If you haven’t already discovered the fancy footwork of the amazing upcycling shop Peterson Stoop, we’re thrilled to introduce you. They are the absolute definition of Wild Ingenuity™ and for our next installment in this series, we caught up with co-founder Janah Stoop for her thoughts on how nature, culture, and future affect their craft.
NATURE
Tell us about your company and how your products bring people closer to nature.
Our products are not inspired by nature in a classic sense. But we feel it is important to find a purpose in life for human beings. We found that purpose in making use of secondhand shoes, more sustainable materials and designing shoes that are repairable. We did not want to contribute to the destruction of the planet, so in that sense our work is inspired by preserving nature.
CULTURE
Where do you go for inspiration? What out there in current culture is creating the best or most interesting vibes to motivate you?
During the course of the day we try to stay sensitive to what we see on the street around us, on the internet and what our friends are wearing or talking about. When we start designing a new collection we look at what type of iconic sneakers we could give a new life. This season we looked at classics, such as Nike Blazers and Adidas Superstars. Recently we have been re-working typical running shoes, such as Asics Gel Kayano 26. We also always combine traditional and artisanal footwear techniques in our work.
FUTURE
What trends are you seeing and tracking right now that are helping you and your company plan for the future? What traits are you banking on your future audience having that are informing your decision making now?
Our current decisions are based on our goal to make all shoes either recyclable or repairable. We are looking for connections with big brands and personal connections designing customized footwear for private clients. And we are counting on our audience wanting to learn, grow, and create a more sustainable wardrobe.
Be sure to visit the Peterson Stoop website to see all their latest handcrafted creations and most definitely follow them on Instagram for a daily dose of upcycled inspo.