4 Years. 6 Samples. 60 Pairs.

Mark Strong didn't have a design background. He didn't have a factory connection. He had an idea, a Garrison contest entry, and the kind of stubbornness it takes to actually see something through. Four-plus years later, he's got a shoe. The SV1 "Radici" — 60 pairs, hairy suede uppers, Vibram soles, and laces sourced from the same Tennessee tannery that makes Rawlings baseball glove leather.We talk about the whole journey: Made in USA dreams that hit a $300/pair wall, a Portugal factory that went dark mid-sample, a pivot back to China, tariff chaos during pre-orders, and indigo-dyed hemp tongues that almost didn't make it into production. Mark also gets into the meaning behind the name — "Radici" means roots in Italian, a nod to his great-grandparents who immigrated from Italy to Brooklyn — and why he embossed Nashville's GPS coordinates right into the shoe.This is the kind of story that doesn't get told enough. It's not about a big brand drop. It's about one person swimming upstream to make something real, and what that process actually looks like from the inside.Check out the SV1 "Radici" at saint65.com and follow Mark at @saintsixtyfive on Instagram.Timestamps:0:00 — Intro & why these stories matter2:51 — Mark introduces himself and how he got into sneakers5:19 — Getting laid off, entering the Garrison contest, and the first design sketches8:53 — Sampling process: Made in USA dreams and a $300/pair reality check10:21 — Portugal factory goes dark mid-sample12:14 — Pivoting to China, pre-orders, and tariff chaos14:29 — What samples actually cost, and why minimums change everything16:03 — Aaron Cooper, the Cars and Kicks Show, and rethinking China's manufacturing reputation19:28 — Transparency, ethics, and trying to get factory photos over WhatsApp21:43 — Why Portugal worked better for a small brand23:50 — The Tennessee tannery, Rawlings baseball glove laces, and why that detail matters27:35 — The sneaker community's fragmentation problem31:23 — The Saint65 name: I-65, New Orleans Saints, and "Remember Your Roots"33:07 — Apparel, embroidery, and the full brand picture35:19 — Opening the box: hairy suede, baseball laces, and the wow factor38:09 — Indigo-dyed hemp tongues and the materials that traveled the world40:04 — The SV1 "Radici" colorway name and the Italian heritage connection41:28 — Vibram soles, the last, and design decisions44:40 — Why 18 months for a shoe actually makes sense47:44 — The gray colorway and what's next for Saint6550:22 — What Mark would do differently54:00 — Why independent brands can't get the same factory access as the big guys57:45 — Wrapping up: where to find Saint65Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.thesneakernewsletter.comSUPPORT THE SHOW:Donate Through Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/sneakerhistoryBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/nickengvallEarly Access, Exclusive Videos, and Content On Patreon: https://patreon.com/sneakerhistoryIf you are interested in advertising to our audience, contact us: [email protected] OUT OUR OTHER SHOWS:For the Formula 1 Fans - Exhaust Notes: https://exhaustnotes.fmFor the Fitted Hat Fans - Crown and Stitch: https://crownandstitch.comFor the Cars & Sneakers Fans - Cars & Kicks: https://carsxkicks.comFor the Creators & Creatives - Outside The Box: https://podcasts.apple.com/id/podcast/outside-the-box-convos-with-creators/id1050172106[Links contain affiliate links; we may receive a small commission if you purchase after clicking a link. A great way to support the pod!]—––––—––––—––––—––––—––––—––––—––––—––––Our podcast is proudly...Recorded on Riverside: http://www.riverside.fm/?via=sneakerhistoryHosted & Distributed By Captivate: https://bit.ly/3j2muPbGET IN TOUCH:Robbie - [email protected] - [email protected] - [email protected] - [email protected]: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/