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SNS edit

Converse x Brain Dead

With the announcement of a collaboration between Converse and Los Angeles-based creative collective, we highlight the Chuck 70 Hi x Brain Dead with an SNS edit and an exclusive interview with Kyle NG. Between 1983 and 1991 Converse introduced Camouflage patterns, patriotic American Flag graphics, and glow-in-the-dark animal prints to their iconic silhouette, garnering a worldwide cult following.

"The Chuck is an icon. But the spirit of the brand is iconoclastic — that's important to the way we look at collaborations" - Brook Bergland, Converse Apparel Design Director

Now, through a marriage of patterns and the unyielding brand ethos of Brain Dead and Converse a mix of these graphics greet you from the retooled upper of the Converse Chuck 70 Hi x Brain Dead and the rest of the collection resulting in serendipitous harmony. See the full interview with Kyle and our images below.

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SNS: Please introduce yourself and what you do for Brain Dead. Kyle: KYLE NG Co founder of Brain Dead

SNS: In your own words, what is Brain Dead? Kyle: Brain Dead is a platform for people to be creative in all types of culture. Our interests and actions put into physical media.

SNS: How did you guys get Brain Dead up and running? You guys are killing it at the moment. Kyle: Man we are tiny and we are always running around trying to make more and more things! Thank you for your kind words.. We are just very happy to make things!

SNS: Brain Dead has done many collaborations for a brand still in its infancy, why do you like collaborating so much and what makes this one with Converse special? Kyle: Part of our DNA is working with people who share common interests and ethos. We love to collaborate because we love the idea of working with someone to create something unexpected because having someone elses input immediately changes your ideas and turns it into something u might of never thought of yourself.

SNS: Brain Dead is known for having exceptional reference points, what were the reference points for this collaboration? Kyle: Man the main reference point was William S BURROUGHS. We loved how he would take old news papers … cut them up and collage them to create new prose. I love the idea of breaking up the “pattern”. For the shoes we took this idea and took all the traditional Converse Patterns and mashed them up creating something chaotic yet beautiful… just like William S Burroughs .

SNS: You played around with Chuck Taylor on this one, what does this shoe mean to you? Kyle: Its a classic… you can’t beat it.

SNS: You have said in the past that Brain Dead is popular because it deals less with fashion and more with lifestyle and culture. What are you f*cking with at the moment? Kyle: ROCK CLIMBING, HAUNTED HAUSES, ESCAPE ROOMS, Carnivorous plants, Art made by disabled people.

SNS: We are nearing that time of year when end of year lists start appearing, what highlights have you had in 2018? Kyle: Working with Comme Des Garcon, putting on amazing shows with NTS RADIO.

SNS: In the age of the internet and social media, subcultures and underground movements have become global trends. What benefits has the digital age brought to Brain Dead?
Kyle: It creates an amazing platform for us to share ideas and reach people we wouldn’t of if we didn’t have the bandwidth that we have today. Also my partner lives in Australia so we mostly only work via computer or FaceTime audio.

SNS: We are launching the Brain Dead x Converse collaboration at Sneakersnstuff Berlin. Berlin has a wealth of history when it comes to music and style are you guys familiar with the city? Kyle: HARDWAX!

SNS: Sneakersnstuff are opening in LA soon, do you have some tips for us ? Kyle: ENJOY THE TACOS!