Hypebeast Radio

Mister Cartoon is a tattooist, graffiti artist, muralist, painter, designer, animator and most importantly a legendary artist from Los Angeles whose work stretches over four decades. His work can be seen on the arms of famous rappers, at local basketball games, on the soles of one's feet and more. Born Mark Machado, the Los Angeles native grew up in his father’s print shop where he was exposed to car culture, soul music and graffiti.  His work has had an impenetrable mark through multiple generations, defining the rich Chicano and lowrider culture of Los Angeles. He's been a professional since high school, claiming success prior the existence of the internet, cellphone and social media. For Mister Cartoon, gigs relied on the word of mouth and the close-knit community of Los Angeles that he grew up in.  While street art and streetwear were popular in the East Coast, artists like Mister Cartoon help place the West Coast on everyone's radar. His tattooing immortalized the popularity of fine-line tattoo

The New York based designer, by way of Toronto, created her cult label Brother Vellies in 2013 after discovering her love for Veldskoen (known as vellies or “desert boots”) during a trip to Africa. Worn by numerous celebrities from Beyonce and Solange to Zendaya, Brother Vellies garnered a cult following, having won the CFDA Fashion Fund in 2015. Rather than a one-to-one model, Aurora created Brother Vellies in hopes to give jobs to local artisans in Africa by collaborating with their workshops to commission shoes and sell them back in the U.S. She emphasizes that America’s constant need for “fixing” overseas countries have caused a depletion of jobs in Africa—large donations being one of them. Brother Vellies has managed to create roughly 2,000 jobs overseas whilst maintaining an ethos of sustainable practices—utilizing vegetable tanned leathers, recycled tires and locally sourced materials from farmers worldwide. Six years into the business, Aurora still feels the brand has much more to go, despite their ra

Salehe Bembury is Versace's Senior Designer of Men' Footwear and Sneakers. You might recognize one of his famous designs before even realizing he was behind it. From Yeezy's military boot and Cole Haan's LunarGrand shoe to Versace's Chain Reaction sneaker, Salehe boasts of an impressive resume. The Tribeca, New York native grew up surrounded by the arts with a passion for footwear because sneakers allowed a "sense of discovery."  In this episode the modern day Renaissance man breaks down his vast career path from working at Payless and Fortune Footwear to Damon Dash's DD172, Cole Haan and Yeezy. He breaks it all down from graduating from Syracuse University and landing his first job to working with Kanye West and Donatella Versace. Under nearly a decade, Salehe has been able to cross paths and traverse different spaces within the fashion industry. He details how he's accustomed to constantly breaking stereotypes, why he enjoys being an "informative tool" and why it's important to "lead by example." As al

Drieke Leenknegt is a Global Brand Innovator and Marketing Executive who worked at Nike for twenty years. Her work has been crucial in Nike's early development of Nike Sportswear, Nike Energy Marketing and Nike collaborations to name a few.  The Belgium native describes her path to Nike as more "non-linear" in that her career had a more sporadic trajectory, having worked in radio and advertising before landing a role in their communications department.  She would eventually work in various EMEA offices before relocating to their Portland office where she most recently was the Global Vice President of Influencer Marketing and Collaborations. Her imprint can be seen in notable collaborations such as Virgil x Nike's "The Ten", sacai x Nike's LDWaffle and Tom Sachs x NikeCraft Mars Yard and many more. Previously her roles have included Senior Brand Director of Nike Sportswear, Global Energy Director, Global Design Director Global Communications Director and Edge Marketing Leader.  In this episode,

Kerby Jean-Raymond is the Founder of Pyer Moss and Artistic Director of Reebok Studies. Merging luxe and streetwear, Pyer Moss is the mens-and womenswear label changing the fashion industry by storm. Since 2013, Pyer Moss has had an impenetrable force gaining favor from notable celebrities, winning the CFDA Fashion Fund Prize, being named Forbes 30 under 30 and Times Next 100 List and much more. Despite his wild success, Kerby admits that his journey was riddled with failed investor relationships, battles of negotiating power, difficulties finding proper factories and more. Through it all what remained constant was his fervent passion for good design and a natural eye.  In recent years, Pyer Moss has caught widespread attention in its politically active runway shows and seasonal campaigns portraying overlooked minority groups in America. In this episode the designer stresses that the "fashion formula" never worked for him, but harnessing the energy of “politics, societal conventions and music”—all things

For our Season 7 opener, Jeff sits down with Edson Sabajo and Guillaume "Gee" Schmidt, Co-Founders of Dutch streetwear brand Patta.  For the past 15 years, they've built a cult following where they've pioneered the movement of streetwear becoming architects for other upcoming brands to make way. Started in 2005, the two met working at popular vinyl store, Fat Beats, where they bonded over their love of hip-hop. The two eventually turned their hobby into a business and began traveling to cities worldwide to collect sneakers unavailable in Europe. Years into this business model, they eventually acquired accounts and have worked on popular collaborations with Asics, Nike, Mephisto and much more.  Today they have a popular clothing brand, brick & mortar store, running team, foundation and music component.  In this episode they discuss it all from days at Fat Beats to collaborating with Nike and much more.  As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please do

