Panama Sports Zine #001

PERMANENT VACATION VOL 001

MEXICO / LOS ANGELES

Joing u on our Mexxc about stand

The concept of Panama has changed and evolved quite a lot during its two and a bit years, which is probably why I've never properly taken the time to sit down and explain what the brand is about in my own words.

I think it's changed as I've changed, figuring out how best to spend my time and what really interests me.

I've always had the idea of starting something of my own but lacked pretty much every skill required to do so. Not to mention being perpetually broke. In most cases people do the right thing and make sure everything is fine tuned before releasing it to the world, I on the other hand tend to adopt the gungho approach by throwing myself headfirst into something i know nothing about hoping to figure it out along the way.

At the core of Panama is the general idea of having fun and spending time in a meaningful way. I'm from a tiny village in rural Ireland. I hadn't surfed, snowboarded, or tried a lot of things for that matter until well into my twenties. I've always had a massive desire to travel and try new things and because of that Panama has changed somewhat in a sense of what it represents.

I think what i've mostly discovered is that there's certain places, environments or activities that seem to make me happiest; that being outdoors in nature or in the middle of a sweaty dancefloor.

There's definitely a peace of mind I experience on a mountain, in the sea or listening to music that focuses my attention and makes me forget about everything else. With that in mind, I wanted to create a brand that gelled these seemingly different world's together and to explore the crossovers in between.

WHY

PANAMA?

This is obviously a question that gets asked a lot.

It comes from a friend who I worked with some time back, his name was Jimmy Panama. He a was a "burn it at both ends" type of character and the name stuck with me. When faced with that unenviable task of trying to think of a brand name I kept going back to it, and it just seemed to sit right. He's the perfect example of the lifestyle I want the brand to represent.

For me, it represents the idea of trying to get the most out of life. Although maybe I'm burning it in a slightly tamer fashion these days. I guess it's also taken on some sort of second meaning in the meantime too with the idea of seeking a permanent adventure in a distant land.

WE'RE

LOOKING

FOR

A

SAYULITA

PANAMA ZINE #001

LA LANCHA

PERMANENT ADVENTURE

The concept of a permanent vacation and the title of this zine is an idea I've played around with in my head for some time.

When I say permanent vacation I don't mean in the sense of being fed grapes on the beach for the rest of eternity. Rather, it's the idea of a permanent adventure and spending as much time as possible doing the things I find enjoyable.

A permanent vacation also doesn't necessarily mean a lack of work. Work as we know is unavoidable and to be honest kind of enjoyable at times. A solid work routine is something I oddly even I crave when I'm on the road. It shapes the day nicely and can be a good excuse to have a breather from the social overload.

Work is just made easier when you're doing something you have a genuine interest in and Panama gives me just that.

I think I dream about travelling the world, dipping in and out of record shops in between surf sessions or something similar. Ultimately, that's the kind of lifestyle I attempted to pursue on this trip.

PANAMA ZINE #001

SUNDAYSUNDAY

I know there are plenty of people out there who can hit it hard most weekends and show little ill effects afterwards, but I think there are many others who struggle in the aftermath, only to rinse and repeat the following weekend and restart the vicious circle all over again. I want to make sure Panama highlights all that's great about club culture, but also talk about some of the issues that go along with it. How can we all make sure we're looking after ourselves?

I found I struck the balance far better on this trip compared to being back home. Being able to wake up next to the beach and hop straight in the water for a surf to clear the head was the perfect remedy to some long nights in Mexico and LA. I greedily want to have the best of both worlds, and luckily I was able to have it on this trip.

MEXICO CITY

Juggling the balancing act of night owl and outdoor enthusiast has been something I've struggled with over the years, the toll nights out have taken on my mental health being the biggest problem I've faced. I think a lot of people will recognise the depressive and anxious Monday mornings after a heavy weekend and unfortunately I know them all too well. That's why it's so important for me to make sure I'm doing all I can to look after myself afterwards to combat the post-weekend blues.

