Transcript
Speaker: I mean, I think, you know, hindsight is 20-20. So at the at the time, I was more so just trying to like capitalize on the opportunities that were put in front of me. Yeah. Did I know I was like loading my like my like knowledge satchel? Not so much.
Speaker: I think it's easier to look back and and and be like, oh, during Yeezy, I was learning this and during, you know, but back then it was just more about like trying to get a paycheck, trying to get some exposure, trying to at the time, like my resume and my portfolio were the most important things I had. They still are. But back then,
Speaker: from a professional design perspective, it's like kind of all you are. Yeah. Right. It's like it's the resume. It's the portfolio. So now after youre doing this Pierre Moss show, like I could add Pierre Moss to my portfolio after I don't know, doing like Cole Haan. It was like now that I've like worked, I've worked with Nike technology because they were a Nike owned brand. So it's just about like adding whatever I could just to make myself look that much shinier, or that much sexier to the next employer.
Speaker: What's good, everyone? Welcome back to My First Kicks, the podcast where I use sneakers as a through line to get to know the guest in front of me. This week, I'm joined by the legendary designer, footwear designer, based on ah that video that I saw. Oh, yeah. Shout out, big boy. Yeah, shout out, big boy. So Leahy Bamberry, welcome to the podcast. Thank you for having me. No, Thank you. Actually, know what we can start on? Yeah.
Speaker: It's pronounced Benberry and so many people say Benberry. Really? and So I'm glad we could clear that up right now. Benberry. Benberry. Did I say it right? I think you said Benberry or Benberry.
Speaker: Benberry. Benberry. There It's Benberry. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So I probably said Benberry. Yeah. Yeah. yeah That's common. so My bad. Good opportunity to clear to clear that up. Yo, I'm just going to clip this. Say it right. We can start over. Nah, it's all good. ah Appreciate you pulling up, man. This is like, I was good before we started. Jinx hit me up because i had Jinx on the podcast and he was just like, yo, you should have Salehi on. I was like, what? I can like, you know, like I never thought about it or whatever.
Speaker: um And so he put us in contact and we were making it happen. And then it it all, it fell apart at the end of the last minute, yeah which is all good. um But then the reason why I brought this up is because when I started reading your book, I was reading his interview of you yeah in it. And I was like,
Speaker: If I did this without reading that, yeah like, cause right before this, you're gonna do the podcast before the book came out. And so if I didn't read that, I would probably ask them maybe the same questions. No, Jinx contributed in a really unique way. Cause I had Bliss Foster, Gian Deleon and Jinx, and they all contributed drastically diverse contributions to the book just because they had different relationships with sneakers and Jinx's. was probably the most ah familiar to mind. So we were able to like juxtapose all kinds of ideas that, you know, just from camping out and the struggles of affording shoes and getting fresh for fellow sixth graders. yeah yeah yeah So no, his contribution was appreciated for sure. Yeah. I mean, learning that, you know, because I grew up actually one thing I don't talk about here, is but I used to, i used to live on the Upper East Side. Okay. Why don't you talk about that?
Speaker: It's because like, i always tell people i'm from Queens. I'd rather claim, but it's only because like ah during the time, it was very tumultuous. 9-11 happened. My mom worked for the hospital. So it was like, I try to erase as much of that not of my brain, because it's just like, would just think about the sirens. I'd go to sleep.
Speaker: at every night yeah yeah yeah um but like living in the upper east side and stuff like that where i would like venture down um and hearing about you know you're from tribeca and like growing up in that area um and i was just like that's so dope like i never actually knew somebody from there yeah yeah no there aren't many people from tribeca but what was cool was the proximity to like all of the grassroots stores that were maybe like 15 blocks up like Gnome and A-Life and Classic Kicks, Recon, ah Dave's Quality Meat. that's that's my That was my favorite story. And they were all within like a 10 block radius. So yeah, proximity-wise, I was close. I was like, i was wondering if you did the loops back then too. Well,
Speaker: What's funny is like, you know, back then it was it was really about like discovery because there wasn't like social media or like really any kind of like internet like database that had all these places. So it was very word of mouth and you had to like, and then the LES just in itself just felt like this kind of unknown area that you kind of had to just figure it out to find the places. And a perfect example was Gnome. That was like beneath the Swatch shop right above Houston Street. right And it was like this like,
Speaker: kind of like old subway looking entrance it didn't look like you were supposed to go down there no yeah i didn't i i no i've never been because i didn't know was supposed to go down there yeah yeah exactly because like we would walk so i would do the loop and then when we would cut across yeah so like it would be like i'd come from dqm up and then there was a store next to pearl paint or not pearl paint What's that art store?
Speaker: that was Propane. Propane. Yeah, yeah. Well, it was on that's on Canal Street. That's Canal Street. There was another art store with like the big windows. That was where, but next to Blades. So you'd do that line number it was like, you'd do that way, and then you'd come towards ah that swatch store, but then people would be like, yeah, you gotta go downstairs. I'd be like,
Speaker: Where? Where, yeah. yeah you don't You couldn't tell. And then you'd like go into this beautiful all concrete store that had like music playing and incense and shirts you'd never seen and Jordans that you didn't know were available. And yeah, that was one of the spots. Jumping in real quick to remind y'all to like, subscribe, and leave a comment if you've been enjoying this episode. And of course, if you are listening to this on Apple or Spotify, Do not forget to leave five stars and leave a review. And if you're listening to this on Spotify, you can leave comments on the episode. Go back, leave comments on every episode that you listen to. it it just like it just helps out the podcast and gets me into other people's ears and helps me grow the podcast. And, of course, I have a Patreon, patreon.com slash myfirstkicks. On there, you'll find extra content. You'll find the Packer Air Force One walkthrough. You'll find as much content as I can put out an extra episode. And it really helps the podcast. It really helps me get in the studio. All that money goes right back into the podcast. And to just put out something really dope. So please subscribe to the Patreon. Patreon.com slash My First Kicks. But for now, let's jump back into the episode. Man, but you're here to answer the question that I ask everybody each week. What's your first kicks? What's that first pair of sneakers you absolutely needed to have? I think they were Jordan 10s. Really? Yeah, I think they were Jordan 10s. Like I had Jordans before that, but I remember the 10s really resonating with me.
Speaker: I've been recently talking a lot about how design specifically is meant to leave people with a feeling. yeah And I just remember, and I didn't even know it was working on me at the time, but it was really just like the marketing of these shoes that like made me feel something. It made me feel cooler. They made feel like I could hoop better. And so I don't know what it was about the Jordan 10s.
Speaker: I was like, my grandparents lived in Chicago at the time. So I was like in Chicago, like obsessing over Jordans. yeah But I think it was a Jordan 10. That's crazy. Yeah, yeah. When I had Maro on here, he was like, we don't fuck with Jordans because we're we're ah big Knicks fans. Nah, but like, it's almost like how like ah Jordan was the only player that you couldn't be in like NBA Live. Same, that's what i was saying, yeah. I just think that it was like, Jordans were more than the team you were a fan of. You know what I mean? And and also there was just such a deep injection of Jordans into New York culture. you know, like Spike Lee movies and like Fresh Prince Bel-Air all that kind of shit. like Yeah, you couldn't like walk five blocks without Santa Perry. And then when you go to school and somebody had him. 100%. It was a part of it was part of the uniform. yeah You know what I mean? For sure. yeah um you know
Speaker: The one thing I've always been super curious about, you know your journey, and like reading about it in here, was just like where did that need to want to draw come from? like I know that your parents are... artists as well. But like when we're here, so many people be like, yeah, my parents do this. Now I'm going to go the opposite way. But it it seemed like when reading your book, it was just like, I really wanted to do this as well. Yeah. well I mean, it started with like just having some artistic talent. So i I realized that I was good at drawing. So that was what it probably influenced it a little bit.