As Business of HYPE preps for season 7 in the coming new year, we wanted to bring your attention to another podcast, Behind the Baller Podcast with Ben Baller: http://behindtheballerpod.com/. Previously, jeff interviewed the famed jeweler on an episode of Business of HYPE: https://hypebeast.com/2018/8/ben-baller-jeweler-life-story-interview-jeff-staple-busines-of-hype-episode-15 where he thoroughly discussed his tumultuous journey from music management all the way to becoming the go-to jeweler. In this episode, the tables turn and Ben interviews jeff as a guest on his own show. Recorded at the Parker New York, the two talk asian representation, anecdotal stories about Mike Tyson, the inspiration behind naming Reed Space, their respective paths to a million dollars, the current state of sneaker culture, and so much more. As the host states, this is a show by "Ben Baller, not Ben Humble," so in this podcast you'll get to know a deeper side to the polyglot entrepreneur. Whether it's guests like jeffsta

On the heels of its seventh season, the team behind  Business of HYPE wanted to take advantage of this seasonal break to offer some insight into how each episode is produced. What most may not know is that our team consists of members situated all over the States, each having their own respective jobs. So what may seem like a casual conversation between two creatives in front of a microphone, takes much more detailed work behind-the-scenes. Our traveling host, jeffstaple, also runs his own business Staple Design & Staple Pigeon, while director Daniel Navetta runs creative agency Bryght Young Things. We also have a contributing sound engineer, David Rogers-Berry, editing all the way from Maine, while interludes are brought to you by associate producer and freelance content creator Sidney Pacampara as well as associate radio producer for HYPEBEAST, Christina Hong. From scheduling and interviewing, to sound engineering and distributing, we hope to provide an invaluable experience in each episode. So, if

While Business of HYPE currently takes a seasonal break, revisit our episode with Melody Ehsani from season 1 (ICYMI: in case you missed it).  The designer, known for her namesake label, is known for her infectious designs ranging from jewelry, clothing, accessories and frequented sneaker collaborations. Since this interview was recorded (nearly a year and half ago), much has happened to Melody. She's opened a second store in New York, launched a collaboration with Serena Williams and Lauryn Hill, been in various magazines, has continued her ME. Speaker Series, got married and most recently collaborated with Nike's Jordan Brand to create her version of the iconic Air Jordan 1. Despite her wild success, Melody may just only be getting started. The designer is challenging norms in streetwear whilst also paving the way for women to have a place in a frequently male-dominated industry. So revisit our episode with the culture-shifting leader as she takes into her early beginnings from living in China for five

With season 6 under wraps, we bring you a special bonus episode as we prep for season 7. In this episode, jeffstaple sat down with three innovative footwear designers around the globe—Helen Kirkum, Shun Hirose of RECOUTURE and Alex Nash—and is later joined by adidas’ MakerLab Creative Director, Jose Cabaco, Senior Director of Digital Strategy, Tareq Nazlawy and adidas Statement Creative Director, Yohan Ham. Part of the brand's new initiative called MakerLab, the three designers were invited to reimagine the iconic Campus 80s. Over the course of months, they were allowed to bring their design into fruition by working out of the adidas HQ in Herzogenaurach, Germany and later at the brand’s factory in Vietnam, where they oversaw all production and packaging. The final product was launched on a StockX IPO with only 333 limited-edition pairs available for purchase. For more information: https://stockx.com/ipo/adidas-mkrlab-campus-80s-ipo & https://news.adidas.com/originals/adidas-makerlab-propels-emerging

Joe "Freshgoods" Robinson is a designer from Chicago whose quirky collaborations and pun-intended designs have garnered him a cult following. His brick & mortar store, Fat Tiger:http://www.fattigerworkshop.com/, is a creative space that hosts pop-ups, workshops and sells an amalgamation of clothes made by various designers. In the past few years Joe has traveled the world showcasing pop-ups for his brand Joe Freshgoods:https://joefreshgoods.com and Don't Be Mad:https://www.dont-be-mad.com/ and even collaborating with designers like Snapple and McDonald's. In the season 6 finale, the designer tells us why he feels like Forrest Gump—touching the city through T-shirts, how he became the "Hood CNN", the importance of a slow grind and why he wants to bring Chicago to the world.  For more information: hypebeast.com/2019/10/joe-freshgoods-interview-business-of-hype-jeffstaple-episode-59 As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscr

Rob Cristofaro is the Co-Founder of Alife and Treis Hill is the Partner and General Manager of Alife. An all-in-one footwear, art, streetwear store also serving as a creative agency, the brand has been a forerunner in the streetwear industry, laying the foundation for the DNA of "hype" before "hype" was a thing. Twenty years ago, Alife was founded by Arnaud Delecolle, Tony Arcabascio, Tammy Brainard and Rob Cristofaro, the group met working together at Sportswear International, what was then an influential B2B magazine. In 2001, they opened their sneaker store, Alife Rivington Club and in 2005, Treis Hill joined the team.  In this episode, the duo reflect on the early beginnings of the brand, how Alife became a testing ground and early scene-maker of streetwear drops and hype, complicated business deals, future plans and more. For more information: https://hypebeast.com/2019/10/alife-rob-cristafaro-treis-hill-interview-business-of-hype-jeffstaple-episode-58 As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST

