You made it. We’re hyped to drop the first edition of The Resource—your new go-to for all things creative culture. Think of this as your backstage pass to the latest trends, can’t-miss events, and insider tips from the pros. Whether you’re here to level up your craft, find your next big gig, or just get inspired, we’ve got you covered.

So, dive in, explore, and share the gems. We’re just getting started, and trust us—you don’t want to miss what’s next.

• BehindTheCreative: Get game from designer & creative director Joe Freshgoods 🗣️

• Monthly Moodboard: Tis the season to rest & reset. Peep our moodboard to see how we’re channeling rest for Q4 😴

• Picked For You: Check out these handpicked selects for you to watch, read and listen to 🧠

• Culture Pulse: Beyonce & Netflix Team Up For Christmas Halftime Show, Max’s The Penguin Might Just Be The Best Show Of The Year, TDE’s Doechii First Female To Be Nominated For GRAMMYs Best Rap Album In A Decade 🗞️

JOE FRESHGOODS

If you know sneakers, you know the name Joe Freshgoods. Hailing from Chicago, Joe is a creative visionary who has seamlessly blended streetwear, culture, and storytelling into his work. Known for his unique collaborations with brands like Nike, New Balance, and Converse, Joe has been dubbed one of the most influential designers by Complex, Business of Fashion, Hypebeast & more. More than just a designer, Joe is a cultural curator—telling stories that resonate far beyond fashion.

REC presents an exclusive installment of our Creator Talk series Culture By Design - a conversation with Joe Freshgoods and Kari Daniels of SneakerPhetish.

KD: Can you speak to what Black joy means to you as a whole, and how you make sure to show that in your visuals?

JFG: I’m very prideful of where I come from. I’m very prideful of how I’ve been able to grow my business. I haven’t really taken on no investment, no partners. The business of sneakers is actually really tough. I think I’m super transparent—sometimes to a fault—about some of this. But I think the biggest thing is when it comes to the voice that I have in the space—in fashion and what I do—I just felt like there was nobody that could tell the stories I could tell. No disrespect to none of my peers, but where I come from, you gotta go to New York or LA to make it, you know what I’m saying? Even though Chicago is a big city and a lot of great people came from Chicago, for the most part, we don’t have an industry in Chicago. So, you know, I just always wanted to make sure we had that light on the Midwest and on that person who comes from a city that’s not New York or LA. How I’ve been able to do things and tell these stories—with my family.

KD: How do you go from small to big with no investors?

JFG: I’ve had a lot of big things happen in my life where I could’ve just blew my money. But, I’ve always reinvested quick. I tell everybody, to be super transparent, when I did that Obama collection like eight or nine years ago, Chance The Rapper accepted his Grammy with the hoodie on and he ended up dropping a lookbook. I’m 28, I dropped a collection, my friend who is winning at life wore it. I think I gave Chance like $40k because I didn’t know what to do, I wrote him a check and he didn’t cash the check for like three years. That was the moment I always needed. From that collection I was able to grow and grow smart.

KD: How important is it to diversify the mediums you use for storytelling?

JFG: You never want to be a one-trick pony. Find different ways to switch it up. I’m getting older so I try to hire younger people to stay tapped into what’s going on you know, what are people wearing? When it comes to that piece I did in Paris, it meant a lot to me. It was a homage to my grandfather. I’m happy about the way I’ve been storytelling through sneakers. We have a big year next year and people will see a lot of the storytelling we do next year.

Watch the full conversation below.

One thing we’re learning: it’s okay not to be okay - especially in this season. A lot has been going on in the world this month and we wanted to dedicate this mood board to what we call ‘resting & resetting’. For creatives, the end of the year might feel like a lot - holidays, Q4 goals, planning for your 2025 rebrand, all while trying to balance showing up in your personal life. It’s cliche but we all know: you can’t pour from an empty cup. Try to make these last few weeks of the year about resting versus running after the bag. True - people need you but most importantly, YOU need YOU.

THIS MONTH’S DIGEST IS PRESENTED BY:

Since opening their doors at 1106 Chestnut St. in 2015, Lapston & Hammer has been Philadelphia’s premier lifestyle brand specializing in designer menswear and premium sportswear with a mission to use our platform and resources to uplift our local community and cultivate burgeoning creators.

Shop 30% off the latest styles at lapstoneandhammer.com. No code needed.

Thank you for being a part of The Resource. This digest is powered by REC, the #1 resource for creatives everywhere. Follow REC on all platforms to stay connected, inspired, and equipped with resources to do more of what you love. If you’re local to Philly learn more about how a REC membership unlocks access to REC Studios and more.