A Closer Look: Shaun Crawford for Bodega Spring/Summer ‘24
The perfect mascots to help send off SS24 in style.
Last year to help us roll out the Bodega X Salomon X-Mission 4 “Full Bleed”, we kicked it with New York’s own, Shaun Crawford, a multi-media artist we’ve had in our sites for a long time now. Because of his experience in the garment dyeing space combined with his eye for design, we couldn’t have found a better fit to highlight the sneaker's dyed textile upper. However, as part of our studio visit, Shaun cooked up an original Bodega graphic which we couldn’t get out of our heads, leaving us speechless. Almost as if a cat had gotten our tongues?
Fast forward to the present day, as we close out our SS24 collection, and it looks like that very same cat is out of the bag. Made up of 4 items, our limited capsule with Shaun features 3 original designs presented in sketch, painting, and clay figure form across two short-sleeved t-shirts, one long-sleeve t-shirt, and one hoodie.
With his playful cartoon style on full display, whether it's a rat getting high on its own supply or a mouse biting off more than it can chew, Shaun kept it light while workshopping the perfect mascots to help us send off SS24 season in style. But enough conjecture - to speak briefly on the inspiration behind the collection and some general clothing-related thoughts, we caught up with the artist himself for a quick rundown.
B: Which came first, the interest in art or clothing, and how did it happen?
SC: I’ve always been interested in both, I’ve been into graffiti for as long as I can remember, and being from Harlem rocking fresh clothes is very important.
B: What compelled you to combine your knack for drawing/ painting /dyeing etc with your eye for fashion?
SC: When I was in like 3rd or 4th grade I would draw cartoon characters on my jeans with markers and make them for anybody that asked. My earliest graffiti mentor Cazo MOM used airbrush T-shirts in the neighborhood to make money and my later mentor Doms KOC did the same. All of my experiences with those guys kinda led to what I do now.
B: What was the energy/inspiration behind the capsule?
SC: Growing up in Spanish Harlem I’ve spent a lot of time in the corner bodegas playing video games, later drinking beers, and buying weed, and just wasting time, all of the bodegas had cats to control the mice.
B: Why did you decide to incorporate tie-dye?
SC: As a writer, I always get ink and paint on my clothes. Tie-dying them helped me mask ink stains.
B: How do these designs differ from - or reinforce your signature style while adding to the aesthetic of your overall body of work?
SC: I just like having fun, my work is all based on my life experience and love of cartoons and graffiti and getting fly . Sometimes I get into deeper subjects but for the most part, I’m just having fun.
B: What’s the piece you’ve had in your closet for the longest amount of time?
SC: A Polo Country overshirt that my lil sister bought for me maybe 15 years ago, somehow it still fits and I just really love it.
Release Info: Friday, June 7, 2024
Available online at 12pm EST. The Shaun Crawford for Bodega Spring/Summer ’24 capsule collection will also be available at both our Boston and Los Angeles locations on a first come, first served basis.
