Close to 50 participants gather in the Center Camp – the middle of the room and centre of attention. Almost. Trying to catch the attention of 50 creative souls ready to indulge in leather making – not so easy.
However, with the two hosts, Panos Mytaros and Liam Maher, at the controls, attention is kept for almost 18 minutes as they enter the Center Camp to launch the HotShop 8.
In front of them a bunch of creative people from around the world. Australia, Los Angles, Denmark, Spain to name a few. Originals, one would say. Most meet for the first time – they don’t know each other. ECCO Leather doesn’t know them. In a few hours that is about to change.
On a mission
“What keeps the HotShop and the output alive is indeed the fact that we always invite new people. New profiles that can challenge the conventions and us,” says Panos Mytaros as he and Liam Maher, Design Director, Denham, launch the HotShop.
Participants race out to the teams. Everyone seems to be on a mission – with a plan.
“Once you have joined the HotShop, you are a part of the Open Circle, a live and ongoing collaboration around leather. Here, people meet across cultures and brands to explore and discover new leathers,” says Panos Mytaros.
One participant is a designer – working in a creative environment. However, the HotShop has pushed her outside the comfort zone.
“This is crazy. I am challenged on all aspects of my creativity and the leather makers just keep going,” she says.
Emotions run high
Sven Beckers from Decoded, a company that produces leather goods and accessories for e.g. Apple also participates in the HotShop. Decoded recently joined ECCO Leather as a customer.
“We were looking for a particular kind of leather. This is where we found it – at ECCO Leather,” he says.
Once a day, the teams have to present their concepts. The feedback is to the point and sometimes a challenge to the creative, sensitive minds of artists. However, no one stalls. It’s full speed ahead – back in the game. Still, rumour has it that one team cornered one of the judges because they found the score unfair. The score didn’t change but a lively discussion took place. It’s a part of the HotShop. Passion and dedication is everywhere.
Over the next three days, boundaries are broken, friendships are established and new leather directions set. HotShop 8 lives on in the Open Circle.
Facts
Under the umbrella of the Open Circle, an ongoing live leather collaboration, the annual HotShop takes place. The HotShop brings people together in a 3-day laboratory, which allow participants to envision new leather directions and then work in integrated teams to prototype and sample new leathers that reflect these visions.
Read more here eccoleather.com