VOLONTE ROCHE: Jacob Rochester
Jacob Rochester is arguably one of the best young talents I know. In touch with all the current trends, Jake uses that to create dope graphics, designs, music, and of course shoes. I am always excited to see whats next from him. Jake applies himself excels in so many different fields its always a bonus to see a footwear project from him. Along with launching MFA-Massive Fly Appeal in high school, making his way onto Complex for his mixtape covers, and being a part of the original Pensole class in 2010 Jake hasn't stoped pushing himself a bit. Take a look below as Jake walks us through the birth of one of his latest projects the Volonte Roche...
As boredom ensued behind the confines of a small cubicle at Hartford, Connecticut’s Aetna Health Insurance, I was able to muster up enough inspiration to lay a line down on a yellow piece of notebook paper. With no initial idea to where it was heading, all I had in mind was simply, luxury and the idea of having a Jay-Z and Kanye West co-sign. As day dreaming continued I began scrolling through different fashion house sites hoping no one would notice the Internet was being used without business relation. Balmain, SkinGraft Designs, Pedro Lourenco, my eyes wondered through each page, finally an idea sparked and my Aetna branded pen began moving. I had materials mapped out in my head to where I wanted them to lay on paper and perhaps rendering. Pebbled leather, a butter-like suede, perhaps crumbled leather, it all was possible with the help of Photoshop later on. After 5 to 10 minutes a disproportionate sketch was staring me in the face. “Welp…I’m bored again.” Thinking nothing of it at first, I finally was let out of work and home in about an hour. The sketch that was staring me in the face was now a sketch behind my Macbook screen, staring me in the face. I put the pen tool to work as well as hundreds of brush strokes constructing light from a nonexistent source.
A name randomly jumped in my head, “Roche,” ultimately a shortened version of “Rochester,” my last name. “Well what the hell does that mean?” Google translate tells me “Rock” in French. This seemed intriguing. With the slang of today, twisting the word “rock” to “wear,” I looked for what “will” translates to in French, which turned out to be “Volonté.” Thus creating “Volonté Roche” or “Will Rock". - Jacob Rochester
MD - Mattdealmeida@yahoo.com