Hikerdelic Journal

Inspiration from Exploration

In recent years our quest for nuggets of inspiration for our clothing has seen us gravitate towards the late 1960s on a pretty consistent basis. It was an era of great political and social upheaval and that naturally led to, and arguably was led by widespread creativity, expressed in a multitude of ways.1968 always seems to rear its head in particular. In Search of the Lost Chord is the third album by the Moody Blues, released in July 1968, though the summer of 2024 was when we played it to death, while designing Spring 2024's releases. It's a fitting backdrop to the final full range designed by our longstanding design team before multiple members moved on to pastures new. The songs of In Search of the Lost Chord form a pretty loose theme concerning quest and discovery, including both world exploration and inner self-realisation. The album takes inspiration from the spirit of the era, in which psychedelics grew in use.Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues acknowledged the influence of psychedelic drugs on the band's creative process: "Oh, almost all of us dabbled in all sorts of things. Usually, they were the more psychedelic type of drugs. I must admit we always had a great time on acid. And those trips inspired a lot of our music at the time."In its 42 minutes playing time, the album takes in exploration both spiritual and literal, referencing the journeys of David Livingstone, Robert Falcon Scott and Christopher Columbus, all of whom pushed the boundaries of discovery via the most extreme corners of the globe.The outspoken psychologist Timothy Leary also features, with the band having studied his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. This was the guy who popularised the phrase "Turn on, tune in, drop out". That journey of exploration our research for this range took us on increased our understanding and awareness of just how important an era the late 60s was for the human race and where possible we have tried to incorporate elements of it, albeit in a contemporary way. Without that era of enlightenment having happened, who knows what the world would look like now. Listen to In Search of the Lost Chord below.

Praise the Petroglyphs

When looking for inspiration for our first few drops of the year we found ourselves immersed in an age largely beyond our understanding. All over the world you'll find enduring evidence of ancient civilizations. Rock carvings found in Scandinavia, Siberia and Africa all share similarities which make up what we now identify as Petroglyphs. The word comes from the Greek prefix petro-, from πέτρα meaning "stone", and γλύφω meaning "carve", and was originally coined in French as pétroglyphe.History is always open to interpretation and many have speculated as to the meaning of this primitive art form.Those who have studied them suggest that petroglyphs could have been carved by spiritual leaders, such as shamans, in an altered state of consciousness, perhaps induced by the use of natural hallucinogens. We put together our own take on Petroglyphs, with each of the letters in the word Hikerdelic getting recreated in that idiosyncratic style. We have then applied this pattern to various items in this season's range, some you've seen, some you will see soon.See our latest releases here

Radio Hikerdelic #11

We're back with another selection of top tracks to see you through the end of summertime. We've called this playlist Four Minute Warmings because I dunno, a play on words or something.

Stockparty

When is a football shirt no longer a football shirt? When it’s coming home to the Underbank. More specifically to Stockparty. Hikerdelic Clothing brings you the Underbank Shirt, a celebration of the town’s independent spirit, in collaboration with a trio of the community’s foremost creative catalysts. The Underbank is the beating heart of Stockport’s constantly evolving core of creativity and community. It blends historic architecture with contemporary, independent businesses that host regular events, markets, and festivals, solidifying Stockport’s cultural reputation. It's also the home of Hikerdelic, and the backdrop of Stockport precinct and the nearby Peak District shapes our 'Peak to Precinct' philosophy. We were invited to partner with Stockparty (bloc party on tour!) 20th of July, hosted by Track Brewery, Where the light gets in and SK1 records along with many more reputable local names. We’ve worked closely with the teams behind these brands to design an alternative football shirt that weaves the brutalist brickwork of the Merseyway Shopping Centre into its design. Needless to say Stockparty was a blast and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing a heavy smattering of past season hikerdelic tees dotted around in the crowds. On that note, if someone stuck a sticker on your back whilst you were in attendance reading 'ich bin ein Stopfordian' it definitely wasn't us..

Radio Hikerdelic #10

A brand new blend of Sweet Music to take your mind on The Trip to Sugar Town. Whether you're an It Girl Out on the Weekend or your just Out of Time Man. It's not Easy but regardless, The Beat Goes On.

