[ JAPANESE / ENGLISH ]

Photos courtesy of Arrow & Beast
Special thanks_adidas Skateboarding

VHSMAG (V)：　For those who don’t know, what is Arrow & Beast all about?

Arrow & Beast (A)：　Arrow & Beast is about supporting the local skate scene, being a hub for people to come hang out. We sell skate gear and clothing, but the motivation for the shop comes from how we all grew up around a shop that pointed us in the right direction as a kid getting into skating.

V：　Can you tell us the story behind the name and how the shop started in Stuttgart and expanded to Paris?

A：　The name just kind of happened, we were looking at single words but it’s hard to find something that doesn’t have a copyright around it already. The words ARROW and BEAST kind of worked together. You can skate precise like an “Arrow” but you can skate wild like a “Beast”. Both have their special place, in the end skating is personal.

V：　How would you describe the vibe and community around the Paris store?

A：　The vibe is good and the community is growing. Paris is a big city with different skaters and crews affiliated with different skateshops. I'd say there's a very good atmosphere overall, everyone bumps into each other at spots and events. In the end we all share the same playground.

 

V：　Is there a particular local crew, style, or energy that sets it apart?

A：　There’s definitely a special kind of energy here probably similar to what you’d find in other major skate capitals. There’s a variety of crews and styles, which keeps things interesting. What unites everyone is the desire to make the most of the city and interpret it in their own way.

V：　What’s the relationship like between the Stuttgart and Paris locations?

A：　We work closely together. Paris and Stuttgart are in two different countries, but they’re only a 3 hour train ride apart. Riders from the Paris team go pretty often on a trip to Stuttgart and vice versa, which is really cool to see.

V：　Do you operate independently, or is there a lot of exchange and collaboration between the two?

A：　We stay in very close touch on things, but these are two different scenes, so it’s also important that each shop keeps its own identity and independence.

V：　What are some of the most memorable projects?

A：　One of the most memorable projects was the video that GX1000 put together with our help. The idea was for the team to come from San Francisco to spend a few days filming between Stuttgart and Paris, then premiere the video in the gallery at the Paris shop. On paper it sounds pretty standard, but pulling together enough footage in two different cities, editing it, and organizing a premiere all within a 10 day window was kind of insane. And of course they killed it. The final result is “JAGEN" by Ryan Garshell, definitely worth checking out. We also had a photo exhibit in the gallery with Ryan and Felix Adler, which was equally complicated to pull off.

 

V：　What does Arrow & Beast value most?

A：　Definitely the culture.

V：　Tell us about the new adidas collab. How did it come together?

A：　We were asked to come up with a shoe colorway for the adidas Forum shoe, but most of the A&B team riders that also skate for adidas France or Germany really love the Superstar, so we pushed for that.

V：　What’s the concept behind the design and the two colorways?

A：　Well sure enough, if someone asks you if you want a beer you’re probably already thinking about the next beer... so like the brats we are, we said it needed to be two shoe colorways. One for each city where the shops are located. This helped spark the initial design inspiration; the iconic blue doors of Paris and the warm sandstone tones that most buildings in Stuttgart are made of.

 

V：　The campaign pays tribute to shop employees and the culture behind the counter.

A：　We wanted to explore a woven material that represents the network of skateshops across Europe, and the world, that we are part of. It’s a special thing that is quite unique to skateboarding. We all talk, we all fight the same fight, we all act as a hub for the local skate kids to congregate at. We’re also the destination that the pros choose to stop in at when they’re in town. What other “sport” do you get to meet your favorite pro at the local shop? You’re not randomly saying “what up?!” to Lionel Messi at your local JD Sports, but you might be gripping a board while Dennis Busenitz is checking in at the shop because he’s in town.

V：　Why was that message important for Arrow & Beast to support?

A：　When skaters travel, because that’s such a key part of skating, they check in at the local shop to connect with likeminded people. It’s the coolest thing about skating, this unofficial network. So to us, these shoe colorways are as much for the sister shops across the world as it was for A&B.

V：　Any design details or personal touches in the shoes that mean something special to you or the team?

