Discovering the Creative World of SOLEM for Asics

10/22/2024

At LB, creativity drives everything we do, and we thrive on collaborating with fresh, talented artists. For our latest project, we teamed up with Tamara “Solem” Al-Issa, a Toronto-based sculptural artist of Syrian and Filipina heritage, known for her captivating work exploring the preservation of time through ceramics. Tamara reimagined the iconic Asics Skyhand shoe originally released in the 90s and making a comeback after 30 yearsby crafting a stunningly realistic ceramic replica. It was the perfect occasion to fuse art and footwear, breathing new life into an old classic. Keep reading to see how this exciting collaboration came together!








If you’re not familiar with Asics, it has an impressive history that stretches back over 50 years. Known for constantly pushing the boundaries, Asics has become a staple in both sports and culture, especially with iconic designs like the Skyhand OG sneaker which has a sleek silhouette that combines its athletic roots with modern comfort. Making it a perfect blend of style and function while remaining true to its history by drawing inspiration from its past creations and adapting them to modern times.



In a similar way, Tamara finds inspiration in the architecture and traditions of the Southwest Asia and North Africa region, exploring various shapes, colors, and textures in her work. This shared approach to creativity made them a natural fit for collaboration in our eyes.
Beyond the stunning creation we received from Tamara, we had the chance to interview her about her art and her relationship with ceramics . Here’s what she had to share with us.

  • Describe your art in three words
Spontaneous, personal, alive.

  • What sparks your creativity and inspires your work the most?
Seeing beautiful shapes and colours in architecture and ancient pottery.

  • Do you find that the hands-on nature of ceramics brings out unexpected ideas in your work?
Yes! All of the shapes I build come from experimenting with little to no plan in mind. In fact, a large part of working with clay is not thinking at all. Once the properties of ceramics become inherent, your body and hands become your mind.

  • How do you approach imperfection in your piecesdo you embrace it or work towards a specific vision?
I try to embrace imperfection but I’m pretty hard on myself when I see a blemish. I try to remind myself that when I see imperfections in other peoples’ work, that’s what makes the piece charming. I’m on a quest to become less of a purist, and ceramics is definitely the medium to teach me since so many variables of this art form are beyond the artist’s control

  • You describe clay as an 'affectionate, intuitive, and confrontational mirror. Could you elaborate on this relationship and how it guides your creative process?
Clay is an organic material that very much feels alive. It is an ancient material that has existed since the inception of the Earth, and is shaped by all of the elements a delicate balance of water, air and fire. Therefore, clay is to be worked with, not to be worked on. It’s a hard thing to explain, but if you were to take a pottery class you’ll find that even within the first few minutes of handling clay, it pushes back if you are not moving with it and understanding its limits. The second you learn its language and the way it wants to be moved, it will harmoniously dance with you.
It is affectionate because it is forgiving as long as you are not forcing it to do what it doesn’t want to do. It is intuitive because it has a “memory”, and will sometimes return to its initial shape during the firing process. It is confrontational because it will react with the same emotional state you approach it with. Knowing all of these things informs my creative process because I have to be aware of what state I am going into a work session with If I haven’t “centered” myself, I probably won’t yield a good piece.

  • What is your go-to outfit/footwear when working in the studio?
Denim overalls or jumpsuits are my go to-outfits. Considering my footwear is so important since I’m on my feet most of the day, something with arch support helps with my posture so that my back doesn’t get fatigued after hours at my work table. Usually I go for closed-toe sandals or comfortable water-resistant sneakers that I can get dirty.



Hit play to see how the artist transformed the iconic Skyhand sneaker into a stunning piece of art.



We would like to thank Tamara for her incredible custom piece, and we hope this project inspires you to embrace your creativity.