Available in-store and online on April 8th. Available in Japan on April 9th.
When you’re Supreme’s creative director you can’t fuck around though, that’s why it was hardhim to find time to answer to our questions and let us take a few pics of him, but hey…wefuck around either so, after 47 emails, here’s the interview to Brandon Babenzien, Supreme’s creative director. Enjoy! for don’t
1. What is your occupation and how long you’ve been doing it?
I guess you could say im the head designer at Supreme but there are a lot of people that are involved in the design process and who play important roles in all of the decisions we make, including James who owns the company. Its a serious group effort. I’ve been with Supreme on and off for a long time.
2. How did you get started? Which is your background?
I got started in retail when i was very young. I worked in a surf/skate shop at the age of 13 and worked there for 8 years. During that time, my friends and I got really into music and skating, surfing and snowboarding. This was kind of the intro to what later became a business of sorts. A friend of mine started a company when we were very young and made clothes that represented a life that we were living. It was called Pervert. It was one of the early kind of street brands I guess. I went to work with him and that was how i started really understanding the development ofclothing.
3. How does the creative process works? You wake up, go to the office and…
Actually, before i go to the office, i go for a 12 mile run. That gets my body and my brain going. Itup to be fresh and ready for the rest of the day. Once I am at the office, much of the timeis spent either planning the next collection or reviewing samples that have arrived. We have tomake sure the colors, fit, buttons, graphics, etc. are all correct.The actual creative process is not a process at all. It occurs outside of the office during the rest ofmy life. You dont really think about anything. You just go about your business and then thethings around you have influenced you. Once you sit down to develop the next collection, youjust design the things you naturally want.
4. What does inspire you when you start working on a new collection?
Usually the inspiration is not so specific. We are generally inspired by NY and the history of NY, especially around music and the art world. This also brings in the history of skating, crime, politics, anything really that has had an impact on this town and feels like a cultural touchstone.
5. You’ve been working with different brands. From Supreme to Noah, Aprix and K-Swiss lately. Those are all quite different brands with their own approach to style. How do you handle it?
Everyone I have worked with, has been a natural fit for me. There is always something I connectwith naturally. I have been lucky to have grown up in NY and had a very diverse life so i canwork within a brand like supreme but also design things that are from a different area of my lifelike Noah, or even sports stuff for K Swiss. I dont believe anyones life is so one dimensional. If itis, they probably need to take a good look at themselves.
6. We’re italian based, what is your opinion on the high fashion industry and what is the most influential designer ever (italian or not) in your opinion?
I think the high fashion industry is great for some. I actually really appreciate it.
However, the gap between the designers ideas and the business that then tries to sell massive amounts of these things is where the problem lies.
Business kind of ruins everything. People or companies cant just stay small and focused so things are lost. It would be nice if designeres could survive well on just doing creative good work. But since fashion is such big business, it is hard for the smaller more creative people to find their way in it. As far as the most influential designer goes, for me personally, it has to be Ralph Lauren but I prefer brands that influence the big designers more. For example, brand like Barbour, or St James make what Ralph Lauren does possible. He takes a bit from all of these unique and focused companies and elaborates and shows it to us in the most glamorous way.
7. Those who were kids in the 90s (when the so called streetwear thing basically started) are now in their 30’s. I noticed a little twist even in some street-inspired brand like Supreme who seems to be offering a more adult/classic range of clothes with the lates collection, am i completely wrong?
No, but i think there is a bigger picture. It is not that the brands are making clothing for younger people, its just that everyone, young and old has gotten into slightly “nicer” clothing. This will change again.
The youth will change their minds and the young at heart will too. I have always walked the line between classic mens clothing and fucking things up a bit. That is whats important no matter how old you are. We need to all be aware of ourselves and do what is right for us. This will keep things interesting and not cause too much uniformity.
8. I know this questions might be silly but i know for instance that a lot of tv personalities never watch themselves on tv and a lot of musicians never listen to their records after they’re published.Do you wear the pieces that you design?
I do often wear the things i work on. Im pretty selfish in that regard. I make a lot of what i am looking for but cannot find.
9. I can tell you’re quite a big music fan…
I am definitely a music fan but often times people might be surprised when they hear what I am listening to. I wont even try to explain.
10. What are you working on right now? What’s next? Tease us…
There are a few things im working on that hopefully will shake people up again. Im a bit tired of all the people looking like they are from the turn of the century. We live in a modern world. I also think there is a lot being left undone in many areas of clothing so im hoping to fill in some gaps. I cant really say how im gong to do this but there will be some things coming.
11. Is there anything you wanted me to ask you that i actually didn’t ask? If not, just leave us with some words of wisdom :)
Actually, you asked great questions. Thanks. I’ll just say that people need to be themselves in all of this. Thats how it started. Kids, especially, need to turn shit upside down and not just follow what is being offered to them. They need to devour the ideas that came before and spit them back out in new ways. Oh yeah, and need to get to know Shane McGowan and The Pogues.
