Business of HYPE

What is MSCHF? Who are MSCHF? Performance artists? Streetwear mavens? A bunch of pranksters? The only way to truly find out is to go straight to the source. And even then it’s a little confusing. But like everything else the collective puts out - that seems to be done exactly by design. On this episode, host Angelo Baque (Founder, Awake NY) sits down with Lukas Bentel and Kevin Wiesner - two members of the enigmatic group behind the Big Red Boot, Satan Shoes, and 88 Holes - to try and piece it all together. PLUS  Angelo speaks with Sira, a multi-disciplinary artist out of NYC and her mentor, Ebonie Ward - CEO of the management firm 11th and Co - about the importance of mentorship and how you can use the relationship to navigate to success. WATCH THE FULL EPISODE OF BUSINESS OF HYPE WITH MSCHF ON YOUTUBE. Executive Producer - Kyle Reyes Director - Jon Fusco Producers - Alejandra Zelaya, Jenny Fu Director of Photography - Julius Ignacio Gaffer - John Izarpate Grip - Rick Lim 1st AC - Brian Nguyen Set Design - Lucy Hislop Production Assistant - Tealoni Butler Editor - Jon Fusco Special Thanks Sarah Schecker Sophie Schieli Gabriella Koppelman This season of Business of HYPE is sponsored by Bulleit Frontier Whiskey. BULLEIT BOURBON Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 45% Alc/Vol. The Bulleit Distilling Co., Louisville, KY. Please Drink Responsibly. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

There are many challenges associated with the come up, but what Tremaine Emory (Founder, Denim Tears) has been through over the past few years is an entirely different story. From a lower aortic aneurysm to a controversial and extremely public departure from his role as Creative Director of Supreme - his near death experience brought unique lessons that are still applicable to even those who are just starting out.  On this episode, host Angelo Baque (Founder, Awake NY) and Tremaine discuss subduing the ego, trusting in your brand, and the moral responsibilities of being a storyteller. Watch the full episode of Business of HYPE with Tremaine Emory on YouTube. This season of Business of HYPE is sponsored by Bulleit Frontier Whiskey. BULLEIT BOURBON Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 45% Alc/Vol. The Bulleit Distilling Co., Louisville, KY. Please Drink Responsibly. Executive Producer - Kyle Reyes Director - Jon Fusco Producers - Alejandra Zelaya, Jenny Fu Director of Photography - Julius Ignacio Gaffer - John Izarpate Grip - Rick Lim 1st AC - Brian Nguyen Set Design - Lucy Hislop Production Assistant - Tealoni Butler Editor - Jon Fusco Special Thanks Sarah Schecker Sophie Schieli --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

Business of HYPE is back for a special one-off episode with none other than comedian, producer, writer and political commentator, Hasan Minhaj. From being the senior correspondent on The Daily Show, to speaking at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner, to his own comedy special and weekly Netflix show called Patriot Act, to even being named TIME’s 100 most influential people in the world, Hasan Minhaj is a pioneer.  Hasan worked alongside jeff's creative agency, Reed Art Department to create his first footwear collaboration with Cole Haan.  This partnership comes just in time before his next drop, releasing on December 3 and brings to life Hasan’s personal journey of breaking rules and writing new ones. Recorded in Hasan's hometown of Davis, the episode uncovers the early days of his career to his current days of working through COVID-19. As things continue to be unpredictable during this time, Hasan reminds that for him "it's about understanding and embracing the unknown." Thank you so much for tuning into this special bonus episode brought to you by Cole Haan.  For more info: https://www.colehaan.com/collabs-hasanminhaj.html https://www.instagram.com/hasanminhaj/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

For our season 8 finale, we bring back our "Stay @ Home" series with French fashion designer and creative director of Balmain, Olivier Rousteing. In 2011, at the age of 25, he took over the luxury fashion house and for nearly a decade held this title. The brand has gone under what many would call a Renaissance, as the haute couture brand has smoothly moved into the digital age while still adhering to its iconic roots. Nowadays there is no area in modern day fashion & pop culture that the brand hasn't touched. From it's numerous collabs with brands to working with A-list celebrities from Kim and Kanye to Beyonce & Jay-Z, Olivier Rousteing has pushed the agenda of the Balmain.  In this episode, Olivier reflects on his decade at Balmain and the new perspectives he's gained during COVID-19.  He tells us why he is "less scared of tomorrow" and how he believes this time right now is a "revolution that will bring a better future." Thank you so much for tuning into the Business of HYPE. 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. This episode was recorded prior to COVID-19 with the interludes recorded during. We hope you guys stay safe, wash your hands, practice social distancing and find ways to still stay inspired during this time. For more info: https://www.instagram.com/balmain/ https://www.instagram.com/olivier_rousteing/?hl=en https://www.balmain.com/us --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

