James Jebbia of Supreme Interview

by Eugene Kan, February 27, 2009

james jebbia interview James Jebbia of Supreme Interview

In a rare interview, Supreme founder James Jebbia offers some great insight into his brand. Dwelling extensively in the early humble days of Surpeme back in ‘94 and how things have progressed, we see some great insights from one of the most universally recognized and powerhouse brands in this particular landscape. He also speaks regarding the involvement of high-profile artists in his skateboard deck collaborations as well as touching on the whole Supreme sneaker phenomenon. Check the interview conducted by Glenn O’Brien over at Interview Magazine.

Source: A Silent Flute

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  1. Posted by: “I’d never skated myself” by James Jebbia on March 1, 2009 at 10:31 pm

    [...] du fondateur de la marque Supreme, James Jebbia. Cependant certains commentaires laisses sur Hypebeast ont attire mon attention. back in the day the standard 5-panel supreme logo hat was the uniform of [...]

35 Responses

  1. Posted by: D on March 10, 2009 at 1:41 pm

    You have to respect and appreciate the way the guy
    layed down the foundation for his company. The concepts
    and marketing schemes are genius. Perhaps if he was truly
    a “skate head” that was un-educated in the business aspect,
    Supreme wouldnt be the commodity that it is. Im not going to
    front and say that Supreme is the illest shxt on the market, but when
    you talk about product aesthetics and quality, it is pretty up there.
    If you look at the attention to detail you will see they use heavy
    duty poly bags as their store bags. Things like that are what real cats
    on the set look at.

  2. Posted by: internet on March 2, 2009 at 11:34 pm

    You guys need to get jobs.

  3. Posted by: Marcus on March 1, 2009 at 5:10 pm

    First things first..good interview Funny as hell the guy doesnt even skate and skaters think this guy is cool and he knows soooo much about the culture…? bc he made it up lol. Cloths are dope, but its kinda like quicksilver (a surfing co.) owning DC shoes.
    Also where the fuck have you people been, skaters have always been snobs! I’m one of them. Travel around and you’ll see. Its a front but shits mad funny when you see them skate and they SUCK.

  4. Posted by: Juan on March 1, 2009 at 3:34 pm

    Clammy, Neezynate and Alan are telling their truth, and they are not calling “gay” or saying “fuck off” to anyone. The thing is that being a skater and seeing someone is using our image not giving anything back TODAY… It hurts. Supreme was a skateshop before, now is something different, not better, not worse, just different, some people will support it, some people will not support it. The only thing that´s clear is that skateboarders don´t see Supreme like a “skateshop”.
    Peace for everyone.
    Juan

  5. Posted by: adrn_sb_87 on March 1, 2009 at 12:35 am

    NEEZYNATE is prolly clammy signed in under a different name haha..
    Supreme is dope if u like it buy it if u don’t stay out.. simple. Ive only been to the LA store and they aren’t even dicks they just get annoyed at all the kids and japaneese dudes askin “Can i get the box rogo tee in brack prease!!” like a million times.

  6. Posted by: GetOffTheNutSackHomo on February 28, 2009 at 10:28 pm

    Look, This whole post is a rare interview with the all seeing Jebb”eye”; this guy has only done two or three interviews max in 15 years. This isn’t about some homo from the west coast named Clammy; its about NYC being NYC. so go get your dick sucked and relax or smoke a blunt and gett of the dick nigga.

  7. Posted by: NEEZYNATE on February 28, 2009 at 7:18 pm

    clammy,

    Good shit man, I couldn’t agree more. The whole Idea of skateboarding has turned into a fashion show. I have been skating for 15+ years and the same dumb fuck kids that would snap my deck and call me a faggott, are now talking about how they’ve been rocking this shit for years. I almost wish that it would become uncool again just to have the sport back. great joke though

    cheers

  8. Posted by: fuckla on February 28, 2009 at 7:05 pm

    Clammy You don’t have to catch feelings. Supreme wants to make good shit.
    You like it you like it. If you don’t then fuck off.
    Alan you sound mad stupid too

  9. Posted by: Alan Gelfand on February 28, 2009 at 5:26 pm

    “All you haters should name a better brand than Supreme. Jocking Japan? Go over there and see how expensive that shit is. Supreme is a true USA original, they make really good product, and they stay true to being a small, strong company. They could have sold out years ago, but haven’t. If you guys can’t put it together that it’s not all about the money, then I guess you have trouble tying your own shoelaces too . . .”