Speaker: But um I think maybe it's traditional for parents to like push their kids to be doctors or those traditional things that make money. But given that my parents come from an artistic, creative background, and then growing up in Tribeca, that was a neighborhood that was full of artists and full of creatives. And so I think that they had proof of concept all around that you could make money and potentially have some success from a creative profession. And so I think that was the inspiration um or the foundation. And you know from there, I think that was coupled with a love for sneakers and not fully understanding that. I don't even know if at the time I understood that
Speaker: design was like how you made a shoe. yeah But I knew that I could draw and I knew that I love sneakers. So it was kind of about how I could like join those two interests. I mean, it's so like hearing that. And also I had Jason Maiden on it. He talked. Oh yeah, that's my guy. Yeah. He talked the about just like, I didn't have the thing. So I drew it and I was like, i don't know. Is that like something that you used to do? well that's what it started. It started as a drawing the sneakers I saw. So I even have, it's actually in the book. I have ah a ceramic Jordan 11. I made when I was like,
Speaker: If it was Jordan Levy, was maybe like 12 or something that. That's great. And I think that's an example. It's like pretty good too for like 12 year old. No, for real. I think that's an example of like the love I had for sneakers because I was i was trying to recreate. I don't know if it was not if it was about not having them as much as it was just about being like obsessed. obsession Obsession over like the design lines and the branding and the shape and all that stuff. yeah And I guess these were the early stages of what I didn't understand was design, but I just saw as just like obsessions.
Speaker: the The one thing I don't know if it was answered in the book was ah just like sneaker how like, is there a moment sneaker culture really like grabbed onto you to make you feel like, you know oh, I really wanted to be part of this?
Speaker: I think it was gradual, but I'll never forget you how like Slam has that, once a year they have a a magazine called Kicks. yeah And in that, they had a picture of A-Life. And i so I turned to this page and I see these like mahogany wooden shelves and this red carpet and it felt like like a regal, like king's like room something, right? Like a royal room, but they had sneakers. And it was like not too far from my house and I was like, what is this place? um And so just discovering that, and i think it just took like the culture of sneaker a little deeper for me because it made it, ah
Speaker: not only about product, but about like experience yeah and environment. Yeah. Because, you know, up until then it was about finish line and foot locker and like a sneaker store looked a certain way. It felt a certain way. the The people that work there were often wearing like referee shirts. Yeah. um But then when it became like this premium experience that prior to that, I only saw like in the luxury stores that maybe my mom would go to or something like that, or like even just like Macy's um to kind of like get that feeling through sneakers kind of elevated it for me.
Speaker: I mean, yeah, it's funny, my my first experience at A Life was not a good one. So I i only went there twice. Share that I wanted to share this story story whenever I had Kool-Aid on here, but I walked in one time. So I'm big into graphs. super into graphs, even now. So I go in there, this is my first time ever seeing crink markers. And I've heard about crink. People were like, oh, why would you mess with a Crink when you can just make your own mop? And I was like, all right, cool, whatever. I was just like, I have the money. If I ever find Crink, I'm gonna go get one. My boys were like, yo, let's go to Alife. And I was like, what's Alife? And like, yo, it's a dope ass store. yeah It looks like a cigar shop, but it's for sneakers. And just like, all right. So we go in and Kunle's at the register. yeah And I'm like, yo, let me get the Crink. He's like, you do graph? What are you writing? And I just like,
Speaker: I was like, don't forget about it. And then I was like, I turned my boys on like, yo, we gotta go. No, remember one of the first times I went there, because you had to be buzzed in. So he would look, because the desk was in the back, but you could see the front. He would look, and based on your appearance, he would sometimes not let people in, let people in.
Speaker: I remember I came in with some friends and he just started shitting on all of them. And it's funny, because now I'm like friends with Kool-Aid. He's a sweetheart. but But back then he was a scary individual. No, yeah, I mean, I've heard, the stories I've heard, like I was like, oh, I understand it now. Because like, I mean, he's a he's doing graph, he's also, you know, queer, and like all this other stuff, and black, and living down in Lower East Side. Like it's like, bro, you're going against so much, and then you're still being yourself. Like it's just like, hell yeah, man. You know, there's way more power to him for that. it was even just cool like in more recent years to see like the Travis's and Virgil's of the world's like,
Speaker: wear those iraq hats yes because there's literally like one percent of culture that even kind of knows the significance of that yeah they may have seen the logo but they don't really understand the significance so like it's uh yeah i appreciated seeing them kind of like pay homage no yeah even speaking on that too like i remember seeing the first iraq a life collab and being like that is so like i didn't know you can turn your graph into Yeah. Streetwear. Yeah. Because like we've get we'd have echo. But that was all just like, you know, Ewok doing hand styles. Yeah. Mark Echo or like, you know, other graffiti artists. But it was never like, yo, the crew is on. Now we can make money off of this was like that was like. That was also just a time where just t-shirts just had like a different kind of value. Like this literally like two days ago, this girl did a post on IG talking about like millennials and like that period of time. Yeah. And she just posted like a peg leg shirt and only in wise shirt. Yeah. Like award tour, like shout out Phil, like in Madbury, like,
Speaker: They were just T-shirts just had like a different. It was almost the the the value of a sneaker now was a T-shirt back then. Yeah. 100 percent. Man, I've missed streetwear. So like that, like era of streetwear was so pure and not like made to to be bought by a venture capital. You know, like like that, that era of like that was when it was actual counter counterculture. And you're like making a statement. You're really like, yo, I rep Zuyork or I rep, you know, Mecca or I rep, you know. But then it was also that discovery because it was like these days you just see like a post about a shirt and then you can go to the website, order it instantly. yeah But going to that store, discovering it, not really knowing what it was. Even just the smells. I remember the smell of A-Life. I remember the smell of Supreme. yeah Like I burn, i burn knock chompa to this day because of Supreme, I think. So yeah. And I don't know if that also has something to do with age, but was definitely inspirational times. I mean, i it's funny because you said that too. Like, I've been thinking about how much retro speaks to us now. Yeah. And we was in a car and and I go, I'm like, we're all listening. We're all like singing the songs in the car. And I go, is this the classical, of the classical music radio? And I'm like, yo, it's so crazy how we become, like we live, i mean, shout out to us for living as long yeah where our, what we grew up is becoming. 100%. And it really does go in circles because I remember generations talking about that before me and I didn't really understand it. yeah Because now even what's strange is,
Speaker: I wear like headphones with a cord and I've heard people describe that as performative. Really? That's like a thing. People say like, oh, if you're wearing headphones with a cord, it's like performative. And I'm like, in my in my head, I'm thinking, these are my headphones. yeah yeah Like, what the fuck are you talking about? Performative. These are my fucking headphones. yeah And so it just shows you how times have changed where something that you do is that you're used to and is regular and is the norm because society has moved in a different place is now seen as like in this like intentional act It's that's crazy. You know, it's I don't know why the society so society it like evolved to where we're the evolving everybody. Yes. Yes. You know, or like we're like we're triple being like, are you really doing this because you like it? And it's just like, I think if you can you can smell passion out of somebody, right? You can be like, oh yeah, they're really in this yeah to really do this, right?
