{"id":6577,"date":"2019-08-07T15:11:20","date_gmt":"2019-08-07T13:11:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/52.30.207.235\/interview-chatting-sbs-customs-and-singapore-with-sbtg\/"},"modified":"2019-08-07T15:11:20","modified_gmt":"2019-08-07T13:11:20","slug":"interview-chatting-sbs-customs-and-singapore-with-sbtg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.footdistrict.com\/en\/interview-chatting-sbs-customs-and-singapore-with-sbtg\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview: Chatting SBs, Customs and Singapore with Sbtg"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nike SB<\/a> <\/strong>has made one hell of a comeback over the past 12 months. The Swoosh\u2019s skateboarding sneakers are once again some of the most coveted in the scene and resale prices for SB Dunks \u2013 both old and new \u2013 are at all-time high.<\/p>\n

\"Sbtg<\/p>\n

With Nike<\/a> revisiting many of the division\u2019s most successful collaborations from yesteryear lately, including Supreme according to latest rumours, we decided to check in with one of our favourite SB collaborators from the past: Sbtg<\/a><\/strong> mastermind Mark Ong. Read on for the lowdown on what this talented Singaporean artist makes of the contemporary sneaker scene, where his love of camouflage comes from and why his original SB Dunk design might be making an unexpected comeback.<\/p>\n

Matt Williams (M.W.) \u2013 Thanks for chatting with us, Mark. Your SB Dunk is still fresh as hell, but sadly, as you recently shared on Instagram, time hasn\u2019t been too kind to them. The grip tape-like material has deteriorated tremendously on just about every pair. If you could go back in time, would you have done things differently?<\/b><\/p>\n

Mark Ong (Sbtg) \u2013<\/b> I don\u2019t regret the design, I just didn\u2019t anticipate the reaction of the materials through time, man. I kinda relate it to OG pairs of the Air Jordan 1<\/a>. You know how the ankles start to flake off? But, if I could go back in time, I would probably choose to replace those panels with suede.<\/p>\n

M.W. \u2013 For sure, I understand the connection to the AJ1. It doesn\u2019t prevent their wearability, like how old Air Max soles crumble with age. It ultimately just changes the way that they look. If you\u2019d said it was an intentional design decision, like the recent \u2018LA to Chicago\u2019 AJ1 SBs, people probably would have started stripping it off right away!<\/b><\/p>\n

Sbtg \u2013<\/b> [Laughs]<\/i> Oh, I love that idea!<\/p>\n

\"Sbtg<\/p>\n

M.W. \u2013 Sounds like maybe it\u2019s time for Nike SB to give them the retro treatment with new \u2018wearaway\u2019 functionality. <\/b>In the early to mid 2000s, SB stood out by collaborating with many creatives who were relatively low-profile and unproven in the sneaker scene at the time. With the recent SB resurgence, we\u2019ve seen a lot of retread. New \u2018Diamond\u2019 Dunks, new \u2018Pigeons\u2019 and most recently, a collaborationwith longtime Swoosh veteran Parra. What creatives would you like to see trusted with SB collabs in the future?<\/b><\/p>\n

Sbtg \u2013 <\/b>To be honest, I don\u2019t really care, but I know I wanna see more than just \u2018colourway\u2019 ideas that are inspired by their local climate. I would love to see a Neckface<\/a>-designed Dunk SB with his prints all over\u2026<\/p>\n

M.W. \u2013 They actually did a Neckface Dunk a few years back! A Blazer SB too! [Laughs]<\/i> They only featured text though.<\/b><\/p>\n

Sbtg \u2013<\/b> I\u2019d love to see one with more of his artwork. To phrase it, whenever I see a collab, I look out for elements that the brand themselves couldn’t come up with. Designs like the \u2018Denim Forbes\u2019 and original \u2018Elephant print\u2019 Supreme Dunks were genius, but are only unique the first time those ideas are done.<\/p>\n