    James Jebbia also tells his employee’s to not be helpful or even cordial to his customers. He claims this attitude gives them an elite edge over their competitors. So basically he’s promoting this image that all NYC skaters are dicks which is totally untrue. Most of the dudes that work at Supreme LA/NY stores act like theyre better than everyone else when the real truth is that most hardocre skaters in NY/LA don’t even support these places because Supreme has turned into an upscale clothing boutique, not a hardcore skateshop. True Story.

  10. Posted by: hhz on February 28, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    shut the fuck up already

    really good read. i didnt even know jebbia came out of his preme box logo cave

  11. Posted by: Matt on February 28, 2009 at 12:00 pm

    this is cool.
    doesn’t make a huge deal out of it,
    just trying to make a skate company that’s worth it’s weight.

  12. Posted by: matt on February 28, 2009 at 11:12 am

    Yea I’m surprised to find out he doesn’t skate. But he sounds a bit more humble than Supreme presents itself.

  13. Posted by: Too Far on February 28, 2009 at 5:44 am

    All you haters should name a better brand than Supreme. Jocking Japan? Go over there and see how expensive that shit is. Supreme is a true USA original, they make really good product, and they stay true to being a small, strong company. They could have sold out years ago, but haven’t. If you guys can’t put it together that it’s not all about the money, then I guess you have trouble tying your own shoelaces too . . .

  14. Posted by: Lewis on February 28, 2009 at 5:43 am

    I flew all the way from asia to nyc , JUST for supreme in late 96……..
    thats how cool supreme IS…..and wil always be

  15. Posted by: gangsterassgrandma on February 28, 2009 at 5:04 am

    the guys at supreme nyc are all good dudes. how many times you think they get barked at by little rude kids “how much”, “how much”, “how much”. that’d prob get on my nerves.

  16. Posted by: ericqa1 on February 27, 2009 at 11:46 pm

    Glenn didnt grill him about their “Made in USA” clothing (e.g. the oxford shirts & chinos) flipping to “Made in China” and dropping at least 1 grade in material quality while keeping (if not raising) the prices for the same pieces. That’s shabby, Jebby.

  17. Posted by: Erik on February 27, 2009 at 11:40 pm

    in the summer of 1994 I skated all day and slept in various squats/couches around NYC, I was 19 and it was the time of my life. Supreme had just opened and there was a buzz in the city, it was great to witness. it was cool to see some of the NYC skaters end up in Kids, and its cool to see Supreme ending up where it has. It all started in the early ’90’s.

  18. Posted by: Sunny Phono on February 27, 2009 at 11:39 pm

    Everyone needs to chill.

    Polo = Dope.
    Supreme = Dope.

    Nuff’ said.
    Nuff’ Respect.

    No good ideas, no good words, no need to leave a comment.

    Bad comment, expect to be put on blast.

    Word’em up Sun! Lord’ha’mercy!

    S.Phono

  19. Posted by: clammy on February 27, 2009 at 11:08 pm

    BIG-JOEY: you yourself said that skateboarding has always been like that in NYC. You do know you’re actually agreeing with me. Thats why the west coast(skateboarding mecca of the universe) for years and in some instances still does not give maximum respect to NYC. skateboarding is not a fashion show and NYC treats it like it is too much. Mr. Jebbia himself said he never skated bro!

    DANTE: if you cant see the connection and humor i’m making between a west coast east coast skateboarding beef and then bringing tupac and biggie into it than I’d imagine you’re just not that witty. You really don’t get that? Dont think too hard people! (sorry if this offended anyone. i miss biggie and pac too.)

