these?
SF. Thats awesome! A pinnacle for sure.
SF. The manufacturing of my work is a very intimate hands on process. Each pair being one of one, means they all come with their own nuances. Each pair of shoes passes through the hands of 4 craftsman, championing 30+ years of experience, this, with the combination of the most durable outsoles on the market and hand selected leathers, make for a truly unique final product.
AM. How important is nostalgia to both you and the client in creating the bespoke shoes for them?
SF. Nostalgia plays a big role in this line of work. These once loved shoes face the inevitable degrading of materials. Personal memories and defining moments in sport history definitely justify the investment and TLC for my customers.
AM. Tell us about the benefit of the Vibram soles you use for the creations
SF. It's a beautiful marriage for me. Part of my education took place in Florence, Italy where Vibram soles became my go to for student work. It was always the only logo tied to my work. So I grew fond of it!
AM. Lastly Sam, What’s the future hold for the business? Will there be more opportunities for individuals to send you their shoes and requests, further retail outlets or does it look like something completely different? We are excited to know!
SF. In the next year you can definitely expect to see more reconstructed pairs! Other retailers are keen to carry this project as well! In addition to reconstructed, I'm excited to tell you that I will be expanding on original hand-made product in other categories.
AM. Sam, thanks so much for your time in giving some fascinating insight into your work, the level of detail is incredible! The team at Pickings are so grateful for your trip across the world to come and see them, hand deliver their own pairs you made for them and showcase some for the rest of the city, on the 17th August in store!
From your first chance meeting with Carlan, the pairs you created for PPHH and myself meeting you in NYC, then catching the same flight back to Melbourne with you; it’s been a pleasure.
