Scott has to be one of the coolest most interesting dudes in the streetwear genre to date. He is able to extrapolate on the most uncanniest of topics and still stay focused on building one of the dopest brands out. Check out some of the bits and pieces that he dropped to us...
What part of the five boros are you from?
Lower manhattan.
What were some defining moments in your childhood and why are they so significant?
I can't really pinpoint any one moment, but the general theme, or most significant things that I think of, were of me growing up around different parts of downtown. I often think of playing two-hand touch, stoop, or stickball on Charles street between Bleeker and W4th, with a very mixed group of kids who lived on the block. It was Black, white, Italian, hispanic kids from middle class, blue collar and poor families growing up alongside one another. That experience became my definition of normal, and at a base level defines who I am. I don't think I see the same social boundaries that people around me see. Though I think being "universal dude" has often made it so that I can go anywhere and fit in nowhere, I realize that that experience and perspective I got from it are a bit unique.
What highschool did you go to?
Bronx Science.
What cartoon do you think out of you preteen Saturday morning line up do you think exemplifies you personality?
The Smurfs. I don't know if that actually fits, but if you mix up all of the personalities of the characters in the show, you can get something that approximates me.
At what age did graff catch a hold of you and how?
Probably when I was 7, or 8. I just remembered being mesmerized by the
What is the ugliest color in the rainbow?
Colors are only ugly if they're used wrong.
How much has New York changed pros/ cons?
Too much, and not enough.
Was there anytime that you wanted to just wrap it up during the 10 plus years of doing your brand? What kept you going?
Plenty of times. I just got to those spots where I was working my ass off trying to make 10.Deep work as a business and was just losing money on it. Then there were other times when I just felt like I was creatively beyond what the name 10.Deep meant to me, and when those two feelings converged it had me thinking about going back to school to get my Masters, or just starting something new. Right before everythig popped off with the chain gang sweat I was ready to be out. It was my friends who believed in the brand who thought I should keep it going. Lets face the facts, I caved in to peer pressure!! But I'm glad that I did, because now I continue with it because I enjoy the various challenges of running an independent business, and because I am my own boss, and sit in a position as a brand where I can influence trends. I am able to enjoy the creative process because I'm making a lot of stuff that I like, instead of just stuff that I think will sell. And having that creative fulfillment is extremely important to keeping me interested in this project.
How is your relationship with your parents and have they ever assisted you in your creative process?
My mom is a designer and painter. So growing up around that informed a lot of my own design sense. For many of the early years my mom would help me develop my samples and the like. For the Spring'08 line she gave me the theme idea for that. In fact just the other day she called the office to tell us that she saw Chris Brown on the today show wearing skinny jeans and a flannel, and thus we were on the right track with the Fall line that we just finished shipping. Its kind of funny. But my mom is 63 and is still on it. She's still watching the trends and talks to me about the things she sees. Its great. I love it.
What is your best Wasabi story?
Dont really have one. Wasabi is delicious when used in moderation. Have you ever had the real stuff? Most of what you get in restaurants is the man made/faux stuff. If you can get it, the real thing is expensive, but very different, and very good. Don't waste it snorting it.
What were you most impressed with when visiting HK for the first time?
There were two main things. I was amazed by how different the aesthetics of the city were. The buses and trucks were strange shapes, the way store lights and signs haphazardly extended far out over the streets in some areas, and the Bladerunner-superfuturistic styled skyscrapers sitting next to 50's era dirty project style buildings with clothes on clotheslines hanging off of every terrace. The contrasts in the last situation I mentioned were amazing.
What was the best chick flick that you saw?
I can't think of any...... Thelma and Louise.
Where do you think the landscape of streetwear fashion will be 5 years from now?
Who knows. Its already being gobbled up by the Urban sector, and people are calling urban lines streetwear lines, its crazy. Five years from now, Streetwear may not be streetwear anymore, it may just be men's sportswear, thats where all of the streetwear style is going right now anyway.
Not counting your own brand who do you think has some inrcedible product out right now?
I'm not impressed by much. Perhaps I just don't pay enough attention. I like a lot of the recent Mishka tees. They farmed out some work to heavymetal album cover artists and get some really impressive results. PAM is always interesting because they just keep it weird, but there hasn't been a must have piece in a couple of seasons.
How strong is your knuckle game? Did you ever need to pull out the brass knucks on some one?
I haven't gotten down since early in highschool. It wasn't bad then, but 15 years of rust???? My shit has to be weak, but then again maybe its like riding a bike....
Who are some of the players in the game that you came up with?
I assume you're talking about designers, and for that I think I have to say I came up alone. I guess I used to roll with Jeff Ng from Staple a bit during the formative years of 10.Deep. We used to just exchange information about business experience, and laugh at the futility or brand building in a non-existent market, but my design sense came up without much influence. I thinks its one of things that makes me a bit different. The person with whom I designed most closely for the longest period of time was Dontay TC5 when I was at Akademiks. I think we worked intensively together for like 3 yrs, but I think we each had our own established styles, we just got to mix them up with one another and make some really good stuff.
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
I can't see a week ahead of me let alone 5 years. I hope healthy, happy, and with a hold on my business, or out of this business.
What movie has had a major effect on your life?
None.
What is one hobby that most wouldn’t think that you were into?
I don't really have time for hobbies anymore. I work, I hang with my lady, and occasionally I go out and have a drink with the homies. Things I love? Food, music, and art.
tell a friend to tell a friend so we can BUILD!!!
