Highsnobiety Podcasts

Quil Lemons is a New York-based photographer whose career has been blowing up, even in the midst of Covid-19. He's shot Evan Mock and Porches for Highsnobiety, and even conducted a FaceTime shoot of Pamela Anderson for The New York Times. Lately, he's been unwinding. Last month he spent his birthday in Seattle, where he fell in love with the Pacific Northwest's temperate climate and sampled many of the city's weed dispensaries. We have a conversation that spans Black photography, the need for drug law reform, and the importance of seeing in Black. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode we look at Paris’ “phygital” fashion week, highlighting some of our favorite shows and listening to voicemails from people’s picks. Spoiler alert: the Kid Super hive came through heavy and left like a billion VMs talking about how dope his stop-motion show was. And yes, it was pretty sick. But first we dive into some of the week’s best releases, including a fire pair of collaborative ASICS from AFFIX that look super breathable and cushiony. The DC heads in us also eagerly await confirmation of the rumored Supreme x Nike Air Max Goadome boots (shouts to Wale) and rejoice in the announcement that Shayne Oliver’s Hood By Air label has made its triumphant return this week. Then we commiserate over the loss of Need Supply Co. and Totokaelo, two of the most legit stores to ever do it, as well as iconic venues like China Chalet and Kinfolk, two nightlife spots near and dear to Highsnobiety. Damn you Thanos! Relevant Links: AFFIX Gives ASICS’ Ultra Comfy Novablast a Makeover Jaden Smith’s First New

Gia Seo is a Brooklyn-based stylist, art director, and fan of textures and socks. The self-proclaimed (and keenly self-aware) “sockfluencer” is known for her offbeat sense of personal style and eye for mixing bright colors and verdant patterns with tactile materials. You can see all that and more on her side project @texturenaut, where she boldly explores the final frontiers of all things fuzzy. 8:13 She’s also continuing to use her voice and platform to amplify the issues and causes that are important to her and her community. Recently she helped raise funds for The Emergence Project, a nonprofit charity serving families in NYC, and the Hetrick-Martin Institute, which helps provide services for thousands of LGBQT youth. On this episode of Vibe Check we talk jiujitsu, her views on cancel culture, and how to continue to hold brands and companies accountable for putting their money where their mouths are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brothers Terence and Kevin Kim are the duo behind futuristic Korean clothing label IISE. Their clothes take inspiration from Korean architecture and traditional garments like hanbok, updating the silhouettes with a futuristic lens and forward-thinking fabrics like GORE-TEX. Living in Seoul, they share how the country's lauded approach to combating Covid-19 has kept them ahead of the game. We also discuss how K-pop fandoms have used their platforms for good and advocating for social justice and causes like Black Lives Matter, and why even after a rise in anti-Asian sentiment during the spread of the pandemic, there's never been a better time to be Asian in the Western world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Toronto-based designer Spencer Badu launched his label a couple of years ago while in university. His modern take on the idea of a uniform features architecturally-inspired clean lines, military fabrics like nylon, and zipper details that accentuate hemlines and change the way his garments fit. This degree of customization and self-expression is purposeful, a way to subvert a prescriptive way of dressing in order to let your personality shine through. Chalk it up to Badu’s experience in Catholic school, where ways to show your personal style in a uniform were limited. His ideas have definitely caught on with the likes of A$AP Rocky, who’ve been spotted out and about in his trackies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clara Jeon and Kenneth Loo are the founders of Chapter 2, an agency specializing in young designers. Among the brands they’ve helped turned into hyped household names? Rhuigi Villaseñor of RHUDE, Pyer Moss, and Reese Cooper. Their current roster includes Ev Bravado of WHO DECIDES WAR?, Toronto label making waves Mr. Saturday, and veteran skater-owned brand HUF. The industry veterans have worked just about every facet of the public relations business, and as such know all about how the industry can be more toxic than helpful. They share their advice on how younger brands can find their voice, and why having social media clout is nowhere near as effective as knowing what you want to say through your brand. Stay tuned for new episodes of Vibe Check every Tuesday and Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unless you’ve been living under a rock with no Wi-Fi access (get your game up, Patrick Star), you probably heard the long-awaited Dior Jordan 1 sneakers quietly released this week. Well, “release” is a term we use loosely, as people really just got a chance to register for the opportunity to buy a pair. Chances are you’re not one of the lucky few to receive one of the estimated ~8,500 pairs up for grabs! Good thing there are plenty of consolation prizes to talk about this week, from new YEEZY basketball sneakers to furry Nike Dunk SBs inspired by The Grateful Dead’s ursine mascots. Relevant Links: Virgil Donates Signed Off-White x Nike Air Jordan 4s to BLM Auction Dior’s Long-Awaited Air Jordan 1s Confirmed to Release Soon Kanye West’s YEEZY Basketball Sneaker Is Releasing Soon in a New Colorway Sean Wotherspoon’s atmos x ASICS GEL-Lyte III Finally Gets a Release Date Here’s Your First Look at Nike’s New Zebra Print Air Max 95 The “Champ Colors” Nike Dunk Low Drops Tomorrow Take an On-Foot Look at the

