Founder of streetwear brand ‘Market’ Mike Cherman finds inspiration from contractors. Recently, he partnered with Benjamin Moore to create a collection. Inspired by construction work, the clothes combined style and utility. On March 29, the clothes will appear on the video shopping platform ‘NTWRK.’
The collection features warm and functional clothes. The black jacket has a metal zipper and deep pockets. The long, white pants show square pockets. Many garments display the Benjamin Moore and Market logos. To read more about the unique designs, read the interview below.
The Knockturnal: What inspired the partnership with Benjamin Moore?
Mike Cherman: The inspiration of this partnership was centered around how we could support the people that engage with the Benjamin Moore brand day in and out. The contractors of the world are the ones who make our surroundings beautiful. By not just trying to make a collection and sell it to the public but rather create a line of products to outfit the people that make it happen was the most exciting part of this partnership as a whole. We’re proud to be able to create products that are inspired by the paint contractor and are going on the backs of people who truly do the work itself, not just for the hype.
The Knockturnal: What is your connection to contractors?
Mike Cherman: My grandparents were both contractors and architects and people who always built things themselves. I’ve always had an immense respect for anyone that builds things. More often than not, they make very classic things that surround our daily lives. A lot of these people are also artists on the side. While someone might paint a room, those same skills are applied to canvas’s and art that a lot of times goes unsell, we’re here to celebrate the beauty in the everyday.
The Knockturnal: What clothing labels or aesthetics inspired you?
Mike Cherman: The workwear aesthetic is a natural one that is compelling to me. The idea of product that is built to withstand anything tests of your daily life is what makes it so purposeful and important to the end user. This is the direct inspiration we took in building this collection for contractor US Wide.
The Knockturnal: What does this collection mean for young artists?
Mike Cherman: The collection is truly meant to remind contractors out there that they are artists, creators and makers as well. Not just doing the daily work that builds the structures around us and makes them beautiful which usually gets overlooked as just purely functional work rather than truly the craft and skill that it represents. We hope this inspires anyone out there with a skill or craft that is more functional and realize it can be art as well.
