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In My KSWISS with Anwar Carrots
101 Plays2 days ago
This week I am joined by Anwar Carrots to talk about his work with KSWISS. How he designed the newest collection for the KSWISS Racket Club. How this was all connected to his how he grew up. Who were some of his influences, and how much he values collaboration. Where has his brand taken him and what moments he's been able to have. Plus so much more!
Follow Anwar:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/carrotsbyanwarcarrots/
Twitter: https://x.com/AnwarCarrots
Websites https://anwarcarrots.com/
https://ksrc.kswiss.com/
Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks
Sign up for the Patreon: https://patreon.com/MyFirstKicks
Music by The DoppleGangaz: https://thedoppelgangaz.bandcamp.com/
Recommended
Transcript
Collaborative Creativity and Heritage
00:00:00
Speaker
Conversation. Yeah. Conversation sparks material. Ideas come into real life forms. It's collaborative effort. yeah, for sure. It's very, it's, yeah.
00:00:13
Speaker
And then I'm dealing with shoes that I may or may not have known Show me silhouettes. Yeah. Show me material books. It's it's fun for me. I enjoy it. What was that like, like being able to to actually, you know, tap into all the heritage behind this and not and like being put on so much different things that been around where you only, you know, you may only know like surface level of of ah about the brand.
00:00:38
Speaker
To be honest, I think I'm just thinking about it now. It's like once I'm in it, like you're in it's like having kids. It's like, oh, how are you doing this? I'm like, oh, when you're in you're in it.
Introduction to Episode and Guest
00:00:51
Speaker
What's good everyone? Welcome back to My First Kicks. This is episode 236. And this week we got a long time. This is a long time coming. Long time coming. But special guest.
00:01:01
Speaker
One of probably like my favorite clothing designers that you you got right now. And Warcarris, welcome to the podcast. Hey, I'm glad to be here. You're have to speak You're going to have to It's in my friend friend's basement. I'm speaking up.
00:01:15
Speaker
I'll just speak closer. Yeah, speak closer. that's That's all. That's all we ask. It's good seeing you. Yo, it's been a minute, man. i The first off, I got to say, oh i was explaining when you were saying, oh I'm to do it. I'm like, yo, super hype telling my boy.
00:01:29
Speaker
And I'm just like remembering the first time we met ComplexCon 2023, I think it was. yeah And the one thing that stood out to me the most was how accepting you were of like me, because I could have just been like some random person just like. i mean, everybody's random.
00:01:47
Speaker
We're one to one. A chosen pick is a pick. That's sort of what a random thing is. Nah, yeah. But like the way you were like introducing me to other people, you could have easily just been like, nah, whatever.
00:02:01
Speaker
It was easy. so I was just like, I felt super honored after that. But I wanted to just highlight that. It's cool to look how far you got. Yeah. yeah yes Look, I was doing, during that time, i was doing podcast episodes on Zoom too.
00:02:14
Speaker
And I was just like, yeah, now we're in person. So two years later. That's crazy. But for people who aren't familiar with you, how about you introduce yourself? Well, if you're not familiar with me, my name is Anwar Carrots, a creative entrepreneur.
Anwar's Journey and Inspirations
00:02:31
Speaker
Yeah. human being on this earth uh appointed now like creative director at ksrc we're gonna get through this yeah who we got right now in brooklyn book brooklyn new york here for one day um Go check me out. your research. I don't really like to speak too much on myself because I'm one that grew up on researching people because not everyone's just going to just give you who they are all the one why, but on a basis, what I do for a job, because I think job titles are important for those who are working to become whatever they want to become.
00:03:11
Speaker
creative director is something i always wanted to to be when i was like in middle school to high school yeah just watching someone before me who i researched by the name of nico japanese designer as legend yes um and just doug and like who's his friends yeah just just normal curiosity That's what I definitely I feel like that's what's always brought me Into like more sneaker culture Streetwear culture Was like the history of it And you know Taking that time of sitting down And being like Yo I gotta learn more about this gotta learn who Stash is gotta learn who Chris Gibbs is Keywords history Yeah Exactly I learned what streetwear was Because of Chris Gibbs Like walking into Union Because wanted to go see Bathe and Ape in real life And touch it Because I just flown into LA From the Virgin Islands Like I'm not even from LA like that
00:04:04
Speaker
Damn, from the Virgin Islands? From the Virgin Islands. How long did you live in the in the Virgin Islands? did my middle school in the Virgin Islands. So like from 2001, like December 11, 2001 to July 30, 2004. And
00:04:17
Speaker
and what is that even like? Silence, man. It's amazing. Like, just be like, yo, we out to the beach after like after after classes and real life.
00:04:29
Speaker
I live five minutes away from the beach and just walk to the beach. That's crazy. It was different. clear the The nearest beach, and I did it one time, was Rockaway Beach. Because I went to with the high school, cut class, and then I went to Rockaway Beach.
00:04:41
Speaker
And it was, no, no. That's dirty water. That's different. Caribbean is a whole other lifestyle right there. Yeah, for sure. It made me who I am.
00:04:53
Speaker
Hey, and you know you're here to answer the question that I ask everybody each week. And that question is, what's your first kicks with that first pair sneakers you absolutely need to have?
00:05:06
Speaker
Ask me it one more time. What's your first kicks with that first pair sneakers you absolutely needed to have? You said the
Sneaker Culture and Its Influence
00:05:13
Speaker
first pair of who? and Kicks. First pair of kicks you absolutely needed to have. The first pair of kicks I absolutely needed to have. Yeah.
00:05:27
Speaker
Is this like, did I get him or this was just a... I mean, it could either... I always say it's like the sneaker story that best describes you. The sneaker story that best describes me.
00:05:39
Speaker
don't know. Honestly, right now, I don't need the... The past, the past over matter. This this one. and I'm just like, I'm just... If you know me, you you'll find it. It's just part of the research. But right now, it's this. Yeah.