Speaker: It's funny, because I just about to pivot to this, but the person you bring up a lot is Jeff Henderson. Oh yeah, shout out Jeff. Shout out Jeff. Shout out Jeff, yeah. um I got introduced to him by Smoove, shout out Smoove. She introduced me to Jeff Henderson one night at this Black Footwear Forum event that we went to. And ah like hearing how how much he guided you in the beginning, was like so fire yeah you know the it's just like everybody's always looking for a mentor and you're always hearing like oh why is nobody mentoring me why is nobody mentoring me but it's just like i don't think it gets i don't think mentors are are like on you like they're like around you you just don't know if they're actually access them yeah uh i just saw this like clip from the shop where they were talking about there are no more big homies anymore. You saw that? yeah on talk I thought it was like such a bar because yeah with Jeff, I mean, because really like with mentorship, it's a two-way street. yeah It needs to be someone that's willing to give the gems, but then the person truly needs to be
Speaker: like vulnerable enough to accept the gyms, right? And understand that they know nothing and accept what's, you know, someone that's accomplished way more and has way more of a portfolio can help them with, yeah right? And so with Jeff, I think the thing that helped is when I first met him, he was like, oh, I worked at Nike for 20 years. And so that's all I needed to hear. I was like, you worked at Nike for 20 years. If he was like, yo, shoot this guy in the face. I'd shoot him in the face. Cause I was like, I was the school. You're gonna get me there. Exactly, if that's what it takes. Like I was in the school of Jeff. So yeah, Jeff, like he taught me a lot.
Speaker: He did a great job at making me realize what I thought I knew at the time wasn't much. And then once he was able to kind of dissolve all of that, those wrong learnings, then he built me back up from a very pure place and taught me the ins and outs of the business. Made me realize that design isn't simply about just design because i was a time in my life where I just thought I could draw pretty shoes and call it a day. But there's so much more that goes into creating shoes. You know, like i was saying, like 30 percent of it's actually designing them. Right. Yeah. I mean, especially because like so I work in corporate America also and like reading this like,
Speaker: really resonated with me because there are we're to talk about this a little bit later but like I love the way you talk about you know being black within a corporate structure and how do you how did like Jeff taught you how to maneuver within that which is something that doesn't get spoken about enough because like I think a lot of people have ah a certain idea of like I'll just get in there and I'll like I'll do what I need to do the type of thing and it's like No, there's ways that you can, you know, once you figure out and ah your lane, you can definitely be yourself at certain point. But I think what, like, hearing how you learned that was, I was like, this is fire. Yeah. You know, like... Which which stop, though? How did I learn it? Tell You learned that at, well, let's see, after Kohan. Greats, I think, feel like... Yeah, it was actually a gradual learning. I don't know if it was at one stop, but... i Because I... At Yeezy, it was... Yeah, that was something different. But, yeah, I think, like...
Speaker: At each job you learn some things, you bring those learnings to the next job, and then you get different responsibilities, hopefully more or higher responsibilities, and so you can take those learnings from that lower position, influence the new opportunity. And so yeah, I mean, that's why the brand's called Shameless Plug, it's called Sponge, and being a sponge is- No shameless, this is what you're here for. There you go, non-shameless plug. But yeah, just absorbing what's happening around you, learning, constantly learning. No, I mean, and more people definitely need to do that. And so like hearing you didn't go through that. But yeah, since we touched on easy one thing, like hearing about like Jeff inspiring you and all that, like, and then reading Sheck West. Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like that was the brightest moment in like of like reading that and being like, wow, this is exactly what I feel more people need to read. Whereas just like he's talking about how, you know, you're inspiring him, inspire him to be himself. You're inspiring him to really just like, yo, I fuck with these guys. Let me just show them love. Like, you know, we live in a world where a lot of people are just more painting their way of just like, I'm the shit, I'm the shit. And not like. How about we grab everybody? Do you think you could read the first four or five lines from that check West letter? This feels like a very clippable moment.
Speaker: um It might take a second to find it. Nah, I know where it is. I think I had it. Yeah, it might have been like right after Yeezy. Or right before. Nah, the best. though I sent this picture to everybody. I'm not reading that one out Where is it? It is definitely...
Speaker: And what's what's interesting about that letter is ah that was before he was Shaq West. Right, yeah yeah. I think I just met him and he's... And also what's special about that, no one he sent me a handwritten letter, a two-page letter. No one sends written letters, so it just felt like intentional.
Speaker: Which is something that needs to be more, you know, around. All right, I i definitely lost it. It's before Pyre...
Speaker: I was just looking at it i was just at Coltrane Curtis's office and we were looking through it. Okay. The fat Jewish. That was funny. See, so it's easy, right? It's before easy after? think it was before after. I forget. Is it this greats?
Speaker: Because he's talking about Kanye in it. So it must be after maybe. All right. This is the letter from Sheck Wes to myself. First off, this is not a letter. This is a piece of art. This is an 18-year-old project kid talking to a nigga that inspires him.
Speaker: ah Right now, I'm in my one-bedroom apartment with my mom, dad, and sister. I got two bottles of ginger ale on the table. I'm drinking both, my nigga. I want you to have this gear. Some some i made, some we made, some I wore that I look at them and the public look at them as something rare. They may be wilding, but you want me to keep going? yeah Maybe you keep going a little bit more. It's good. The Telfair shirt, that's for Kanye though. That's my nigga.
Speaker: People like you, Kirby and Ye inspire me. Why? Because y'all black men with white man jobs. And I know they hate it. that's That's the part that resonated with me the most. ah My house is small and got like an African scent. So the clothes smell like pepper. yeah But lately I'm torn between two constant things, Nike and Adidas. They both want me because I'm too valuable. I know what the fuck the streets want.
Speaker: m Keep going? If you want to. if you um ok Okay, you're good. that This was happening before he was at, he was- Yeah, I forget who i met him I met him with. Maybe just in New York or something like that. But we met, I honestly don't remember the meeting, truthfully. But it was it was really the letter that stuck with me.
Speaker: And I got this letter in the mail. the The clothes did smell like pepper. And- i See, i'm you I'm thinking like an African scent is like, was not pepper. I don't know if I would describe it as pepper, but it had a strong scent to it that stayed on it after I put them in the wash. I remember that.
Speaker: And- um Yeah, he just, he really would, and maybe this was like kind of like early, ah early, um early examples of how he was gonna become a lyricist because he really like created an entire environment, a context, and left me with a feeling. So I just, I just held onto it because I was like, people don't write handwritten letters. This feels intentional.
Speaker: I was laughing during it. it gave me It left me with a lot of perspective. So I was like, this needs to be in the book. Nah, I mean, it's one thing also, cause I was reading it. I was reading it. I'm looking through all the pictures. I'm like, yo, know the way you documented everything in your journey, I didn't like, did you have the foresight of like, yo, I'm going to put this together? Like, do I need this catalog? I learned early on about the importance of owning your photos because a my dad's a photographer, but then B, you know if you don't own the photos and you can't really put anything in a book because you don't own the photos, you're have the photographers coming after you. So I was just big on documentation. I think that came from industrial design. They always ah promoted documenting your process. And then maybe because my dad's a photographer, it was you know i really like to document just moments in life and my memory is not the best. So just to be able to remember those moments.
Speaker: It's kind of like, i did I know I was gonna come out with a book one day? No, but if that opportunity did find me, I was gonna be ready. It's kind of like now, like I have a whole bunch of archive pieces that if, I'll say when I you know have a museum show, i'll be right I'll be prepared for that too. That's fun. I saw you make that bookcase that and I was like, yeah. yeah you got You got a lot of talent. Oh, thank you. It's ah like reading that and then going into or you know past that, the the work with Pyre Moss, like doing a ah fashion show. yeah like did that even want like Did you ever want to you know kind of take that even further?
Speaker: So that was just more so helping out a friend. I remember i got hit up and they were like, hey, we need a shoe that makes it feel like you're like financially stuck. Can you help us out? And And I think, I don't even think I got paid. I think was, I did it for the plane ticket yeah to New York. I was like, oh, I'll come to New York. That's cool.
