Over the past 10 years Supremebeing™ have firmly established themselves on the UK clothing landscape, and they don’t want to stop there. They have managed to superbly negotiate the difficulties of keeping the soul, excitement and independant feel in a very successful highstreet brand. Based out of Cambridge and coming with a burgeoning reputation for forward thinking and directional design, we got to chat to David Newman about the goings on at Supremebeing™.

What’s your name, where are you from, what do you do?

Hi there, my name is David Newman I was born in Cambridge UK and I’m one of the team at Supremebeing™.

How and why did you start Supremebeing™?

We established Supremebeing™ in 1999 Yoc / Mozza / Skuff and myself in Cambridge, some screen printers, artists, designers and entrepreneurs. Born from a love of graphic design, art and streetwear, the belief was that with talent and hard work we could make a career from what we love. We had great designs; it was up to us to make it happen. The team began with tee and hoody prints that would become the foundation of the brand. It was here that the name Supremebeing™ first appeared; a strap line to a graphic which depicted one of the designers’ left hand missing part of a finger lost in a bizarre chip shop accident! This was Yoc, his mum used to call him a Supremebeing and said to him, that in the eyes of god we are all equal!

Created first Amongst Equals! All Supremebeing’s.

Renting a space at the screen printers where we once worked, we developed our own print techniques and produced a huge catalogue of graphics. The new designs could be printed to order from a stock of blank tee shirts in a rainbow of colours, giving unprecedented speed and flexibility. Supremebeing™ grew organically, evolving from graphic to garment design, and moved into new areas in response to meeting and taking on new talent. Our handmade ethic continued year on year as a base of like-minded customers steadily built around the world.

Today the apparel and footwear ranges still retain the original concepts of creativity, passion and exceptional design Supremebeing™ was based on, and it is committed to offering quality product with no gimmicks and a touch of good humour. This is our culture, our scene. We were sick of brands repackaging our culture and selling it back to us at ridiculous prices. We wanted to make clothes that represented who we were and also that our friends could afford…”

We funded it all off our own back and whatever we made from sales we put straight back into the company, the same as we do today!

How many people currently keep Supremebeing™ running day to day?

At our base in Cambridge there is a full time team of 14 of us:

Design: Yoc / Skuff / Billy / DQ / Sammy / Mary /

Web: Trip / Amy / Meado

Marketing: Simon

Logistics and Finance: Mozza / Kerry / Matt / Pete

Part time: James / Duncan

I fall somewhere in there too! I also feel that all our distributors around the world need a mention and our agents in London, its actually quite scary the amount of people that are involved with Supremebeing™ now day’s, we have over 10 distributors around the world who employ on average about 4/7 agents, the family is growing weekly, and the love we feel form the people we meet is amazing, without all involved we would never be where we are today and where we are going!

How did you make the shift into large cut and sew ranges, what was the first cut and sew piece you ever produced?

We started printing on hoods and crews as well as t-shirts then we meet a girl called billy about 6 years ago who was in her 1st year at Uni in Nottingham, she came and did work experience with us and we all developed a girls snowboard style jacket and some dope mens trak tops! From there we meet more designers and sort of taught ourselves with help from friends how the cut and sew world worked, Our first full collections we produced in Portugal for jersey and the jackets we made in China through a friend in Korea!

We still look back and try and work out where this big transition was but it was and still is very Organic, it’s all about the people we meet and how we help each other out!

Time lines are infinite they never seem to end so as far as how long did it take, we feel we are still very much on the journey! We also produce quite a large collection of sneakers twice a year, this is looked after by the one and only DQ the street cobbler! Keep your eyes peeled for all future development

Was the brand self sustaining in its growth, did one collections profits fund the development of the subsequent ones increase in collection size?

We design things hope people like them and buy them, then use the cash we make to invest in the next collection / ideas and so and so on! We do it for the love, We just try to keep the rollercoaster moving and hold on tight!

Was there a specific turning point when you feel the brand ‘took off’ as such?

Its nice to hear you feel we have blown up already we feel there is so much more love and passion to put in! Meaning hard work and time, we feel so lucky everyday and yet still feel a bit slept on! I still feel we have so much to do to get out there more!

How was the bricks and mortar flagship store experience, and the positives and negatives of moving to a web flagship?

We loved our old store, we were just in the wrong location and never really had the cash we needed to put into it! Rent in our hometown is so high! The shop inspired people so it served its purpose, shame it never made us any cash! To be honest it just lost us money, since going only on line we are starting to see some return!

We are looking at opening a space somewhere out there soon; in the mean time we are web focused!

The Supremebeing™ x Nooka watch is one of my favorite collaborations of recent times, how did that come about?

We like Nooka™, and originally met them at a show in Barcelona when they had just launched and chatted about a colab. We then went to see them in NY a year or so later and did the colab, we love colabs and are looking at doing many more in the future

How do you feel balancing the independent exclusive side of things with the more easily accessible highstreet face of the brand?

We are carful who we work with and generally work with nice people, it’s so difficult to have a balance, but I feel we have done well to maintain the brand and keep to our core values!

What is the vision for Supremebeing™ now, where do you want to head with the brand?

Keep it going / create more beautiful products for a beautiful future / take the brand to more people so they can feel it the same way we do! Our next big areas we are focusing are the US / China and as always the UK.
If you could collaborate with one artist, brand, musician….anyone.  Who would it be and why?