00:05:54
Speaker
This right here. All right, I mean. If you want to break you want to break out the first one, did you bring i bring the first one? going to let you go through. I mean. And you give your honest opinion. look This is your show.
00:06:05
Speaker
Hey, but you would guess. This also your show temporarily. Yeah, I'm past you riding. Look, you show these. the what what Right, you got them on feed right now. You're going to have tell me the name of these. It's Canejo.
00:06:22
Speaker
It's the rabbits. yeah Rabbits in Spanish. and They've been around since the 80s. Yeah. That seems very kismet. Say that again? That seems very kismet, like it's supposed to happen.
00:06:34
Speaker
Like, you know. ah Yeah, I believe in nothing's coincidental, but like.
00:06:42
Speaker
Like I said, I'm appreciated being appreciated right now. When you first saw this pair, right? like Because ah we're going to answer the question, right? like did it Did it instantly grab you? Like, oh, I have to.
00:06:57
Speaker
ah definitely. i mean like What was it about it that that really brought that out for you? One, it's just where we're at culturally. And two, just like, who doesn't like gray on gray?
00:07:11
Speaker
Even when I saw this, I was just thought, us okay, gray sweatsuit. It's just a personal style thing for me. And just silhouette wise, have slender foot and it just looked good on me personally. yeah And I know there's a lot of people with the same silhouette as me.
00:07:26
Speaker
It's a no brainer. Yeah. Just different colors, different iterations, letting other people touch it. Nah, this is tough. This shoot might change the world with some real shit. No, for sure. i do think that like we're in this when this era as well where, this I'm talking about this era, like this style is definitely popping.
00:07:46
Speaker
It's just a runner. It's a classic runner, but stylistically and lifestyle-wise, transitioned from it being, I guess, athletic or workout to just swag.
00:08:00
Speaker
Hey. I'm bringing back the word swag because it's still a real word. It is a real word. It's what it is. now swag Swag is a word that's used in today still.
00:08:12
Speaker
But like I remember when you get free swag. like You get free swag. Appreciate me. Appreciate Exactly. Nothing free. You don't just get free swag. like that That's a blessing. You're getting blessed.
00:08:25
Speaker
Yeah. Your opinion on those. Nah. So this dropped First one's still there. KSRC.kswiss.com. Yeah.
00:08:36
Speaker
Go check it out. Good little Microsoft. these. Yeah, a triple black SI team. I just. The white ones. I saw the white ones. These were. Yeah, because for me, it's like, I've seen the brand since I was a kid. Like, my dad used to wear K-Swiss and getting a chance to touch it, like why not bring things that I feel need to exist? I'm sure it had been on the brain, but to make it come to fruition is like, yeah. the I mean, I mean, you remember K-Swiss commercials back, back in the day where, where K-Swiss big growing up or just like, just in the family.
Evolution of Personal Style
00:09:15
Speaker
It was just different time. like I was younger and basketball was a thing. And yeah as adults, like as I got older and put them on and understand like where my pops was wearing, it's comfort on real level. It's a tennis sneaker.
00:09:31
Speaker
No, yeah. It's a tennis shoe. It is. But it did. It transcended, though. it trans I remember in high school, when I was in high school, everybody definitely was rocking. I mean, you get the commercial on on MTV during TRL.
00:09:45
Speaker
And you'd like, oh, I got to get my K-Swiss. You know? Like, that that's an iconic, you know. I wear my K-Swiss. It's up there. is up there is up there with the with the Nike basketball commercial. Yeah, definitely.
00:09:56
Speaker
Not even that, just also we in a whole new space and world yeah of personal style. because I just remember you before now and it's like you're like fully blossoming into you want to look like you know yeah and it's just adding little pieces like we were saying earlier it's like no no full head to toe sometimes you just want to play around with little things yeah i i've i've always think that like looking at your stuff or like over the years which you've designed and created and put out and stuff like that what where does that where's that created creativity come from
00:10:32
Speaker
Just living life. yeah I've seen a lot of things. I've collected a lot of data into this brain. Just a lot of knowledge and just knowing your history. I'm able to spew out and put it out my way. and just yeah Going to Japan, learning from prior Japanese streetwear history.
00:10:51
Speaker
Just adding my flavor to it. Yeah, i'm I've always wondered, because like I had Josh Pease on. Shout out, Pease. Just to add affirmations to, I guess, farm life into the brand, it just makes it easy for me personally. Common sense ain't so common for everyone. It just worked for me.
00:11:09
Speaker
especially It's just endless. It just doesn't stop. I do i do love that. like You're always... just consistency. yeah how How would anyone... know what your brand is if it's always changing or shifting want you to see the same thing over and over until you like understand it and get it see that's that's pivotal that's like really big because some people don't think that they think they just got to keep changing it up in order to garner attention stuff i'm traditional man yeah i'm not about to switch up i'm me forever yeah
00:11:41
Speaker
In the shows. um It just matures. It just ages like one. It just gets better. and when it comes to like working with K-Swiss, you didn't choose to just put your colors on something. right You decided to like really... It's a collaborative effort. yeah There's people in there. It's full design teams. Shout out to MJ.
00:12:06
Speaker
People that push the button. You got Barney. You got Samir.
00:12:12
Speaker
Like, I lean. this Yeah, it's a lot of, it's it's a collaborative effort. It's just, it's one of those things where it's like an eye frown. I was like, why not? And they're like, yeah, why not? Yeah.