M.W. \u2013 Fair point. Even before your official SB collab, you had already punched out plenty of intricately designed custom Dunks. Since then, we\u2019ve seen a huge spike of interest in custom sneakers courtesy of people like The Shoe Surgeon. More often than not though, these modern custom sneakers are premium takes on existing sneakers or inspired by pop culture. It\u2019s rare that there\u2019s ever any truly original custom sneakers nowadays. What\u2019s your take on this and, furthermore, where does Sbtg fit within this market?<\/b><\/p>\n

Sbtg \u2013<\/b> Ah, good question! It\u2019s true about that approach being the trend in the custom sneaker world. Be it \u2018elevated materials\u2019, cereal box-inspired designs or even just Off-White bootlegs. In summary, I\u2019ve realised that\u2019s what the market wants to consume and could palate. It has always been driven by the taste of the west. Now, everyone just does it better!<\/p>\n

\"Sbtg<\/p>\n

M.W. \u2013 True.<\/b><\/p>\n

Sbtg \u2013<\/b>\u00a0<\/b> <\/span>I made an analogy the other day. If I were to relate the custom sneaker scene to a genre of music, it would be top 40. It\u2019s easy to sing along to and I don\u2019t mean that in a good or bad way. It\u2019s just what it is. Although. Sbtg would be some obscure dark wave punk goth kinda band! [Laughs]<\/i> We are a band of misfits, but we love sticking out like a sore thumb!<\/p>\n

M.W. \u2013 … and the world\u2019s better for it! I think it\u2019s hard for most people to justify the sheer level of work \u2013 and subsequent cost \u2013 that goes into a fully bespoke shoe without the safety of being able to connect it to an existing property.<\/b><\/p>\n

Sbtg \u2013 <\/b>Yeah, sneakers have become a form of sculptural artwork these days. People are used to admiring them like pieces of art. It\u2019s no longer necessary to wear them any more.<\/p>\n

M.W. \u2013 Can\u2019t deny I\u2019m guilty of owning plenty of shoes I would never part with for any sum of money, but I haven\u2019t been able to bring myself to even so much as try them on.<\/b><\/p>\n

Sbtg \u2013<\/b> Yeah, that\u2019s because sneakers have transcended into these sculptural pieces of art. There is no need to wear them. A lot of sneakers are beautiful, but they don\u2019t go with my style at all, and I still have to have them. My weakness is 1985 Air Jordan 1s.<\/p>\n

\"Sbtg<\/p>\n

M.W. \u2013 One of the few vintage shoes that could probably survive the harsh humidity of Singapore at least! [Laughs]<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Sbtg \u2013 <\/b>Yeah, they are tough as nails! They are older than a lot of so-called \u2018sneakerheads\u2019 these days.<\/p>\n

M.W. \u2013 Even the first retros from 1994 are older than most sneakerheads nowadays!<\/b><\/p>\n

[Sbtg whispers to his assistant]<\/i><\/p>\n

Sbtg \u2013<\/b>\u00a0I<\/i>\u00a0just asked my assistant what year she was born and it proved your statement. [Laughs]\n

M.W. \u2013 Speaking of Singapore, what is unique, if anything, about the sneaker and streetwear scenes over there?<\/b><\/p>\n

Sbtg \u2013 <\/b>I always find it hard to answer that question because I\u2019m in it. It\u2019s probably easier to look at Singapore from the outside and define it in such terms, but I know that for such a small city, we lead the region in sneaker brand collabs.<\/p>\n

M.W. \u2013 Not a bad achievement. Do you feel the city of Singapore has influenced your artistic style?<\/b><\/p>\n

Sbtg \u2013 <\/b>Good question, not really. Indirectly, perhaps, but nothing visually. You see, we are in a very unique situation where we are only coming up on 54 years old as an independent nation. My main influences are punk rock and skateboarding.<\/p>\n

