A Conversation with Sasha Lamb
Talking with Howler Bros VP, Sasha Lamb, about video rental stores, driving with the light on inside the car, moving to Austin, and the impact of skateboarding culture on his creative vision.
Hello everyone. Next up in the series of dad conversations is Sasha Lamb. Sasha and I go back about thirteen years ago to our days at Nautica, where I was working in the art department when he joined the knits design team. Our mutual love for creativity quickly bonded us, as did our knack for turning procrastination into an art form. He left NYC ten years ago and moved to Austin with his wife and two sons, who are now ten and fifteen.
Sasha’s career journey is as dynamic as it is inspiring. From his early days as a stock boy at a Staten Island deli to navigating the wild world of skateboard culture to becoming the vice president of product for an outdoor apparel brand, he’s basically the king of cool dad fashion in Austin. Sasha’s journey is as colorful and unpredictable as a cat on a skateboard.
Before we get started, I’d like to once again thank Madoka for the photos (and for translating this interview into Japanese) and Sasha, Teresa, Henry, and Walter for making it come together nicely.
Tell us more about yourself and your creative background.
I am currently the vice president of product for a men’s outdoor apparel brand called Howler Brothers. I oversee design and production, but I am a clothing designer by trade. I live and work in Austin, TX. I was born and raised in NYC and moved out west with my family ten years ago.
I’ve been a skateboarder ever since I was nine years old. I only really stopped after I hurt myself 6 or 7 years ago! Being in that culture made me see everything in a more creative and aesthetic way. I was an artist in high school and college. I got a job at an apparel print studio after college, which led to learning how to design clothes. I landed some jobs where I traveled the world to factories and suppliers, which gave me the experience for where I am now. Everything, no matter how small and insignificant, has a creative idea behind it which is what I love about the world.
What was your first job?
My first real job was as a stock boy at a Deli in Staten Island, up the street from my house. My first job in the creative field was as a print artist for a small NYC print studio.
How did you get into what you’re doing now?
As a skateboarder, clothes are very important. There are no uniforms, but there are. Dressing right meant that you would either be accepted at a spot or not. Your outfit spoke volumes, so due to this, I was always hyper-aware of clothes and the power they had. It made sense that I could translate my art skills to apparel.
After college, I didn't know what to do, but I luckily got a job at an apparel print studio on 34th Street in Manhattan. The other artists were senior designers who were taking a break from the apparel rat race to just sit and make art all day. From them, I learned a ton about designing clothing and went on to get junior jobs in the industry. Each subsequent job taught me a different level of skills, and it kind of built up from there.
What’s the project you’re most proud of?
I try to set achievable goals so as not to be too hard on myself! As far as the career projects that I’m specifically proud of, there would be my first print I saw out in the world, which was for Rocawear; DQM Holiday 2016; my contributions to Nautica runway stuff years back; and how far we’ve been able to come with Howler Brothers. I made tees for my crew’s skate video back in the aughts called “Lurkers,” which were always rad to see in the wild. I just made some stickers to support my neighborhood that I was stoked on.
Describe the process you go through to turn your ideas into reality.
I try to write out what the use of something is going to be in the real world. What is its purpose? How would people react to it? From there, I try to put together some concept references - even if I’m painting a room or on a canvas, I tape inspiration all over the place to keep the momentum going. Then, it’s just having a plan on how you’re going to make whatever you’re trying to make. If it’s a piece of clothing, then it’s understanding the timeline and materials involved. With paint on a canvas, it’s looking at what are the steps to get to where you think it needs to be. Not pretending it’s going to be easy is important. Anything worthwhile takes a fair bit of work.
What route led you to where you are today?
My path has been anything but direct. After working for apparel companies large and small, we were getting sick of the rat race in NYC. My wife had family in Austin, and every time we visited, we fell in love with it a little more. A chance email passed along led me to my current job. I’ve been in this position for almost nine years - a lifetime in NYC garment years!
When I was a kid, a few of the older skaters in my hood that I looked up to were all scheming to start their own t-shirt brands. I was so stoked on their ideas and dreamed of doing that, too, but I was too young to really understand. They were all cutting their own silkscreens and stuff like that. I remember seeing people wearing the tees and thought that was one of the coolest things in the world. Making clothing that makes people feel good about themselves is an amazing feeling, so I felt good about pursuing that.
When did your passion for design/art start?
I’ve been drawing since I was little. Growing up, we were super into cartoons, comic books, and anime. My brothers and I wanted to draw comics and that type of stuff. My parents were academics who were into Opera, classical music, art, and literature. Our house was filled with art, so I was always surrounded by it.
Who inspired you as a child?
I was lucky to have some cool older kids in my neighborhood when I was young. I would run home and write down the movies, music, etc., that they were talking about! I loved comic book artists - Dale Keown, Jim Lee, McFarlane, Barry Windsor Smith, and Jack Kirby. Those were my early idols. And then skateboarding was an addiction, and my room was wallpapered with my favorite brands and pros. I loved Rick Howard and Mike Carroll especially. Henry Sanchez was the GOAT, and I tried to get everything he put out.
Where do you look to be inspired these days?
I really look everywhere. I love architecture, interiors, vintage everything, and modern art. Inspiration can strike at any time, but if I’m looking for specifics, I start with the past—vintage—and go from there.
Is it the same as before you became a parent?
Yes, but now my boys are telling me about stuff I would have never known—music, TV, movies, clothing. Half the time, it’s out of left field, but it’s always rad that they have inspiration to share.
