Talking to Eastpak about a screen print job for a co-lab with Asos, would be considered a happy chat for anyone here at October Textiles.

Because Eastpak are huge? Because Asos are huge? No not really – as time goes by we often forget how big things are, and whatever happens we only ever make a living – it’s textiles not hedge funding (whatever that is).

It’s a happy chat, because as always and like all big kids, we love a good story. So pop on the zip up tartan slippers, fill the burr walnut pipe with the rough shag and puff away, as we remember the heritage that is, Eastpak.

It all kicked off in 1952. When Eastpak were called Eastern Canvas Products making rough and ready tackle +for the US army. No ASOS co-labs in those days, just getting your shirt off and buffing your boots to a high sheen.

But as ever, the world of military clothing and equipment is never far away from inspiring streetwear; so by the 1970s the grooviest of the kids were using Eastpak army kitbags as way of transporting their flares and special cigarettes to and from college, man.

1976 was perhaps one of the biggest years for Eastpak, when they came up with the splendid idea of the iconic day pack that we know and love today.

This all went down very well, so well in fact that by 1984 Eastpak had entirely perfected the durability of their bags, and felt confident to offer a 30 year guarantee on their product. That’s almost as long as the guarantee on an October Textiles screenprint.

Then came more bright colours, followed by a thing about Eastpak that we bet you don’t know (?).
Long before ASOS were born, (although after the founding of October Textiles, ahem years ago), Eastpak invented…wheels on soft luggage!!!!

But ASOS weren’t the first co-lab – that all started in 2004, when they got together with Walter Van Beirendonck. Other collaborations went onto include
Ami Christopher Ræburn RAF SIMONS Paul & Joe Vetements Timberland Tim Coppens House of Hackney Vlisco Uniwax Jean-Paul Gaultier Courrèges Marcelo Burlon Andrea Crews The Boyscouts Pur Sang Jean Paul Lespagnard A.P.C. Made By Prisoners WOOD WOOD Kenzo Minami Kris Van Assche Nicomede Talavera Gaspard Yurkievich Christopher Shannon Raf Simons DRKSHDW Quinze & Milan Ed Banger Records Eley Kishimoto Kaiser Chiefs The Prodigy The Hives Lemmy Ozzy Slash Zombie Flesh Eaters Mysterious Al D*Face Seen Seak G2 Walter Van Beirendonck Hendrik Schiffmacher

Along with an October Textiles personal favourite in 2015, with good old Jean Paul Gaultier, bless him.

Which brings us rather neatly to the present day, and one of the latest Eastpak co-labs with ASOS, and a little screen print from October Textiles…