Jack Carlson’s background is in rowing (he was so good he was on the US national team), but he’s found a new calling in gear. The self-described “streetwear omnivore” built a brand mixing the worlds of preppy style with youthful sportswear, offering everything from hardy, colorful rugby shirts to patchwork Barbour collabs and cheeky send-ups of finance bro style. This all is represented best at the Rowing Blazers flagship store in SoHo, which has been closed due to Covid-19. But now Carlson is using his brand as a platform not just to combat coronavirus through making masks from leftover fabric, but also a way to stand up against racism and acknowledge the influence Black culture has had on taking prep style to a whole new level. Stay tuned for new episodes of Vibe Check every Tuesday and Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nate Brown. is the founder of Studio Institute and the creative mind behind a ton of projects that touch the Highsnobiety world. Zack Bia is a young DJ and nightlife figure who’s done a little bit of everything behind-the-scenes, and recently got attention for the mind-blowing IG Lives he did with Pedro Cavaliere. In April, they launched the Work From Home Project ( 1:19), a new initiative mixing cool graphic tees with charitable donations to the CDC Foundation and No Kid Hungry. What started as a Slack group became a group effort to remain #OnlineTogether and create cool, charitable stuff while under quarantine. We discuss how most young people today already spend a majority of their time online (3:08), and why that will undoubtably lead to some very real paradigm shifts in the workforce. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, hosts Noah Thomas and Jian DeLeon open up with a look at some of the latest in sneakers, including Brain Dead’s garden-inspired Reebok collab and the newest YEEZY Boost 380 that looks like a Fruity Pebble. Then we shift to the importance of supporting Black Trans Lives and the ongoing protests around the world continuing the fight for social justice. After outlining some action steps people can take, we tackle the two biggest news stories of the week: Matthew Williams’ appointment as creative director at Givenchy and Kanye West’s upcoming YEEZY cosmetics line, which will purportedly include toothpaste. Listen to the episode to hear speculation about what it tastes like. Relevant Links: Kerby-Jean Raymond On Defunding the Police: “Anything Else Isn’t Worth Talking About” The Next adidas YEEZY Boost 380 Drops This Week Here’s a Detailed Look at Brain Dead’s Wild Reebok Classic Leather Collab The Nike Air Jordan 6 “Hare” Finally Drops This Week Scooby Doo’s Iconic Mystery Machine Makes it O

Beauty expert, plant daddy, and infectiously hilarious, it's no wonder why Bretman Rock has garnered a huge following for his online videos. The Philippine-born digital creator's name stems from two of his father's favorite wrestlers — Bret “The Hitman” Hart and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — and the resulting portmanteau is a decidedly Filipino baby naming convention. We caught up with him between squat reps, science vids, and tending to his growing garden to talk about his love for Crocs shoes, get a bit of fitness advice, and his unique experience growing up as a gay immigrant. Stay tuned for new episodes of Vibe Check every Tuesday and Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it possible to still have the song of the summer even though we might not have a real summer at all? That's the challenge facing Kim Petras, whose undeniable bop “Malibu” is an infectious tune that aligns a little too well with aspirational trips to the beach and fizzy tropical drinks that leave you buzzed and a bit sugar high.Last month, she premiered the home edition of her music video for “Malibu,” shot on Zoom (1:53) and featuring cameos from some of her famous friends, including Paris Hilton, Charlie XCX, Jonathan Van Ness, Slayyyter, and many more. But even though Zoom parties can be fun, Petras admits it doesn't feel the same (3:22).Regardless, she's keeping her spirits high leading into pride month, and one of the things that's helping her get through these tough times? Internet culture and cringey meme accounts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLmn8qkqzJI Stay tuned for new episodes of Vibe Check every Tuesday and Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it possible to still have the song of the summer even though we might not have a real summer at all? That's the challenge facing Kim Petras, whose undeniable bop “Malibu” is an infectious tune that aligns a little too well with aspirational trips to the beach and fizzy tropical drinks that leave you buzzed and a bit sugar high.Last month, she premiered the home edition of her music video for “Malibu,” shot on Zoom (1:53) and featuring cameos from some of her famous friends, including Paris Hilton, Charlie XCX, Jonathan Van Ness, Slayyyter, and many more. But even though Zoom parties can be fun, Petras admits it doesn't feel the same (3:22).Regardless, she's keeping her spirits high leading into pride month, and one of the things that's helping her get through these tough times? Internet culture and cringey meme accounts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLmn8qkqzJI Stay tuned for new episodes of Vibe Check every Tuesday and Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, internal protests at adidas addressing the company's racist culture takes center stage. Hosts Noah Thomas and Jian DeLeon discuss the article we published earlier this week, outlining the need for an overhaul of how the company treats its Black employees. But it's not all bad news for the sneaker world, as SNEEZE magazine released a Reebok Club C (an adidas-owned company that certainly isn't faultless either) with all the proceeds going to Black Lives Matter. We also examine some of the better Nike releases this week, how Yelp is making it easier than ever to find Black-owned businesses, and why Philipp Plein is still a fuccboi for his latest BLM shenanigans. Relevant Links adidas Employees Protest Internal Racism SNEEZE Mag To Donate All Profits From Its Reebok Club C to BLM Nike’s Space Hippie Marks a New Era of Sustainable Product Michael Jordan & Jordan Brand Pledge $100 Million to the Black Community Tremaine Emory On Why He Won’t Release His Converse Collab Until Nike Change

