Copenhagen when I first visited as a much different place. In 2010 the Wallpaper city guide to Copenhagen had almost nothing listed to visit in Nørrebro. There was no bridge at Nyhavn. No photos on Pusher Street. Refshaleøen was not a place any tourist would go. There were still carcasses hanging in Kødbyen. ALIS was in Wonderland.

It was still a fairy tale city, but there was no kardemommeboller at Juno to queue for. While Stockholmers were wearing white converse and Cheap Monday skinny jeans, Copenhageners were in New Balance before it was cool. Han Kjøbenhavn, Wood Wood, and Soulland were the uniform. I showed up in Denmark in November of 2010 to find a snowstorm, and to be “blown away” figuratively, as well as nearly literally.

I met Silas in some way at some point in time in some place, this we know for sure. I used to come to Copenhagen to go out and have fun, so most of those days are a blur. But at that time, Silas was at Soulland, and I knew that Soulland was cool. And in the world of fashion, I deduced that Silas must be cool as well. And cool he was.

(Just getting off the phone with Silas, he reminds me that we used to co-host a party at “Sunday” with Tommy Saleh back in the day. Likely 2013, we assume.)

In 2024 I met Silas outside of the Soulland showroom in Paris, only to find out that that story had drawn to a close. I had never quite been able to remember the story of why Soulland was called as such. So, I figured that there was no better place to have this story told to me than on the street, from Silas, and right now.

Sjælland ≈ Soulland

Sjælland is the name of the island that Copenhagen is situated on. Translated normally to “Zealand” in English, Silas and his buddies translated “Sjæl” literally to be “Soul”. And then they made T-shirts.

“It was a stupid idea. The guy I had the idea with wanted out after a few days. It took me 22 years to realize he was right.”

22 years later I get the story in Paris. The next day we meet at a café on a rainy morning before he goes to the airport. Two South African women ask Silas if he’s famous. I assure them that he is, so they ask me to take a photo of the three of them together.

22 years later and I’m late to meet Silas at the skatepark in Gentofte. I’m dripping with sweat, and the light is beautiful, and he attempts tricks while I shoot.
Skateboarding has always been at the root of Silas’ passion. I got this vibe back in the day long before we ever spoke. Soulland was part of this expression as well. Nike collabs which focused on the SB line. Timeless shoes which symbolize the peak of the brand and its ideology.

Watching Silas skate, and it’s remarkable. It’s another person from the man I met so many times before. I tell him after we finish that I have never seen him so clearly confident and comfortable. In the backstage of one of his shows, he knew what he was doing (of course), but in the park, he shines.

He agrees.

It must feel good, I suppose. To do what you love. Even to walk away from something which was once the epicenter of your life and passion, and to realize that there is more than just the one path you had chosen. Or to go back to the trailhead, and start the path over, with a new point of view, taking things which were established, and using them in a way which may not be the most expected.

Sjæl = Soul

Thanks, Silas.