    ANTH: yes in a way that can make you, as you say “gay” for wearing polo if you don’t play polo.
    In your post you actually say “DONT THINK TOO HARD PEOPLE”. I’d imagine you don’t get the tupac and biggie joke either. That might require thinking too hard! Just curious, when you “think hard” what have you accomplished besides matching your von dutch hat with your skirt? Maybe ANTH is Mr. Jebbia!

    Damn guys its just ideas I’m not saying to go burn down Supreme……….Geez

  20. Posted by: Oswald Cobblepot on February 27, 2009 at 8:13 pm

    ^ya that caught my eye to. Now all these fucking clowns that say ” You don’t skate, why do you wear Supreme?” can STFU!!!

  21. Posted by: Dante on February 27, 2009 at 7:33 pm

    “It also contributed to the beef between tupac and biggie.”……

    WTF?

  22. Posted by: SKAM on February 27, 2009 at 7:14 pm

    great article. this is why supreme became the brand they are today.
    clammy give me a break!

  23. Posted by: lol on February 27, 2009 at 6:28 pm

    clammy…u should call urself squidwurt you grouch

  24. Posted by: akm on February 27, 2009 at 6:11 pm

    I wish he talked about his staffs’ attitude at the nyc store

  25. Posted by: anth on February 27, 2009 at 5:13 pm

    wow that was gay clammy. the hats look nice aesthetically. i wear ralph lauren polos does that mean i’m a sucker for not playing the actual sport of polo? GAAAAAY. don’t think too hard people. SOMETIMES apparel is just that, apparel.

  26. Posted by: JUSTIN FREMONT, CA on February 27, 2009 at 4:36 pm

    good read.

    what really caught my eye:

    “I’d never skated myself”

  27. Posted by: BIG JOEY on February 27, 2009 at 3:22 pm

    clammy-skateboarding has ALWAYS been like that. esp in new york. i can’t front…i love the brand still. i guess i’m a snob. there’s always zoomies for others (where they DID sell von dutch).

  28. Posted by: spacewolf on February 27, 2009 at 2:41 pm

    wow clammy,
    that’s pretty gay

  29. Posted by: matt on February 27, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    A-MEN to “clamy”

  30. Posted by: freddy on February 27, 2009 at 1:20 pm

    the man.
    nuff said.

  31. Posted by: Mohsin on February 27, 2009 at 1:20 pm

    Jebbia FTMFW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  32. Posted by: clammy on February 27, 2009 at 1:19 pm

    back in the day the standard 5-panel supreme logo hat was the uniform of NYC’s skateboard elite, who all got that shit for free. All the OG Zoo guys and other pro skaters would rock that shit. When i was a teenager i jocked those guys and bought a few of those hats Now James, says in this interview that they were pushing their product to older kids, but as I got older I learned that Supreme was an exclusive club of “cool kids”. I was never good enough at skating to get free anything and especially not supreme, so to me wearing those 5panel hats was like trying to be something i wasn’t. A member of a country club like clique of snobs. I now look at kids/adults who buy those 5panel hats as suckers. Its the Von Dutch of skateboarding. If you dont design boards for them, work in the store, or get the hats for free than to me buying and then wearing them is really wack. The crazy thing is that especially in the NYC store certain employees would actually give you a look like if you were actually worthy to buy their product. It turned skateboarding into a country club like mentality and is why west coat skateboarding for years hated on the fashion obsessed east coast. It also contributed to the beef between tupac and biggie.

  33. Posted by: Rusty on February 27, 2009 at 12:21 pm

    Good history lesson. “Like it buy it get the fuck out”

  34. Posted by: Logikal Accord on February 27, 2009 at 10:18 am

    Great insights, great insight.

  35. Posted by: maywood on February 27, 2009 at 9:59 am

    didn’t know he fucked with stussy but think this whole streetwear shit they all know each other the shops and brand owners and mag writers and u guess why the street wear game is starting to be streetnowhere lol