I got this jacket over a decade ago in 2011 when I was in Japan for an art show I was opening. Peter Sutherland and I had just borrowed some BMX bikes from our friends at Wbase so we could ride around the city. Our first stop was the TNF Standard shop which carried all this stuff you could never get or see in America. We both got a different version of these Camo jackets
GORE-TEX Studio: This one is getting harder and harder these days - but how would you describe yourself in 1 sentence max?
Eric Elms: Images, Ideas & Designs for People, Places & Things
GORE-TEX Studio: Tell us a bit about your city’s climate. What are your three favorite spots - in the summer, in the winter (outside)? What is your favorite method of transportation and why? How do you prep for bad weather if you spend time outside?
Eric Elms: I'm in Los Angeles now so the climate is pretty mellow, especially after living in NYC for so long.
LA Locales:
1: I have a little nature area out of the back of my place in Pasadena that feels like a little private park oasis in the middle of the city.
2. LA River bike path. You feel like you are riding this buffer between the city and pseudo nature.
3. Anytime I get good seats at Staples Center for a basketball game.
Outside of America the train is the best. You get the views, you can sit down for a proper meal and you start and end up in the center of the city. No comparison. (I'm not gonna lie, there is something nice about driving after not doing it much for 20 years.)
In super cold climates you have your dedicated winter gear but here you start to appreciate the versatile breathable pieces more. That's harder to pull off correctly and you start appreciating the technical side more. Sometimes it's easier to provide straight-forward warmth than it is to give you just the right amount of protection and comfort. I still have a closetful of my heavy jackets I am desperate to pull out anytime I travel during the winter months though.
GORE-TEX Studio: Tell us a bit about your professional life and do you draw a hard line between private/professional? What were your most memorable moments professionally, your biggest achievements?
Eric Elms: I have a studio near downtown LA where I am simultaneously working on projects for my design studio, brand and personal projects. Being able to jump from design to painting to clothing throughout a given day or week lets personal projects influence commercial ones in interesting ways. And vice versa.
GORE-TEX Studio: What are you wearing today, why are you wearing it, did you have a particular weather scenario in mind when choosing this piece? What do you love most about your GORE-TEX product?
Eric Elms: I'm wearing a camo jacket from the North Face Standard shop in Tokyo. It has served me in many countries & on many trips over the last decade. It is a perfect balance between a shell and having a little warmth so that you can basically wear it all four seasons regardless of where you are. Plus, tons of pockets!!!!!
GORE-TEX Studio: Where and when did you get this… Do you have any special memories connected to this item? If you could go anywhere, where would you like to take this piece?
Eric Elms: I got this jacket over a decade ago in 2011 when I was in Japan for an art show I was opening. Peter Sutherland and I had just borrowed some BMX bikes from our friends at Wbase so we could ride around the city. Our first stop was the TNF Standard shop which carried all this stuff you could never get or see in America. We both got a different version of these Camo jackets. Coincidentally right when we got on our bikes after leaving it started raining so we got that instant GORE-TEX gratification. Right after that we hit the coffee spot that had the camo donuts that matched the jackets!! I always associate it with that trip. I miss Japan a lot after not being able to travel much these last couple years. I would like to reunite it with its hometown as soon as possible.
GORE-TEX Studio: How do you define the term “comfort” in clothing, in particular technical apparel?
Eric Elms: Comfort comes in two forms. Utility is half of comfort to me. You can have the most comfortable pair of pants but if it's missing the right pockets to stash your belongings you never feel quite right wearing them. I think the technology has caught up to the point where companies are using the tech to create really cool aesthetic decisions in their pieces. These are the moments that make me want to buy new gear now.
GORE-TEX Studio: Tell us about your current and upcoming projects… what are you looking for in the next six months and what challenges do you see that you’re excited about?
Eric Elms: I'm trying to concentrate on more personal projects this next year. Get back to making some personal projects a priority and letting them curate the commercial side. Some furniture design. I'm actually working on some cool ways to customize some GORE-TEX gear in the studio but it is taking a bit of experimenting....