PANAMA ZINE #001

NEWPORT BEACH

ORANGE COUNTY

SUNDAYSUNDAY CDMX.

Initially Mexico City wasn't part of the travel plans.

It became apparent pretty early on, however, having spoken to people in different parts of the country that Mexico City was a bit of a hidden gem, especially in terms of its music scene and nightlife.

I had to go.

Fortunately I also have some others pals from back in Berlin who were in the city at the time, so what more excuse did I need? As soon as I arrived they reassured me the rumours were true. People did indeed like to party in the city.

One slight hiccup to my party plans here was some ongoing significant tooth pain which I did my best to ignore for as long as possible. After two weeks of stuffing whichever pill or potion the pharmacist recommended into me, nothing worked. The dentist trip was now inevitable. This coupled with crippling financial problems left me to watch on from the sidelines as my mates sampled the Mexican nightlife and recounted their tales to me, weary eyed as we crossed paths in the early hours.

With my time running out in the city and the sundaysunday recommendations flooding in, I decided on my last weekend that I had to make it happen, toothache or no toothache. Inhaling beers to numb the ache and pain killered up the gills, I set forth for what would end up being my only nightlife experience of cdmx.

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY AS THEY SAY. SOON, THE NEXT MORNING ARRIVED AND WITH IT CAME MY DELAYED TRIP TO THE DENTIST. ONE AND A HALF HOURS LATER AND MINUS ONE WISDOM TOOTH, I WAS LA BOUND.

SAYULITA

PANAMA ZINE #001

LA LANCHA

At Panama, we believe in finding the perfect balance between outdoor sports and club culture. We know that these two worlds may seem vastly different, but we believe that they can co-exist in perfect harmony.

Our brand ethos is built around the idea of celebrating the adventurous spirit of outdoor sports, while also embracing the creative energy of club culture.

We believe in creating clothing and accessories that are as versatile as the people who wear them. Our pieces are designed to take you seamlessly from the mountain to the dancefloor, from the hiking trail to the city streets. We understand that our customers lead active and diverse lifestyles, and we strive to create products that can keep up with them every step of the way.

Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, a club-goer, or somewhere in between, we've got something to accompany you on your journey.

ACTIVE BY DAY, CLUB BY NIGHT.

MUSIC NATURE HOMIES

PANAMA ZINE #001

VENICE BEACH

My hope is that it gives the brand a unique perspective in that sense. Panama is really just about getting out there and enjoying it, no matter what your skill level may be and I think that's the point.

I didn't have the opportunity to try a lot of these things or access to them when I was young, so I guess a big part of me is trying to make up for lost time. I didn't even learn to swim until I was 25 and am still a bit apprehensive getting into the water even to this day.

It can be more than a little intimidating at first and continues to be at times, but I've come to realise that the level of expertise is actually pretty unimportant with these things, for the most part. The experienced surfer or snowboarder and beginner are having just as much fun. it's being in the water, taking in the scenery that makes the experience so special.

LOS ANGELES

Truth is, I'm utterly useless at surfing and only took my first tentative steps towards learning a couple of years back. I think that's one of the major differences between this brand and others. Most are lifelong surfers, snowboarders, DJs, whatever, who then decide to start their own brand based on it. I on the other hand have found a lot of these things a bit later in life which means I look at them from a slightly different angle.

The brand ethos will always be about promoting people from all walks of life and all skills levels. We encourage everyone to get out and spend as much time in nature as possible, no matter where you are, and see how it can change your mood and alter how you feel.

Especially after a heavy weekend.

This was my personally my first real opportunity to spend a prolonged period of time on a surf board, as city living obviously doesn't allow for it. This is something I'll massively miss when I eventually head back to Berlin.

PANAMA ZINE #001

LA LANCHA

The whole trip was really organised on a whim with very little preparation or thought put into it. I'm eternally grateful that I managed to squeeze so much out of it, all thing's considered. It also reiterated my desire to push Panama and its ethos as far as I can and continue the chase for a permanent vacation.

SAYULITA

MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME