When people ask where the inspiration for the Original Junglist tee came from, my answer is simple.
1995.
That year means a lot to me; it was the start of my timeline in music. It was the year I first started spinning vinyl in clubs, the year I went deeper into Jungle music, and looking back now, it was one of the most exciting stages of my life. Jungle was evolving at a pace, with artists constantly pushing the boundaries and creating records that still stand the test of time today.
Tracks like Remarc's RIP and Shy FX's Original Nuttah to name a few, weren't just songs I listened to; they became part of the soundtrack to my journey.
Everyone Loved Mondays
One of my favourite memories from that time wasn't being behind the decks. It was Monday mornings in Nottingham.
Every week we'd head into Nottingham city centre and make a dash for Selectadisc. If the SRD van that distributed records to the shops was parked outside, you knew the latest deliveries had just landed. There was always a buzz walking through the door and heading upstairs, digging through the brand new releases, having a pile of vinyl to listen to on the shop turntables, hoping to find that tune nobody else had played yet.
Those records would get taken home and played over and over again before being worked into a DJ set. There was no streaming, no social media and no instant downloads. If you wanted the latest tune, you had to go out and find it. That was all part of the experience, and looking back, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
After the record shop we'd usually head to Bunters Café on Upper Parliament Street for the Belly Buster, full English breakfast and a big cup of tea. It was one of those places that probably wouldn't win any design awards, but it didn't need to. The breakfasts were always on point, the tea always hit the spot and somehow everyone's cup seemed to be a different shape and size. Even now, that still makes me smile.
A full English breakfast and tea cost just £2.45. It sounds unbelievable now, but back then it was just part of our routine.
Bunters became more than just somewhere to eat. It was also where we'd meet before heading over to Formation Records in Leicester for studio sessions. Looking back now, it's funny how one little café became part of so many memories. Music, friends, breakfast and another day spent doing what we loved.
Thirty years later, those memories still feel as prominent as ever. It's funny how certain moments stay with you. I can still picture walking into Selectadisc, the buzz of seeing new white labels and knowing the next great tune might be waiting to be picked out.
Respect Due
When I wanted to create a design that paid homage to that time in my life, I shared those times with Pascal. He took the inspiration and transformed it into the bold typographic design that became Original Junglist. It didn't need an elaborate illustration because the statement itself says everything it needs to.
The design also became a collaboration in another way. Shanie (Skinz), one of our Collective members, is a lifelong junglist herself. Although we grew up on opposite sides of the country, with me in the Midlands and Shanie in London, we experienced the same era through the same music. We both understand what those years felt like, and her input helped shape the wording that became the centrepiece of the design.
I think that's one of the things I enjoy most about Pauzewear. Ideas don't always come from one place. They evolve through conversations with people who really understand what you're trying to create, and the Original Junglist design is a perfect example of that.
A Little Way Different
It also marks the beginning of something new for Pauzewear. The Original Junglist is the first of three oversized back print designs we're introducing to the brand. Alongside it is the Original Junglist Mono, a black and white interpretation of the same design for those who prefer a more understated look.
The third design, Turn Up The Bass, will follow with a completely different inspiration and a Design Story of its own.
For some people, these will simply be bold T-shirts, and that's fine.
For me, it's a reminder of the year everything changed.
It's a reminder of my first club DJ sets, Monday mornings heading to Selectadisc, white labels arriving on the SRD van, breakfasts at Bunters Café, weekends at Formation Records and a period of music that shaped not only my taste, but my whole life.
The Original Junglist isn't just a design. It's a thank you to that era I'll never forget.
