Inspiration 001: The Beginning
My initial inspiration to start KILLSPENCER® came unexpectedly, during a 2007 visit to an American Military Museum just outside of Los Angeles, California. I was a design student at Art Center College of Design enrolled in Dynamic Sketching, a rigorous observational drawing class created by the late great Norman Schureman. He would teach us about Industrial design through studying artifacts in museum collections across Los Angeles. We would hone our skills: analyze, understand, sketch, invent and try to take our work to the next level.
I put this process to work at The American Society of Military History- An outdoor museum filled with functional vehicles and artifacts that were used in combat by the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force. I spent time drawing The Amphibious M-561 Gama Goat Truck, The DJ-3A Navy Jeep, The ultra-rare M43 Self-Propelled Gun. Toward the end of the trip I saw the common M988 Humvee + TRUCK TARP, what became the catalyst for the first KILLSPENCER® Repurposed Collection. This common modern day multi-purpose vehicle superseded the jeep with light-armored variants, ambulances, communication vehicles and tow missle carriers. Its name is derived from its nomenclature HMMWV- High mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle but what was most interesting to me wasn’t the truck at all. It was the waterproof, wind resistant, and ulra-durable cargo cover or ‘USED IN COMBAT MILITARY TRUCK TARP.’ I thought what happens to all the post combat materials over the years? As technology and processes develop and as these performance materials get used and abused in combat where does that go?
At that moment I knew I could REPURPOSE this battle scarred material as the basis for a collection of durable, waterproof, contemporary, sustainable artifcats that were completely unique. Each tarp tells its own story and I wanted to tell that story. So I obtained my first tarp. Took it home, scrubbed it down with soap and water and laid it out on the lawn. I became very familiar with the material and began figuring out ways to cut it up as to minimize the amount of wasted material. I then added patented performance buckles, the highest grade military spec webbing, metal d-rings, and in a relatively short period of time designed and hand sewed my first KILLSPENCER® bag, what was the prototype for the Repurposed : Olive Drab : Trackbike Messenger.
There was something so natural about the process- discovering an amazing resource, searching for months to obtain military artifacts from sources across the country, buying and learning how to use an industrial sewing machine, hunting for the best parts, pieces and accessories I could find. This energy and passion led me to develop a Special Ops Backpack and Weekender and officially launch my first collection in January of 2009. Now I’m approaching my second year in business and the bags are getting better and better. Now equipped with a secure padded laptop compartment for your 15″, 17″ Macbook Pro, *new compartments for your ipad and accessory case and utility pouch attachment points. See all the details of the current KILLSPENCER® collection.
