FLUEVOG. John Fluevog. Читать онлайн. Newlib. NEWLIB.NET

Автор: John Fluevog
Издательство: Ingram
Серия:
Жанр произведения: Биографии и Мемуары
Год издания: 0
isbn: 9781928055549
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2020–

       page 145

       STEPPING OUT

       2010–2019

       page 129

       JUST START

       1990–1999

       page 91

      INTRODUCTION

      page 19

      18

      19

      A FLUEVOG SHOE isn’t just any shoe. It’s not just

      something to get you from point A to point B. A Fluevog

      shoe makes a statement. It says, “I’m happy to make

      my own path, to dance to my own tune, to walk my way

      and no one else’s.” Sometimes, it just says, “I’m happy.”

      A Fluevog shoe is a well-made shoe. It’s usually a

      pretty comfortable one, too. It stands out in a crowd

      with its unique shapes and vivid colours and handmade

      details. It looks at once retro and futuristic, orthopedic

      and sexy, practical and wildly whimsical. There is nothing

      else like it.

      For starters, there’s that name. “FLOO-vog.” What

      does it mean? Where does it come from?

      It’s the moniker of one John Fluevog, who has been

      selling, making and designing shoes on the edge of the

      continent, in Vancouver, Canada, since 1970. Today he

      has twenty-seven stores in Canada, the United States,

      Amsterdam, and now Melbourne, Australia, as well

      as a thriving online retail business. His boutiques are

      some of the last independent stores left anywhere

      in the world where the owner is also the designer.

      His business and brand are truly unique.

      There is a worldwide Fluevog subculture. Fluevogers

      recognize each other through their cute Minis and glam

      Munsters, their jaunty Derby Swirls and the toe bump on

      a Swordfish boot. As soon as they recognize a kindred

      spirit, the stories start. They reminisce about where

      they bought their first Vogs and commiserate over the

      unicorn that got away. They shop for pre-loved Vogs at

      the FlueMarket; they peruse the Flueblog and vote on

      VogPopuli; they look up styles of yore in the Flueseum,

      perhaps with the help of a Fluevogologist.

      Funnily enough, the family name wasn’t Fluevog to

      begin with. It was Nielsen. Could you imagine? Shoes

      by John Nielsen? Those would be pretty boring shoes,

      don’t you think?

      Turns out Fluevog works pretty well as a noun, an

      adjective and a verb. It’s odd and slightly comical. It’s

      just difficult enough to say that you’ll never forget it, but

      not so tricky you’ll give up trying. It conjures the idea of

      little animals: there’s a little fluevog, how cute! And kids

      love that F thing. So do grownups, come to think of it.

      INTRODUCTION

      “The first time I worked

      with John, I asked for

      wooden clog styles.

      John said, ‘No problem.’

      He hand-carved them

      himself in his garage!”

      ANNA SUI, FASHION DESIGNER

      It’s cute and it’s fun, but don’t be fooled: John Fluevog

      Shoes is also serious business.

      John Fluevog started out selling shoes—really cool

      shoes—in the historic part of Vancouver known as

      Gastown. He was the first to bring Dr. Martens to

      Canada, maybe to North America. He was one of

      the first to start selling shoes online, too. He tapped

      into hippies and disco, punk and grunge and house.

      20

      But he had an untapped artistic bent of his own, a love

      of unusual shapes and lines and bold colours, and it was

      only a matter of time before he started designing his own

      shoes. You’ve seen them on Lady Miss Kier and Madonna,

      on Alice Cooper, Jack White and Lady Gaga. You might

      also have seen them on your lawyer, your doctor, your

      dentist, on the person who teaches your kids music and

      the barista who’s making cappuccino art at the hip new

      joint in your neighbourhood.

      Fluevogers are everywhere. They’re just not everyone.

      John Fluevog is an astute businessman, but not a

      conventional one. His journey to commercial success has

      not been easy or straightforward. He has loved and lost,

      hovered on the edge of bankruptcy more than once, and

      even skirted the law to keep things afloat. Angels have

      been there to help him when things have been particularly

      hard. He believes it’s because his journey is not yet done,

      that he has more to say, more to do.

      Speaking of saying things. Many of his shoes come

      with a message. The messages are the essence of John

      Fluevog. They are a little bit corny, a whole lot heartfelt,

      and a much-needed antidote to this most cynical of eras:

      “Stay sharp!” “To love or to hate, the choice is yours.”

      “Share your cool…increase your daily hugs.” “Reach for

      the