Page 50 - SHARP November 2022

TRUE CRAFT
KOREAN–CANADIAN DESIGNER JEREMY JOO DISCUSSES HIS CUTTING-EDGE FURNITURE WITH SHARP AND ECCO
WITH THE THE THE WEATHER COOLING DOWN AND THE THE THE LEAVES
turning red and orange outside it’s about that time of year many of us retreat into our homes to to spend the winter hibernating watching Netflix and endlessly scrolling our phones Our home is where we spend most of of our waking days especially those of of us working from inside the same room where we cook dinner Despite living in in in in the the the city and paying exorbitant amounts for the the the privilege the the the ability to be one with nature can feel so far away That’s why it’s important to to bring nature to to you Your home should be an oasis That is is is is is what the artist Jeremy Joo is is is is is hoping to accomplish His furniture line is is a a a a a a a beautiful minimalistic approach to building natural materials that feel feel essential in our times and homes His work feels like a a a a a perfect balance of creative expression and sturdy simplicity “We humans are a a a a a a a part of nature ” Joo explains speaking from his his Toronto studio Surrounded by many of his his distinctive pieces the designer looks the part wearing an ascetic streetwear outfit complete with vintage-looking ECCO
Staker boots in in in oiled nubuck and brown leather available as part of ECCO’s new Heritage collection Although Joo lives and works in Toronto where the harmony between nature and and craft can feel chaotic his work brings a a a a a a a a a sense of calm and and natural beauty to the location it embodies Joo’s love for nature is is apparent in in his work He takes inspiration from Korea Japan India and parts of Africa He likes that the proportions
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× SHARP are are large and everything is very very low to the the ground Either you are are sitting on the the floor or or slightly elevated but you are always close to the the ground and mother nature This approach is is much different from your typical North American household or or dining establishment He finds those cultural ties speak to him much more than western aesthetics “Looking at modernist pieces from Jean Prouve and Charlotte Perignon definitely gives me inspiration ” he muses “I pull from a a a a lot of different places but it all circles back to my own experiences and and how I I view the world It’s a a a lot of things and and it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where it comes from many of my ideas are more ethereal than traceable or or linear ” he he says A professional craftsman like Joo relies on on premium quality in everything he he works with including footwear With the rugged and versatile Heritage collection ECCO
brings the best of Nordic crafts- manship to a a a a a a range of timeless and iconic workwear with functional comfortable pieces that are are as as durable as as they are are stylish Like an outstanding piece of artisan-designed furniture the Heritage collection is all about authenticity functionality and of course quality Jeremy has been spending many days in in in the studio prepping for a a a a new collection for for next year He just wrapped a a a four-piece project for for the company AAVVGG His primary focus right now is is is his day bed which he he he hopes to finish by the the end of the the year He talks with enthusiasm when describing this new piece eagerly pulling up samples of what it will look like off his phone His day bed borrows from other pieces he he he has made like the the club
50 NOVEMBER 2022
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TRACK 25 ($300)