THE TWIN MATE
HEY MATE, WELCOME HOME !
Don’t look at this mess, it’s hectic at the moment ! Between my work, dropping my little treasure off at the nursery in the morning, night classes in college and getting back into doing sports, it’s not always that easy to take care of my home... Come in, come in, take a seat, I’ll make you a cup of tea !
Let’s be honest, I had to completely change my wardrobe after giving birth.. and my passion for cheese doesn’t exactly help with getting back in shape. French lifestyle, you know ? But the weekly exercise sessions are starting to pay off.
With such a hectic life, it’s difficult to find the time to exercise ! But in the end any moment could be the right moment. You just have to take any opportunity you get. It could be anything like an evening with the girls could suddenly turn into an electro party where you shake your ass all night long !
I walk a thin line between enjoyment and my own personal well-being, and I have found an uncompromising balance. A sport without any rules or the need to compete, but which allows me to workout everyday, that’s what I need. Simple !
Titouan ! Dinner’s ready !
CRASH TEST : THE PROTOTYPIST
In order to check that we’re on the right path, we start off with a practical phase ! No more drawings or ideas cropped on paper napkins from the bar in Tripostal... Here, we talk about prototyping, craftsmanship and the know-how of those who have gold in their hands, as my grandfather used to say. Because, in the end, we are creating something that doesn’t exist. That’s our job. We assemble components that have never been encountered, in shapes that have never been sketched. Until now.
It’s time for the sewing and the glue gun, to give birth to the monster that will guide future product enhancements. Yes, you heard right, that’s what it’s called : A monster !
Ahh, don’t be so harsh, it’s not that ugly! Above all, it allows us to confirm our intuitions and check proportions, ergonomics, product lines, to take a step back to find out if we are on the right track. We repeat this step again and again, as often as necessary. There is no room for dissatisfaction !
HOW DO YOU MAKE A SHOE?
FROM A SKETCH TO THE PLAYING FIELD
On paper, it looks simple.
But how do you put together all the ideas that have developed in the mind of a designer? How do you figure out how to link such and such components together, all the while staying true to the original design, and the essence of the product originally conceived by the “Mates”?
Obviously, designers always have the feasibility of their designs in mind, but sometimes it requires a technological breakthrough, or the interpretation of a prototypist to really work. This is why design is not a lonely exercise, it is constantly surrounded, challenged, reinvented in the company of product managers, engineers and creators of all stripes.
AND AFTER
A product is born from the hands and minds of its creators : above all it is a story of know-how and craftsmanship, illustration and technique. Eventually, it passes from hand to hand, from its birth on the corner of a post-it note to its first use on the track, field or wherever it’s used. It's not just a shoe, it's a bit of everyone, from those who made it to those who make something with it.
The first step in this waltz of different hands : the intention of creation.
Lines and volumes emerging from nothing.
Then we polish it, we refine it, we erase it and start from the beginning all over again. We experiment and explore different solutions until we figure it out and find THE answer we think will satisfy our “Mate.”
Once the decision is made, the project changes hands. We give it to the cutting and assembly experts who, through meticulous craftsmanship, will give us the first glimpse of what the final product will look like.
Basically, we’re always telling the same story : the one about our “Mate”. From the first moments when one of us stuck this Post-it on the glass door of the villa somewhere between France and Belgium where we held a workshop.
Hi there, it seems like you need a helping hand… You’re not sure where to start?
Yes I know, you don't have much time for yourself, with...work, kids, blah blah blah...but I'm going to help you to find some “me” time!
First of all, we’re going to give you a makeover. Don't worry, it won’t take all day.
I will give you lots of advice to guide you, motivate you, and make you feel less guilty, we are only human after all, right ? ;) And it won’t just be me, you see we’re an entire community who share tips and there are lots of other “supermums” involved too.
Oh yeah I know, it can be expensive to get the right equipment but if you want I can find stylish second hand clothing for you. It's good for the planet and the kids will thank you for it too!
In fact it's like a big walk-in closet that we share, so you can get whatever you need, and can send them back when your body has evolved ... or when you just get tired of wearing something!
Together we have prepared clothes for you that will save you time and effort. The idea is that you can basically wear them all the time, both at work and when you’re chilling out, and they are made so you can go for a run at any time of the day.
And what if it's raining ? Don't worry, we have you covered.
THAT’S IT.
As you can imagine, our work doesn’t just stop after we’ve made a nice 3D model, even if these renderings are a key part in driving the project forward. We now have to create what we call monsters - sometimes so-called for good reason. These are a type of early prototype we put together in an alpha version, then a beta version, and so on…
Once it’s ready and in the hands of our athletes, we wish this product a long and happy life on the pitch in the company of its new “Mate”.
Now, have I told you that we’re thinking of different solutions that allow our products to live even longer? The Bold Mate will fill you in :
What the "mate" ?
Don’t waste your time doing useless Facebook surveys to find out what your favourite flower says about your personality, discover your “Mate” right here.
Thanks to your answers, we will be able to draw up a map of the “Mates” ! Ready ? Set ? Go!
