I’m not even sure where to begin, but I’ve been meaning to chronicle several of my creative endeavors as we moved through this year. Naturally, I haven’t made the time, devoting myself to other projects, mostly Golden Eagle Co which has consumed most of my existence for the past 15 months.

Yesterday something was brought to my attention that I found particularly odd, and with the inspiration of fellow creatives Adam Elmakias and Bryan Brinkman, I decided to write a blog about it.

As many of you know, in June of 2011 in collaboration with my friend Alex Shelnutt, I created a skate & streetwear brand named Golden Eagle Co. We created a flagship (no pun intended) design that is appropriately called ‘Fly High Die High’. The phrase was a motto that Alex had termed and thought would be a good idea for a t-shirt, I developed several designs in this direction, this being the original idea I had:

From there, we sat down and furthered the idea to where it stands today, we have since released the tee in 4 different colorways, 3 of which are currently for sale in our online store.

Over the past year, we have used this design as a huge part of our branding, identity and overall image as a brand. It has been our top selling item in each release thus far and continues to be the design that we are most associated with.

This morning I woke up and naturally rolled out of bed to fuel my feverish Internet addiction. Upon checking my Instagram feed (Follow me @jameslano), I was intrigued by a particular capture taken by Bobby Hundreds.

Little did I know this message would foreshadow the rest of the afternoon. I then received a picture text message from a friend…

Now, I understand that a huge underlying motive in the streetwear game is objectifying popular icons, images and symbols throughout our culture by graphically tweaking them to fit current trends in fashion and apparel, but this is just pathetic. At least change the font! Upon further research, I found several other similar Trukfit items currently stocked by Zumiez.

This could normally have been written off as a coincidence, or even a gentle form of flattery. This is the ‘greatest rapper in the world’s’ clothing line, afterall. But after seeing how blatantly unoriginal these products are, I couldn’t help but dust off my soapbox.

It just so happens that by the ever so small confines of the music industry, we had been fortunate enough to send Wayne’s band boxes of our apparel since we’ve started the line, including many of these Fly High Die High tees in efforts to show our support and also spread the message of our brand. I take no responsibility in claiming the credit of such phrases such as Fly High, many companies have done the same before, but the exact same typeface, slightly modified, with the phrase ‘Respect No Competition’ leaves a slightly uneasy feeling in my gulliver. I think Benny Gold would be slightly disturbed by that paper airplane in the graphic as well. Don’t you think, Benny?

As a brand, we’re all about collaboration, not competition. I have no intention of taking any form of action against Wayne or his brand, I’m just poking fun at the apathy of those creative directors who pump these corporate retail shops full of bland, unoriginal and uninspired ideas. I merely wanted to touch on T.S. Eliot’s quotation about poets that I had stumbled upon this morning, as it seemed to describe this very situation with perfection:

Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different. The good poet welds his theft into a whole of feeling which is unique, utterly different from that from which it was torn; the bad poet throws it into something which has no cohesion. A good poet will usually borrow from authors remote in time, or alien in language, or diverse in interest.

Trucks dont fly. Dare to be different.

Eagles fly the highest,
JL

My brothers in Oceana have officially launched a Kickstarter campaign in hopes of bringing their new album to life with the gracious donations from their friends, family and fans.

If you have a second, this video explains a bit about the band’s current situation behind the record and starting the campaign.

Oceana // Kickstarter Campaign from James Lano on Vimeo.

All pledges are greatly appreciated and there are a number of incentives involved in donating towards the creation of this music. I can personally vouch for how magical some of these new songs are, it will be amazing to hear them come to life.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2071738890/oceana-lets-record-an-album

It’s a blessing to work closely with these amazing beings, I have nothing but hope for this campaign.
Much love,
JL

Seanman aka Honesty
Debary, FL // February 2012

Flomotion Launch Party [Jonnie Morgan Band, Tigerweather, The Crazy Carls]
Cafe DaVinci // Deland, Florida.
February 2012

Baba Rob
Maitland Art Center // Maitland, Florida.
February 2012

The past few years getting to know the members of Oceana as both human beings and musicians has been one of the most inspiring and humbling experiences of my existence. The moments I am so grateful to have shared with these individuals has poured so much inspiration and light into my life; I couldn’t not work this closely alongside them. If there were any projects that I gain much satisfaction from completing, it has been all that I have been able to capture of them with a camera.

So without anymore further introduction, I’d just like to close this short passage by saying thanks to Oceana for allowing me to show the world how I think their inspiring contributions should be perceived. I’m glad I know you.

This is Dog Radio II. Enjoy.

JL

Oceana // Dog Radio II from James Lano on Vimeo.

Additional Photography