00:12:23
Speaker
Let's do it. all right, let's do it. It's simplistic to me. Like, it's if it flows like water. And, yeah, I'm appreciating you're being appreciated. Yeah, yeah I mean, it's vice versa for everyone. to say this I appreciate those around. It's a helping effort. I've never been in this space before. I know. That's what I'm trying to. i like I'm like, I'm very curious about that, too, because, ah you know, when designers jump into taking over, being a creative director for ah footwear brand, they're kind of just like,
00:12:51
Speaker
It's not like I'm not saying copy. It's too deep to say like taking over. I'm not coming to take. No, no, that's not what I mean. I'm talking about like create like guide the direction of of where they feel like something should go like, you know, when Virgil Virgil jumped in and like he kind of changed the aesthetic.
00:13:07
Speaker
of louis uh louis vuitton right where it's just like it's it took he took his personal self into it it was just natural because they just let him rock but also with a compromise everyone's doing their piece and their job so many people there he's just coming with conversation yeah conversation sparks material ideas come into real life forms though but
Brand Collaborations and Design Philosophy
00:13:34
Speaker
It's collaborative effort.
00:13:35
Speaker
No, yeah, for sure. It's very, it's yeah. And then I'm dealing with shoes that I may or may not have known. Show me silhouettes, show me material books. It's fun for me.
00:13:46
Speaker
enjoy it. What was that like? Like being able to to actually you know tap into, oh, the the heritage behind this and not and like being put on so much different things that have been around where you're only, you know, you may only know like surface level ah of about the brand.
00:14:02
Speaker
To be honest with you, I think I'm just thinking about it now. It's like once I'm in it, like you're in It's like having kids. It's like, oh, how are you doing this? I'm like, oh. And you're in it. You're in it. It's like I'm in a mode where, yeah, you just instantly stop. I have an instant, like, research mode in my body to where i I just want to know. youre Like, what's this? Or looking at old photos of people who rocked them in, whether it been Atlanta or in New York, like in the 90s.
00:14:27
Speaker
Just stop, man. And especially... It's culture, part hip hop. This thing and then implement into anything I touch. No, yeah.
00:14:39
Speaker
na yeah but i mean And then those around collaboratively, we're all into the same things. It just works out. in People from different walks of life, different cultures, different ethnicities.
00:14:50
Speaker
It just adds to everything. is Where'd you learn to be so you know inviting of that? Because- Everywhere. I'm just an inviting person. I'm amiable person. I'm easy to get along with. July baby man I know how to work with everybody and you too? yeah July 2nd yeah I'm the 1st yeah that's right so is yeah oh yeah that's right I remember the block party got pushed back right yeah and I was like damn I wish like i ah wish I could i well I don't live in LA but like I would have been like yo one time I'm definitely gonna come out for my birthday to LA we'll do some we'll do a joint venture yeah see that makes sense it's just yeah
00:15:27
Speaker
Water sign, man. It's not I'm not trying to blame it on that or anything like that to get all the struggle. Hey, look, as soon as you tell somebody you're a cancer, everybody's like, oh, so you emotional. Yep, I'm emotional because I'm dealing with all y'all shit. Yeah, I'm emotional. like I don't know what to tell you.
00:15:46
Speaker
It's naturally emotional. And then plus, we're just naturally intuitive. It might be some world shit. We might be ignorant to what's going on, but you can feel it. Yeah. It's earth shit. The vibes is off. Vibes is off.
00:15:59
Speaker
You know? And then, yeah. Vibes is on. Vibes is definitely on for me. Look, look, look. You already sold me on these because I was looking at the way. Thanks tapping in and listening to my conversation with Anwar. But I wanted to jump in to let you know you can help the podcast by liking, subscribing and leaving a review or a comment on this YouTube video.
00:16:18
Speaker
It will go a long way. And if you want to go the extra mile and help out the podcast tremendously, you can sign up for the Patreon at Patreon.com slash my first kicks. I got two tiers.
00:16:29
Speaker
I got extra content on there coming up. I got a new episode with my guys that we went to Portland with. I got a lot more stuff. And I got the first time I asked Anwar where what were his first kicks.
00:16:47
Speaker
And it's going to be the full interview from 2023. It's going to be only on Patreon. But now back to the episode. I was looking at the white ones. All right.
00:16:59
Speaker
and i'm talking about um'm I was looking at the white ones like yesterday being like, all right, next time I got money, I got to get them. Yeah, Money's energy, man.
00:17:09
Speaker
Yeah. Ooh. Okay. These are very clean. A pairing to the Conejos. Yeah. So everything was like focused around this shoe. hits on this too? Versus like this first drop.
00:17:23
Speaker
Yes.
00:17:28
Speaker
You know, classic silhouette.
Creative Process and Personal Influences
00:17:31
Speaker
Before the classics, black. So I've the red ones. Shout out to the reds. Reds are crazy.
00:17:41
Speaker
These, Collaborative effort. Again, it's just like, those are- never knew this model until you put that out. I didn't know that model until I sat down at the table. Yeah. sitting there. didn't mention it. It's like, oh, they have to bring these. So yeah, these have to come out. It's just a collaborative effort.
00:17:55
Speaker
Yeah. It's like, why not ah like what did How did you even get in the room for this, though? like Did they reach out to you? Did you reach out to them? I appreciate being appreciated. I got reached out to by the president.
00:18:10
Speaker
Yeah. and went to the sales meeting last year. doing the whole Puma thing as well. It was... i felt the energy.
00:18:23
Speaker
You need something for me. What what is... brought it up and I instantly say yes. this We already worked together before anyway, so it was just like a no brainer for me.
00:18:35
Speaker
What'd you work on? What was did i had a classic 66. Made in Japan. Yes. Orange Inside. And then we also did a, I think it was a Foot Locker release for that.
00:18:48
Speaker
And then also SI-18. And on the back of the SI-18, it was like all the flags that influenced me. Yes. Yeah, I remember that. That one's tough. Yeah.
