Mar 17, 2014
Stumbled on an old post again after a fan interaction....(which is still a super weird word to use as it implies I think I'm better or superior,which totally isn't the case).It was kind of dope. It was early in the brand when we used to give more explanations as to where a piece came from or the story behind it.
Despite knowing the story,the crazier part was just writing style.Generally speaking, I write like I type and the idea of blogging is kind of foreign to me still because basically you're holding the fate of a brand in your hands with each keystroke.I
've pretty much opened up on the idea of trying to interact more and be genuine with you guys, but it's still super tough because half the stuff I would say in passing reads like a tabloid.It's not meant to be that way, it's just kind of the craze you deal with when what you do relies on interacting with the general public and having to connect with so many people.And the catch is you have to do it regularly to make anything come to fruition.
Reading a bit of the [current] few articles, there are hits and misses, the pieces that speak to me or read well actually say something and the others feel like cryptic rants because there's still a bit of leftover apprehension from the P.R. game that goes along streetwear and some communities.
It really is tough to reveal what you're working on, your inspiration,frustrations, triumphs,hopes, or anything else for the whole world to possibly judge,scrutinize,or steal but on top of that,you hope that it resonates, doesn't offend too much, or make the image/representation of your brand look bad.You're just trying to tell your story, not ruin anyone's lives,but honesty kind of has a way of doing that.
I don't have kids, but I imagine this is what it's like.You know that kid you knew who had the annoying Mom or Dad you loved,hated,or just couldn't understand for the life of you? That's kind of how it feels speaking for a brand.Good days, bad days, "honest days" , they may affect your standing in the greater world and throw you into unknown territory just by an ever so slight interaction,subsequently affecting your child's image or association as well. And this too, is usually done often.Scary stuff.
I used to wonder why people working for certain companies were the way they were.Whether closed off, quiet,blatant, a lot can be misconstrued or overcast an ideal, the public is fickle, and the Internet is unforgiving...and that's where we live.
Despite this, I feel there is some reward in authenticity.The fans really get us, there is less of a worry if you're open,and also something genuine is so rare, I think people appreciate it. Or at least I hope they do.
You see, the embodiment of Hungry Human comes with struggle.So, It's pretty lame to leave all of you out of the loop.Sometimes it may be in the best interest of the brand to be quiet,to play nice, but the benefits of that don't really yield enough to be anything lasting.But generally speaking that's a rarity and the gain is temporary.You deprive someone of something for the hope of a trivial gian : It's like bad product.
Sure, you can get a few more sales from random person number #09809898089809809 if you sell them a cruddy shirt and don't tell them what they're wearing or give it much thought. But, for all the heart and sacrifice that goes into each element of what we do , it's only fair to tell you guys the stories that are bigger than the design...the REAL stories.It's a ripoff otherwise.
I want you guys to know what the hell we do and live the brand with us.Hopefully it gives you something extra to hold onto and makes that purchase or support you give us that much better.I want you to not only get your money's worth, but your life's worth out of what we are offering. Just remember that : I'm trying to give you more...on that note, get on the mailing list.More might be on the way very soon. Much love..real love. -h_h-
Try Hard, Never Settle,Stay Hungry -h_h-
Mar 7, 2014
Friend.Strange word. When you look at it, there is a meaning that comes to resemble the nearest and most familiar person to you.It then moves around to those familar and hovers back to people that may not spawn feelings of intimacy, but familiarity at a minimum.
When I think about the word, the first recollection that my tiny brain assembles is what I thought the word meant,in contrast to the actual definition, experience teaches you that words are nothing compared to actions, and friend is just a word unless there's a match with what one labeled as such does.That being said, I had to get rid of some friends.
The magic of money is that it has the ability to take on any meaning.Currency yields boundless possibilities in the current iteration of what we deem the world, and with those changes, people are able to succumb to the wills of both the external and internal,and if done in haste, may forget who they are, all over small pieces of paper.
The Hype shirt is a bit of a nod to that, a reminder that more can indeed be less,that character is weakened to vices and whims of even the most virtuous seeming individuals.Money,greed,and hardship can expose character and create unfathomable acts.
With that said, the most trouble we've had or that I've ever shared was spawned from trusting in words that were not paired with actions, but soundly trusted because they were then endorsed by that word: friend.
Some designs serve as a message to not only to the fans, but myself. "Stay away from stinkers", "Try Hard, Never Settle Stay Hungry","MONSTERS", they resonate and remind one to be mindful of self and trust what both people and your instincts tell you,because they may be all you have.Like parents and truthful passerbys always say, "the only one you can count on in the end is you".
