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.

Temple Effectives Range now in

Once again The Urban Shop shows it's a ahead of the game and as always forward thinking. Whilst others were sleeping and thinking of their January sales The Urban Shop has introduced 3 amazing new clothing brands to the UK The Originators a t-shirt company that bases their designs around the founding fathers of hip hop, Know1edge the dopest clothing company from Hong Kong that has done colabs with Diamond, Maharishi and Crooks and Castles to name a few and finally just in Temple Effectives a US hip hop company that just felt a need to make clothing they would and what turned out is a nice fresh streetwear brand with it's feet firmly cemented in hip hop.

Temple Effectives Vid

Just dropped on The Urban Shop Temple Effectives all over barbed chain print hood there will be a complete size range and other items but they are just filtering through customs, on a customs note there is more Know1edge to arrive everything on site currently is to arrive in all sizes plus another t-shirt design and the Nuggets belt in olive, back to Temple Effectives check out this vid below to see what they are about stick with it and see some unbelievable b-boy action on a basket ball hoop.

Get Some Know1edge

Know1edge is Hong Kong's premier streetwear labels. In their short existence they have collaborated with graffiti legend Haze, Zoo York, Maharishi, Crooks and Castles, artist Methamphibian and not forgetting the Diamond Supply Co.

Diamond Supply Co X Know1edge for a special limited collaboration on the Diamond Selvage Jean. Authentic raw Japanese denim and five pockets but what really makes these jeans stand out is the detailed embroidery. Features the "Diamond" in large script on the back in red plus a shining diamond on the lower left back pocket.

As a footnote Diamond Supply Co t-shirts will be in stock spring/summer 08