Speaker: And to be a part of a fashion show, that sounds cool. I think Erykah Badu was there. So I was like, fire. Sold. And so I ended up like using some silicone, bought a bunch of like industrial silicone, was like pouring shoes on like a balcony of a midtown office.
Speaker: And um they were in the show. And I and i was just cool. i Really, I was just like honored to be backstage, be a part of it. I didn't really see it as like, Salahi Bimbri for Pierre Moss. It wasn't that necessarily. It was just more like helping out a friend, ah getting to be exposed to a new environment, being being a fly on the wall, seeing how that whole backstage fashion thing even went down. yeah um And then now it's cool that I can like you know look back on that and be like, oh, I was like kind of a designer for whatever. you is I was kind of like in collaboration with or something. but it was really it was it was about exposure at the end of the day yeah like when you think about that moment or even if you think about your time during that moment i mean you talk about like yo i'm just trying to get to where i'm going right and the goal was nike at the time so like like did you ever think about like oh maybe i you know did some things different i should have done some things differently that led me more into you know like sportswear design space instead of like, oh I'm just like trying a lot of things to just be well-rounded.
Speaker: Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, hindsight is 20-20. So at the at the time, I was more so just trying to, like, capitalize on the opportunities that were put in front of me. yeah Did I know I was, like, loading my, like, my like ah knowledge satchel? Not so much.
Speaker: I think it's easier to look back and and be like, oh, during Yeezy, I was learning this. and you know, but back then, it was just more about, like, trying to get a paycheck, trying to get some exposure, trying to, at the time, like, my resume and my portfolio were the most important things I had. They still are, but back then,
Speaker: from a professional design perspective that's like kind of all you are yeah right it's like it's the resume it's the portfolio so now after doing this Pierre Moss show like I could add Pierre Moss to my portfolio after I don't know doing like Cole Haan it was like now that I've like worked I've worked with Nike technology because they were a Nike owned brand so it's just about like adding whatever I could just to make myself look that much shinier or that much sexier to the next uh employer Jumping in once again to remind y'all that I have merch. That's right. I have a My First Kicks t-shirt. If you're at ComplexCon, I will be wearing my My First Kicks t-shirt. Of course, hit me up.
Speaker: Info at My First Kicks. If you are New York local, I will meet up with you and sell you the t-shirt for $40. If not, it's $40 plus shipping. So remember that. Hit me up. $40. We'll we'll link up $40, we'll talk for a little bit, sell you the t-shirt, boom, ready to go. I'm trying to get rid of these shirts so I can make more merch.
Speaker: But for now, let's jump back into the episode. Employer. yeah with that So like i do I do think about the foot in the door mentality with that too. Because when I look at that look back at like my career as well, it's it's similar to that where I'm like trying to just figure a way to get in yeah and then like trying to maneuver myself around that. 100%. Once and once you're you're in, it's a lot easier to move up, you know what I mean? And and take whatever you're learning and apply it to whatever you're you're working on there. So like getting in the door is the hardest part. Getting in door is 100% the hardest part. It's the hardest part for sure. So like, yeah, hearing hearing that and you brought this up and I'm glad you brought that up. But you kept saying that I just needed the paycheck. This is a paycheck. It's real.
Speaker: But like, where did that mentality come from? one needing to eat yeah yeah needing to eat needing to have a roof uh but like i guess because now we live in a world where like you got to do it for passion you got to do love you got to do you know um and that goes farther yeah but like you know yes we have to pay the bills yeah well that's the foundation like even you know when i tell ah that my versace story and how i got that job which i can share i'm not sure i've told that story so many times but I think the thing I always make it very clear about is that I wasn't just trying to get a job at Versace. I got hit up by Zara like the week after and they offered me a position, yeah which I would have taken if they offered me a position a week earlier because I was truly in a position where I just needed a paycheck. And so that that is...
Speaker: I think these days because of like optics and the internet, people want their jobs to look away. But at the end of the day, you need money. Yeah. You know, I mean, i mean, we don't have to talk about it, but that was the, I think because of you saying that while you were working at Versace, I was like so fixated on you saying that this is a paycheck, but I'm like reading you being like, yo, I got to do, this is my own show. And, but then I also read that you were like, yo, we were a man, a team of two. Yeah, shout out Fardin from Amiri.
Speaker: Fardin has Ratizadeh. i I couldn't read that. Yeah, last name. I've been saying names all wrong. yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah. Pierre Moss, I'm over here going Pyre Moss. Oh, no worries. I'm not about to correct you. But um yeah, so I was, ah I get the job.
Speaker: I think my position was like head of sneakers. where Or I was just making all the sneakers. And then that did so well. They gave me all the men's formal footwear, which yeah i couldn't do by myself. yeah there's There's so many like Oxfords and Derbies and wingtips and so many shoes that...
Speaker: Because it's not my personal style. I haven't posted, but I've done so many of those types of shoes. So brought in Fardin. um and ah and he, yeah, we were a two-man team probably doing the work of like a good 10-person That's insane. yeah Yeah. Like, how did you feel overworked? Or were you just like... No, it was, I mean, no, not really. Like, I don't think so. Like, for one, it was just like, i was super hyped on going to Milan once a month and like having this very unique position in Versace where I'm like reporting directly to Donatella. So, which was not normal yeah most of the time. Yeah. So like when you report to the top, that makes any, really any other obstacles kind of dissolve. Yeah. So that made life very easy. And then,
Speaker: I was able to kind of do what I wanted because I was and am a sneaker expert, I believe. And I also was coming from Kanye. And at that time, any proximity to Kanye kind of like knighted you as like this like expert as well. So given that they didn't really have that much like sneaker knowledge or experience, I was kind of able to tell them like, this will work, this will not. And they believed me. And we had some wins. No, you did. Yeah. went triple platinum. Yeah, I would say so. Come on. Without a doubt, I remember seeing the chain reactions all the time. I was just like, I was like, one, was like, they look cool. I'm not a big runner guy, but was like, at that time, as a younger person, I was like, they look cool. That soul was, it's, like, as soon as I picked up the show, like, This is crazy. Thank So it's like, yeah. You remember the Triple S, the Blintelga Triple So that shoe was killing me at the time. So created the chain reaction to directly compete with that shoe because it's like it's rare that in fashion there's like a sneaker kind of controlling conversation. And that's what it was. So I made sure to make a shoe that kind of like competed with that one. I mean, the way you explain it, though, it was just like, and then you go, and then you go, but it's a paycheck. Like, I was just like, I don't want to say that like downplay. It's like I'm going to Milan monthly. I'm meeting with Donatella every other day. I'm getting to be like backstage at fashion shows. I'm meeting all these like influential people in the culture. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, but at the at the end of the day, it was like, when that first started, it was about the paycheck. Once it began, it was not about the paycheck, because the paycheck was great. So like that, I guess that worry kind of like slowly dissolved. But yeah, in the beginning, it was post Yeezy, a year of unemployment and freelancing. Which is probably like the most scariest thing, especially as a creative, too. 100%. Like you're coming from, you know, because especially at that time, like Yeezy was at the top of the top. And like, you're like what do i do yeah you know yeah no it was it ended abruptly and i started freelancing for this brand clay c-l-a-e and so i went from like being in calabasas with kanye and like virgil's there and dancy's there and i'm like i've made it yeah and then like the next week i'm in like the back of a skate shop in like encino or wherever it was glendale i don't remember But it was just like humbling. Yeah. And the skate shop often wasn't even open. It was just kind of like where the office was. And so, yeah, it was definitely a humbling experience. No, man. I mean, the journey, the journey the roller coaster of life. Like that is that is wild. But then it's just like one one thing when you started doing like, okay, I'm do it. You're going to an Anta. You're going to a New Balance. And it's just like when I'm reading that too, because it's like you're doing that while and while as a corporate employee. yeah So it's like that's why I was like,
Speaker: How did you not get burnt out? Well, again, like if you love what you do, it's not a job. So I was just really excited to be both working at Versace and then getting the opportunity to collaborate with brands.
