Behind the Scene from JOURNAL STANDARD × CARHARTT WIP
Behind the scenes of the capsule collection between Journal Standard and Carhartt WIP.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of JOURNAL STANDARD's founding. To commemorate this memorial year, JOURNAL STANDARD is releasing a capsule collection with CARHARTT WIP, with which it has had a close relationship for some time. The collection's looks were shot in LA, and were based on the theme of "work" and "youth," which are the keywords that connect the two brands. The collection was photographed in LA by Dennis McGrath, a photographer originally active in the skateboarding community who now works in a wider range of genres. An exhibition of photographs based on the looks was held at "Journal Standard Omotesando" to coincide with the launch of the collection. In this issue, we present an interview with Mr. Dennis McGrath as a behind-the-scenes look shooting.
Born in New Jersey in 1969, he started skateboarding in the mid 80's and started taking pictures at the same time. He started skateboarding in the mid 80's and started taking photos around the same time, and has been active as a photographer in the skateboarding community for over 10 years, working for many skateboarding magazines such as THRASHER and SLAP, releasing photo T's for brands such as HUF and FTC, shooting billboard photos for Vans, and photographing legendary skater Lennie Kirk. He has released photo T's for brands such as "THRASHER" and "SLAP," shot billboard photos for "VANS," and produced a photo book "HEAVEN" featuring his friend and skating legend Lennie Kirk, leaving behind many unforgettable works for those who were crazy about skateboarding culture in the 90s. Since the mid-1900s, Dennis has also started to focus on other subjects, such as documentary photos of the behind-the-scenes of the pornographic movie industry, utilizing his outsider's perspective, and "Supersonic" photos of the LAX airport for Virgin America Airlines. Dennis has produced various types of works, such as the "Supersonic" series, which was commissioned by Virgin America Airlines to photograph LAX airport. A common thread that runs through Dennis' photographs from his early days to the present is the duality of his images, a somewhat sad and fragile perspective on life. He is not only a great photographer, but also a great storyteller, telling the stories behind his subjects. www.dennismcgrath.net
When and how did you start skateboarding?
Dennis: I started skateboarding in 1985 when I was 16 years old. My brother John and I got a deck for my birthday that year. I have been skateboarding ever since.
So, how did you get into photography?
Dennis: It was in the late 80's when I got my camera. I started using it to film my brothers skateboarding. I had two brothers, Matt and John, who were both good skaters. I was inspired by the pictures in skateboarding magazines at the time. Then I moved to San Francisco in 1994 to study photography at the San Francisco Art Institute. This was the beginning of my interest in art and photography in general.
Do you think the modern skateboarding community has changed compared to the 90s?
Dennis: I think there are changes in many aspects. It's becoming more corporate. At the same time, the kids' skating skills now are great.
What is your hometown?
Dennis: I grew up in a family that moved around a lot as a child; I grew up in New Jersey, a suburb of NY, and my family moved to Houston, Texas when I was 13. And before I moved to California on my own, my family also moved back to the East Coast. So I myself grew up in many different areas of the United States. Moving was the worst thing that ever happened to me as a child, but now I am very grateful for that experience.
When did you move to LA?
Dennis: I moved here from San Francisco in 2007. Oh, it will be exactly 10 years this month (laughs)!
How is L.A. these days?
Dennis: It's great. There is so much to do here. Lately, I've been doing a lot of fashion and lifestyle shoots, but I also have a flurry of book projects going on at the same time.
What are you looking at in LA right now? It could be brands, people, or anything.
Dennis: I like a new LA brand called Ignored Players. I also like Metropolitan, a brand from the 90s that Keith Hufnagel revived, and my friend Alisha has a cool brand called See Teen Aged.
How do you feel about the Japanese skateboarding scene?
Dennis: The Japanese skateboarding culture has always been great! There are always good skaters and good skateboarding photos being produced.
How was the photo shoot for the capsule collection between "Carhartt WIP" and "Journal Standard"?
Dennis: It was a lot of fun, we shot in a lot of different locations around downtown LA. We even shot from inside a car on Broadway. It was a great shoot!
Do you have any memories of Carhartt?
Dennis: Carhartt in the U.S. has always been just work clothes, but now we can see the Carhartt WIP line in the U.S. I think it's a really cool brand, and a lot of skaters like to wear it. I think it's a really cool brand, and a lot of skaters like to wear it.
Please tell us about your future projects.
Dennis: I am currently working on three book projects. One is already finished and was shot in NYC between '95 and '00. It will be published in August by Monstera/Edition, a label based in Berkeley, CA. The following piece will be about my experience with porno movies. The third book is still a work in progress, but will be completed this fall. The content is still a secret, but it will be published by "Paradigm Publishing" in Philadelphia.
JOURNAL STANDARD x CARHARTT WIP 20th Anniversary Collaboration
The lineup of items includes short-sleeved T-shirts, long-sleeved T-shirts, seven-minute sleeve T-shirts, and sweatpants that incorporate the reflectors and neon emergency colors worn by American security guards and blue workers into contemporary designs.
20th Anniversary Collaboration Launch Party held!
On the day of the launch party on May 26, Mr. Dennis McGrath of LA, who photographed the looks of the collaboration items, will be in attendance, and many photos will be on display, including a look featuring LA skaters and creators as models, skating and biking through the streets of LA, and photos of the current atmosphere of LA as seen through the filter of Mr. Dennis. The exhibition also features many photos that express the current atmosphere of LA through Dennis's filter. In addition, JOURNAL STANDARD x Carhartt WIP collaboration items will be on sale in advance (available at JOURNAL STANDARD stores from June 1), and Carhartt items, which are not usually carried, will be available in a wider variety than usual. The lineup includes a wider variety of Carhartt items than usual, which are not usually carried. Samples of furniture from journal standard Furniture x Carhartt WIP, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, will also be on display. This is a free-entry event, so please come and visit with your friends and acquaintances.
Carhartt WIP x JOURNAL STANDARD 20th Anniversary Collaboration Launch Party