Planting trees with every order

In partnership with the good people at Switch2zero, we've decided for every order we take, we'll plant a tree. As a brand, we reference the great outdoors and nature quite a lot. It can be a challenge to grow a business while at the same time do the right thing for the planet. Every decision has implications but having done our research and worked out how best to proceed, we believe this is the best way to make a meaningful start in acknowledging our responsibility as a business to minimise our impact on earth.As we continue to implement these changes, we're pleased to have the expertise of Switch2zero as our trusted partner. With them we're able to make a tangible impact on reforestation through tree planting, contributing towards a healthier planet. It's also nice for our customers to be part of that process. Earth Day Starting today, for every purchase made on our platform, we will be planting a tree through Switch2zero. This means that each time you shop with us, you're not only getting the items your ordered but also actively participating in creating a greener and more habitable planet. As it happens, today is Earth Day, which makes it a good one to start on. The Power of Trees: Carbon Sequestration Trees are nature's superheroes when it comes to fighting climate change. They play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through a process called carbon sequestration. This not only helps mitigate climate change but also improves air quality and supports biodiversity. Every tree planted through our partnership with Switch2zero will sequester an estimated 0.2 metric tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) over its lifetime. This impressive carbon sequestration potential demonstrates the long-lasting environmental impact each tree can make. By planting trees through Switch2zero, we are directly contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as each tree will in the future actively remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Together, we can make a substantial difference and create a sustainable future for generations to come. So, in summary... With every purchase, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you're contributing to the planting of trees, improving air quality, supporting biodiversity, and mitigating human-induced climate change. Together, we can achieve remarkable results and create positive change.We believe in transparency and accountability. Lots of brands out there claim to be doing their bit, and many are. We're late to the party on that, but what's important here is we're honest about what we are doing. We aren't going to change the world on our own, but if we do our bit and continue to explore ways we can contribute, that's the least we can do. We will regularly share updates on the number of trees planted and the positive impact we're collectively making through our partnership with Switch2zero.

Sounds of Hikerdelliker

A smattering of songs designed to accompany you from outdoor rave to underground cave, just like the bags are. The limited Hikerdelic x Elliker collection will be available to shop 11.04.24 at 10AM.

Hikerdelic Inner Circle: Goblyn Crew

Get to know the artist behind the Dark Peaks t-shirt; meet Dan, An illustrator and goblin enthusiast turned tattoo artist Where does the name Goblyn Crew come from?I started drawing goblin characters and created a world around them, I started posting them on Instagram and people started sending me their versions of my characters that they had drawn, after a while I decided that they needed a name - Goblyn Crew. How did you get into tattooing?I used to do freelance illustration. I spent time in tattoo shops getting tattooed and talking to artists and one thing lead to another.Tell us about your signature style and what is your favourite kind of work to tattoo on people?My work is heavily influenced by traditional tattoos, skateboarding, cartoons, video games and vintage toys. My favourite work to tattoo is custom ideas that clients have thought I could help create. What is your creative process when designing a graphicFor a T-shirt design or a logo etc I usually start with a rough sketch on paper/iPad and pull up a load of reference images. I tend to draw with a general idea in mind and see where it ends up. Then I make a final line-work design and add colour then usually take it into photoshop and illustrator to make the final vectorised image. What does a good start to the day look like for you?Caffeine