00:18:59
Speaker
It's fun to mess with the flags. Yeah. Are you... It's a culture thing. is there Is there like... is there a design that you're like yo um i can't wait till i get to that point or are you still just doing the like you know these are just the you know i'm taking it by whatever releases i'm doing this week this time and time yeah yeah it's not something that you've seen it's lifestyle for me like i i live my life off this is like i'm just taking it one day at a time just appreciating being appreciated but yeah there's projects all the time thank god but
00:19:34
Speaker
We finished up some other stuff last night to like my a man's traveling and swapping. We're trying to finish up flyers and doing another collection and then another collection and another thing. So I'm just grateful, man.
00:19:46
Speaker
I got to say, though, like when it comes to your designs, when it comes to your designs, like in general, like you are one of the most talented I've like seen in ah a long time.
00:19:59
Speaker
Like it's collaborative. I mean, yeah, but it's still it's still like the ability to create a vision. Right. Not even that. It's just execution.
00:20:10
Speaker
Yeah. That doesn't happen without a collaborative effort. Yeah. But how do you get to the vision po part? Like, are you just thinking about stuff so ah consistently where it's just like you can convey it correctly so that somebody can actually put it out?
00:20:24
Speaker
It's like speaking for myself, it just kind of doesn't count because this is like years of, yeah, I've taught certain things from my parents. i've traveled, I've seen the world, like homies, different schools, different cultures, different ethnicities.
00:20:43
Speaker
I would say just learning. yeah I don't know, just knowing yourself and I always knew myself and I just always knew what I liked and what I would want to do for myself. That's because it wasn't that deep for me. You're right, yeah. But to explain that to someone else in a way that I would say is just like, I don't know, you have to you have to take time and learn yourself.
00:21:05
Speaker
to have a vision of what you may want to do. yeah And it's okay. I can't say it's not okay to have a vision, but it's okay to just enjoy life and live life too. Like, not everyone has to go make stuff. And this is, I grew up like this, you know, so. But it just happened.
00:21:23
Speaker
I mean, it's it's crazy because, like, well, I don't know. Are your parents immigrants? My mother's Nigerian. My dad's from Brownsville. Hey. exactly But also the Virgin Islands. Yeah. My dad, he born in Brooklyn.
00:21:38
Speaker
And so were they always, like, big on making sure that you – like, they didn't instill their dreams onto you? Or was it there's this, like – yeah My dad did. It's like, that's what like, all of this is like coming full circle, which is hilarious to me, but I appreciate it. Cause that is what I was into as well. It's just our styles were different, but my dad was the stylistic one in the house. yeah And it still is to this day. He would say I'm not fly to him because he, he ain't like Yoji Yamamoto. He ain't like real fashion. Really? He's an upper echelon?
00:22:14
Speaker
Yeah, and then my uncle, my uncle was the one always like, he dressed predominantly the neighborhood. We in like probably Carhartt or whatever, Big Jeans, Timbs. Like I was always influenced by that into that. Like always just like streetwear dressing versus.
00:22:29
Speaker
Yeah. No, Alexander Wang. I like it in the form of where we're at today because they made it straight. It's like, yeah world's mesh.
00:22:41
Speaker
Yeah. So that's why I love where we're at today because worlds are meshing. You can be yourself and mix and match it. Yeah. You still paint Hamish tradition, but you can...
00:22:55
Speaker
put on some modern stuff but it's also an ode to what was and that's where i feel like i sit no and and that's fire too because like yeah my biggest thing was always just like when because i when i was growing up here i would hang around soho a lot right and so you'd see that like streetwear culture in soho then you'd go to like around fit and like the fashion abs and people be like streetwear it's a whole other world yeah smackness it's now it's over yeah good the transitions of that too and like even because like there was never streetwear brands that would do like like fashion lines like do like a ah walk and stuff like that and now now we're seeing that too i mean there was bait bait was doing it but it was still street yeah yeah
00:23:43
Speaker
The aesthetic never changed. And still to this day, it's just mature. It just gets better. That's what I was like in my head. I was like, yeah, the sweatsuits just get better. No, for sure. tees just get better. But it's the same thing. I'm switching up.
00:23:57
Speaker
You changed the game, though. You changed the game with your sweatsuits.
00:24:03
Speaker
There's a lot of people that changed the game. Nah, bro. You gotta accept that. I'm not. I say that because like i'm honestst I'm a consumer of the game as well. Yeah, for sure. There's a lot of other brands I love as well, too.
00:24:14
Speaker
It's just like. But come on. How iconic was the carrots on the side of the leg? Like clean. You was doing. Repetition. Repetition. Yeah, but you, I mean, like.
00:24:26
Speaker
And it's also, it's, it was taught. yeah It was learned. It was implemented. The blueprint was laid. It's just, you make your own twist on it. and You just make it identifiable for those that may or may not know it. They might find it cute and just care.
Blending Streetwear and High Fashion
00:24:44
Speaker
They go home and it's over. It's literally that simple. Yeah. But I like, yeah, it's bold statement. It is. It is. There's a lot of other people that are making great sweats. I understand there that. but like I don't know. Something about, and I just want to give you a flowers on this. It was something about when I first saw the first, like, obviously the future joint was fire, right? With that going viral, right? like But something about the long sleeve with the carrots on the back that just like was like over the... like It was like from the arms to the arms, I think it was. Or it was like it was either that or like
00:25:27
Speaker
the Karis was like on the arm down the side. It was like one of those where, cause I'm such a font person. Like give me like, I pay attention. To it's just, yeah, traveling. That's just nothing but a, it's one of those tourist sweaters. It's the Karis tourist sweater. That's how I looked at it. Yeah.
00:25:44
Speaker
You walk around a lot of places, especially when you go to Disneyland, there's plays in Disneyland from arm to arm. It's just also knowing what people like, not in the sense of trend, but just awareness. like Just be aware.
00:25:58
Speaker
Look at how people dress on an everyday basis. I like the people watch. I pay attention to shit like that. yeah yeah it's also what I would like to wear as well in that same form. Not in the form of adaption, but like, yeah, come on, we are animals. No, for sure. We're just being aware, not about trim, but just, yeah, it's like how people feel comfortable.