While we're coming to a close on Business of HYPE S8, we'd like to bring attention to another show, Asian, Not Asian podcast by giving you a preview of their episode Comedians vs Asian Audience Members. Hosted by comedians Fumi Abe and Mic Nguyen, Asian, Not Asian is a weekly comedy podcast where "two asian guys NOT from Asia talk about American Issues that no American cares about." There is no topic that goes uncovered in this podcast from politics, model minority myths, sex, race, funny stories and more. They cover it all and in the most honest way possible. Guests of the show feature people who are killing it in the industry from writers and stars on The Daily Show, SNL, Comedy Central (Ronny Chieng, Bowen Yang, Karen Chee & more) and famous authors like Min Jin Lee (Pachinko) to former Business of HYPE alum, Asa Akira and more. Be sure to check out a preview of their episode. You can catch them at a live at Hack City Comedy or at a live podcast recording at Canal Street Market in NYC. https://www.asiannotasianpod.com/see-us-live  Be sure to subscribe to their channel below. New episodes Sunday. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Tv6EO9KHfTKiQIPeNM5N0?si=NUcE3BXPR8-c2Hog3tuw6A Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/asian-not-asian/id1356303465 Wherever you listen to podcasts: https://www.asiannotasianpod.com/listen More Info: https://www.asiannotasianpod.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AsianNotAsianPod/ Fumi & Mic's IG: https://www.instagram.com/thefumiabe/ & https://www.instagram.com/nicepantsbro/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefumiabe?lang=en  & https://twitter.com/nicepantsdude?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Support: https://www.asiannotasianpod.com/patreon --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/businessofhype/support

While we're coming to a close on Business of HYPE S8, we'd like to bring attention to another show, Asian, Not Asian podcast by giving you a preview of their episode Comedians vs Asian Audience Members. Hosted by comedians Fumi Abe and Mic Nguyen, Asian, Not Asian is a weekly comedy podcast where "two asian guys NOT from Asia talk about American Issues that no American cares about." There is no topic that goes uncovered in this podcast from politics, model minority myths, sex, race, funny stories and more. They cover it all and in the most honest way possible. Guests of the show feature people who are killing it in the industry from writers and stars on The Daily Show, SNL, Comedy Central (Ronny Chieng, Bowen Yang, Karen Chee & more) and famous authors like Min Jin Lee (Pachinko) to former Business of HYPE alum, Asa Akira and more. Be sure to check out a preview of their episode. You can catch them at a live at Hack City Comedy or at a live podcast recording at Canal Street Market in NYC. https://www.asiannotasianpod.com/see-us-live  Be sure to subscribe to their channel below. New episodes Sunday. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Tv6EO9KHfTKiQIPeNM5N0?si=NUcE3BXPR8-c2Hog3tuw6A Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/asian-not-asian/id1356303465 Wherever you listen to podcasts: https://www.asiannotasianpod.com/listen More Info: https://www.asiannotasianpod.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AsianNotAsianPod/ Fumi & Mic's IG: https://www.instagram.com/thefumiabe/ & https://www.instagram.com/nicepantsbro/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefumiabe?lang=en  & https://twitter.com/nicepantsdude?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Support: https://www.asiannotasianpod.com/patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