A：　We worked with the main footwear designer at adidas, Noah Hoose, to develop the concept a little further and he introduced a few little design elements that really made them shine! Specifically the materials on the tongue that feel like an old ski jacket from the 70s. That just brought a unique feeling to the whole shoe, but he also wanted to try out adding gold air vent rivets on the inside of the shoe. A mix of old and new, we trusted Noah and he nailed it. Sometimes it’s important to know when to let the experts do their thing.

V：　How has the response been from the local skate community so far?

A：　We had a pretty massive launch party during Paris Fashion Week in June, then a second launch in Stuttgart in early July. Having an influx of visiting skaters attend the party was perfect because it’s a good representation of what our shop is about. It’s for the skaters but it’s also for the creative people around skating. That’s why we have a gallery downstairs, to focus on the creative side of skateboarding.

V：　Have you seen the shoes being skated in Paris already?

A：　Demand is there and having a moment like this gives us the courage to keep on going. The reality of running a skate shop these days is very hard. People just haven’t been buying stuff, a response of Covid and overall inflation of everything! So to have an opportunity like this is greatly appreciated. Seeing the shoes on skaters around town means a lot to us.

 

 

V：　You recently had an exhibition with Jason Dill. How did the exhibition come together?

A：　We’d been talking about it for quite some time, but Dill has been very focused on painting the past couple of years. The challenge of having a solo exhibition of his work really pushed him to the edge where he had to deliver, which is cool. It’s like a video part. You can poke away at it for years, but in the end most people need a deadline to make them really push themselves. Having an exhibition in Paris when so many of his friends were in town probably gave him a bit of comfort, but he really put it out there, which is inspiring to everyone.

V：　What made his work the right fit for this moment and this space?

A：　With Dill it’s all the mediums combined that really sum up his creativity… photos, collage, drawing, painting. To sum him up I think you need to show it all, which is what he wanted to do in the gallery. But there’s still plenty missing, he’s so good at designing clothing, retail spaces, concepts around videos, picking music, etc. That will need to be our next show, who wouldn’t want to go to DILL’FEST! Like a fun house at a circus, meets a music festival at an art museum, meets the monster truck rally in the movie "Idiocracy". Yes please.

V：　Anything that sticks out in your head from working with him?

A：　If Dill is going to do something, he’s going to do it 100%! Also, with Dill come helpers. Kind of like Santa Klaus actually, Dill’s Little Helpers are the coolest. Shout out to Blake, Sage & Yannick.

V：　What do you hope visitors take away from the show?

A：　That Dill is a creative beast! He’s had a constant imprint on what skateboarding looks like for close to 30 years now. His influence of how people skate and dress, the music they listen to, how he helped shape Supreme into what it is today, the imprint of Fucking Awesome & Hockey on skating, all of it! Jason doesn’t do social media, so he’s not out there talking about himself. He plays it old-school, letting others do the talking. He’s the creative powerhouse that is continually writing and re-writing the playbook that many people don’t even realize they are following.

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V：　What’s next for Arrow & Beast?

A：　Do our best to keep things going. As mentioned, it’s ugly out there! Skaters need to support their hometown shops, buying stuff online is the fastest way to watch your local scene dry up. The skateboard industry, which is more like a scene or a community, is something to be protected. Watching videos, talking shit, meeting your new best friend tends to come from skateshops or skateparks. Very little of this human interaction actually stems from the social media platforms that we invest far too much time into.

V：　Are there more events, collabs, or plans you can tease?

A：　We try to keep things quiet, there’s too much talk going on. When we’re ready to do something, we’ll do it with commitment, but there’s plenty in the works.

V：　What does it mean to you to run a skate shop in Paris today?

A：　It means we’re out of god damn minds! That our parents failed to teach us how to grow into responsible adults, as it’s clearly a labor of love. Hopefully it’ll inspire others to stay a little foolish as they grow older.

 

Arrow & Beast
@arrowandbeast / @arrowandbeastparis

Founded in Stuttgart and now rooted in both Germany and Paris, Arrow & Beast is a skate shop and cultural hub driven by community, creativity, and a lifelong love of skateboarding. They just released a collaboration shoe with adidas.