00:26:18
Speaker
It's like not too many people like certain loud colors. I'm a carrot, but I have to find a way to turn it down sometimes. that's True. It's true. Especially if you want a business. all I'm making everything orange. Nah, I'm not.
00:26:35
Speaker
Everything orange and green. Everything orange and green. That's not no. but But you, you know, over your your career too, like you're you're also touching on different different things too. Like, new you know, you you put out music. I low-key timed it in my brain I knew when to give people full carrots. Like, oh, here's it on the surface. And as a brand, it's like, oh, I see this font.
00:26:58
Speaker
I know this carrot. Oh, it's green and orange. But. in depth of me, yeah. Like I'll give you a, like you said, future, I'll give you one of those shirts with a whole, my Savages whole, the whole record on the back of the t-shirt. yeah If you buy the shirt, you know, it's like, oh, he put the whole song on Yeah.
00:27:15
Speaker
But that's just what I felt like doing. it Honestly, still the beauty, like just having your own stuff. No, yeah. And I mean, the I just I just want to know, like, because i I remember one time and I've said this before, where it was just like, I asked, I don't know if you know Jean Grey is, but like a rapper named Jean Grey asked, like, oh, I want to do a lot of these things.
00:27:35
Speaker
But you know i i i feel paralyzed because I wanna do these things. And it's i i don't feel like I feel like I need to pick one thing to do. But like when I look at what you've done, I feel like you've touched everything that you've wanted to do. But still have focus on, the focus still to me is still the t-shirt. then yeah So like the t-shirt took me everywhere else. like yeah I'm able to make full collection of clothing or sneaker collaborate.
00:27:59
Speaker
oh Yeah, putting out t-shirt because I know myself and know where I sit and know what I do and know where I came from. I'm not sewing dresses like this. No, but we can transcend it there just based on aesthetic.
00:28:14
Speaker
Yeah. just Stylistically, you just know what I can provide. I mean, That's good. like you have a home think I guess you call it home base. You know where where it is.
00:28:26
Speaker
i just got to look. and it's like and Thank God I do. this A lot of homies in in the game today, they have their own look. sure It's own identity. As long as you're your own person. that's you can You see It doesn't matter what range or
00:28:43
Speaker
I guess what space we're playing in in this thing. just yeah, everybody's standing on their own thing. Yeah, for sure. um And I mean, like, you, I mean, the one of the the iconic things is that Def Jam Varsity, right? Well, I mean, and to me, to be I think your Varsities are, like, next level.
00:29:02
Speaker
Yeah, I had a a good talk because of Varsity. Yeah. I met a lot of like lawyers from the past and stuff because of that. But also brought good conversation up and shout out to Def Jam.
00:29:17
Speaker
And I'm glad I
Global Impact of the Carrots Brand
00:29:18
Speaker
did that. yes But it's still like, yeah, it was just streetwear nature. Also just, I wanted to do that. It was just good timing. I thought the timing was right. Okay, this was my, going to touch the music here. Like it's still the clothing. I'm not here to take anybody's space. I'm just here to share.
00:29:36
Speaker
Yeah, and ah the but because of that, I found those the carrot tapes, that the the colors the color tapes. What's the tapes that, you did one with s Sango, it was brown, then you did another one. Whoa, you found those. So J Baby the Greatie from Louis.
00:29:51
Speaker
Shout out to J. Yo, all of those mad fire. I was running running them down. Low key, they're starting to stream. We were watching, I was like, He's like, yo, what's going on over here? I was like, I don't know what's going on over here, but you got something going on over there. don't think it has anything to do with me. It's just, you know, the internet.
00:30:07
Speaker
yeah It's patience. But that's also, it's like the beauty of just putting it out. Like doing this. yeah It feels good to express yourself, but in physical form.
00:30:22
Speaker
you can write, draw, you paint, whatever you do. yeah Getting anything finished and just executing with grace. yeah ah It's crazy. i think you've got like i feel like, i mean as you tell people, who gotta do research on you.
00:30:38
Speaker
like if they're if you're If you're not familiar, you gotta do your research. You got... Please go research me. It's a lot of stuff. There's been stuff for a long time. No, yeah. And it's it when I was like digging deeper into like your background and all that stuff. And and like I wanted to know more of like the different areas you've lived at.
00:30:57
Speaker
I also miss like a slight form of mystique. That's why i don't even say too many words. Yeah. when you meet me now, we'll ramble. ah But most these things like.
00:31:11
Speaker
Definitely pull up. Which one's this? These are slam clubs. Slam clubs. These are tough too. Easy. Yeah. I'm gonna have to think twice.
00:31:22
Speaker
need a white pair. I'm gonna have run a hole through these. These are yours? Yeah. Okay. No, yeah. these These are very clean.
00:31:33
Speaker
I like the... I'm a big suede person, so you give me a little suede? Same. We off to the races. Exposed phone. Yeah. the do you take Do you think you'd be like, right, going to take these customize some of these. Like, are you...
00:31:49
Speaker
like
00:31:53
Speaker
um I'm here to just keep things clean, classic. fare. Personal It just depends. Like, for me personally, this is me personally. True.
00:32:04
Speaker
Very true. I'm very tonal. Like, I love just...
00:32:09
Speaker
yeah Things I can easily wear on everyday basis because I'm outside everyday. I'm not wearing fuchsia with lime green. I'm not doing everyday. But there's certain times where I get funky.
00:32:24
Speaker
yeah You gotta throw in a little color. I just feel like as an introduction you have to on my end like I slightly feed people into a safe zone. I want you to feel safe here. It's like when i travel certain places, like just being aware and seeing how certain people dress.