Thinking back,this has been a part of our credo from the beginning , trust in yourself, hold tight to your vision, and keep going, never give up or hold back, because in the end, you will only be to blame.
I look at the weird people that came in and also the great strangers that happened upon the arrival of HH. And there was a mix or paranoia and blindness that just made it work, but not entirely as envisioned.There was a crucial piece that I keep harping on that genuinely was missing.It's just all making sense now. You gotta do you.
Now that some restraints have been lifted, there's fun in just being able to do basic things.It's okay to say what's on your mind and share with fans what's going on. It was wild there for a second having to self-censor and kind of just be the most boring, weird,wonky, over-the-top, in-authentic person you could ever meet. It's like being a politician or weird celebrity but without any of the perks and I don't like it, not one bit.
Anyways, there's a bunch of cool stuff that will kind of come out and make sense of all this mumbo jumbo,and maybe shed some light on where we've been and what we've been up to. Also, it should give you guys a more clear idea of where we come from on stuff and the people,places,and struggles we face in the pursuit of making something "authentic" happen. I'll say it once,and I'll say it again: This isn't easy.
For the time being however, I'm ditching the word 'friend'.Anybody that's cool is cool and anyone that's not...that's cool,you're okay too,just stop calling people your friend.Fans and homies should be on the lookout for some fun stuff and keep their eyes peeled...and if you can, make sure to tell someone you know is awesome and hasn't tried to steal your dreams or destroy you in the last 3-5 years that they should do the same.Buy them a Slurpee too, they deserve it.
As always, thanks for rocking with us.Hang tight, I will try to keep the blogging up and also don't worry about anything but making yourself better each day.That's what we do, and it's starting to work...later friends....er..later dudes... haha...stay awesome (and hungry!).
Try Hard, Never Settle, Stay Hungry -h_h-
Mar 5, 2014
Was just sitting up here staring at some top secret stuff and looking back...again.
I don't really Google 'hungry human' too often, it's weird.The stuff that used to popup back in the day was competitors and brand jockeys with better SEO ,and then maybe us on the next page, you might see a piece or two, maybe a model or one of you guys rocking something that I may have forgot about, despite it not being out that long ago.
There's this thing that goes with working the way we do, where you look forward,then back, and are somehow in the end forced to make decisions in the current that are reflective of both times.It's hard to give a complete visual and it probably isn't even necessary unless you're hard up for ideas or want to get in my head,but just for the fans that like stories, I'll give it a go.
Put yourself in the world and see everything at once.Take yourself outside of time and you can see energy all around you.Each piece we've had, also had an energy to it and the people that picked up on a piece or had an influence on it's creation, they span the design.
So, when I look at a piece, I actually don't see the visual.I see the feeling and the people that made it what it is.I see the friends and fans we have never met that I can look at wearing a shirt or hoodie and say "you get me" and "I get you back", it's the most unique feeling in the world.You're communicating in a place where matter isn't relevant, it's more than that.
I found a comment on Iplaywinner, one of the only websites from the community I come from that has ever really supported us.And it read:
For real shout out to Hungry Human, it's obvious this dude puts a lot of effort into his work. I ordered from him a while ago and it arrived quickly with some extra shit tossed in the package for fun. It made me feel loved in a way a monster such as myself never has
l cried.As a man, you're taught not to cry, but the farther I go, the more often I find myself breaking that rule.
You see, the brand isn't really centered around the people you may think.People that understand and are exposed to the energy support it.Those that loathe or fear it either do their best to suppress or ignore it.It's almost like a cockroach,snails,stray cats or the smell of raisins burning in the Sun...those things all evoke something..and they are obscure but familiar references that show you someone's character.
People can pour salt, offer food,protection,shelter,or they can cover their nose at the "smell you make".But rarely does one disregard these, they do something.Even if they don't know it,they do something.
When I think about the Monsters or people I don't know,I wonder what they feel when they open a package.I've spent many a night trying to fathom the best way to show what it is "I" feel when an order comes in.The resulting inclusions in your packages were the most refined semblances I could offer at whatever time a parcel was sent.
Now that the direction is more clear, I find myself wondering what you guys think.Let's be honest, stuff hasn't come out for a while, I was quiet for a minute, and even now, there's a reservation that is necessary when "doing business" with people.You can't throw it all out in the street, you have to hold back.
