Fresh Faces: Generic Man
Brandon talks about your adult responsibility to wear good shoesI read that you undertook a “case study in adultism” when you first started designing shoes. What did you learn?
We’re coming out of surf, skate culture—we can’t continue to wear that kind of stuff as we get older. One of our investors started DC Shoes and he’s feeling the same way. He can’t go on wearing DC Shoes his whole life. So it became about hitting your mid 30s and defining a lifestyle—how you travel, where you travel to, the music you’re listening to, how you spend your time with friends and family, what you’re wearing. We’re trying to more adult, with a different definition of adult than, let’s say our parents or other generations. It’s less about taking on more responsibility and more about upgrading aesthetically.
What inspires the designs?
We don’t try to reinvent or redesign the wheel. We tend to pick things that work already and reappropriate them to our aesthetic. We try to keep things very neutral, very classic, very wearable. Places are a big influence—London, Milan. We try and bring the international influence to our LA base.
What clothes do you advocate wearing with your shoes?
For men, Engineered Garments. It’s not the exact same sensibility as us but they do very interesting things. As far as an everyday standard, it would be Steven Alan. Also Dries Van Noten and Margiela, on that end. A mix of all of that.
Favorite blogs?
I write on selectism and Kevin writes on intelligence.
Three things you can’t live without?
Wine, eating at Little Dom’s, and my wife Carla
Upgrade your shoe rack at thegenericman.com and check out photos from Fresh Faces LA here.