Earlier in the year, jeff sat down with the Co-Founder and Chief Culture Officer of WeWork, Miguel McKelvey.  What started as a single office in New York to now being located in 100 cities globally, the former architect details how he built his massive company. Despite current shortcomings, he stresses that WeWork was founded upon the “fundamental human need for connection” and shares its foundational beliefs on creativity, collaboration and connection. As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe to our other shows MIC/LINE, The Anthropology, The HYPE Report and HYPETALKS. Also check out our affiliated site, HYPEBAE and the launch of their new radio platform HYPEBAE Radio at https://hypebae.com/radio or on https://anchor.fm/schoolofsustainability Editor’s Note: This episode of the Business of HYPE was recorded earlier this season, prior to the developing news on the company. The information shared within the episode has bee

Christina Paik is a photographer who's worked with a major labels from Stüssy and Kith to Off-White and Comme des Garçons and plenty more. While she's made a name for herself in fashion, Christina is also a fine art photographer, consultant, stylist and influencer. Her body of work constantly pushes the boundaries of where photography can go and challenges viewers to observe through a different perspective. In this episode she reflects on her long-standing career, her complex relationship with social media, being an Asian American woman in the boys club of streetwear and much more. As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe to our other shows MIC/LINE, The Anthropology, The HYPE Report and HYPETALKS. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/businessofhype/support

Liz Beecroft is a psychotherapist and licensed master social worker currently focusing in foster care who was recently chosen for Nike’s “NYC By You” sneaker design contest. With a stylish Instagram that integrates fashion, footwear and mental health awareness, she's trying to break stigmas and create transparent dialogue for today's youth. In this episode she discusses balancing social work with her streetwear interests, breaking social stigmas about feelings and the process behind her "In My Feels" Nike Air Max 270 React. If you need help with emotions that you’re dealing with or need people to talk to, Liz recommends this: Find My Well Being, mental health journals, or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe to our other shows MIC/LINE, The Anthropology, The HYPE Report and HYPETALKS. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/businessofhype/support

Mike Cherman is a designer and founder of Chinatown Market. Jeanne Grey is an influencer and founder of GREYLAYERS and Scott Patt is an artist and Chief Creative Officer of Cole Haan. In this intimate, live recording inside Cole Haan’s Soho location, jeffstaple discusses how each of these three entrepreneurs created their own unique paths to success. Joined together by their hustle and hard work, all three have managed to turn their passions into long-standing careers.  Mike and Jeanne are two recent collaborators with Cole Haan’s Generation ZERØGRAND shoe — a line inspired by today’s progressive innovators and designed for a new generation shifting to less traditional work environments. Both have managed to create careers unique to their relatable and business-savvy personas. With a number of years under their belts, both Mike and Jeanne stress the importance of  “making really cool shit,” but making it sellable all whilst balancing confidence and humility.  As always, thank you for tuning int

Jason Markk is the founder of his name-sake cleaning solution that changed the landscape of the sneaker industry. After reading Rich Dad Poor Dad, the California native was inspired to view his life through a lens of opportunity and has since applied this perspective throughout his business. From advertising and DJing to sales and retail, Jason's had a wide-range of careers all of which have taught him the art of entrepreneurship. In this episode he breaks down his early beginnings and inspirations for Jason Markk, the importance of the law of attraction, overcoming growing pains in his company and much more. As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe to our other shows MIC/LINE, The Anthropology, The HYPE Report and HYPETALKS. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/businessofhype/support

Sharifa Murdock is the Co-Owner of Liberty Fairs and Founder of ENVSN Festival. From working retail at Atrium to partnering with Sam Ben-Avraham to change the landscape of trade shows, she details the value of hard work, the desire to give back to her community, the need for work-life balance and much more. As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe to our other shows MIC/LINE, The Anthropology, The HYPE Report and HYPETALKS. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/businessofhype/support

Tremaine Emory is the co-founder of No Vacancy Inn — a global, nomadic collective featuring a medley of nightlife mixed with art and fashion, catching the likes of A$AP Mob, Virgil Abloh and GOOD Music to name a few. He sits down with jeffstaple to discuss his past days of working in a stock room to traveling the world to create an influential creative collective alongside his partner Acyde. He also details the impact of working at Marc Jacobs, the cost of ambition and much more. As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe to our other shows MIC/LINE, The Anthropology, The HYPE Report and HYPETALKS. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/businessofhype/support

Alexandre Arnault is the CEO of RIMOWA and Kim Jones is the Artistic Director of Dior Men's. On the season 6 premiere of Business of HYPE, jeff sits down with both to discuss their cutting-edge collaboration that not only elevates the culture of travel, but also pushes the boundaries of fashion today. They discuss RIMOWA’s transition to LVMH, the inner workings of their collaboration, the impact of streetwear and much more. As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe to our other shows MIC/LINE, The Anthropology, The HYPE Report and HYPETALKS. This episode is presented by RIMOWA. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/businessofhype/support