Everyone has a friend who always looks cool. They have better clothing and wear it better than you would, even if you did have that cool of clothing. I have a friend like that, and his name is Josh. He doesn’t wear what is cool, he wears it. . . and then it’s cool. Especially his shoes.
Where do you work and what is your job title?
Josh: I work at One Distribution. In other words. . . Supra Shoes and Kr3w Clothing. Job title??? Senior Designer for Supra. . . but we don’t have a developer so I guess I am that as well.
Haha, so you are Supra. Basically. Like me, I am Ashbury. Lance and Nima are like my interns.
Josh: I guess. . . It is super creative over here though. we all kinda give our 2 cents and work together. Haha, that’s a good one.
Nice! It seems like it is really cool over there. Except Dan of course.
Josh: Yeah we do what we want as far as product goes. Dan holds it down!
Haha, I know. How long have you been working at Supra? Why is it different from other places you have worked?
Josh: I started Feb. 2, 2006. . . right when the first line hit the stores. So I have been working here for like 2 1/2 years. The sky is the limit. . . It seems like I get to push the envelope as much as I want at Supra. We are not scared to put out some different and crazy product. We do what we want in the game.
I’ve noticed, it makes your shoes fresh.
Josh: Yeah, it’s changed my life and my design career. Thanks man.
I think skate shoes needed it, bad.
Josh: Yeah me too, and I grew up skatin’.
So, who/what influences your work?
Josh: Well. . . I look at different shit every season. But in general. . . it would have to be the people I surround myself with. All my friends that I have known for about half my life. My girl Cheryl inspires me alot! She knows what’s up! Music. . . rap music really motivates me. . . I love that shit. And fashion from every angle.
It’s funny how music can influence so much.
Josh: Yeah, everyone has it in them somewhere. Rap is like a motivation tool.
Like your creative chisel.
Josh: All they talk about is making it to where they want to be or already are where they want to be. Na mean!
Haha, yeah son!
Josh: Jeah!
You’ve been skating most of your life. As long as I can remember, and I’ve known you a long time.
Josh: Yeah son!
How has skating changed your life? What would you be doing if you never started?
Josh: I don’t know what I would be if I didn’t start skating! Shit. . . Growing up in Corona? I would probably never have met you and your brother or any of our other friends. . . skateboarding saved my life. . . it kept me out of trouble as a youngster because skateboarding came before everything. I really don’t know what I would be like if I didn’t start skatin’. I can’t even think bout my life without skateboarding. I just trip on the dudes on the team, that I work with. I would never have guessed that I would be designing and working with skaters that I looked up to my whole life. Not in a million years.
Yeah, it’s crazy. It’s weird how things happen.
Josh: Yeah man. . . the sky is the limit.
I was trying to think of a rap line that rhymed with limit. I couldn’t come up with anything cool.
Josh: I was just about to give you a verse from Wezzy F Baby!
Haha, Give it to me!
Josh: To get to my level, you gonna need a spaceship or a ladder that is forever.
Haha, Nice!
Josh: Hahaha
Spaceships are fresh right now. Your brother, Brandon, started designing shoes when I was still a baby, maybe in the womb still. How did he influence you growing up?
Josh: He might fuck you up for saying that. Haha. He started when he was 21, so I was like 13 years old when I started. Shit he was the whole reason how I started drawing shoes. He wold give me shapes and I would draw my own designs. He is the shit. . . the boss of all bosses.
Yeah, I remember going to your house when I was like 16 or 17 and seeing drawings of shoes. It tripped me out.
Josh: I learned so much from him. . . I would go into Vans when I was still in jr high school and see the whole picture there. How everything was done. It was tight. It’s a trip to look back on my drawings and Brandon’s drawings. Shoes change every 2 years. shapes, designs, styles.
Alot of us that grew up skating in Corona are designers or doing something in the industry. Brandon influenced all of us. So, he is like our God Father.
Josh: Yeah, no shit right. He is hyped on that.
Yeah, he is awesome. I remember snowboarding with him for the first time. I thought he was so cool! Haha.
Josh: Yeah, you should have seen him tryin to teach me how to snowboard. . . the set up I had was some straight bootleg shit. The shittiest product ever. I was in Tahoe and I got a minor frostbit in my toes. He felt bad and shit.
Really?!?! By the way, you got to come up this next season.
Josh: Yeah, I will. I’m a little worried about my knee that I fucked up. But, I’ve been skating. It feels ok but still feels weak.
I am going to go down one day and skate this week. Put on a show or something.
Josh: Yes please do. No fear Mike.
I love that company.
Josh: Pivot fakies, please!!!
Haha, I’ll try.
Josh: I know you will.
Maybe I’ll be the one hurting next.
Josh: Fuck it.
You told me you were going to Vegas with Dan tomorrow, then coming back the next day. What’s that about?
Josh: We are going out to the Project show in Vegas. We are showing the spring 09 Supra NS and Kr3w NS lines.
Ok, let’s get back to revolutionizing the shoe industry.
Josh: Haha. What do you want to talk about? What about TK’s shoe that is coming out next summer. Summer 09.
Ok yeah, let’s hear it.
Josh: Well, TK’s shoe is dropping summer 09. It’s going to be good. . . I think it’s going to be big!!!
Like D3’s?
Josh: He is one of the coolest dudes I have met and we is goin’ to hurt feelings with this shoe. I can’t give you too much info yet. . . keep your eyes peeled for that one.
Haha
Josh: Never D3. Not like weight. . . like colossal.