Speaker: um I think that's around the time that I learned about like a contracts and negotiation, because that was birthed from, I think during a contract negotiation, because my contract with Versace was yearly. So would kind of like refigure, reconfigure things. For some reason, I thought it was just like, you know salary employee. Oh, no, it was salary. But every year we would kind of like re... that I've never heard it. Yeah, yeah. We would re-kind of figure out like salary and just all the things, travel, whatever. Yeah.
Speaker: And my lawyer was like, hey, like, you know, the financial aspect of it isn't where we want it to be. So I'm going to propose ah you getting the freedom to collaborate with other brands. And I was like, really? And he was like, yeah. And so they were fine with that because it wasn't like with competitors. It'd be different if I was like, hey, can I go work with Dior too? But... yeah And so both Anta and New Balance reached out to me and that was like so unfamiliar to me because I saw myself as like a hired assassin. Right. Right. I work for one brand. I'm behind the scenes and now i'm I'm doing shoes with my name on it. So not only was that not expected, it wasn't really wanted, but at the same time, I'm a New Yorker and I had to capitalize. Yeah. The the way, I mean, the way you explained it too, and I was just like, I really resonated with it, was just like starting to put your name on something and wondering if you have an audience during that. Cause like, yeah, like you said, you know, you're putting stuff out, but it's not under your name. And it's kind of really like stepped, like you're like, all right, I'm gonna put a toe in the water. yes But were you ever afraid of that? Like, well, it's like now it's easy because everyone has an audience and you know exactly how many people it is. yeah Right. But back then,
Speaker: I think at most I had a blog and sure there was like weekly stats, but you don't really know who these people are, if they're consumers or whatever. So I think that was one of the initially most intimidating things. Cause it was like, you know, I know there are people that have bought my stuff.
Speaker: There's like Nike talks. So like the nerds are like maybe informed, but how many of these people are actually going to be like, my consumers going to be excited about the fact that I put my, you know, my stamp on something. So that was a intimidating, but a rewarding discovery. Yeah. and And like thinking about the current audience that you have now and like how you built it. Cause like, I mean, I've been with you, been following you for a very long time. So it's just like, you know, seeing who really rocks with you, who really, who's like, you know, kind of being like, yeah, he makes cool stuff. And then,
Speaker: Yeah, until the next cool thing. You're not really like really invested in what you do. Yeah, type of thing. It's like the internet is so fleeting at this point. Like, but during that time, that's when it was like it's it is purest. Yeah, yeah. know I just ah came from the mischief office. I'm probably being too transparent. but Fuck it. I didn't even know they had an office. Yeah, they're like 10 minutes away. okay. And I mean, their work is a great example of it. Like, Matt Burry is. I think there's some work that's created where it really is a, if you know, you know, and if you get it, you get it. yeah And so I think that was what was really encouraging with my work is that with each project, I got to like turn the dial a little bit more, and then people kept staying on the on the ride with me. yeah And so, um yeah, it just gives you more confidence in your output. Because you don't necessarily have to follow a trend. Like, I don't really understand trends. It's strange to me. Like, I think i think ah a better an opportunity in design is creating something new, creating like a fresh idea, yeah you know? Or fill in a void. 100%. Yeah.
Speaker: Pause. But ah the I do think that's like a very New York thing too, where it's like, if you especially if you made the rounds of Soho. I feel like Soho informed us way more than people give it credit because everybody thought it was more of a runway. yeah like on like if you If you hear people's outside perspective of New York during that time, it's very like, yeah, you just look dope people stop you and they go...
Speaker: nice sneakers and you'd be like, no, get the fuck outta here. yeah yeah it's It's very much of just us putting our stamp on the street of like, yo, this is what I rock, this is what I do. And so I'm i'm glad you're you're one of the people that continuously do that, right? Where it's like, you still rep yourself. You don't- But I will say, if it didn't work commercially, I probably wouldn't. So I think you there is like this reinforcement that- I meant you yourself. Oh, fair, fair, fair, fair. now you Not the designs. yeah but Well, oh, you mean just like personal style? Yeah. Oh, fair. 100%. Yeah. um But then let's talk into the design too because like how how much of that like really informs where where Sponge is now? So, I mean, it's interesting you talk about personal style and Sponge because I almost think they're two separate things. Like ah I am the catalyst of that brand. I think my resume and portfolio somewhat powers it. But when you're speaking to a larger audience, yeah it's a different conversation. yeah And so –
Speaker: I feel like I've had to ah to learn a new language. I feel like I'm still in the process of teaching my audience this new language. I've existed in hype and exclusivity and drop culture for so long.
Speaker: Now it's really about inclusion and how can I build a community? yeah And it's still, you know from a perspective of potentially marketing or some of the product, it's still a little bit of a if you know, you know, and if you can appreciate this, it's for you. But we're trying to speak to a way larger audience. And so that changes the conversation. The decisions that we make are way more both impactful and fragile. yeah I can't put a whistle on a shoe, or at least not yet. um And so it's a different conversation. I'm often working with my team and they're like, well, these are the colors that you would wear. And I'm like, no.
Speaker: Like the colors I would wear the colors that I would use for collaborations worked for collaborations. Smaller quantities meant to be over ah polarizing and and gain attention and get people's attention quickly. um But a brand's a different conversation. yeah You know, it's like when you're walking through the airport without shouting out another brand,
Speaker: You're walking through the airport these days. You see 70% the people are wearing a specific brand. I'm not going to shout out the brand, but I think you know what I'm talking about. Do you know what I'm talking about? know what you're talking about. Okay, there you go. It's a similar conversation of how can we engage this audience when I spent the last seven years engaging this audience. I mean, the name, I think it's interesting too. can say it. I'm not going to say it. No, no, no, I wasn't gonna say that. I was thinking more, you made me think of like eight other questions that now I need to ask as well. But like, when it comes to Sponge though, it's like, I'm gonna start with this one. What I've really been loving is that the advertisements you've been putting out, you know, you're really incorporating people that look like us versus, you know, just being like, hey, ex-influencer, post this. It's like, It's like I there was one video and I literally had to comment, who is this person? And it was a dude that was like a dude with dreads. And he was just like, you know, I really into sneakers. Oh, that's Troy. Yeah. Yeah. And I was like, I need to follow him because he just he looks awesome. You know, and it really like sold me on the idea of like, yo, you should we should rep this harder. in terms of just like if you buy into what the brand is representing which is people like us then then it should be translated to more people to really you know well so it's it's like kind of uh both the mass communication that happens that'll engage a certain audience but then it's also the collaborations yeah sometimes that's what convinces people like like maybe i should look brand the satoshi nakamoto yeah the satoshi thank you that one
Speaker: engaged an audience that probably wasn't maybe looking at us as much as they should have been. And so through collaborations, we're able to increase eyeballs, we're able to speak to new audiences. And then we can also live in that hype space. Because for the brand specifically, we we are not trying to be hype, we're not trying to have that conversation. But with collaborations, we can and will. yeah And so that just creates more opportunity and engages more people.
