Human by Nature is more than just a brand. It’s a love letter, written by designer John Lehman to his younger self. It’s a reflection of his dreams, a unique blend of nostalgia and novelty – the delicate balance that inspires HbN’s tagline. Human By Nature is an ode to humanity, and to sports imagery. Its essence is as multicultural as John’s personal journey, shaped by a childhood spent in China, an American-Polish heritage, and a huge passion for Japanese design that he developed exploring Tokyo’s vintage stores.

As John speaks, we can feel introspective vibes surrounding us. His heart seems to beat at the same rhythm with different homes and nationalities. Traditions, cultures and exotic details are merged into a unique stream of consciousness, and style that go beyond different sports. This is Human by Nature. 

Can you tell us something about the origins of Human by Nature and your sports imagery? Which athletes and designers have inspired you the most?

“The idea for Human By Nature really came to me during my teenage years. When I was just a child in high school, my family and my sister moved to Japan, in Tokyo. She’s fully embraced life there and everything, and she just took me around all the most interesting vintage retailers and thrift shops there. From those days, I was constantly searching for clothes that felt authentic, things I couldn’t find in normal stores at the time. Growing up among different cultures, I simultaneously felt that I did not belong anywhere and a desire to create something that would unite them all in some way. I also played a lot of sports back then. I was never aiming to be a pro athlete, but the culture around sports – especially football and basketball – always fascinated me. It’s universal, transcends borders, and brings people together in such a powerful way.”

“When it comes to inspirations, I’ve always admired athletes who brought something different to the game – people like Zinedine Zidane, Dennis Bergkamp, who played with both finesse and intelligence, and among them all Djibril Cissé. I was a big fan of his aesthetic and style for a while, plus he actually wrote to us and wants to wear some of our stuff, a real idol. As for designers, I’m drawn to people like Yohji Yamamoto, whose work beautifully fuses tradition with the avant-garde; Nigo, who created an entire subculture by blending streetwear with high fashion and Ralph Lauren, as a whole. Both athletes and designers I admire carry this sense of originality and grace that resonates with me and my vision for Human by Nature.”

Your collections often combine traditional and modern elements. How do you balance nostalgia with contemporary design trends? 

“Nostalgia is really at the heart of what I do. But I think magic happens when you take something from the past and infuse it with a modern spirit. I never want to replicate vintage styles exactly as they were—I always aim to reinterpret them, to add newness and surprise. For example, with my Tokyo Sport Club Collection, I pull from the designs of classic kits from the ’80s and ’90s, but then I’ll introduce unexpected elements like different cuts, materials, or graphic details. It’s about respecting the past, but giving it a place in the present.”

“In sports, I think there’s something similar happening. We see it with throwback jerseys or retro silhouettes in sneakers. That blend of old and new is really appealing because it connects people to something they already love, while still offering something fresh and exciting. It’s like with athletes—some of them embody the tradition of their sport, but the best always push it forward into the future.”

We’ve already introduced your multicultural background. What role do these different influences play in the Human by Nature identity? And what can you tell us about its sports DNA?

“My life has been shaped by so many different places, and I think that’s reflected in every piece I design. Growing up in China, there was this incredible mix of East and West, where you’d see American pop culture alongside Chinese traditions. My American and Polish roots gave me a connection to both European and Western ways of thinking about fashion and sports. And then there’s my deep love for Japan – the attention to detail, the reverence for craftsmanship, and the way they approach vintage fashion with such respect. It’s almost spiritual.”

“When it comes to sports, each of these cultures has its own unique DNA. In Poland, football is almost a religion. In China, I was exposed to a wider range of sports and a growing enthusiasm for football and basketball. The Japanese approach to sportswear is meticulous – they take something like a simple football jersey and elevate it to an art form. And here in Cape Town, there’s this vibrant, eclectic mix of sports influences, from rugby to football, that inspires me to blend all these elements into the DNA of Human By Nature.”

Where do the sports inspirations come from?

“As for sports, the inspiration comes naturally – it’s always been part of my life. Football especially, with its dynamic visuals, colors, and energy, constantly feeds into my creativity. I look at old match footage, fan culture, and classic kits to see what stands out to me, and then I bring those elements into the design in a way that feels contemporary.”

“Sport is such a powerful source of inspiration for me, not just in terms of the sport itself, but the culture that surrounds it. There’s a beauty in how sport brings people together, from different countries and backgrounds, and I try to capture that sense of unity in my designs. The visual identity of the kits, the badges, the colors… there’s so much emotion tied to it.”

What are your goals for the future of Human By Nature? Are there any upcoming collaborations or new projects that you can share with us?

“Looking ahead, I want to continue refining the brand, expand to different sport ranges, and different clothes, merging together the “vintage lifestyle” look with the functional sportswear. We’re just releasing our first Track and Field capsule and there’ll be more in the future”