Another Clyde Singleton Debacle

(Editor’s note: Quince is part Native American, hence the Indian humor.)

What’s the difference between a Cleveland Indian and, say, an Indianapolis Indian?
Well, Cleveland Indians are a baseball team and the other is a lost Indian, far away from home.

Do people ever confuse you with Quincy, M.D.?
don’t think so.

What About Quincy Jones?
No, but people love to call me that all the time.

The rapper, Consequence?
Maybe we do look alike.

Why did Homer Simpson get a shoe from Vans before Eddie from Iron Maiden?
Eddie’s shoe was really in the works before Homer’s shoe, but who really cares?

Why do I know who Eddie is?
Because you’re a skater who watched a lot of skate videos; otherwise, you have no reason to know that.

Okay. What’re your three favorite kicks of all time?
Only three is hard to say. Number one, I would begin Vans Old Skool, then the 1996 eS SLB, then the adidas Stan Smith.

Can we keep Mrs. No-Shore-ious P.I.G. between you and I?
First off, I would not want to keep Mrs. P.I.G between you and I. You can have all that.

What do you think makes a dope shoe? Is it the parts, the whole, the colorways? The names involved seem as important as anything else these days.

A dope shoe is the overall execution. The concept, shape, fit, function, use of color, materials, outsole design and pattern all play their parts. Names can help, but so does the brand…Vans, marketing, etc.

Your favorite shoe you’ve had a hand in designing?

A new shoe I designed (that’s coming out soon), the Repeater. It is a cold cement technology and one of the lightest skate shoes I’ve ever felt. It has comfort, style and great board feel.

With Chucks, Vans Eras, and Dunks we’ve seen one shoe from the past reinterpreted a hundred different ways. Do you think this trend is gonna end soon, or do you think it’ll have some staying power.

No. This trend of biters will exist as long as these companies stay strong in the public’s eye. My personal feeling, Vans gets bit the most. They have more classic looks that the brand owns: Half Cabs, Sk8-His, Chukka, Eras and the best: Old Skools.

Are you a fan of collabos?

I’m just a fan of collabs when it can make a shoe look better. So no. And, yes, collabs are played out.

Does a designer need to develop his own personal style? Or should he true to the brand’s style?

Both. A good designer has an obligation to be true to the brand’s style but at the same time the designer was hired based on his skills and personal style to be put into the product.

How did you develop your style?

My style comes from a tight-knit group of friends who shared similar passions with skateboarding. And my family background. My grandpa, Quince Hansen, was born on an Indian reservation in Arizona. The interest in my Native American heritage inspires my own unique personal style.

Current shoe design is pretty obviously stuck in retro mode. Do you think design was better before, or is this just a trend playing itself out?

This trend is going to be around for some time to come. Although there are some designers like my friend, Josh Brubaker (Supra), who have given the skate industry some life when it comes to design…the Skytop.

In ten words or less, describe the adidas Kobe shoe designed by Audi.

Fucking dumb.

Where do you see design going from here?

Wherever I take it.