Traveling can test the utility and function of any garment or product. Moving swiftly from place to place calls for items that live happily in different environments. Finding things that meet these requirements can be hard—especially when style is concerned.

Vael Projects was born from that notion. While the designs often grow from the classic silhouettes of hiking, boating, and the court, the functionality blossoms from a central question: what does a single pair of shoes need to do when more than one pair would be ideal? And in that, Vael becomes an interesting study of the designer’s mind.

The mind, in this case, belongs to Coleman Horn. Having made the rounds through some of the biggest names in footwear and launched his own Medium line, Horn has quite a pedigree when it comes to shoes. His latest venture is The Vael Project, first introduced to the public in 2008. Vael has a product offering that comes as much from personal history as it does from discovery. Global trends meet childhood favorites. And, it all connects to the needs associated with constant movement.

I spoke with Horn over the phone in mid-February. Vael seemed a great companion to Freeman Transport as a continual assessment of focused brand-building. What do we need when we travel? What do we want? How do we make our trips most comfortable?

The above questions have always plagued me when packing, and I believe they are quite universal. With that thought, my discussion with Coleman covers his impetus for Vael, his thoughts on the state of design, and some of the stories behind my favorite Vael shoes.