00:32:41
Speaker
You see navy, you see white, you see black, you see drab, you see khaki. You may see a little burgundy here, a little mustard, but it doesn't go that far off the spectrum. I'm even doing another project now. They hit me just, can we just keep it to three colors, please? I was like, three colors? i was like, wow, I feel you.
00:33:02
Speaker
No navy, you're rather black. like... All right, I love navy, i love black too. I love navy and black together, but two people like, i would you navy and black? I'm like, because they're two different colors. yeah Black is like a color made of 10 different colors. matter So navy and black do go together to me. That's a whole nother topic. but I mean, it's like color spectrum, man.
00:33:26
Speaker
Yeah, but giving people
00:33:31
Speaker
Kind of like the the weight of just like, you know, this is this is not the main. is it Would you say this is the main? Are you trying to make something that's not the main piece? The original case was Spire. Yeah.
00:33:45
Speaker
A classic white shoot. To me, that's like the goal for me over here is like, how good of a white shoot can you make? Yeah. And every time like the white come around, it's like... What can do to make this subtle clean to it? Like a two-year-old could wear it and a 92-year-old could wear it. Right, yeah. The guy outside who knows everything about the game, he's in it.
00:34:05
Speaker
Guy from the 80s, he's rocking it. I remember this. And he got a whole other story and whole different perspective on it. He's like, man, you clean these up. That's where I feel like I come in. I'm here to just clean it up. I'm not trying to do too much to it.
00:34:18
Speaker
No, yeah, which I think is dope. I think that we've gotten to the point where everyone's trying to go crazy with the colors. No, it's not even that. It's just people's personality. It's just I've always dressed how I dress and worn the type of shoes. So if you know me, it's like when you see this, if you know me, that's him. But that's just not my personality. And then sometimes, yeah, I might step out and...
00:34:44
Speaker
get some color yeah but it's still gonna be like this it's gonna be easily digestible to where you can wear it with other pieces and not feel crazy right yeah in my head i just always want to make sure people look clean yeah this is this is where i think where i'm like yeah you could look instantly look clean yeah it's still a two-tone still like it might be wild to some people and to me it's like it's a clean shoe Nah, yeah, this is a clean shoe. i don't know who would think this is wild. I don't know Everyone has objectives.
00:35:13
Speaker
Some people may not. Some people... It's art. It's open for conversation. For me, when I see them afterwards, oh, the outside could have been like gray and then in the middle dark gray, but nah, it's a fire.
00:35:28
Speaker
Nah, yeah, they're fire. That's what I like all, ah I love all this stuff too, because it's like open for conversation. No, yeah. but Also just clean canvases easy. And all the shoes I grew up on,
00:35:43
Speaker
and all the people actually admire who are in the game they make clean shit like shout out to chown people hate on it for the simplicity but i'm like they look you look clean you step out as to me like as a gentleman or as a man yeah yeah i wanted street but still want to look low-key like clean tailored but you want to be able to go to the the club after wouldn't even say the club you just want to just look presentable it's even outside you want You want to be able to walk into the function and still chill on the block. You still want the hood homies to like it. because they But you think about it like hood tires are still tailored. It's khakis and a fresh white t-shirt. It's just elevated versions of that.
00:36:27
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. we Different ranges of it based on affordability. Yeah. And and i do think these are like, I mean, i think in terms of just like when you you've been to so many different neighborhoods, you've been so many different countries, right? Shout out China, man.
00:36:40
Speaker
Shout out to Asia, period. Mm-hmm. That's what this is about to. Yeah. But, ah you know, I think these these are something that's going transcend the cross, like, difference different worlds. The world's huge.
00:36:55
Speaker
The world is huge. Yeah. It's very, it's very huge. And the world's showing me that every single day. It's not small. It's only small if you put yourself in small
Philosophy of Shared Creativity
00:37:05
Speaker
worlds. Yeah. This thing massive. So many things to do, so many people to meet, so many businesses created by different individuals like you and I.
00:37:17
Speaker
Just here appreciating. Hey, you appreciate it. All different types of worlds. Where, where, where is the craziest place? You know, carrots is taking you.
00:37:29
Speaker
Istanbul. Istanbul? Turkey? I would say that. Okinawa, Fukuoka, uh, and people are like, what what is that like reception?
00:37:40
Speaker
Like, are you just, you like, you pull up and like... Istanbul was different because it was this guy, he opened up a little Benjamin's, a brand called LeBenjamin's from Istanbul.
00:37:51
Speaker
Put us all in the Soho. It was, it was, it was smallish. Shout out to the Benjamin family, all them, like... It was just, was fun. It was dope. But yeah, he opened up a shop, got up upstairs. Everybody had their own sections of their brands. was just like, what is, who are you? like Where am I?
00:38:11
Speaker
but it was nice. It was super nice. It was, ah that place looked like Star Wars in like real life form. That was a place. ah just definitely never thought. and I was in the GQ magazine. I have the issue.
00:38:24
Speaker
was like, who are you? But we're we were here. we did it. Yeah, Istanbul, that was a wild But Okinawa, it was nice one, too. It's my distributor. He's out there.
00:38:35
Speaker
Very beautiful place. Yeah, because I've seen, yeah, I'm like, when I've seen where you've been, like, man, this is crazy. I took to Africa. Yeah, Africa. took you to Brazil. I think I've been to every continent off of Carrot, straight up.
00:38:49
Speaker
Yeah. Other than Antarctica. That's crazy. Australia. That's crazy. I haven't been to New Zealand, you know you um you gotta get You know the maps where you can like scratch off where you've been? Yeah. You got to get one of those.
00:39:00
Speaker
You'd be there all day. The world's big. only been to the cities. When you think about it, I'm just in the cities. True. you got I mean, visiting... I feel like if you if you visit the city, right, that's like... There's so much to know. There's There's so many cities within the cities. It's just like... I know in Japan. In LA, it's crazy. Japan hand is like the sub streets.
