Drop Some Know1edge

A new delivery of Know1edge has just landed on our fine shores and we check out the man behind Know1edge to find out how it all started.

Brian Siswojo is the undisputed king of the Hong Kong street scene. With his shop 8FIVE2, 8FIVE2 Distribution, Know1edge brand and running numerous events, he has a hold on Hong Kong and takes his influence to the world.

Brian Siswojo started skateboarding when he was 14, it has become his life. Brian takes up the story “I skate pretty much on a daily basis. I was sponsored by a local skateboard shop called Now N Later in 1991 and later on with Airwalk in 1994, I remember it was NTS, the hardest skateboard shoes to skate on, there’s always a reason why a company closes down. As so many aspire to do, I started working many jobs in the hopes of saving enough to open my own business. In 1998, I filmed and edited Hong Kong’s very first skateboarding/urban culture video called Hollieday with not only Hong Kong’s finest skateboarders but also, LMF (Hong Kong’s first and most original Hip Hop group), Michael Lau, DJ Tommy, etc. The video premiered along with an LMF performance and a good 1,000 people showed up to support the event.

I met Alyasha Owerka Moore in 1999 at a skateboard spot, this is when skateboarding gave back to me. Aly handed me his business card and the moment I saw the logo, I decided to put in all of my savings to invest in my very own company, 8FIVE2 Distribution. I started out of the living room of my apartment out of boxes for those of you who still remember. I remember asking Aly if he would support me 110% if I started my own company and distribute Alphanumeric. He said YES and since then he has, THANK YOU Aly!!

We started selling Alphanumeric from just 2 stores to 12 stores within a ten month span in Hong Kong. It became the best selling brand of that time, no other brand even come close. It was then that the owners created a position for me as Sales & Marketing Director for the Asia region where I opened the doors of South East Asian.

I’ve always felt that Asia in general lacked some kind of authenticity in the origins of street art, skateboarding, and music. Although a niche market that has not been widely accepted by the mass, I opened a skate/street fashion shop that could properly merchandise a full collection while being informative on the brand history to the customers. 8FIVE2SHOP opened its doors in 2001 and has been apart of the transformation in Hong Kong’s street fashion/skate scene.

I started Know1edge, in 2004 from wanting to do special collaborations with friends. What started off as a small line of t-shirt collaborations quickly grew to a full line of menswear, accessories; premium denim, leather garments, knitted apparel, Swiss movement watches, etc." the rest is history or will be tomorrow.