Paul Mittleman

Paul Mittleman worked as VP of Design and Creative Director at Stussy. In this episode, he shares stories from decades shaping the DNA of modern street culture. From working directly with Shawn Stussy to influencing brands like Supreme, Adidas, and Converse, Paul reflects on authenticity, creativity, and the evolution of streetwear. He explains why early Stussy and Supreme succeeded where others failed, and why the term "streetwear" misses the point entirely. Paul also dives into collab culture, subcultures in New York and Tokyo, and how Instagram reshaped personal expression. It's a rare behind-the-scenes look at the people and philosophies that built modern street style. 00:00 – Intro: Paul Mittleman on shaping modern street culture 02:30 – Connecting Shawn Stussy to New York's creative scene 06:15 – The rise of Supreme and its Stussy influence 08:40 – Why Stussy and Supreme stayed authentic 11:00 – The power of saying "no" in creative work 14:00 – When collabs lost their meaning 17:00 – "Future landfill": the dark side of drop culture 20:30 – Streetwear vs. street culture 23:00 – Can real subcultures still exist today? 29:30 – From downtown discovery to the algorithm era 39:00 – Instagram, identity, and authenticity 46:30 – Choosing integrity over corporate success 48:50 – Paul's recommendation: Subculture by Dick Hebdige YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@theplugwithjustinjay Website → https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-plug-w-justin-jay/id1517322794 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3M3BwnadvgbuwtErUHN1pl Email → [email protected] Justin Jay Photography → https://justinjay.com HI 1K - 10 Years / 1000 Moments On Hawaii's North Shore by Justin Jay → https://www.hi1k.com