Hikerdelic Inner Circle: The Rosellas

The Rosellas have the tunes to make their ambitions a reality as they proved with their previous release ‘’Somewhere Inbetween. The EP went straight to Number #1 in the iTunes Rock Charts and Number #4 in the iTunes UK Album Charts, as well as gaining constant support from legendary tastemakers such as John Kennedy (Radio X) and Jim Salveson (XS Manchester).Rosellas not only prove their versatility yet again with The Same Curse (released 24th November 2023) but foremost their outstanding level of song writing that continues to grow stronger with every release. They bring to the table what many bands struggle to achieve; longevity for years to come. Have a listen to The Same Curse here We kitted them out for a recent gig and had a chance to ask them a few questions What does a good morning look like for you? "A good morning is any morning I don’t have to go to work. Or the morning after a big gig is always good, despite the hangover". Describe each band member in one word? Euan - CasualDrew - AssuredMark - Perfectionist Ollie - DJLuis - ChauffeurWhat is your songwriting process?"Me and Drew are the main writers, I always start with chords and he always starts with a riff or lead part, so it works well. We then come together to get a melody and lyrics then take the raw acoustic version to the band to beef it out. It can take anything from an afternoon to a year to finish a tune, so there’s no set length of time". Where can we see you play next & what was your best live experience? "The next gig is in Swansea at the Bunkhouse on December 30th, and the best gig was our recent sold-out headline show at Band on The Wall in Manchester. Was class to hear so many people singing back our songs". Any exciting plans or releases in 2024? Another UK Headline Tour is on the horizon and plenty of big releases are at the ready. Singles and maybe an EP Shop the Vegetable t-shirt in oatmilk here

Moomin by Hikerdelic

We've kept this under wraps for a while but we can finally share our latest capsule range, Moomin by Hikerdelic. The collaboration takes root in the shared values of the two brands; Curiosity, adventure and deep respect for the natural world. As a basis for the collection our designer Sophie was granted access to the Tove Jansson archives where she explored the care-free world of Moominvalley and the Moomins situational humour and wisdom arising from the simplicity of everyday life. Soph handpicked quotes and original Tove Jansson comic strip graphics that depict friendship, fishing, and the solace that can be found in heading outdoors and these have been worked into t-shirts, embroidered sweaters, mugs and scarves. The drop is available in a very limited quantity and will undoubtedly make exceptional gifts for any Moomin fans out there or just anyone that resonates with their slow living philosophies of the Moomin way of life.

Guest Radio: On the Brink

On the brink put together a mix for us of the favourite songs that go into fuelling their creative endeavours. These are tunes to create incredible furniture, illustrations and photographic campaigns to, well they are if you're a talented member of On The Brink but you can sit and listen to them on the train too like we are.

Hikerdelic Inner Circle: Intrspct Collective

Hey Ransford, how's your week going so far? So far i'm having a really good week thank you. With it currently being half-term it means I get a chance to get some rest and spend more time with my family! We saw you were leading a hike over the weekend just gone, how did it go? What was it all about? The INTRSPCT Collective hike was an amazing experience and it went much better than I envisioned. The purpose of the Hike was to raise money for the charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) who are leading a movement against suicide. Tell us a bit more about INTRSPCT Collective as a whole? Our ultimate goal here at INTRSPCT is to reduce the high rates of suicide and depression within the male community. We endeavour to create a culture of care for men in a world where we may seek belonging in the wrong places and things. We do this through weekly runs and hikes which allows us to build community and connection with one another as we look to change the narrative of what it means to be a man in todays society. We must fight to create and maintain a community of care and vulnerability amongst ourselves and other men around us. It saves lives. Vulnerability amongst men is an anomaly and mostly uncomfortable. However, contrary to what most men are taught to believe, there's strength in vulnerability. Why do you think community walking or running groups are so prevalent at the moment and why did you feel like it was the right time to start yours? The mental, physical and social benefits of running and walking (especially in a group) are indubitable. I think more people are not just becoming more aware of these benefits but are yearning to get those around them involved as well. Being able to share how good something is with those around you only adds to the joy of it. I started INTRSPCT Collective to create a community of care for men in Manchester to know that contrary to what some are taught to believe, there's stength in vulnerability & weakness. I wanted to create a safe space for men like myself to know that they have the freedom and the space to be themselves. To be challenged. To grow. To learn. To build. To be rooted in community. People often open up more to each other when walking side by side, what is your take on the link between movement and mental health? As a P.E teacher, most of my days are spent teaching pupils about how great movement is, not just for our physical wellbeing but also our mental and social wellbeing. Community movement, whether that be running, walking, cycling, fitness classes etc are great ways to remove barriers when it comes to building deeply rooted relationships and connections. The fact that a run or a hike with others can make us feel so much better physically & mentally makes me believe that we were created to move, and move freely with like minded people through community. Check them out on Instagram @intrspct.collective, hike photos by Ransford