The way that I live life is a contrast of privacy and extroversion that comes to make awesome gear with a message that hopefully translates to anyone that runs across it.Many of you started with little to zero knowledge of the brand and now have made strides towards musedom, I draw inspiration from the words an insights you share with me. It's funny how the world changes.
Back to the present, there's a level I've been trying to reach and the components needed seem within in reach.History bufs may liken it to the Paleolithic era, but instead,the tools are in my mind (alongside a killer way to get more ounces in my Slurpee,but that's another story for a different day).
Now that the statement has been made, I will go head and shoot you guys something that may speak to you.I am thinking about ALL OF YOU and for the ones who never poured salt,or tried to step on us..maybe even moved out of the way...that has been what has made the endeavor worthwhile.Thank you to every fan,friend,foe,weirdo,nobody,and somebody that has made us what we are...and to the strangers, I hope you continue to feel the love we have for you and more.
Try Hard,Stay Hungry,Never Settle -h_h-
Mar 3, 2014
Playing with a concept lately that takes up a majority of my time hashing out. It's something familiar but relatively underused because the implications that go alongside it are dangerous for most businesses and entities to rely on. Once you give it a close look, you'll understand why it's often overlooked and also shunned by the majority of people we deal with in and out of business.
If you haven't guessed the name or source of the piece, I will give you a hint, actually, I'll go even farther and just give you the word itself: truth.
There was a point where I had to examine the way I deal with people and do "business" because some things weren't adding up.After some choice insights and musings from strangers, I came to realize the reason any of this works is also the reason it doesn't at times.I tell it like it is.
Now that's a great thing if you're in a wonderful position of obscurity,power, or you have a tough skin (often synonymous with delusion), but that's not always the case.So, the truth can be troublesome.
After some heavy deliberation and a ton of fan emails asking something to the effect of "why don't you tell people this?" or "wow, I had no idea"...it seems I was not authentic.If something was just really bad or painted a light that was uncomfortable, it was pretty much glazed over or avoided.
If this were politics, that would be an awesome thing.But this is a brand about struggling to reach goals, breaking molds, hardship,resiliency,and at the end of the day, it just doesn't work to ask so much of you without putting that responsibility on myself while running this. It's essentially a lie. Lies don't work here.
With all of these revelations, there comes more.You guys have to be truthful with yourselves and ask whether you would rather bathe in mediocrity or if you indeed live the brand and want more.
If you do, get on the mailing list, tell friends, spread the brand and culture in places we can't go. This has been a labor of love and continues to be, but it can't be done alone.The places we try to go, they might not always want or accept us.This isn't new, it's life. And if someone doesn't want or accept you, why would you try to support them in the first place?
That's been a part of the struggle in not only streetwear, but life as of late.There's a feeling now that is hard to shake, and working on some pieces has made me realize what was missing all along...the complete, unabashed,truth.
Feelings will be hurt, egos will be crushed, pride may be jettisoned.But,the end result should prove to yield all of you a more worthwhile brand that not only tries harder than ever to give you the best, but also doesn't settle for any less with any facet of the brand or culture behind it. You're in for some good stuff.
In the meantime, keep holding on and persisting, spread the word to everyone you know.We need that from you and I'm genunine in saying it's for the sake of making something great happen. This and just doing the best you can for yourselves to want and do more each day is all we can ask...oh, and maybe some Laffy Taffy...but that's another day (grape is the best). Carry on and stay hungry out there! -h_h-
Try Hard, Never Settle, Stay Hungry -h_h-
Mar 3, 2014
The world is prone to celebrating mediocrity and ignoring anything meaningful and/or substantial unless there is fame or profit involved...or the person dies.Because of that, a lot of really great stuff flies under the radar never to be heard from again unless fate,luck, or the aforementioned help position them elsewhere.
At any rate, one of my good buds is trying to do great work for the fighting game community and despite it being a passion project by someone from a large community with a need for such exposure,and a huge fanbase, their fanpage has all of 37 likes.Bummer.
Coincidentally the book covers Evo Moment 37,which is arguably the greatest moment in the history of competitive gaming.
The project is in its infancy, But,there is a lot it has to offer.Do us a favor and like the fanpage when you get a sec.They deserve better.Remember, if you want quality, you have to support it! I believe in you guys!
Lifted this pic from the internet.This is how Glenn looks after he's eaten somewhere good without telling you. Tell him to stop doing that to us when you can, maybe he'll listen to you guys!!!
Try Hard,Never Settle, Stay Hungry -h_h-