Speaker: Yeah, I mean, even on Seth, ah socks, is it socks off? Shoes off? Seth Fowler. Oh, Seth Fowler, yeah, yeah, yeah. You talked about like, there's just the functionality of the shoe and like until you actually wear it it is like it's definitely a you have to wear this type of feeling where it's like it molds to your feet like it's like it has so many functionalities repeat that again what's the shoe do it molds to your feet thank you yeah people don't people don't understand this is a sponge commercial bro hey cop cop now thank you yeah website yeah
Speaker: um But the the way that it's like like the the functionality behind it, because at at the end of the the core of you, are you are a footwear designer. So it's like the function. you're there you're You're creating actual function that people will actually use. And I think from an outside perspective, we think mainstream culture, everybody's always always looking like, oh, we're looking for like the the the most streamlined design in order to do that. It's like once you give them something polarizing, people are going to be like,
Speaker: I don't know if I could do that. And you'd be like, but why? Yeah. I mean, that's probably one of my biggest frustrations within the fact that you said I'm a footwear designer because these days, what is a designer? What is a creative director? What is a footwear designer? The lines are so blurred. People think if they get a footwear collab and they make it like, want to say a color because then people don't think I'm speaking about someone in specific. Let's just go with yellow. They make it yellow. Yeah.
Speaker: Oh, so now they're fullwear designer. And is that the case? ah I think maybe that's for you to answer, not me. And some of the best collaborations of our time have been color-up exercises. But the way that I create a shoe is with a white piece of paper. It starts from nothing. It's an idea. And then it's it's created. And so...
Speaker: Sometimes when I'm put on lists, like footwear lists with others that I don't necessarily deem to be footwear designers, yeah it's a little frustrating because it's like one of us, we're playing two different instruments, I believe. yeah um Look, you're on the right podcast for this. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. I mean, yeah, I wanted to share that. I've said it before. But I'm just saying because I've gone on very, very long rants about how we shouldn't be called. Like, everybody should be more loud about what they specialize in. Yeah, I just want to sound like bitter, but it's like, it's an observation. I don't think that's sounding bitter at all. I do think it's like, if we're gonna, if we're gonna, like, I understand mainstream media lumping everything into one thing just because it makes it easier. But I do think you need to talk your shit in order for people to understand, like, your real objection. I usually talk my shit behind closed doors. No, I know. Not this. Not this. Not this. Not like that. I'm talking about, like,
Speaker: like if this is my example corporate court like if we were in a corporate uh right uh i always say like how do people know what the position that you want or the positions that you have it's on your resume and what you do and what's what you do so if you're just being like hey this is the example i always use if you're a content creator people be like oh so you just make content so that means you edit that you do all these things but then you're like no i just i'm a I'm a photographer. yeah Yeah. You have to say that you're the photographer and not the content creator. But if the if the world's calling everybody the content creator, then you're just getting generalized. And I don't fuck with that. I recently just said I was a footwear designer so to someone and they were like, oh, you so you customize shoes. And I was just like, no.
Speaker: You know, so it's like the definitions are very blurred. No. Yeah. I mean, that's where I mean, like I said, that's my frustrations. That's why I said that you're on the right podcast. ah Because I always be like, I'm a podcaster. And people be like,
Speaker: no man, you make content. I'm like, what the fuck are you talking about? Like, no, I'm a podcast. I make podcasts. But I mean, you know, when it comes like, cause you know, at the end of the book, you do talk about working with Puma and you do handling both. Like now you do collaborations and you design shoes and now, and then you also have sponge. Like, I mean, not to bring it up again, but how are you not burnt out? Like, it seems like a lot.
Speaker: Well, I mean, i i've i took I've taken on a team. So up until everything you've seen past three and a half years ago, I did by myself. yeah That's because I just thought if you need anything done right, you got to do it yourself. yeah But we got 17 hours in a day, more or less. And in the days where I was getting a whole lot of packages and unboxing those packages and being like, thank you, and put it in my story, like now I've wasted two hours or I'm taking out the trash or whatever.
Speaker: And so now I have a team. They make it a lot easier. They help me expand my bandwidth. um I love what I do. yeah There's aspects of it I don't like, but you know for me, I think the most exciting part is like that reveal moment. like The first time you show the audience the product, and then that emotional rollercoaster they go through of like either loving it off-rip hating it off rip, seeing it again, scratching their chin, seeing it again, kind of loving it a little bit more or liking it a little bit more. yeah And then maybe by the eighth time they've seen it, they love it. it yeah
Speaker: There's something so cool about that. And I remember there were products for me, whether it was like a Jordan or whatever, Shout out the Ann 1-2 Chillin. Anyone that's watching this, Google the Ann 1-2 Chillin. It was almost like a Yeezy before Yeezy. um I'll put it on the bottom. Yeah, but that shoe was fire.
Speaker: And so um I lost my train of thought. what was that saying? How do have more bandwidth now? Oh, boom. And so, yeah, I just, you know, I'm obsessed with that reveal moment. I'm obsessed with, you know, like seeing something go from here to here to there. Like there's something, something really cool about that. And I, and I've wanted to do that in my entire life. So the fact that I'm getting to do that, um, a lot of the time, how I want to do it is really exciting. no i mean it's a vellum vellum 2 vellum 2 vellum 2 yeah the gorgeous shoe thank gorgeous thank you thank you like the the everything that you've always done creative wise has always been super inspirational like straight up like you got to get your flowers for that because like from the ads from back in the day to the current ads you're doing now i mean i love i'm not even a big tyrese halliburton fan the next guy yeah But like I love June june Bug oh yeah and his work in the commercial. yeah Yeah, he killed it. Him and Dono. Dono Rawlings. yeah Yeah, so funny. um
Speaker: But like I love that you're able to show your personality unapologetically. And I think like you being... it like This last commercial was the mad scientist. Oh, yeah. I found that guy on the street. Yeah? Yeah, I saw him and his wife eating because we... We were we were trying to use someone that we actually used for a previous crock shoot, and that didn't work out.
Speaker: The shoot was in like a week, and I see him eating, and I had to give him like a 30-second elevator pitch. I go up to him, like, hey, my name's Salehi. I do footwear design. I'm doing something with Puma. We're looking for a mad scientist, and you would be perfect. And he was like, oh, i' I'm interested. Can you send me more? i was like, can have your phone number? He was like, email me. He was of a certain age that that made me think I wasn't going to get it because I was like, who knows when you're going to reply to this? at Netscape.com. He replied immediately yeah and he worked out perfect. he wasn't an actor, model. He just had the look and killed it.
Speaker: that is That is the best, yo. That is the best. yeah I love what, I mean, I'm big in like the universe really brings it in front in front of you if you keep asking for it. So it's just like, that is so, that is. Yeah, shout out. I think his name was Larry. Shout out Larry. I don't know why I thought his name was Larry. I going to be like, shout out Larry. Shout out Larry, yeah. ah But it's just like, I think it's just it the the way you represent yourself is so just, I think is so dope. in it ah And like being able to have your own brand and like, you know, build on that. What I, cause I have to call back to last year, 2025 complex con, that booth that you made oh yeah was insane. yeah yeah And it was just like,
Speaker: Like it felt like I was like on a crater or something like that. So like, what was the inspiration for that? um a few things. So one, being this like collaborative guy for the past however many years, despite how many times I've yelled from the mountaintops that I'm starting a brand, the amount of people that have come up to me and been like, yo, so are you doing this with, and I'm like, no, this is a brand. yeah So it made me realize that like,
Speaker: A, you only have one opportunity to make a first impression. And then also the way in which you execute and the level in which you execute is gonna speak to the brand. That's why I was talking about all the decisions being very fragile, you know? And so i just knew that we had to make an impact and we couldn't just look like, we couldn't have been like a 10 by 10 booth, our first complex con, because people would kind of view the brand as such. right You know, so we had to come correct. um And I believe we did so. You did. Yeah. That was fire. I did bunch of pictures, but like that was the first time I met you in person there too. um And you dropped this dope. I have the shoe. I was going to wear it today. The complex con color. Yeah. Soca. Yeah. Soca, which I just learned the name was that. Yeah. And I was like, For the the entire time, i was like, oh, this is like Sprite. This is like Sprite color. yeah um But it's super dope.