On today's special episode, jeff hosts a live panel discussion from OMEN with two key players in the progressive gaming industry. Nikan Nadim aka FaZe Nikan plays a large role in shaping the creative concept for major esports organization FaZe Clan. Daryl Butler is a marketing guru with over 25 years of experience and currently serves as Head of Marketing at HP (Hewlett-Packard).  In recent years esports has skyrocketed into popularity, now becoming a billion dollar industry and soon to surpass more viewership than the NFL, MLB and NBA. Gaming is no longer a "basement activity" but a cultural norm. Companies like HP have developed a product line called OMEN, which focuses on laptops, desktops and accessories for the intent of gaming. Meanwhile groups like FaZe Clan have their own massive social following, marketing agency, apparel line, in-house production studio, talent management business, sales team and much more. Together they are both pushing the agenda of esports, especially during a time where people are finding more relevance in online communities. In this episode they discuss not only the business aspect of gaming, but also its cultural impact. Daryl and Nikan see a bright future for gaming, firmly believing that "everyone is a gamer." Thank you so much for tuning into the Business of HYPE. 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. This episode was recorded prior to COVID-19 with the interludes recorded during. We hope you guys stay safe, wash your hands, practice social distancing and find ways to still stay inspired during this time. For more info: https://hypebeast.com/2020/7/faze-nikan-daryl-butler-omen-live-panel-interview-business-of-hype-jeffstaple-episode-78 https://www.omen.com/us/en.html?jumpid=sc_khigexb9mj https://fazeclan.com/ Social: https://www.instagram.com/fazenikan/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/omenbyhp/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/fazeclan/?hl=en --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

Alexandra Hackett is the founder of Studio ALCH (short for her name: Alexandra Louise Champion Hackett) and also known by many as "Mini Swoosh." In just a few short years, the brand has shown at London Fashion Week, partnered with global retailers and worked with numerous celebrities from Kendrick Lamar to Frank Ocean. The Australian-born, London based creative creates one-of-a-kind articles of clothing from deconstructed pieces of found material from Nike duffel bags to NASA space foil.   Studio ALCH is the overarching brand that gives fuel to her mission of "exploring the process of deconstruction and reconstruction to extend the lifespan of pre-existing products."  Her personal brand, Mini Swoosh, dives into the more experimental side of her deconstructive projects, whilst giving homage to the brand Nike—which has heavily inspired her design career. In this episode, Alex details her early career from working in the sneaker retail space to participating in 2017's Nike Vote For You competition to creating her brand. She reminds us of the importance of sustainability and how the "best thing to do with fashion is to make nothing new at all." Thank you so much for tuning into the Business of HYPE. 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. This episode was recorded prior to COVID-19 with the interludes recorded during. We hope you guys stay safe, wash your hands, practice social distancing and find ways to still stay inspired during this time. For more info: https://hypebeast.com/2020/6/alex-hackett-studio-alch-mini-swoosh-interview-business-of-hype-jeffstaple-episode-77 https://www.instagram.com/studioalch/ https://www.instagram.com/miniswoosh/ https://www.a-l-c-h.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

Around a month ago we featured our special Stay @ Home series, with former guests of the show and today we’re back for another special episode with Andy Fallshaw, Co-Founder and CEO of Australian accessories brand, Bellroy. Founded in 2009 alongside Matthew Fallshaw, Lina Calabria and Hadrien Monloup, Bellroy was the answer after the four realized there was a gap in the luxury carrier space. A certified B Corporation, the company only uses functional and durable material all made  with the intent of sustainable efforts.  What started as a meticulously well-designed wallet became so successful that Bellroy now carries various travel bags and tech accessories in their line.  In this episode, Andy details how he went from designing for Rip Curl to starting nine self-funded startups in an effort to "create something that brings value to people"—one of which became Bellroy. He later discusses how his business has managed to stay afloat and reprioritize workflow during COVID-19. Thank you so much for tuning into our special Stay @ Home Series. 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 show. For more info: https://bellroy.com/ http://www.instagram.com/bellroy https://www.carryology.com/ https://www.instagram.com/carryology/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

Hommyo Hidefumi is the founder of legendary Tokyo-based sneaker boutique, atmos. The store is more than a retail space, but a cornerstone of streetwear culture that helped cultivate the early sneaker scene in Japan. Many attribute the store to having not only the best collection of sneakers to date, but also having some of the best collaborations of all time—most notably with Nike and their ever popular Air Max 1's.  With more than 30 stores globally, Hommyo opened atmos in Harajuku in 2000 after the success of his first retail store Chapter. Soon after, young kids all over the world were traveling to atmos, and it became the mecca of sneaker culture in Asia.  Atmos is a reflection of Hommyo's ability to personify every sneaker that comes through his space. He is in every right an auteur, being able to create a unique narrative whether it's through the sneaker accounts at his store or the variety of collabs atmos has worked on.  Hommyo's penchant for sneaker collecting began in the early 90's while attending college in Philadelphia. Soon enough, he was driving along the East Coasting copping sneakers at a fraction of the price they were sold overseas. The rest there on after would become streetwear history. While businesses are focusing more digitally, Hommyo still emphasizes the importance of a retail space, being that "we are humans, not robots" and that all the "f***ing talking, bulls*** talking" is an absolute necessity when it comes to sneaker culture. In this episode, he breaks down the early days of atmos, what it takes to survive in this competitive market, the future of streetwear culture and more.  Thank you so much for tuning into the Business of HYPE. 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. This episode was recorded prior to COVID-19 with the interludes recorded during. We hope you guys stay safe, wash your hands, practice social distancing and find ways to still stay inspired during this time. For more info: https://hypebeast.com/2020/6/atmos-interview-founder-hommyo-hidefumi-business-of-hype-jeffstaple-episode-76 https://www.instagram.com/atmos_japan/ https://www.atmos-tokyo.com/ https://atmosny.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

