Zachary Hcaze has quietly been a fundamental stakeholder and resource of a peculiar bipolarity of taste in style, a curator of independent dance music, influenced heavily on underground Hip Hop, record store love, and inspired by Graffiti, Street Art, sneaker collecting, and live DJ sets. He is an outspoken observer and a preserver of House Dance + Bboy culture, who’s discipline remains focused on good graphic design + art.
You may already know: Zachary is the pioneer of a primary niche he calls Tatted Trees or Tatted Timbs - a home to feet, an alternative to skin; which canvas that many simply call Timbs or Trees, is a staple among pavement walkers well before recent trends. By word of mouth, and by extension of social platforms + the official website here, he is currently publishing works under the independent brand he calls Hcaze, a label hosting his works inspired by graphics driven apparel, prints, accessories & Illustration - which is being newly released as of 2024.
It all started circa 1996, when a beloved late cousin of his, who attended a nearby High School, asked him to customize his shoes by painting during a time when sneaker art wasn’t a legitimate term. It wasn’t commonly established, nor did it even come close to widespread acclaim. Sneaker collecting despite popular belief, wasn’t even a subject most people touched on, unless you come from the inner city ( in consideration of Philly, NJ & New York ) or places similar where drip and swagger indelibly thrived.
Art as a moving canvas for sneakers, was, and still is the case as such, to say - especially in regard to Timberland Boots today. As his cousin Chris wore them to school, heads were turning, people were talking, and it reached the ears of Zach - further shaping his goal to pursue a career in some form of the field of fashion, graphic or web design. He then attended schools local to Philadelphia like UArts, MCCC, and CMTS among others. By painting on a pair of Timbs - He was quietly held as an originator and pioneer of this unique niche + craft - keeping it under a classic feel all the way up til today.
Fast forward just after the theoretical Big Bang of the World Wide Web, Post Y2K threat, and 911, the internet took flight, incubating artists that paved the way for the current new comers to this aesthetic. Zachary was inspired by a handful of customizers - deciding then to take things to another level, sharing more of his creative works to the public, although happily remaining sub-grounded. However, with inspiration comes respect. In this regard, two specific artists come to mind who in his opinion need to be recognized in this same field - we’ll just start here:
Peter Kim ( Methamphibian)
Mark Ong ( SBTG / Royalefam)
If you know who they are….
“You’ve done your homework”
Quietly, during the same timeframe - and despite the growing popularity in this field or culture of street wear + hiding in the shadows, you cannot avoid mentioning artist Zachary Hcaze, later collaborating with music archeologist and DJ Rich Medina, providing a pair for Mark De Clive Lowe as well as others. Hcaze, a brand that has managed to be held from the mouths, ears and eyes of thirsty collectors is, as a nursing parent - slowly feeding its young healthy portions at the right time.
Now is that time.
Hcaze.
