Salehe Bembury has quietly become a juggernaut in the footwear design space and we’re grateful to have him join us on TheStockroom. With exploits at brands such as Versace with the Chain Reaction, Crocs with the Pollox, a 5 year relationship with New Balance and launching a basketball sneaker with Tyrese Haliburton and Puma! And this has all culminated in his most recent works, the release of his first shoe under his brand SPUNGE in tandem with his book “I Make Shoes”!

We got into the details of Salehe’s practice, how he’s gone about creating his own signature, building a team, the impact the chain reaction had in the UK and how he approaches his various projects as a man who wears many hats! It’s gonna be a good one, so make sure you tap in!

#salehebembury #design #sneakers 

Follow Salehe Bembury & SPUNGE:

https://www.instagram.com/salehebembury

https://www.instagram.com/beaspunge 

Follow TheStockroom: 

https://www.instagram.com/thestockroompod

Follow our personal platforms too from left to right:

Eman: https://www.instagram.com/emansgram_

Michael: https://www.instagram.com/them1show

Bolu: https://www.instagram.com/boluthebear

00:00 - Welcome Salehe Bembury To TheStockroom

04:00 - Salehe on Meeting Fans

05:49 - What’s On Foot? 

08:39 - Why Does Salehe Use Such Materials & How Does It Influence The Design

10:35 - The 3 F’s (Fun, Funds and Folio) 

13:05 - How Do Create Your Own Signature And Is It Important To Have One

17:04 - Why Does Salehe Barely Use Dialogue In His Campaigns

18:40 - What’s Your Process Around Designing A Shoe And It’s Materials

20:29 - What’s The Difference Between Working For Versace and Working As A Collaborator with New Balance

24:20 - Did Salehe Know The Impact The Versace Chain Reaction Had In The UK?

29:00 - What Does SPUNGE embody? / The Purpose of Salehe’s “I Make Shoes” Book

37:15 - What Salehe Has Learnt During His Career at Cole Haan, Versace, Yeezy etc

40:05 - Becoming Creative Director of Crocs And Introducing New Product Lines

44:30 - Balancing Aesthetics With Functionality

50:00 - Collaborations & Marketing In A Time of Over-saturation

53:30 - Salehe’s Relationship With Tyrese Haliburton & The Rollout of the Hali 1

1:00:52 - How Do You Go About Building A Team?

1:00:55 - Thoughts On AI As A Tool

1:12:37 - Why Did You Pick Those Names For The Products?

1:17:33 - Sneaker Shopping In London vs Shopping Elsewhere

1:22:21 - If You Got Hit With A Magic Wand What Would Your Life Look Like?

1:31:02 - Salehe Signs TheStockroom’s Air Force 1