Speaker: Go cop that. this is ah This is an ad for me. Use a code nothing because I don't got no codes. I was to be like, that's a code? All right. But I think it's just like the introduction of it last year um and continuously trying to get it into the zeitgeist and getting on people's feet is like dope to see because we don't really usually...
Speaker: Even in this current day of like just footwear, it's so hard to be in this industry like watching. Yeah. And the conversion of it all, right? Like how do you engage a new audience? How do you convince them?
Speaker: Do you ship on time? Is the shoe comfortable? Like will other people think I'm cool? Does it function? Like what's the utility like? what's the technology feel ah feel like? That's why, I mean, sure, like a plug, but like when you said it molded to your foot, yeah it's really important for people to hear because you know we're used to going to Foot Locker, trying to shoe on, maybe like doing some like high knees or whatever. Now it's like, all you get to see all you get to see is a JPEG. So does this shoe feel like a brick? It does not, it molds your foot. And so these are the kind of like conversation points that are important for a new brand because people, I always see comments where people are like, how does it fit or like what was the all day wear like? And so anytime anyone reposts a shoe and they talk about actually how comfortable it was or I wore these all day, I'm like, a FitPick is cool. yeah But if you're giving like a short little review on like the actual ride, that is so valuable to No, yeah. i yeah
Speaker: I put those on. That's why I was just like, I'm down. If you're going to give me another pair, I'm going to get another pair. Yeah, I'm down. But I wore them.
Speaker: After being on your feet, for I was on my feet for forever because everybody's talking to me last year. so Did that and then Sunday comes and I mean Monday comes I'm dipping and I'm just like you know what I'm gonna do the osmosis on the on the plane ride and like I'm my feet is just like my feet are cooked I'm just like I know this space we good like I've heard good things about this shoot because the the episode with Seth Fowler yeah yeah then i was like I put him on I was like damn, this is is good. yeah I mean, that goes back to the design thing is that when you're truly designing a shoe from scratch, you're not just designing the outside, you're designing the insides, yeah you know? So along with the, you know, Squish Tech technology and all the different compounds that we've injected into the shoe, like that creates the full experience of what our shoes are. Do you, do you, cause I heard this, uh, and the Jason made an episode, but it's just like, and are you like, would you say you're an inventor as well?
Speaker: I guess inventors make new things. So yeah, I guess I'm, I've always just had a, like a strange relationship with titles. I talked to my team about that a lot. Cause I've worked with people that have high titles and do nothing and people that have low titles and really care and are invested. And so I don't get too hung up on like what my title is. Like technically, I guess like I'm a founder, like a creative director, but at times I'm the garbage man. yeah And i'm some at some at some there at some point I'm like the mailman. yeah And so I think it's like whatever it takes to get the job done. i think titles only matter when they like align with how much money you can make.
Speaker: I'm not, this wasn't a title. I was just asking you to be inventing. I just wanted to get that off. I just just was like, I was just asking you, like, do do you like that are you like inventing? Like, are you like? I don't know if i see it that way. I mean, yes, like you new ideas, like yeah a whistle shoe or the crock or whatever, you know, new idea.
Speaker: But I don't know if I've ever thought to myself, like, I'm inventing. But yeah, I guess maybe that's the outcome. I feel like a lot of the stuff that you've, well, I mean, even the Pierre Mosta, you did that bass, and then even the Max 360, is it a 360 on the Cole Hawn shoe? Yeah, 360, yeah, wow, deep cut. Yeah, but like the, you've done, you've invented. Yeah, yeah. Well, I will say, like, I think within footwear, it's a really cool opportunity to just introduce something new. Yeah. Because I remember, like, I don't know, like, thinking about, like, the Reebok pump or, like, the shock BB4 is, like, you see these things and you're like, what the fuck is that? Exactly. And, like, I remember the feeling that left me with.
Speaker: And so I think I'm just trying to, like, join that party. I mean, I think you're doing that. Thank you. Because it's, like... everybody Everybody's always critical about the invention, but like they don't know what it takes to be the inventor. right yeah so I like that, inventions. yeah you know i think like You talk about Squish Tech.
Speaker: There was no no other person before you made Squish Tech. Yeah, that's right. This is, I'm, I appreciate your flowers. Yes. Thank you. Um, but we're towards the end of the podcast and I got another, i got a one last question. There's a little visualization. i want you to think back to young Salahi. He's about to get those Jordan tens. Uh, now you're older, you behind your younger self. What would you tell your younger self as he opens that box?
Speaker: Hmm. Tell my younger self.
Speaker: you're that you're more no hold on i've never gotten that question before that the story matters as much as the product yeah because i think i didn't realize that at the time but there was all the time it was the stories of the shoes that made me really into the product like i think if someone was just like jordan 10 it wouldn't hit the same yeah but you know like there was like i remember and slam maybe it wasn't slam but in some magazines like when they were releasing different shoes they'd have a phone number you could call right And then you'd call and like the player would pick up. And it was like that. It was the feeling of that that helped influence like the experience of the shoe. Yeah. So I think it would be the story matters as much as the product.
Speaker: Well, you got to do that for the sponges, man. oh we trust oh you Oh, you mean the the phone number thing That would actually be hilarious. would be dope. Yeah. But I thought you were saying stories. We're telling stories, but no the phone number. But does that work in 2026? Like people want to hear a recording of a voice? They did it recently with Nigel.
Speaker: Oh, really? Yeah. He's like, oh, you call my cell phone number. And was like, I'm not calling that shit. But that's what I mean. You were like, I'm not But if it was like, you know, even, and this is me pitching ideas now, but it's like the commercials, right? I just talked about Troy. Yeah, yeah. It'd be like, I'm thinking about Brent. You ever seen the video? It was like, uh...
Speaker: dark niggas. You never seen it where you just like, call me, call me 1-800-NOW. I'ma fuck you up. It's like, I'll fight you type of video. I gotta send that shit. But it's so funny. But it's like, ah but if you did that for like the people that are in the, the commercial, in the videos, where you're like, yo, I really love this shoot. And it's just like, like you call call this number and you go, yo, it's Troy, what up? And then, it's just like, yeah, man, I really love these, Sponge Tech. And then, I'm always confused when I see like Instagrams were in their bio. It's like, call my cell phone number now. I don't, I'm like, been collecting data. I've never really understood. Like, what's that about? Oh, it's always a data thing? Yeah. Oh, okay. there you Do you remember back in like 2020, they did this thing that used to be called community.
Speaker: It was like, so if there was like, this is gonna be a be um This is a Diddy reference right here, all right? So there was a moment where all these celebrities would have this thing called community and it was a phone number you can call. I did it with Diddy. So it's like you text it, you go, yo, and then it'll be like, he'll have a pre-made text message to respond back to you and it'll be like, yo, it's Diddy or love, save me, save my contact. And he'll send you a contact card. And then from there, it would just be Diddy could text you from wherever he at using this community app and they pitched it to every celebrity. And so, yeah. No comment. yeah
Speaker: it's
Speaker: Look, I did it for two people, all right? that was it, two people. It was Diddy and Bert Kreischer, and that was that word So, let everybody know where to find you. Wait, what'd you say? Let everybody know find Oh, where to find me. um Instagram is my name, Salehi Bimbry, at Salehi Bimbry.
Speaker: ah Beasponge.com is the web website. At Beasponge is the Instagram. um I think that's about it. Shout out Tribeca. Mm-hmm.