Hendrix or Bob Marley but im sure the team will all have the favorites! And shame they’re not around to do it meaning my choices. Living artist I guess I would say someone like Neil Young.

To keep up to date with the big news relating to Supremebeing™ head over to their website HERE, and to buy some of the immaculate product head to UNIFY SHOP!

A bit of news from the PF Flyers camp for Spring ‘10. Released from the PF Flyers archive of 1943, the Rambler Hi and Lo stay true to every original charm. The bold sport details of high-visibility hash mark foxing and pronounced diamond toe bumper are balanced with vintage style of two-tone stitching, fine weave 9 oz. canvas, striated toecap and inner webbing stripe.

The Rambler, inspired by the original archived design, brings forth the heritage of PF Flyers for Spring 2010. In 1943, and now in 2010, the Rambler remains a classic sneaker. Available now through PF Flyers accounts worldwide.

The latest SIZE? mailer, you get a sneak peak at some classic b-ball kicks and also a good look at Adidas’ new A.039 collection of which I am dying for the piano tee. Directional, european design aesthetic with thought behind the graphical pattern.

In admiration of the English mountaineer George Mallory, a group of men form an exploration party in quest of his camera that is said to be left behind on Mount Everest. Each collection unveils a chapter of this adventure. SS10 sees the men set off to get to the foot of their first mountain…

Designed in Japan by keen mountaineer Mitsuo, very little is known about this label. Available in just a handful of select retailers worldwide, ‘M’ is manufactured using traditional techniques in a small workshop in Japan. Natural dyed cotton is washed in the rivers by the workshop and dried under the sun on the riverbeds before being put into production; this ancient Japanese tradition is used by very few designers today. As well as their beautiful design and construction, garments have an element of purpose to them; the SS10 collection feels just right for a trek in the foothills but equally appropriate for the city too, with integrated backpacks on shirts, heavy cotton shorts and jackets forming the core of the collection.

Seriously, you all need to check out this totally exclusive brand. After popping into Coggles myself and getting the rundown from Mr. Jake Bancroft himself (Men’s buyer) I had to give him the upmost respect for scouting out these beauties. I mean, have you seen the shirts?!?!?! CRAZY.

Check out the Collection at Coggles NOW!

Believe.

MY OH MY OH MY

After a day filled with THE most random set of events, meeting the UK distributor of Hummel and sharing in admiration of their up-coming collection for Autumn/Winter 2010 with the guys over at UNION….I came out with this pair of beautifully crafted footwear…

The Hummel Stadil High Top Canvas. Arn’t they delicious?

You know by now that slim fitting, comfy, contrast High Tops are placed in pole position when it comes to my personal selection in footwear, and these are simply perfect. Really. If you’re even in Newcastle, make sure you stop by Newcastle and just slip them onto your feet for a tester…the comfort is incredible!

Ok so enough with the drool over the soft foam interior and onto Hummel itself.

The concept of Character has been instrumental in defining the direction for Hummel since the concept was developed in 2005. The importance of having character saturates the way in which all their products are made. Each product is meant to express its own story and unique character and the same goes for every team and individual player they sponsor around the world. These teams and players are meticulously chosen – not only due to size and worldwide fame but according to uniqueness, character and will to win. As Einstein put it: “Weakness of attitude is weakness of character”. Anyone who’s ever heard of Christian Stadil will know he’s all about the ‘Karma’ and maybe it does rub off on the company as a whole. The stores say they’re one of the nicest and most pleasant brands to deal with, which is a big statement concerning the industry these days.

I know these definitely wont be the only pair in my set.

BELIEVE.

For Fall 2010 expect Vans and Stussy to link up for a special collaborative women’s project. The two brands will be getting together to release the Vans saddle shoe, The Sophie. These shoes are so sweet, totally indie chic and available in two colour ways.

The shoes have some sophisticated wingtip accents on the uppers and the heels, and will be made avaialbe in a weathered brown leather, and a patent leather black. Naaaaice.

The people over at SIZE? have teamed up once again with Fred Perry to bring a sweet load of collaboration goodness. They sold out super fast, but now have a load more back in stock so to get yourself kitted out in one of the polo’s or kicks, head down to SIZE? and get your paper out.

Creative Recreation, best known for its sneaker designs, has previewed the 2010 fall collection consisting of both sneakers and boots. This innovative collections of 11 models, incorporates a high-end Constello boot (with elements reminiscent of classic Timberland boots), moccasins and a boat shoe for good measure. The collection also features some casual pieces like low-tops, which have a sophisticated touch with their slim silhouette and mix of red suede and leather. Of course, Creative Recreation doesn’t leave out their specialty by including the high-top ‘Cesario Dress’ sneaker in the batch. With a brown leather base and wide strap across the body, these sneakers are the perfect choice for practical city footwear. Keep your eyes open as Creative Recreation will be hosting collection showcases in the Big Apple and Las Vegas. We’re excited – you should be, too.  via format.

Vans Vault worked for Spring 2010 with Donny Miller on a Slip-On. What might at first appear as an Authentic, is actually a slip-on with a large all-over graphic print. It comes in 2 colorways as part of the Vans Vault Spring 2010 Collection.

Check out these pumps in blue too!