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The New Black History: Interview With Footwear & Apparel Designer Greg Jackson

The New Black History: Interview With Footwear & Apparel Designer Greg Jackson

We sat with the accomplished designer about working with New Balance, running his own brand, his advice for young Black creatives wanting to enter the fashion design field, and much more.

Matt DeSciora

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to work with some of the biggest names in fashion and sneakers while simultaneously running your own brand, then you should definitely pay close attention to our interview with Greg Jackson. A design consultant based in New York City, Greg’s resumé reads like a dream to anyone with aspirations of being at the forefront of culture. Among his many enviable accomplishments, Greg counts YEEZY GAP and New Balance—specifically the brand’s Made in USA line—as highlights. On the side, Greg designs products for his own emerging clothing brand: Greg Laboratory.

Clearly, Greg has the blueprint to success in street culture, and as part of our New Black History series for 2023, he was gracious enough to explain in detail his experiences and the steps he took to get to where he is today.

Talented, resourceful, and just a really great dude, Greg Jackson exemplifies the folks we couldn’t be more proud to call our friends at Stadium Goods. Here’s his story in his own words.

Before we dive in, can you please take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who may not be familiar with who you are?

Hey everyone, I’m Greg Jackson, a design consultant in NYC. I work with multiple brands designing apparel and footwear. I mostly specialize in performance and sportswear. I do everything from setting the direction for the season, color and merchandising, and design and tech pack.

Some of the New Balance Made in USA sneakers Greg has worked on

What’s it like designing sneakers for the hottest shoe collection in the world right now, New Balance’s “Made in USA” line?

It’s honestly a dream come true. I’m from the DMV, and New Balance is such a staple for us [in the DMV area]. Having the opportunity to work with a brand that's so rooted in our culture is such a full circle moment.

Let me backtrack a bit. Before you were with New Balance, you were working with YEEZY GAP. What was that like?

I'm separating the man from the art here, but like many black artsy kids, Ye was a huge inspiration for me. My time working with Ye fulfilled a 17-year-old Greg’s dream. We had a lot of freedom to be creative and innovative, and essentially design whatever we wanted. We were really challenged to explore the nuances of fashion and look at things differently. We were tasked with pushing design as much as we could, but also simplifying everything down to what is the most utilitarian.

You design for some of the most successful sneaker brands in the world, and you also design products for your own clothing brand, Greg Laboratory. How do you approach each of these differently?

I have an industrial design background so I usually design with the purpose of solving a problem, but things still have to look attractive. So it's almost like pulling different levers of form and function. Some brands are mostly aesthetic while others are pure function. With Greg Laboratory, I have the freedom to really push the boundaries on both ends. I try to design something that looks like it was from a fashion house, but has the level and function behind it similar to an Arc’teryx Veilance.

Do you have a different approach to designing footwear from clothing?

Yes, completely. In footwear, the performance attribute is essentially already there, so I have to plug and play materials to elevate the silhouette. For me, it's all about finding the right balance, and making sure the materials flow with one another, like building layers of texture within a shoe.

What are some of the inspirations behind your designs, whether it be with New Balance or Greg Laboratory?

My inspirations are very broad and can come from anywhere because I have a lot of interests and hobbies. A conversation with friends could inspire me just as easily as a vintage 1950 military life vest, or a Prouve chair. I snowboard a lot and I also do indoor rock climbing, so I try to tie those activities into my designs, as well. There have been times when I’ve explored the city and I’m just like, “I wish my pants had more articulation in the knee.” With New Balance, they have a vast history of Made in USA footwear, so we always like to look back into the archives to find what worked, and to also see what we could improve on.

New Balance apparel designed by Greg

Since this is Stadium Goods and we’ve long ago established your place in the culture, I have to ask you, what are some of your favorite sneakers of all time? What shoes are you currently vibing with?

Oh, wow, all time? That would have to be the Nike Air Footscape Woven, the Nike Lunar Chukka Woven, the Fragment x Air Jordan 1, the Union x Air Jordan 1 ( I'm still looking for a pair), and the Visvim FBT. Also, the New Balance 990v3. Currently, the rotation is the New Balance 991 and 2002R, the Wales Bonner x adidas Samba, and Asics Gel Kayano 14.

Your resumé reads like a dream for many, myself included. You’re an accomplished sneaker and streetwear designer. You’ve worked on some of the biggest sneaker projects of the last decade. You own your own brand. What advice would you give anyone—especially young Black creatives—looking to follow in your footsteps?

Well, thank you. Firstly, I would say to stay driven, be outgoing, and take initiative. This career won’t be handed to you—you have to push for it. Soak up as much knowledge as you possibly can and learn as much as you can. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I’m still learning everyday. Lastly, be kind and respectful. I’ve gotten a lot of jobs from past clients and friends. Being kind goes a long way. It isn't common enough in our world.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Eat your vegetables, stay active and have fun. We only have one life, let's make the best of it.

You can follow Greg on Instagram: @thefamousgregjackson and check out his site with more of his work HERE