00:39:26
Speaker
So many different worlds. It's just in one little... one little neighborhood so many so many different things going on the world's big the world is is gigantic and so when you look at that when you look at like how how far caris is taking you what what does that even feel like like that retrospective look of that It always reminds you that the world is big. yeah Reminds you that the world is big. And where do you want where do you see yourself? Where you want to take this? And for me, my goal is like I don't want to do it if I can't share. And share it means like everybody. yeah So anywhere I can place myself to where I can touch everybody, that's where I'm trying to take care of.
00:40:09
Speaker
Yeah. It's just easily digestible. it's It's a cute vegetable. It's in every cartoon. And it's fresh and it comes from an authentic place. comes from me. and And like ah like like I said, you know seeing your your journey and stuff like that, you do you're big on like collaborating with people.
00:40:26
Speaker
it's a collaborative effort yeah just people that do better things than me and i love learning from them and then it's like a vice versus maybe a conversation i have somebody and it's like enlightened and it just transcends into making product mm-hmm yeah doesn't like working with people sharing is caring there are some people that don't like working with people that's on them that's why i keep doing what i'm doing it's like
00:40:54
Speaker
Doesn't bother me. no yeah what is What is too many collaborations? That doesn't make any sense to me. yeah Too many collections. it could be too many It's all the same thing. What's the difference? yeah did it Somebody else?
00:41:07
Speaker
But I think it's just like, you know, i had When I had P's on, we were talking about you know Fairfax and you know the everybody that was on that block. which just like I feel like everybody started working together.
00:41:19
Speaker
you know and i was wondering if like did that inspired you or were you always just like that? I was always into Japan. so look at how much There's a collaboration that comes out every week. True.
00:41:30
Speaker
Every week. If it's not a collaboration, it's a capsule. Capsule mean it can last a test of time because the color palettes it's on. It's choosing less to sign. Yeah, for sure. A hundred percent. Like you can wear these at all colorways to. Yeah.
00:41:42
Speaker
Every single one that you've put out season one, season two, can wear them to their dirty. Yeah. Literally. Yeah. So that's what I think about, but it's thoughtful. It's not just as like it's beyond the whole vision thing. You have to know yourself to get to that space. There's a lot of individuals, like-minded people around this earth that's on the same tip. And that's why you see those around each other.
00:42:09
Speaker
I'm hungry. we all ho We got get you some food too. yeah like But let me let me just ask one more question to before before we we get out here too.
00:42:20
Speaker
um the The way that like you reintroducing this and bringing this back, right? How has the reception been within...
00:42:32
Speaker
your community because you do have your own community and then listening your community too. The homies rock whatever I'm rocking with. Yeah. It's like appreciate it. It's like vice versa too.
00:42:45
Speaker
And I'm not about to... put them in some bullshit. Nah, yeah, exactly. like, it's fire, man. It's reciprocated. I think it's it's been shown on the internet-wise and in person.
00:43:02
Speaker
It's not a hype thing. It's just it like an ascension type of situation that's going to, like, do its thing while everybody else is distracted. Yeah. And I'm enjoying it. Yeah, I think the coverage behind, you know, you, you know, working with team because I was going to say spearheading, but I think that's the wrong, wrong word because you're like, you're like, it's all collaboration. We all working together of like, I think I think the coverage that that that we've been seeing and everybody's getting behind you is definitely going to make this a lot of a statement that people are going to be like, yo.
00:43:36
Speaker
If you rockin' with Henwar, you gotta be rockin' with this too, you know? It's just good. It's cause also you you you'll see it. It's just like,
00:43:50
Speaker
It's just it is. It is. It is. It is. It is. It's just as real as it can get. Yeah. um I got dudes from Hoods hitting me like, I need some red ones. Yo, the red ones, man. The red ones is eye-popping. It's just fun to actually be able to like see it become what I think we envision it. Cause it's a Los Angeles brand too. Like focus on where you're at first. Everything else was just like, especially l LA. It's like, you know, l LA always gets this.
00:44:27
Speaker
come back around yeah everything music fashion food footwear blah blah it's going through thing meanwhile keep working i think i think you i mean you're absolutely right too because it's like i mean we're in the it's been a stretch ah la has been running running game for a stretch don't know you know they're saying joey badass got got the the the round but uh I don't know.
00:44:52
Speaker
I love Joey Badass, but don't know what's going on. I'll be honest with you. I'll just be in my own world. I got an album coming out from Def Jam. Send me a record. I'm collecting records. This record's by Anwar Karras. That's the name the label, too.
00:45:08
Speaker
Yeah? That's crazy. Also, I you wait i know you dropped Mud. and then so I got an old EP out and then album comes out. The key was just a hey, a quiet feeder.
00:45:21
Speaker
Cold is being met. Understanding this whole thing. It's fun. Patience is a virtue. yeah I have a lot of it, so it's cool.
00:45:32
Speaker
that's I mean, that's crazy. Because, like, yeah, i did want to touch on music because you were, like, like I mean, we touched on on the producing work. And that, like, it's crazy. You're doing music. yeah You're working with K-Swiss.
00:45:44
Speaker
You've got Carrots. It's and you've got family. It's also T-Swiss, which comes with education. Yes. Yes.
00:45:51
Speaker
When you're in it, you're in it, man. That's crazy. If you want to do it, you're going to do it. When do you sleep? I sleep. On the plane? Nah, I sleep at night. I go to sleep with my kids. I sleep.
00:46:03
Speaker
Get up. This thing here, this thing's powerful. not going to lie. It's literally a walking computer. Yeah. mean, it shouldn't be on all the time. Nah, definitely not.
00:46:15
Speaker
and but But on the go, kids, can FaceTime people, do things. It's just, It works. I will say, it just before we get out of here, you do incorporate your family with what you do.