M.W. \u2013 And your love for camouflage?<\/b><\/p>\n

Sbtg \u2013 <\/b>I served mandatory military service here in Singapore, but my love for camouflage actually stemmed from before that. I was already into skating in big baggy military fatigues. The Wu-Tang Clan and, later, Maharishi<\/a> opened up the possibility of how I could take it up to another level and apply it to sneakers. It became an obsession and since then we have always been known for. As for your original question, though, what\u2019s\u00a0 <\/span>unique about Singapore is that whatever we do, we get to be part of our history.<\/p>\n

M.W. \u2013 That\u2019s an interesting position to be in.<\/b><\/p>\n

Sbtg <\/b>\u2013 I\u2019m very blessed to have our country celebrate what I do as a creative. I recently got a major shoutout from our prime minister, during his National Day speech<\/a>\u00a0 <\/span>and I also became an ambassador of the Singapore Tourism Board.<\/p>\n

\"Sbtg<\/p>\n

M.W. \u2013 That\u2019s fantastic. I don\u2019t think you could experience that anywhere else but Singapore. I guess its small geographic size can be a true advantage in that regard.<\/b><\/p>\n

A decade ago, collaboration was seen as something of an endorsement of creative talent. Recently, we\u2019ve seen sneaker brands entrusting so-called influencers like Sean Wotherspoon and liljupiterr with collabs. What\u2019s your take on this recent trend?<\/b><\/p>\n

Sbtg \u2013 <\/b>I feel that it\u2019s the same format. I would like to think that whoever the brands choose, they must have gone through a process and feel that they have the right kinda energy to express it though their product . I feel it ain\u2019t about design anymore, but more of an opinion being expressed physically and visually, combined with his collaborator\u2019s connection with their community.<\/p>\n

If you check out the episode of Jeff Staple\u2019s podcast The Business of Hype<\/em> that features Sean Wotherspoon<\/a>, you can tell that Sean is a person that could articulate and connect with people better than some pure creatives. End of the day, it\u2019s all communication via product. Perhaps \u2018letting the art speak for itself\u2019 is no longer the desired format\u2026<\/p>\n

M.W. \u2013 Maybe you\u2019re right. In broad strokes, what do you make of the sneaker scene as it is today compared with the early 2000?<\/b><\/p>\n

Sbtg \u2013 <\/b>It\u2019s on steroids! Everything is amplified!<\/p>\n

M.W. \u2013 Can\u2019t disagree there! Finally, what\u2019s next in the pipeline for Sbtg?<\/b><\/p>\n

Sbtg \u2013 <\/b>We\u2019ve got a couple of exciting collabs coming up next year with New Balance<\/a> and ASICS<\/a>. We\u2019ve also got more workshops planned, some Japanese clothing line collabs and will be appearing in conventions more!<\/p>\n

M.W. \u2013 \u2026 and a new SB Dunk, I hope! Nike better take note. [Laughs]<\/b><\/p>\n

Sbtg \u2013<\/b> Hopefully so. One of the reasons I do custom sneakers is because I have too many ideas in my head and I cant wait for brands to allow me to execute them. It\u2019s like a sampling process for me. After looking into the fragility of the original SB Dunk recently, we might actually do our own rebuild independently, so watch out!<\/p>\n

\n

Sbtg has just dropped a limited edition rug in collaboration with Copaze, commemorating his SB Dunk design. Get yours now while stocks last throug Copaze<\/a> or the Sbtg Surplus website<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n

Stay up to date with Sbtg\u2019s latest work on Instagram through @sbtg_official<\/a> and Mark Ong\u2019s personal account,\u00a0@mr_sabotage<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nike SB has made one hell of a comeback over the past 12 months. The Swoosh\u2019s skateboarding sneakers are once again some of the most coveted in the scene and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6578,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"powerkit_post_featured":[4,7,5,6,8],"class_list":{"0":"post-6577","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-comunidad"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.footdistrict.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6577","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.footdistrict.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.footdistrict.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.footdistrict.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.footdistrict.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6577"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.footdistrict.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6577\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.footdistrict.com\/en\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.footdistrict.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6577"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.footdistrict.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6577"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.footdistrict.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6577"},{"taxonomy":"powerkit_post_featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.footdistrict.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/powerkit_post_featured?post=6577"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}