Who’s OHW? Pronounced “who”, this new footwear line is the result of a partnership between two very talented individuals, Stephen Gil and Hiro Chen, whom together possess forty years of industry experience in all things footwear. Their product is clean and minimal, allowing quality craftsmanship, materials and details to stand out. Each shoe is made in their Zhuhai factory, on the southern coast of Guangdong, China, and signed by the person who completes the final quality check.
We’re highlighting the arrival of this new brand at the shop with a two-piece collaboration inspired by Herman “Jackrabbit” Smith-Johannsen, an important link between Norwegian Sami people and First Nations Cree people. The Norwegian-born engineer immigrated to Canada with his family at the beginning of the twentieth century and settled in the Laurentians, where he introduced cross-country skiing to our fair country. The Cree nicknamed him “Jackrabbit”, because of the speed with which he could travel on his skis, versus their snowshoes. The man is a legend who was appointed Member of the Order of Canada in 1972. He passed at the of 111, leaving behind a great legacy.
The OHW? x OTH boots pay homage to this story in two distinct ways. The black colourway represents the Cree nation, with dark uppers reminiscent of their raven hair, and lining inspired by the intricate design of their trading blankets. The brown colourway represents the Sami people, using leather similar to the hides they would tailor to make clothes, and a colourful lining representative of the embroideries that would finish their dress. Both linings are also designed as a nod to Jackrabbit's famed Fair Isle cardigan.