Hussein Suleiman, Abderr Trabsini, and Jefferson Osei are the trio behind Daily Paper, the Amsterdam-born brand that started as a publication and became a movement of its own. With plans to make their US debut with a New York flagship store put on pause due to Covid-19 (4:23), they've had no choice but to up their e-commerce game considerably. Luckily that's something that comes natural to this crew — after all, Daily Paper started as a lifestyle blog before it became a full-on clothing label. It's something they're excited to return to with their UNITE hub (14:17), a place where they put everything from music playlists, staff profiles, and give a deeper look at the seasonal inspirations for each collection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, hosts Noah Thomas and Jian DeLeon change things up and get serious about the Black Lives Matter movement, social justice, and holding ourselves, our friends, our co-workers, and damn near everyone we know accountable. We understand the importance of keeping this energy not just 'til the November elections, but every day. Systematic oppression and institutionalized racism are two complicated forces that are difficult to fight, but we talk about the ways in which we've challenged ourselves to face them head-on. Noah opens up about his experiences as a young black man literally just trying to live, and the kind of fuckery people put up with on a regular basis just to ensure other people's comfort. And yeah — those days are done. Relevant Links: James Whitner On How Companies & People Can Step Up for the Black Community This Is Why People Are Calling to Defund the Police Here Are the Ways You Can Help Support Protesters in Minneapolis and Beyond How to Donate to Black Lives Matter if You’r

Chris Gibbs is the current owner and operator of UNION Los Angeles, purveyor of streetwear, sub rosa Japanese labels, and all around dope shit — like its in-house line that doesn't shy away from referencing his and his wife Bephie's black heritage. UNION isn't just a small business, it's a family business — and it's black-owned. Given the current state of America and social unrest over the unjust killings of people like George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, Gibbs gets real about how he feels as the father of two black teenage boys (1:50). In the wake of protests and uprisings across the country, he also empathizes with the righteous indignation of many protesters. In some ways, bringing streetwear back to its roots of community and culture might be the salve it needs. Hear his thoughts on how it's become commodified (11:08), and ways current events have reinforced his desire to give back to his community (22:19), even if it's something as simple as donating proceeds from a sneaker drop. Learn more

James Whitner is the founder of The Whitaker Grp, a black-owned retail company that owns boutiques like Social Status, A Ma Maniére, APB, and Prosper. An outspoken advocate for black business owners and civil rights, he recently penned an op-ed for Complex challenging companies in the streetwear/sneaker space and beyond to do more for the black community. He's also dedicating The Whitaker Grp's social media channels to thee #TWGBlackout, using them to suggest radical solutions and educate people on the issues currently plaguing the black community and what we can do to start solving problems from their root. Listen to the episode to find out how individuals and companies can hold themselves more accountable when it comes to contributing to the cause. Stay tuned for new episodes of Vibe Check every Tuesday and Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of The Dropcast, hosts Jian DeLeon and Noah Thomas kick things off by discussing a previously unseen colorway of the sacai x Nike Vaporwaffle, a sneaker that looks like it was possibly made in a wafflemaker, just like mom (and Bill Bowerman) used to make! This colorway is kind of mid compared to the ones we've teased before, but it's hard to beat a white sneaker for summer. PLEASURES is also back with a new Reebok collab, taking the hippie-infused Beatnik and adding spider web motifs, resulting in a part mall-goth, part-vampire vibe that meshes well with UNDERCOVER's Spring/Summer 2020 collection. We also ask how we can make as much money as Joe Rogan has with Spotify (reselling sneakers are involved), before getting into the question of the week, which is tied to the release of Supreme's massive Mac Tools workstation that looks like it was stolen off a Fast & Furious movie set. We asked Dropcast listeners “What's the weirdest item you've ever copped from a brand?” and you guys didn't d