Journey of a Cultural Innovator in Fashion and Footwear

This chapter explores the story of a founder who transformed the New York shoe retail scene by creating a brand that merges footwear with fashion and culture. It highlights key collaborations, promotions, and a memorable encounter with a beloved sitcom star that underscores the brand's cultural impact.

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My guest today is Ronnie Fieg, founder and CEO of Kith. At age 13, Ronnie started working at David Z., an iconic New York shoe store, where he sold Timberland boots to Jay-Z and Wallabies to Wu-Tang Clan. He worked his way up from the stockroom and earned his first collaboration in 2007, when he worked with ASICS on new Gel-Lyte 3s. That collection sold out in a day after being featured in The Wall Street Journal, catching the attention of Adidas's president and launching his reputation as a cultural icon.

In 2011, he founded Kith, which has become one of the most influential brands in footwear, fashion, and culture. The business sells a unique curation of products that includes exclusive Nike sneakers, Armani suits, Versace robes, watches, cars, and even $10 ice creams.

Our conversation is one of the best examples of life's work I've ever recorded - it explores how Ronnie's pure love of product has shaped everything from a campaign with Jerry Seinfeld to his creative direction for the New York Knicks. Please enjoy this excellent conversation with Ronnie Fieg.

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My guests today For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.

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Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes:

(00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best

(00:06:10) The Journey to Shoot Jerry Seinfeld

(00:09:44) Understanding Consumer Desires

(00:12:04) The Queens College Project

(00:15:51) The Evolution of Kith Stores

(00:18:03) Ronnie's Early Passion for Collecting

(00:21:56) From David Z to Kith: The Retail Journey