INTERVIEW | The Man Behind the Topo Designs x Hatchet Supply Daypack
Mike Nicholas is a good friend of Hatchet Supply, a talented designer with his own apparel line DIEM, and a restauranteur who just opened a vegan spot called Aunts et Uncles with his wife in Flatbush. He's also the mind behind our new Topo Designs x Hatchet Supply Daypack. We spent some time with Mike and his son Ethan to talk about the collaboration.
Why did you want to collaborate with Topo Designs?
I have been a fan of Topo Designs from the beginning but a fan from a distance. Wasn't until Hatchet Supply started carrying their products that I was able to touch and feel the pieces. From that point, I began to buy everything I could get my hands on. Pieces for my son, my wife and myself. When Gene mentioned the possibility of doing a collaboration I was immediately excited. Most of their goods are made in the USA and that means a lot to me.
They have a wide range of packs, apparel, and accessories. What about the Daypack spoke to you?
The Daypack by itself is pretty solid. It's just the right size to pack essentials and be light and mobile. You can also accessorize with other pieces to handle your load.
Why did you choose olive green ripstop for our patch?
The Hatchet Supply team emphasized the use of military patchwork on this bag. So, I thought the green would work well amongst the other colors. Not to mention it's my favorite color.
What do the numbers on the patch signify?
The numbers are simply the area codes and addresses of the Hatchet Supply stores here in Brooklyn and in Los Angeles.
Could you speak to why you chose these materials and colors?
Initially, I chose about 16 colors, we then narrowed it down to two. After the Hatchet Supply team and Topo Designs team met in Colorado, we were able to zero in on materials and colors based on swatches and reference bags brought to the meeting. The pink strings had to pop and restore the feeling that backpack strings did when I was in middle school. The tan leather bottom is so regal and luxe to me. It's classic and timeless. The Cordura speaks for itself: strong and sturdy. Necessary for these NYC street commutes.
Could you also walk us through what makes each of these items part of your everyday carry?
Well to be honest that knolling is a mixture of my stuff and Ethan's stuff. It's the essentials we use to create on the go. Ideas come all the time from many places, so we have to be able to put the ideas down. Not much creation happens without music, hence the ear buds. Ethan is a huge anime fan, so Tokyo Ghoul isn't far.
