Personal graffiti

In a world where everything seems cut with the same cookie cutter, making an individual statement takes a lot of effort, not to mention a lot of guts.

It is this thirst for individuality that made JanSport launch the Graphic Remix series, a line of bags with one-of-a-kind designs rendered by some of the country’s top graphic artists such as Electrolychee and Team Manila.

“For us a bag is more than just for carrying your stuff around; it’s a practical and personal billboard of expression,” says Clytie Choa, JanSport brand manager.

Hippie trail

The Graphic Remix line’s quirky and anti-conformist designs like graffiti, doodles, pop art and calligraphy fits the indie community’s passion for creativity, originality and individuality.  “We thought that the local indie scene best represented the hippie culture of the ‘60s, and we want to support that,” Clytie says.

JanSport recently hosted an event that celebrated individuality. Titled Music, Tats and Flowers, the event took inspiration from JanSport’s founder Skip Yowell, whose hippie lifestyle later helped his climb up the corporate world (so much so that he’s written a book about it — A Hippie Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder). “Having come from a subculture as well, JanSport understands the importance of recognizing and nurturing an emerging cultural phenomenon like the Indie community with products like the Graphic Remix bags and events like Music, Tats and Flowers that address the specific needs and lifestyle of this community,” says Clytie.

Art attack

Held at Mag:Net Cafe in Bonifacio High Street, the event was a mix of everything urban and everything Pinoy. There were performances by indie and hip-hop groups like Pamilia Dimagiba and Bagetsafonik as well as a rare DJ Battle between DJ Arbie Won and DJ Supreme Fist.

Also present were some of the country’s most well-known street art crews Wee Will Doodle, Pilipinas Street Plan, and Samahang Batang Aerosol, who showed their stuff as they did impromptu doodles on plyboard, while animator Myx Escudero used his computer to create images. The artists also doodled on bags that fans asked to be signed.

But plywood and the computer screen weren’t the only items that were drawn on that afternoon. Also present were professional tattoo artists from the Philippine Tattoo Artists Guild (PhilTag) led by its president, Ricky Sta. Ana, who were on hand to imprint their creations on their canvas of choice — human skin.

This way to individuality

Needless to say, the artists are very happy to be involved in JanSport’s projects. “It feels great. We’re getting noticed. It’s nice to know that someone supports us independent artists,” says Paolo Ferrer of Wee Will Doodle.

“People are beginning to accept indie art,” says Nelz Yumul, also of We Will Doodle. “More and more people are opting to get tattoos and a lot of establishments want to have doodles and graffiti on their walls.”

JanSport’s Graphic Remix bags are part of a give-and-take process.  The artist gets to express a thought, while the person who buys the bag gets a personal statement. “The JanSport bag project keeps my creative juices flowing through (personal) exploration when applying my art onto bags,” says Marcus Nada, one half of Electrolychee, whose designs are featured in the series.

The indie scene is all about making your own mark, setting your own style. And this is precisely what drew JanSport to the indie creative process.

“Our Graphic Remix bags are for people who want to edge it further,” says Clytie. “The customer may have to pay a premium for it, but he is assured that his bag is one of a kind.”

It is, we think, a small price to pay for individuality.