Speaker: You ever been in a film festival? school Never. i never been to film festival. What? No, no, what I might as well tell this story. yeah tell it go for it So I got invited to Tribeca Film Festival because I work in advertising. was like Vox was like, yo, come. They always get tickets. We go. It's this movie. My boy's like, yo, we go. We go. We're going to watch this movie. And he was like, we go watch this movie. And the movie is like about plants and how this people like how this woman fell in love with her plant. Yeah. And it was the weirdest shit I've ever watched. So that's why I feel like I would only go to a film festival if like I knew the movie I was going to see was going to be good. And I don't know how people know if they're going be good or not. I don't, I don't know know what I mean. Cause again, it's the story. It's the trailer that pulls you in. yeah So if you're just going in blind, like, I don't know if I want to invest that time. Yeah, that like I need a trailer like for that, like when it's like those like weird films like that. Give me like a a synopsis something. Did you see that Nathan Fielder trailer? Yes, I was going ask you. and Did you? That looks so good.
Speaker: I can't wait. I'm not that familiar with the story of Elizabeth Holmes or whatever, but I did a little research and it looks like real, real, real good. The way she like the way that that video is going viral. yeah yeah I've watched it 30 yeah because i'm just like i'm just yeah It's just so interesting that like her eyes wide eyes and a smile can be scary like that. It is insane. you know cause Also, like I don't know if they like color adjusted her eyes or under something like that. She didn't blink. but she didn't blink once yeah and those eyes are so weirdly blue. it's like I've never seen a blue like that. And then when they zoom out and she's- Rocking the baby. was like, what? Just that in the room and everything. I can't wait. We got like a couple of weeks. Oh man, I can't wait. Maybe we'll go together. Nah. You know where to find me, who is Haas on social media. follow the podcast of My First Kicks Pod. Hit me up, info at myfirstkicks.com.
Speaker: If ah you got $5 and you want to help out the podcast, hit me up on Patreon, patreon.com slash myfirstkicks. And you know, um kick it to myself to do the outro. Peace. All right. I hope you enjoyed this week's episode with Salehi Bembary. Man, I cannot tell you how much of like a great conversation this episode was. And getting to hear about Salehi going through the ranks and figuring out corporate America and then getting some really dope opportunities. And like I implore you to really...
Speaker: check out his books his book i make shoes because it gives you a very well documented perspective of a footwear designer and a person who has become someone that has a lot of influence and he's been able to do both things which I don't I it's like the hardest thing to do which is to make a name for yourself and to also still continue to push yourself creatively right at some point
Speaker: There's going to be a moment if you've been doing this for a very long time or you've been trying to, you know, garner interest and get people they like you will reach a certain point where people are looking for you in a specific way. And he's been able to change and do what he's been able to do, with whether it's in footwear, clothing.
Speaker: Fashion, also his furniture stuff. Like, he's been able to... And, I mean, his commercials. Like, he's been able to do really dope stuff and really push the boundaries of what he has believed to be his creativity. And so, I find that super inspiring. This talk, this conversation, and even the continued conversation since then with me and him have been super inspiring. You know, I've...
Speaker: started really trying to figure out what is the bigger goal or the the place where I want to get to, especially with this, you know, I think that when it comes to pursuing something and you finally start getting the motion of like, yo, this is really picking up steam. And so, you know, for example, I'm getting asked to go to things. i I'm getting asked to to come to things and, and, you know, be part of some stuff. And, and these opportunities come from the constant, you know, cutting the clips, cut you know, putting these episodes together, put like making sure that people are making, like people are aware of me from this aspect, right? Like of,
Speaker: the podcast was like my first thing. I didn't want people to know me from anything else besides my first kicks. And so when I think about it in the long run of like, Hey, you know, we are, you know, I like trying to expand his reach and stuff like that. It's always, it's a, it's a bit harder to, ah try to experiment from a way that extends past the podcast, right? So I always try to just creatively expand um expand my reach through the podcast. And so that's been the most interesting part or that's been the most interesting, I guess,
Speaker: pre like, I guess, problem solving that I've been trying to find an answer for. So i'm I'm steadily growing and steadily making a name for myself and getting featured within Anscape or, you know,
Speaker: Being asked to be another podcast or people reposting these clips. I mean, Stan Birch flying out just to do an episode. That was insane. Salehi reaching out to doing this up to do in this episode was insane as well. um And i mean, Angelo pulling up. little little but like it's been it's been It's been absolutely wild. I've been really just appreciative of the people that have been kind of i want I want to say surrounding me or i want to say just becoming part of the journey that is my first kicks because I don't know what it like, what it my life would be like currently without it. Right. um As I,
Speaker: vote like as I, as i push forward within my personal career, my professional career, um, and going to a lot of this, these things where it's like sneaker base and wanting to be, you know, part of the adjacent industry of sneakers, uh, because within working within footwear, um, I don't think I'm, I don't think I have, uh,
Speaker: a skill that I would like to use within a brand, but I also don't, I also don't want to, ah become super biased within, you know, the footwear industry. I love having the opportunity to get to talk to any and everybody. So, um, and I mean, look, we all got our biases, right? Like, you know, some people think Nike's King. Some people think, you know, ah Puma is the best. Like,
Speaker: I think the fresh perspective of and the people and the and the chance to kind of just be your own person. um This is what my first kicks has allowed me.
Speaker: And everybody that's listening, I'm forever grateful for y'all tuning in because it means the world to me. I never thought, and I say this, I feel like I say this every every week, but i never thought I'd be this person that would be sitting across some ah some of my favorite footwear designers, some of my favorite artists, some of my favorite comedians, some of my favorite just musicians. Like, I can't.
Speaker: I can't believe I've, I'm creating this thing. Um, and I mean, look, even Bima is just too keeps telling me I'm pretty, and I hear him in my head right now telling me, believe it. And i sound like Naruto, but I'm starting to believe it is what I'm going to start. is What I'm going to say, because, ah this has been the beginning of something that I think is going to be,
Speaker: ah Here to stay for a very long time is what I'm going to say. um But I want to pivot real quick to ComplexCon. I will be at ComplexCon. If you're listening to this on Friday, i am in l L.A.
Speaker: and I will be trying to do as much as I can, hoping to guest on some podcasts. I'm hoping to do a ton of as as much as I can to kind of take in ComplexCon.
Speaker: This one's a big one. It's a 10-year anniversary. And very grateful to be getting a chance to go. Like, I've been going for the past three or four years, I want to say.
Speaker: no it's four years, for sure. It's four years. First year, I went with Iffy. um But it represented a podcast. But i'm I'm curious what the reception is going to be like this year. I feel like I've gained a ton of momentum as opposed to last year. And people were stopping me a ton last year. So...
Speaker: If you see me walking around you're listening to this, stop me. Please. We'd love to have a conversation with you. If you listen to this on the line and you see me pass by, you stop me. Tell me you're listening to the podcast right now. I would love to talk to everyone um and just show y'all my appreciation for tuning in, even if this is your first time whatever.
Speaker: You've been here since day one. I appreciate every single one of y'all because without y'all, there me no there'll be no this. But, of course, there'll be no Patreon.com. Make sure you sign up for the Patreon. Patreon.com slash MyFirstKicks because you get to get shouted out the end of an episode. So,
Speaker: Let's do this roll call. We got Adam Neustadter. We got Ross Adams. We got Fresh Poetic, Derek Lipkin. We got Jesse, Jesse G. We got Plox, Derek Hawkins, Jordan Kaiser, who will be with me at CompassCon, Samia Grandpierre, Sean Hates You, Brett, M.Dot,
Speaker: AD, who will also be with me at CompassCon, and Creative Thought mind throughou creative thought Media. Shout out each of one of y'all that tune in and support the podcast as well on patreon.com slash myfirstkicks.
Speaker: It goes a long way. I'm going to push... the Patreon a little bit harder um because as you can see right now, ah my my place is a mess. Still going through this pipe burst. um And now I got a pack to go to l LA. So there's lot going on. um And i still am making sure that I'm dropping every single week for each and every one of y'all. So I appreciate y'all tapping in.
