Dustin Canalin More than a Game

More Than A Game

“Put me in Coach, I’m ready to play!” Listen to John Fogarty’s song, and you know the feeling. If you can’t be on centerfield, you at least want to hear, see—feel it. Dustin Canalin has been in the field and on the court, and through his brand, Trophy Hunting, he’s achieved his lifelong dream to design clothing and create art that welcomes all of us to join the team.

Gwynned Vitello: It looks like your roots growing up next to a park and playing baseball planted some of the seeds for your career.

Dustin Canalin: I played baseball pretty competitively, so that was my first sport. I was pretty good and made the all-star teams, so that really was my first love. I did excel in it and got a lot of gratification from being able to move ahead and get better. I actually played with a couple of guys who went to the majors, like Jimmy Rollins, who’s going to the Hall of Fame, and Dontrelle Willis, who grew up with my brothers. I thought I’d be a professional baseball player growing up.

And then basketball came into the picture.

I always loved basketball, especially the shoes and the culture, which is how I learned about design, through Nike ads, seeing products as a consumer, and thinking, this is so cool. With baseball, it’s the same uniform and not as much style. I used to stylize my shoes in baseball, but our high school coach wanted everything exact; there’s no source of expression. With basketball, you could wear different sneakers or a wristband.