Sébastien Kopp is the Co-Founder of popular French footwear brand Veja. The brand is known for its slate canvas body with a distinctive “v” logo, which has been worn by numerous figures from Meghan Markle to Eddie Redmayne, and sold in stores across the globe. Alongside François-Ghislain Morillion, the two founded Veja in 2004 with the intent of finding economic balance within their business. Kopp, a former investment banker, quit his job to work with nonprofits only to discover the dark side of globalization. This prompted Kopp and Morillion to challenge themselves with creating a product that could be made without greenwashing. What became months of searching the Amazon for agro-ecological cotton, respectable factories and raw rubber, Veja was born.  More than 15 years later today, the company operates globally with over 180 employees worldwide. Their team is still heavily involved in the process from working out of Brazil to source natural materials all the way till the end where they are distributed online or in various retailers. Kopp tells us that he has never been in a rush to accelerate his business, but rather focuses on a slow growth where he can maintain the business from managing complex human relationships to  creating a business built on Fair Trade and economic balance. Keeping transparency in mind, he details issues of deforestation, ecological impact, partnering with NGOs, economic disparity and much more.  No advertisements, no sponsors, no investors and only 12 simple styles, all made with economic justice in mind, Veja stands as one of the forerunners to fashion's ever-growing sustainability movement. Despite all his merits, Kopp reminds us that "[Veja isn’t] changing the world, but just proposing a small solution to this disparity.” Thank you so much for tuning into the Business of HYPE. 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. This episode was recorded prior to COVID-19 with the interludes recorded during. We hope you guys stay safe, wash your hands, practice social distancing and find ways to still stay inspired during this time. For more info: https://hypebeast.com/2020/6/veja-interview-founder-sebastien-kopp-business-of-hype-jeffstaple-episode-75 https://www.veja-store.com/ https://www.instagram.com/veja/ https://www.instagram.com/vejakids/ https://www.instagram.com/sebastien_kopp/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

Gildas Loaëc and Masaya Kuroki are the Co-Founders of the popular french fashion label, Maison Kitsuné. Since 2002, the pair have been reinterpreting French classics through a chic and modern take with a nod to Japanese fashion. What most may not know is that the two joined forces in affiliation with famed electronic duo, Daft Punk, where after a trip to Japan with the music group, they decided to start their music & fashion brand, Maison Kitsuné. Under the music label, they've birthed numerous musicians such as Phoenix, Kilo Kish, Two Door Cinema Club, La Roux and more.  But alongside their music ventures, the night life, the DJing and worldwide traveling, Gildas and Masaya were slowly building connections to eventually build their fashion counterpart. Now more than 15 years later, the brand is a full functioning label with retail stores worldwide, a ready-to-wear collection, unique collaborations under their belt and hundreds of employees. In addition to all this, the duo have also opened their cafe division, Cafe Kitsuné, where they showcase their love of interior design, food and coffee culture. In this episode, the two detail the transition from the early days of working at a local thrift shop and record store to managing musicians and eventually forming their own clothing brand. Remaining as a stronghold in today's line of successful lifestyle brand, Gildas and Masaya emphasize the importance of the art of the slow grind when it comes to running a business. Thank you so much for tuning into the Business of HYPE. 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. This episode was recorded prior to COVID-19 with the interludes recorded during. We hope you guys stay safe, wash your hands, practice social distancing and find ways to still stay inspired during this time. For more info: https://hypebeast.com/2020/5/maison-kitsune-interview-masaya-kuroki-gildas-loaec-business-of-hype-jeffstaple-episode-74 https://maisonkitsune.com/us/ https://www.instagram.com/maisonkitsune/ https://www.instagram.com/cafekitsune/?hl=en --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

