For the release of the new Salomon ACS Pro Desert sneaker, we follow Sil Oosterbaan, creative entrepreneur and owner of the brand Pinkorange, on his trip to the island of Vlieland where he was born and raised. Whilst Sil is revisiting the roots of his creativity, he takes us through his journey as a young creative.
“I’ve always had an interest in photography, when I was writing my high school thesis, I contacted multiple photographers because I wasn’t happy with the stock photo’s I could find online. Two of these photographers were Tristan Fopma and David van Dartel.” The three stayed in contact and Sil became more familiar with styling, modelling and photography. All these experiences let to Sil starting his own brand Pinkorange.
For Sil, nature is his ultimate muse. “There is no place better than where nature is in its raw beauty”. His connection to nature is infused in his brand Pinkorange, for which he also invites other artists to Vlieland to draw inspiration from the beauty of the island’s nature. When we ask about what people inspire him, Sil answers with a mosaic of creativity: “Musicians like Parcels, James Blake and Bon Iver, but also photographers like Thibaut Grevet and Dudi Hasson. Artists who work with light also intrigue me, like James Turell and Dutch artist Boris Acket.” Next to that Sil also admires the work of his friends, and he is his girlfriend’s biggest fan. “Ariella sees flowers as an artform, the endless creativity and beauty of her work with her brand Rae keep inspiring me”.
Coming back to Vlieland feels like coming home for Sil, he knows every forest trail like the back of his hand. “When you grow up in a village, you might recognise the beauty of the simple things.” His days on Vlieland are about spending time with family and nature. Going out into nature with friends, mountain biking around the island and lastly surfing, which is something magical for Sil. “When you love surfing you know how important the right circumstances are, the satisfaction you can get from a surf session is undefinable.” When thinking about his dreams, Sil doesn't necessarily believe in writing those down. “Writing down my dreams sometimes feels like a marketing tool, for me the beauty of life is in the unknown. I like to focus on my own strengths, making things I can be proud of and work hard for”.
Describing his own style was a challenge for Sil. He joked about being stuck in a time warp, still evolving after fifteen years of growing up on Vlieland. He enjoys experimenting with new looks and pushing his boundaries. “I think you could describe my style as edgy, refined and stylish”
Sil’s journey with fashion began with sneakers. “My interest in fashion started with sneakers and evolved into streetwear. For me it is important that a sneaker doesn’t take me back to when I was 15. I like classic silhouettes, unique collaborations and the stories behind the shoes”.
With the Salomon ACS Pro Desert Sil treads the familiar paths of his island home, exploring the sandy shores and Vlieland’s rural nature.
The Salomon ACS Pro Desert is inspired by rural, dusty landscapes and an archetypal technical silhouette with a futuristic aesthetic. The two colourways ‘Almond Milk/Cement/Falcon’ and ‘Dark Earth/Caribou/Wren’ are both available at Baskèts. Discover the sneaker now online or in one of our stores.
