What’s up man? You run Highsnobiety.com since 1,5 years. Tell us a bit about your person, your background and why you started the site.
Yeah, time flies by. Well, my name is David. I am based in Switzerland, in Geneva to be more precise. I have studied economics and started HS last year. The site was supposed to be an archive of all the things that I liked. Thats all.. and the rest just happened!
A site like Highsnobiety costs some time to maintain, especially because you have several news posts every day. What is your typical daily schedule?
True, HS is quite some work. One has to remember that its not only the posts, but I am also contstantly working on features, Interviews and the site in the background. Most information I post these days, I don’t research anymore. Its more filtering through all the emails that I get. I check in the morning a few others sites for info and repeat that a few times during the day. While working on other things I always keep my eyes open for new things happening.
How do you get all those hot and exclusive news? Some sites just copy from forums but a lot of the stuff you have on your site is unique content.
I have been very lucky to meet and get to know great people from designers, to brands, to tastemakers and people in the know, since I started HS last year. If you show the people that you want to produce quality, they also work with you!! I try put as much exclusive content as possible and to be original. Since I am one of the few based in Europe, i also try to bring a lot of european stuff on the site… to show what is happening here. Most american sites are not interested and/or don’t know the european market.
What would you say were the biggest benefits of running your site so far?
Well, I guess, getting to know so many great people!
What are your plans with Highsnobiety? Do you plan to focus more on a certain area or add some new features?
I constantly try to raise quality on the site in terms of content. I also work on a lot of features these days and some new functions for the site, that I cannot talk about yet! But you’ll find out sooner or later!
We all don’t wear shoes just to have clean feet if we walk around the block. What means a sneaker to you? Do you also collect kicks?
I don’t collect sneakers and personally actually like simple sneakers. I like Stan Smith’s, AF1’s in simple colorways and also Dunks and love Vans. Its incredible to see how strong the sneakermarket has become over time. Its great to see how the sneaker has made its way into mainstream culture and its now normal to wear them to almost any occassion. Makes it practical. I love them, but I am not the one sleeping in front of a sneaker store or standing in line 5 hours to get a sneaker.
In the last years the whole streetculture movement became quiete popular. What do you think about the state of the sneaker and streetwear scene?
Most people seem upset about how the culture has become and also state blogs like HS, as one of the problems. I just think that in the longrun its good to expose all these brands and all the talent out there. Right now new brands pop up on every corner and soon we will have a cleaning up process, where all brand without talent, substance and luck, are suddenly not there anymore. And quality brands will stay and do there thing.
Any predictions in what direction the whole streetculture will be heading?
As I said before… I think more quality will come and more streetwear for grown-ups. Afterall, nobody wants to wear tee’s every day at a certain age. I also think that soon the all-over print phase is over. Thats anyways something that never worked in Europe. People would give you a very strange look if you’d run around in some all-over print paisley hoody! Funny how cultlures and tastes are different! But its of course good that way!
What kind of clothing and shoes are we wearing in 2015?
In 2015? I don’t know. I guess if the sneaker companies do not soon come up with something new and the crowd finally excepts something new… we’ll still see AF1’s and Dunks everywhere. Hopefully we’ll have some smart/tech materials by then also in streetwear! Breathable, self washeable tee’s!!
I really don’t know!
Thanks a lot for the interview David. Keep up the good work with Highsnobiety one of the best streetculture sites on the net. Anything else you want to say?
No!
