KNOW1EDGE INTERVIEW (ANNIE & BRIAN)
The Boy Hollywood
CHAMP: What’s Goodie Brian? What are you up to homie?
BRIAN: What up sun? All is good, mad busy as usual.
CHAMP: Now you’re the brain child behind Know1edge and 8FIVE2. When did this passion you got for the fashion industry start?
BRIAN: I’ve been skateboarding since 1988 and loving every aspect of it since that day. Skateboarding is a big part of my life and probably the single most influential inspiration to everything that I have started. In 1999, I met Alyasha Owerka Moore (now Fiberops and again Alphanumeric) at this skate spot in Hong Kong called IT. When Aly first handed me his business card, (it was Alphanumeric), I was stoked on the logo and from that logo alone, decided to invest all of my savings into starting my own distribution company called 8FIVE2DISTRIBUTION which is still doing well and growing. Thanks to Aly for trusting in me since day 1 and giving me this opportunity for me to start my own business. He gave me full exclusive right to handle Alphanumeric in Hong Kong. In 2000, I was hired by Alphanumeric as their Sales & Marketing Director for Asia. In 2001, I started 8FIVE2SHOP as another way to promote the culture of skateboarding as well as to support smaller brands that were not known to Hong Kong. It’s a skateboard/boutique/footwear shop, one of it’s kind in Hong Kong and through it, we have been one of the founders for different organizations in Hong Kong to organize skate events/demo’s and work closely with the government to open more skate parks in Hong Kong. Everything goes hand in hand and in 2004, together with my wifey, Annie Lee, we started Know1edge clothing.
CHAMP: Where did the name come from? A lot of cats have trouble pronouncing whether it’s knowledge or know-one-edge.
BRIAN: I came up with the name one day. It’s just my philosophy on life. Whether through books, skateboarding, life, etc, we seek Knowledge from the cradle to the grave.
It’s knowledge (not know-one-edge), the 1 in the knowledge represents No 1.
“1” has the following definitions:
n.
1. The cardinal number, represented by the symbol 1, designating the first in a set or series
adj.
2. Characterized by unity; undivided: They spoke with one voice.
a unit:
We strive to be a clothing company that doesn’t follow the trends and instead is a leader in our own direction. #1 comes first. It is the premier number that can mean so many things that are the basis of our clothing brand.
CHAMP: What was the first piece of clothing you designed?
BRIAN: The first season was just 3 in-house tee shirts and 5 collaboration tee shirts with Zoo York, Fiberops, UXA, Hex Antistyle, and Haze. And 1 belt design (The Bling). So, the first season really had no cut & sew design involved. The very first design that I can remember was this long sleeve button up pinstripe shirt. We kept the design simple, concentrated on the tailoring of the shirt, but, added a Swarovski crystal at the back of the collar replacing the traditional button. It gained a lot of attention after that. Lately we have been concentrating our designs on denim because the demand has been really strong. Thank you to all that have supported Know1edge products since day 1.
CHAMP: Now you started Know1edge with Wifey aka Annie. Do you guys often clash with creative differences when working together on projects and clothing?
BRIAN: We actually go through every process together from brainstorming, choosing the right fabrics, etc…The roles are very clear though. I’m the creative director/designer while Annie concentrates on the designs.
I’ll have to say that I couldn’t see a lot of people working harmoniously together full time like this much less a married couple but, we have a rare great working relationship. There are times when we disagree on some things which is completely natural but, we both don’t have ego’s involved, we put all our efforts into the company, and are both workaholics. We both have had bad experiences working with other people creatively but working together has been the best collaboration yet. It’s a good thing because if it’s good, it couldn’t be more convenient!
CHAMP: Now you’re based in Hong Kong, but a lot of urban heads in North America rock Know1edge and appreciate your work for the fact that it’s top quality yet proper for people wanting the simplistic taste. Did you ever imagine it would cross over and get the love it’s getting now?
BRIAN: Thank you very much. We always try to make classic clothing and products that we believe in. We’re constantly searching for better quality materials, better prices, more attention to details, and better craftsmanship and want to fulfill those high standards that we’ve set for our clothing. It’s good to see that people have recognized our efforts and are feeling our products. It’s definitely more than I expected but, we’re still getting there and the best is yet to come.
CHAMP: How often are new pieces processed at Know1edge?
BRIAN: We produce 5 collections per year. Spring / Summer, Fall / Winter and Holiday.
CHAMP: You also have done collabos with Eric Haze in the watch department. How did that come to be and you love watches don’t you?
BRIAN: Yes, I love watches very very much. I can’t afford the one that I want right now so in the meantime; I make the best watches I can make through Know1edge. I always think of something interesting in terms of collaborations with our favorite designer/brand. We approached Eric (Haze) and told him the idea, and he loved the idea which was the birth of the Time Peace! The products came out super amazing and the feedback was ridiculous! Our second watch was made with Hardy (MHI) and the latest one was Dennis Calvero (Crooks N Castles) JTwizzy. So far, the feedback has been phenomenal. We just want to twist something so familiar in the watch game and add our own flavor into it. This watch collaboration project is a very special project; we only do it twice in a year. The next one is going to be HAZE II. You guys got to check it out, it’s going to be a bezerk one with a new watch manufacturer that has been making fine watches for a quarter of a century. This time the watch will come out twice as good.
CHAMP: Outside of your own gear, what else can cats catch you rocking?
BRIAN: All of my homies’ brand cause I really like them; Lovewright fo sho, Fiberops fo sho, plain white tee (that’s my shit since day 1), Crooks N Castles, In4mation, Brkn Home, Thrasher, Anti Hero, Methamphibian and so many more. Basically, I never carry a brand that I don’t like personally in my shop.
CHAMP: Now I know if I was a designer and caught some artists or celebs rocking my gear I’d be pretty damn proud. What celebs or artists have you seen rock your gear and what was your reaction?
BRIAN: Psyched! We are psyched seeing people rocking Know1edge, regular cats, celebrities, skateboarders, homies especially when our friends who are designers want something from our collection. That’s the highest form of flattery because we know how picky they are and also how much clothing is around them all the time. Celebrities get some much clothing just given to them all the time so, when they want to actually buy something, it means that they truly love it. Again, thank you for believing in Know1edge products.
CHAMP: What artists are you actually listening to at the moment?
BRIAN: I like old school Hip Hop; Nas, Snoop, Biggie Smalls, Method Man…Just good ol’ Hip Hop music along with Al Green, Alicia, Stevie Wonder…
CHAMP: Now we know you got some outlets in Vancouver. Are they any exclusive spots in Toronto pushing Know1edge?
BRIAN: YES, CAPSULE and MULTI. They got love for us. Thank you.
CHAMP: What else can we expect from you and the rest of the Know1edge/8FIVE2 family?
BRIAN: Well, we just finished the Eric Haze Full Circle Exhibition so we’re starting on our next one which will be a photo exhibition with the top photographers in the skateboard industry, our next limited run of watches, more good clothing from Know1edge and special items such as the Methamphibian collaboration playing cards (these are the sickest cards I’ve seen hands down) 8FIVE2SHOP will keep bringing events to Hong Kong whenever possible to push the skateboard movement and keep doing what we’ve been doing. Oh and on the side, we’ve been talking about organizing the First ever pairs Spring Pocket Ping Pong Tournament with Hypebeast…so I guess, I’ll be starting to go into heavy training for that one! Thanks for the interview. Appreciate the opportunity. Thank you and we appreciate it.
