Progress rarely comes from playing it safe. Spence Lab is our experimental practice — a place for artist collaborations, material explorations, and one-of-one pieces that that push the boundaries of the Spence universe. Produced in small numbers and guided by instinct, some ideas will never return. Others will shape the future.

For the first release, we started with the core symbol of the Spence identity. The DoubleSwan. Reduced to essential geometry, the symbol depicts two mirrored forms — a visual metaphor for players facing one another across a net, and the balance and tension that define the game. The negative space between them forms a single heart-shaped aperture, signaling unity and the idea that the game requires two: two bodies, two minds, two intentions in contact. The mark captures the duality at the heart of racquet sports — opposition and partnership, precision and emotion, strength and grace - and reflects a relationship not just with an opponent, but with the game itself.

The inaugural edition introduces Dos Needles, the hand-embroidery practice of artist Kip Ortega, known for transforming iconic brands through meticulous one-of-one embroidery. Inspired by the natural world, his pieces feature intricate botanical landscapes and organic forms that transform familiar garments into wearable artifacts.