Ronny Chieng is comedian and actor. By day he's the Senior Correspondent for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, by night he's a stand-up comedian, with sold out shows worldwide and also an actor, having recently starred in the box-office hit, Crazy Rich Asians. His list of accomplishments are impressive to say the least. Born in Malaysia, Ronny grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire and Singapore, but attended law school in Australia. It was during his time there where he got an itch for comedy and from then on began pursuing it professionally.  In this episode, Ronny breaks down his career from law student turned comedian and how he managed to defeat the odds going against him. Rather than changing his brand or style of comedy to fit the mainstream mold, Ronny chose to be unapologetically himself by using unfiltered comedy because "authenticity resonates." Despite having been on The Daily Show since 2015, Ronny has had incredible success in his solo career, coming off his recent hit Netflix special: Asian Comedians Destroys America. He details moving to NYC in pursuit of comedy, the smoke & mirrors in Hollywood, being an asian comic in the U.S. and much more.  Thank you so much for tuning into the Business of HYPE. 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. This episode was recorded prior to COVID-19 with the interludes recorded during. We hope you guys stay safe, wash your hands, practice social distancing and find ways to still stay inspired during this time. For more info: https://hypebeast.com/2020/5/ronny-chieng-interview-business-of-hype-jeffstaple-episode-73 https://www.ronnychieng.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ronnychieng/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

Tim Brown is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO alongside Joey Zwillinger of footwear company, Allbirds. In just under a five years, the company has amassed over 500 employees, 17 retail locations and over a billion dollars in valuation.  What most may not know is that this idea was the brainchild of Tim's for years while he was a professional soccer player.  Having played for the Newcastle Jets, the Welllington Phoenix and the 2010 World Cup, Tim began designing sneakers and visiting factories to create more than hundreds of variations for a prototype shoe all during his offseasons. What started as just a fun idea for the athlete transformed into a successful Kickstarter campaign which eventually led to joining forces with his Co-CEO Joey in creating one of the most popular shoe brands today. In this episode, Tim breaks down his transition from professional soccer to brand building and how despite the doubt, these challenges empowered the CEO to bring his idea to fruition. He also highlights the importance transitioning Allbirds into a sustainable product using merino wool and recycled plastics to leave a carbon neutral footprint—because for Tim,  a product can only be great if it is sustainable. Thank you so much for tuning into the Business of HYPE. 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. This episode was recorded prior to COVID-19 with the interludes recorded during. We hope you guys stay safe, wash your hands, practice social distancing and find ways to still stay inspired during this time. For more info: https://hypebeast.com/2020/5/tim-brown-allbirds-interview-business-of-hype-jeffstaple-episode-72 https://www.allbirds.com/ https://www.instagram.com/allbirds/?hl=en --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

***Important Note:  We excuse the audio quality of Jeff's interludes as they were recorded during COVID-19. CJ Hendry is an artist who's work blur the lines between art and photography. From still life and portraits to abstract ideas, CJ's drawing are hyperrealistic all through a million scribbles made from colored pencils. The Australian artist is based in New York where her work not only sells out in seconds, but she's had world-wide immersive exhibitions. While the art world nowadays is a breeding ground for conceptual and experimental based artworks, CJ keeps grounded by using the bare bones of her fine skills and extreme level of detail to create masterpieces. Alongside these works, are the interactive exhibitions she puts together that she says do more than "just put artworks on the wall." While the artist can easily show off her impeccable talent, it’s really her forthright and earnest approach to the art industry that's allowed her to successfully navigate this world in what she calls “the longest con game ever”. In this episode she breaks down her career, why money doesn't mean much to her and why she isn't intimidated by the art world. Thank you so much for tuning into the Business of HYPE. 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. This episode was recorded prior to COVID-19 with the interludes recorded during. We hope you guys stay safe, wash your hands, practice social distancing and find ways to still stay inspired during this time. For more info: https://hypebeast.com/2020/5/cj-hendry-interview-business-of-hype-jeffstaple-episode-71 CJ Hendry https://www.instagram.com/cj_hendry/?hl=en https://cjhendry.live/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support