Hommyo Hidefumi is the founder of legendary Tokyo-based sneaker boutique, atmos. The store is more than a retail space, but a cornerstone of streetwear culture that helped cultivate the early sneaker scene in Japan. Many attribute the store to having not only the best collection of sneakers to date, but also having some of the best collaborations of all time—most notably with Nike and their ever popular Air Max 1's. 

With more than 30 stores globally, Hommyo opened atmos in Harajuku in 2000 after the success of his first retail store Chapter. Soon after, young kids all over the world were traveling to atmos, and it became the mecca of sneaker culture in Asia.  Atmos is a reflection of Hommyo's ability to personify every sneaker that comes through his space. He is in every right an auteur, being able to create a unique narrative whether it's through the sneaker accounts at his store or the variety of collabs atmos has worked on. 

Hommyo's penchant for sneaker collecting began in the early 90's while attending college in Philadelphia. Soon enough, he was driving along the East Coasting copping sneakers at a fraction of the price they were sold overseas. The rest there on after would become streetwear history. While businesses are focusing more digitally, Hommyo still emphasizes the importance of a retail space, being that "we are humans, not robots" and that all the "f***ing talking, bulls*** talking" is an absolute necessity when it comes to sneaker culture. In this episode, he breaks down the early days of atmos, what it takes to survive in this competitive market, the future of streetwear culture and more. 

Thank you so much for tuning into the Business of HYPE. As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe to our other shows. 
This episode was recorded prior to COVID-19 with the interludes recorded during. We hope you guys stay safe, wash your hands, practice social distancing and find ways to still stay inspired during this time.

For more info: https://hypebeast.com/2020/6/atmos-interview-founder-hommyo-hidefumi-business-of-hype-jeffstaple-episode-76

https://www.instagram.com/atmos_japan/
https://www.atmos-tokyo.com/
https://atmosny.com/

Hommyo Hidefumi of atmos

Around a month ago we featured our special Stay @ Home series, with former guests of the show and today we’re back for another special episode with Andy Fallshaw, Co-Founder and CEO of Australian accessories brand, Bellroy.

Founded in 2009 alongside Matthew Fallshaw, Lina Calabria and Hadrien Monloup, Bellroy was the answer after the four realized there was a gap in the luxury carrier space. A certified B Corporation, the company only uses functional and durable material all made  with the intent of sustainable efforts.  What started as a meticulously well-designed wallet became so successful that Bellroy now carries various travel bags and tech accessories in their line. 

In this episode, Andy details how he went from designing for Rip Curl to starting nine self-funded startups in an effort to "create something that brings value to people"—one of which became Bellroy. He later discusses how his business has managed to stay afloat and reprioritize workflow during COVID-19.

Thank you so much for tuning into our special Stay @ Home Series. As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe to our other show.

For more info:
https://bellroy.com/
http://www.instagram.com/bellroy
https://www.carryology.com/
https://www.instagram.com/carryology/

Stay @ Home with Andy Fallshaw of Bellroy

Alexandra Hackett is the founder of Studio ALCH (short for her name: Alexandra Louise Champion Hackett) and also known by many as "Mini Swoosh." In just a few short years, the brand has shown at London Fashion Week, partnered with global retailers and worked with numerous celebrities from Kendrick Lamar to Frank Ocean. The Australian-born, London based creative creates one-of-a-kind articles of clothing from deconstructed pieces of found material from Nike duffel bags to NASA space foil.  

Studio ALCH is the overarching brand that gives fuel to her mission of "exploring the process of deconstruction and reconstruction to extend the lifespan of pre-existing products."  Her personal brand, Mini Swoosh, dives into the more experimental side of her deconstructive projects, whilst giving homage to the brand Nike, which has heavily inspired her design career. In this episode, Alex details her  early career from working in the sneaker retail space to participating in 2017's Nike Vote For You competition to creating her brand. She reminds us of the importance of sustainability and how the "best thing to do with fashion is to make nothing new at all."

Thank you so much for tuning into the Business of HYPE. As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe to our other shows. This episode was recorded prior to COVID-19 with the interludes recorded during. We hope you guys stay safe, wash your hands, practice social distancing and find ways to still stay inspired during this time.

For more info:
https://www.instagram.com/studioalch/
https://www.instagram.com/miniswoosh/
https://www.a-l-c-h.com/

Alexandra Hackett aka Mini Swoosh

Driving culture forward, this is HYPEBEAST Radio — the podcasting platform brought to you by HYPEBEAST. Subscribe to our shows! "The HBR Show" hosted by Senior Editor, Robert Marshall. "Sound Check" hosted by Music Editor, Manny Maduakolam. And The Business of HYPE, hosted by jeffstaple.

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