What’s something you did before becoming a parent that would be challenging to do now?
Definitely socializing. Schedules are so complex for the kids now. Having kids over or our kids going with their friends is a big thing to manage, which eats up most of our time. Spontaneous hanging out with our friends is mostly a thing of the past. Perhaps it would be different in New York with being able to use mass transit. Driving everywhere can be a drag.
What does a typical day look like?
During the school year, my typical day involves getting up super early, 5:45 am, to take my oldest son to track practice. Then, I get back, have coffee, and take my dog Pepper for a walk. She’s a blue heeler, so taking her as long and far as possible is key. Then, I head into work.
Each day at work is different, which keeps me on my toes. Depending on what the boys have going on with sports (soccer, track), I get home around 6 pm, and we have dinner together. This is important for us as much as we can manage it! After dinner I try to hang with my wife where we can have conversations so the whole day is not about work and kids. I try to run on the treadmill during the week or manage some household chores or to-dos. Once my youngest gets to bed, my wife and I hang out and watch TV. Once or twice a week, we try to keep the TV off and read. Then sleep - rinse and repeat! Summer changes it a bit but not too much.
What are some of the things you enjoy doing together?
We like watching movies and shows together. It's always fun when we find something we all like equally, which can be a challenge. With Henry, we skate together on the weekends, which is rad. Walter and I will practice soccer in the backyard or at the local school field.
Are they the same things you did as a child?
Besides watching stuff together, not really. I was so into skateboarding that my brother and I were out all the time. Our dad would drive us to spots and stuff, which we were really grateful for, but that wasn’t “together.” We were a little more self-sufficient. When I was drawing or being creative, I was kind of in my own world and loved to be on my own. My kids aren’t fans of being solitary.
What’s something you learned from your sons?
My oldest is great at dispelling the myths you tell your kids, the “old wives' tales” like catching a cold without a jacket or driving with the light on inside the car. He’s a problem solver and approaches things very differently from how I would do things. I love when he solves something in a way that I didn't think would work. It opens my eyes. Both boys have taught me lessons on persistence and not giving up - be it sports or academics, I’m always inspired when they don’t give up.
What are your children obsessed with at the moment?
Both boys are super into video games (what kid isn’t?). It’s part of the way that they socialize. My youngest, Walter (10), is really into professional soccer and cartoons. My oldest, Henry (15), is into clothes, music, and cologne.
What is one place you would love to show your kids?
We’ve been very lucky to start traveling with our boys outside of the country. One place I’d love to show them is India. It's not your typical vacation destination for families, but I have very fond memories of traveling throughout the country, and I’d love to show them the places I love.
What’s one of your favorite people, places, or things that is no longer around?
My favorite people who are not around are my parents. They both passed on within the last eight years. It's a bummer not having your elders around to celebrate your kids or your achievements as a parent.
My favorite place, which is not around, is the Brooklyn Banks of the 1990s. That was a special place.
My favorite thing that isn't around would be video rental stores. I loved going to the small, family-owned shops, discovering films and genres you had no idea existed, and chatting with the characters behind the counter. That didn’t happen with chain stores, and it doesn’t happen with streaming now.
What’s something you hope is different for your kids from when you were their age?
I hope their ability to live life as an “adult” is different. Things like managing a credit card, traveling internationally, buying a house, and doing your taxes - these are all things that weren’t taught to us growing up. We just had to figure these out on our own, and the result was that they were all stressful experiences. Life is too short and no gatekeeper should hold important how-to info from the youth. We’re trying to teach our kids all these things that you don’t “learn” in school.
Describe a time you both really made each other laugh.
We’re always trying to make each other laugh. My oldest has matured in his humor and timing and is always making me laugh. We make each other laugh while watching kooks at the skatepark. My youngest does amazing impressions and has hilarious characters.
What’s the last great book you read?
I’m a big nonfiction reader, and I recently finished Mark Seal's The Man in the Rockefeller Suit. It's a story about con artists and how people will believe anything if it suits their narrative. I’ll also always read whatever the writer Ken Layne (Desert Oracle) puts out.
Are you reading anything at the moment?
I keep a few books going at all times. Right now, I’m reading Going Infinite by Michael Lewis, Kingdom of Prep: The Story of JCrew by Maggie Bullock, and In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.
What are your children’s favorite books?
Sadly, with the internet and immediate gratification, reading is not their favorite pastime! Henry loves bios on sports icons: Jordan, Messi, and Neymar. Walter likes to read the Dog Man and Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.
A question worth asking:
When was the last time you helped someone without being asked to?
A quote worth repeating:
“Fail we may, sail we must”—Andrew Weatherall. Some things you just have to do, whether you're afraid or not.
A piece of advice worth passing on:
Be nice to people you interact with; you never know what they’ve been going through.
Share a rabbit hole you fell deeply into.
I fall into “rabbit holes” quite frequently! We just had a family trip to Italy, and our last stop was Naples. We had pizza one night in the Spanish quarter (Quarteri Spagnoli), and there were paintings, photos, and shrines of the soccer legend Diego Maradona everywhere. We didn’t know the story of Maradona and Naples, so I proceeded to watch and listen to everything I could find about the saga. It's a pretty amazing underdog story.
Is there a product you can’t live without?
Good espresso and good socks.
Share any five links:
Secret Mall Apartment
Foggy and Dreamy Pop Vinyl DJ Set by TK Nicholson on Recordbar Radio
Radio Garden
Fire of Love Trailer
When Crosswalks Go Rogue