Behind the Collaboration: Peaces x Mojave
A Joint Pursuit
Our upcoming project is in collaboration with Peaces, a brand whose mission is spreading positivity. I met the brand-owner, Malik, through my friend Jason back in high school circa 2014. Fast forward to now, we both run businesses that align in concept and aesthetic, which set a good foundation for working together. This project has lagged for a minute due to COVID-19; however, I’m happy and grateful that it’s beginning to see the light of day.
Back in spring, Malik and I discussed what we both personally connected with. For us, it was our memories growing up in West Los Angeles. We both agreed that showing appreciation for this region through a shirt design would be the perfect project. We wanted the shirt to recollect certain beautiful and nostalgia-inducing places in our oftentimes austere city. These places take the form of public parks, beaches, and other natural spaces that served as the settings from our most beloved memories.
From a campaign point of view, we wanted the project to transcend a lonely t-shirt drop. So a pen and field journal will accompany the tee and will be released as a trio. These items help give the project a somthn-light-research undertone, which will pan out in the upcoming weeks during our campaign launch.
Design wise, we wanted a shirt that looks clean from the front but gets a little wild on the back. The front features type that spells out the collaboration with fonts that increase, decrease, then increase again in weight. I think that this is not only visually interesting but also abstractly demonstrates how nature has managed to exist in Los Angeles. Due to urbanization, wildlife has most likely experienced decreases in population but continues to adapt and change to maintain itself. The back of the shirt experiments with graphic placements and texture by layering text and image with flat and puff-print ink along with unique composition. The design also features small details, which include little airplanes (referencing the LAX airport), a lizard, small Peaces and Mojave logos, and a scientific description of the California Aster flower (also used as the large circle logo).
The unifying visual element between the brands is the peace-cube logo. It combines the peace sign that’s often used by Peaces along with a cube, which makes up the Mojave cube logo. This logo was also used on the journal and pen in order to keep all items in this project cohesive.
Additionally, we feel the shirt fits the times. For the past few years, development has significantly increased in West LA and all over LA in general. As a kid, I remember going on hikes with my dad and catching lizards on the bluffs that overlook Lincoln Blvd. Since then these bluffs have been fully developed into residential housing. This is just one example of the many developments that have happened over the years. Moving forward, I believe it’s important to preserve and foster the little bit of nature that’s left here in LA.
To contribute to the bigger picture, 20% of all proceeds from this project will go to Tree People, a non-profit organization that strives to ensure LA has enough tree canopy, healthy soil, and clean local water by empowering communities and policymakers.
Thank you again to our small but dedicated Mojave following. Without you, we wouldn't be able to do projects like this.
– Written by Nick Imbriale
– Edited by Michael Velasquez