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HS: We wanted to talk about the beginnings of the Ed Banger and etnies relationship, which seems to have blossomed after the 20th anniversary party. How did you go from playing at that party to collaborating on this project?
Pedro: I started Ed Banger in 2003 and I started it with the knowledge I learned from managing Daft Punk. When I started, I didn’t make any plans, I just did as any other French boy who grew up with skateboarding... I did this without thinking too much about it. I think that is the philosophy of trying things and having fun with it that comes from my skateboarding background. I started the label like this, and luckily managed to find the right bands and musicians - Justice, Mr. Oizo, DJ Mehndi, etc.
Naturally, I knew about Pierre-Andre and etnies, because I had spent 10 years on a skateboard. It was a time to celebrate their anniversary, and due to a natural connection we had with etnies we were proposed to perform at this party, which was one of a kind. It was in a place where we all used to skate when we were young, and which is now a contemporary art venue where you can’t skate anymore. When Pierre-Andre and his team proposed this to us, it was like a big moment for us. It was the beginning for Justice, who became really famous in the next couple of years. At the time, Pierre-Andre invited us just as a young French label, Ed Banger. We were not big names. It was just a natural thing and we threw a hell of a party.
HS: Can you tell us generally about your background in skating?
Pedro: I started skateboarding in 1989. I was 14 years old. I am from Paris. In Paris we have some classic spots, one of which was where Pierre-Andre used to skate all the time. I was really young and seeing pictures in the magazines of Pierre-Andre. At the time I did not know him, but of course knew who he was, but we were not good enough to be friends. I often speak about it, that skateboarding changed my life and makes me who I am today. Dynamic, funny, crazy, whatever. Skateboard teaches you a lot and you meet many different people. On a skateboard we are all equal. You can be the son of a bank manager or the son of boat people, but we are all equal on wood and four wheels. This, I think, is good. You meet many people rather than staying in your own atmosphere. It teaches me this, and opened my eyes to new things and music - rock, hip-hop, and electronic music. We were reading at the time Thrasher, Big Brother, all those magazines from the US and this influenced us a lot. We were learning fashion. The clothes and trends in those magazines had not arrived in France yet, so we took this and made it ourself and made it our way. This is how etnies became successful, they took it and put our French twist on it and made it how we wanted.
HS: Let’s talk a little about the etnies shoe itself, how did the idea come up?
Pedro: The etnies shoes came up very naturally. Neither me or Pierre had a plan. Today, you know, when Nike wants me to do something they have a plan and a brainstorming, and you have to choose key people in the industry. With Etnies it is very natural. I can’t even say Etnies asked us to do a shoe, or we asked Etnies if we could do one. It just was natural to do it together. Again, for all the things I’ve said before. When we managed to make it possible, because of course we all have our own schedule, we did at some point sit down and discuss as the idea had been around for several years. We scratched our head, but we did not want to... and I was really pleased that the etnies people were not so stupid as to just call us and say “Let’s do Etnies shoes and put Ed Banger all over it.” That would have been stupid. Everyone is saying things like let’s do a shoe with Dinosaur Jr., a Nike SB and put the Dinosaur logo on it. That is nonsense and not really fun.
Now, I’m 34 years old, of course Ed Banger speaks to a younger crowd, but we want to do shoes that we would be proud to rock and shoes that the kids of today and skateboarders of today would be happy to wear. We scratch our heads, and our art director So Me was more than involved in this, and we decided to design a new pair of shoes. What etnies gave us was amazing because we could choose not just the color and the sole, but we designed brand new shoes. I am so happy, because Pierre-Andre was so cool, and we bring the two worlds together. Honestly, I am really happy with the result.
Pierre-Andre: Everything Pedro says is exactly perfect. It is really a collaboration of friendship. etnies has always been about doing something different and creating innovation. The best way to create innovation was to give Pedro and So Me full reign to design exactly what they wanted. So Me, again, wanted to do a shoe that was not a preexisting etnies design, and have the full potential of creating. I know that So Me and the others at Ed Banger are an incredible team of creators.
The shoe is skinny, but very good for skating. I have been skating in it a few times. The shoe is made as a skate shoe, it allows for great board control and also has an ultra light insole, which makes them very comfortable. A rubber compond that makes the sole very durable and grippy. The upper is a garment leather, which helps the foot mold to the shoes. Although it is a skateboarders shoe, it is comfortable and you can wear it everyday. When you play music, you need to be comfortable, so it works out for that benefit.
One thing I really like about the shoes is the insole. I really like the direction and story So Me and Busy P came up with. Although it is an etnies shoe, as Busy P said, it is a collaboration of friendship in a big way. Friendship to skateboarding, and a collaboration of respect and creativity to celebrate the next twenty years of music and skateboarding.
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