MESSAN STUDIOS is a Montreal-based multi-disciplinary design practice working at the intersection of fashion, art & culture. With storytelling at the core of our design practice, we focus on helping brands tell meaningful stories through thoughtful design.

MESSAN STUDIOS offers a wide range of services, from the early stages of design to the marketing of the end product. We help organizations bring their ideas to life.


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2024

Client: Pajar Canada
Expertise: Book Design, Product Design & Packaging Design

Zig Zag : The History of Pajar Canada 1963-2023





PROJECT OVERVIEW


To celebrate its 60th anniversary, Pajar Canada sought to create a coffee table book that captures the inspiring journey of the Golbert family and their iconic footwear brand.

Named after the first boot crafted by founder Paul Golbert, 60 years ago, the book reflects a zigzag journey filled with ups and downs—a story of immigration, of starting with nothing in a new country, and of building something with family—for family.

Opening with an excerpt from Paul Golbert’s memoir, Mon Histoire, the book invites readers into the Golbert family’s extensive archive. Through vibrant imagery and engaging narratives, it honors the brand’s commitment to quality craftsmanship while celebrating sixty years of resilience and passion for shoemaking. Presented in a collector’s edition box, the book includes a custom shoemaker figurine to commemorate this milestone.

Messan Studios was tasked with the entire project, from concept to archiving, design, and production of the final product — book, figurine, and box set.



OBJECTIVES


  1. Celebrate Pajar’s Heritage

    Document and honor the 60-year journey of Pajar, highlighting the values that define the Golbert family.

  2. Inspire Future Generations

    Craft a narrative that resonates with future family members and stakeholders, fostering a connection to the brand’s legacy.

  3. Create a Collectible Item

    Design a visually stunning book that serves as both a thoughtful gift and a striking coffee table centerpiece.


  4. Gift Box Design

    Develop a beautiful gift box to house both the book and a figurine, enhancing the overall presentation and collectibility.

  5. Establish a Comprehensive Archive

    Digitize and organize the brand’s assets into a complete and accessible archive, preserving its rich history for future reference.





AUDIENCE & KEY THEMES


Target Audience

  • Pajar Customers: Current and prospective customers interested in the brand’s story.

  • Business Partners: Stakeholders and collaborators who appreciate the brand’s heritage.

  • Future Generations: Family members and descendants of the Golbert family.


Key Themes

  • The Founder’s Legacy

  • Family & Business: A 3rd Generation Family Business

  • Immigration, Resilience, and Values

  • Fashion, Design, and Innovation

  • Pajar Over the Years



PROCESS

The journey of creating this book began with a deep dive into the memoir of Paul Golbert, Pajar’s founder—a pivotal step in understanding the narrative from his perspective. This memoir served as a foundation, providing essential insights into the experiences and themes that would shape the book.

Establishing a clear methodology and vision was crucial. From the outset, we identified key themes and stories to guide our work. This was achieved through a series of interviews with family members, alongside in-depth research into the brand’s history. Gathering diverse viewpoints allowed us to create a multifaceted narrative.

Once we had our foundational stories, the real work began. We spent countless hours navigating through 60 years of archival material, meticulously organizing suitcases and boxes filled with photographs, albums, newspaper clippings, marketing reports, campaign imagery, and more. This archiving process was both challenging and essential, laying the groundwork for the book.

Next, we focused on the photography of various elements from the extensive archive. Our goal was to digitize and curate these images, transforming them into a cohesive visual narrative. This process required sifting through thousands of images and documents, revealing both the challenges and joys of uncovering a rich history.

Following this, journalist Marc Richardson conducted a series of interviews. These conversations were instrumental in enriching the narratives uncovered in the photographs, adding depth and personal anecdotes that complemented the visual elements.

Once the interviews were complete and the archive organized, it was time to tackle the book’s design. After all the preparation, this phase felt relatively effortless; in a sense, the book was already there. We simply needed to arrange the archive and stories in a digestible and aesthetically pleasing way.

Access to Paul Golbert’s memoir was invaluable. It not only provided context but also highlighted the stories that were significant to him. By understanding which narratives resonated with Paul, we were able to shape a book that honored his legacy.