00:46:30
Speaker
And I think that's beautiful. like Lifestyle at the same time. like They're all their own persons too. They got their shit going on too. yeah It's just what it is.
00:46:41
Speaker
It's crazy, man. but larry everybody know makes sense It does, yes. larry everybody know where to find you though. ah You can find me Carrots by Anwar Carrots on Instagram and anwarcarrots.com.
00:46:52
Speaker
K-S-R-C dot K-Swiss dot com. I'm on Twitter. Anwar Carrots. Google Anwar Carrots. Do the research. Google Carrots clothing. I'll pop up. Yeah.
00:47:05
Speaker
Is there a difference between Anwar Carrots and JP? i actually had that Instagram for my distributor and then I was like, eh.
00:47:17
Speaker
I'm going to just take this over as a freebie and just see what happens to it. But it's... it Yeah. I don't care. It's JP. It's me just keeping it raw. If ever. Don't care. so so and This whole thing is just messed up now. No, yeah, for sure. It doesn't matter.
00:47:35
Speaker
What matters is catch me outside. Yeah. I'm outside. Yeah, outside.
Closing Remarks and Future Projects
00:47:41
Speaker
Pull up. ah These will be... You said these would be dropping... so September 19th, release KSRC again, ksrc.kswiss.com. Yes, sir. Certain retailers.
00:47:54
Speaker
We're in Brooklyn. I know this may come out next week, but tonight we're here for what? Long Island Extra Butter? Yeah. Early release. Oh, it's at Long Island Extra Yeah. It's Long Island Extra Butter? All right. And then you also have something. There's a pizza thing there that you're doing.
00:48:11
Speaker
That's wisdom sunglasses. yeah I may or may not be there. But we'll see. That's next week. Yeah. All right, man. I think I'll be there. We'll see. We'll see. We'll see ah Make sure y'all cop.
00:48:26
Speaker
I'm probably gone. I'm gone for these. I'm going for these. ah voter vote This is my my vote. No. What did I would say My approval? don't know. This is what I'm getting. I don't know what say. Yeah, it's is's triple blocks, man. We're going make sure you get your pair. This man's 13. Size 13, ladies.
00:48:44
Speaker
I don't know if you you're you're free or anything. I am not. I am not. You're not free. I'm not free. Good job. I'm not free either. No, you're you definitely not free. know where to find me. Who is Hassan? All social medias. Follow the podcast. My for six pod.
00:48:59
Speaker
I'm going to kick it to myself. ah Talk about Patreon. And if you're at the Blackfootwear Forum, I will be there. But if you're listening to this. Oh, wait, no. This is coming out next week. Yes. If you're going to Blackfootwear Forum, hit me up. I will be there on the 18th through the 21st.
00:49:16
Speaker
um On to me. I hope you dug that episode with Anwar. I know we touched on a lot of things. We touched on his collaboration with K-Swiss in full, you know, that season two. Make sure you cop that. It should be coming out next week. And if you're in Detroit for Black Footwear Forum, please let me know. I would love to meet as many people that are pulling up and wanting to connect.
00:49:38
Speaker
and talk about the podcast, not talk about the podcast, see if they want any advice, if they're starting their own podcast or want me to, you know, guest on their podcast, would love to continuously build this community.
00:49:50
Speaker
And of course, you know, with the Patreon, if you are a part of the Patreon and you've made it this far, gotta do my Patreon shoutouts. so first, shoutout to Adam Duster. Then shoutout to Ross Adams.
00:50:04
Speaker
Shoutout to Derek, Fresh Poetic. Shout out to Adam Butler, MSR, and shout out to Jesse. You guys have been supporting me for the past like almost two months now, so it really means a lot. So I always make sure you guys, your Patreon shout outs at the end of the episode.
00:50:20
Speaker
And of course, if you want to join and be shouted out at the end of this episode or any episode in the coming future, Just gotta sign up for the Patreon, patreon.com slash myfirstkicks.
00:50:33
Speaker
I know in the but during the episode you heard me jump in and say that, you know, Anwar didn't answer the question because he's answered it already.
00:50:44
Speaker
So in 2023, was at ComplexCon and I had i had a fur like my first 15 to 30 minute conversation with him. We got to talk about him, his family.
00:50:54
Speaker
what motivates him in that first conversation. didn't really touch on that in the beginning of this episode, which I should have done. That's on me. But I will put a link.
00:51:09
Speaker
for the Patreon, and I will put the episode that I filmed out there, once I clear it, clean it up a little bit, because it's it was outside. I'll put that up on Patreon for Patreon only, but I will, at the end of this episode, or in the end card, if you're watching on YouTube, you'll see um but kind compilation that I made from ComplexCon, where asked everybody what's their first kicks, and Anwar's the third person on there. He talks about his Jordan 12s, his love for Jordan twelve So make sure you check that out.
00:51:40
Speaker
It is a great episode, a great like compilation, you know, out in ComplexCon. Foggy helped me, um you know, record a ton of stuff and compile it together. And if you're going to ComplexCon, you know, I'm gonna be there. You know, I'm gonna be there. I'm there every year, hopefully trying to continuously build this out and maybe one day be part of ComplexCon.
00:52:05
Speaker
But Really appreciate you for tapping into this week's episode. Like I said in the middle of the episode, it really goes a long way to like, subscribe, and review. Leave a review, leave a comment.
00:52:17
Speaker
We gotta see those, those likes go up because they do help me get these episodes into and into the ether, into the YouTubes. So if you're watching this or listening to this or, and I think like,
00:52:31
Speaker
You know, wherever you get your podcasts, please like, subscribe, share, leave a review, all that stuff. It goes a long way. And if you're listening to this or watching this on YouTube, I have two videos here. One will be the compilation, like I just said, of my first kicks questions from ComplexCon 2023.
00:52:51
Speaker
And maybe another episode that you might want to check out. So like I say every week, wear your kicks. Peace.