With the ridiculous hype around Ransom’s collaboration with adidas, we at the Shoe Buff had to get an exclusive interview with the company. The Toronto based boutique/company has been around for seven years now, and it’s popularity is simply off the charts. The boutique runs with many popular brands, and now they’ve upped the anty and boosted their own label to near superstar potential. In this interview I speak with Matthew George of Ransom to catch up and learn more about the company, their adidas collaboration, and what their plans for the future are. This is a Shoe Buff exclusive, and you (the reader) have the privilege of seeing Ransom’s new take on one of their pieces of footwear; the Pier. Enjoy.

Mike B: For those who don’t know how Ransom started, give us a quick overview of how the company and boutique got going.

Matthew: Ransom originally started as a boutique back in 2003. At that point there was a void in the Toronto retail scene and we wanted to try our hand at filling that void. Along the way we shaped our vision on the brands that we thought were noteworthy, and pulled them into the shop, but we always knew to really accomplish what we had in mind, we’d have to start putting out our own line. As the shop had success and expanded, we put forth our first offering, and we’ve been at it ever since. At this point our Ransom stores only carry Ransom and the Ransom by adidas collection.

Mike B: 2009′s release of the Ransom by adidas collection was one of the most anticipated collaboration’s to date; how did that relationship with adidas start?

Matthew: It was a pretty chance happening. Ben Pruess and I have been friends for sometime. We both have similar backgrounds, and it just so happens that we have a common ground in the footwear and fashion industry. Through conversations we had discussing the market, design ideals and lots of other tings we came up with the concept. So at it’s most base level of conception it developed from these interactions between Ben and myself, and once we started to put that into action, it brought in a whole other scope of people.

Mike B: When working with creative minds like those at adidas, was it hard to fit in your own ideas; or were they quite lenient and really let Ransom get deeply involved?

Matthew: I really have to give adidas and Ben all the credit in the world, by allowing us to lead the way this collection has taken shape. They have lent all their experience and know how in the production of the footwear, but they really let us create what we had in mind. Between Ben and my team we had a pretty concise idea coming into the project of what we wanted to bring forth, adidas has supported and assisted us develop what we had in mind.

Mike B: There were five pieces in the collection; the Summit’s, Pier’s, Dune’s, Valley’s, and Creek’s. Which one is your favorite, and why?

Matthew: I can’t say I have a really clear favorite, they all have their time and their place. But I would say for right now the Summit makes the most sense for me. It’s the dead of winter in Canada which brings forth all kinds of cold weather, sleet, snow and ice. The Summit’s a great day to day boot to get around in, not too bulky and sluggish, but still rugged enough to get me through those conditions.

Mike B: The collection looks really great, how long did the whole process of creating an idea and the footwear take?

Matthew: The idea itself just kind of arose over time through Ben and I conversations. Once we really committed to the idea, it all spiraled really quickly. It’s a funny process really, because the industry moves a mile a minute, you’ve got to be two or three seasons ahead of schedule, always planning the next collection, then at the same time, you really want to put out a great product so the attention to detail, and reworking and sampling is arduous and painstaking.

There is so much more that goes into a collection than I think the average consumer realizes when it comes down to that finished product. It’s nearly impossible to pinpoint the exact time frame from the initial idea for a silhouette, to when the shoe hits the marketplace. Sometimes we’ll work on an idea that doesn’t come quite right to what we want it to be, it gets left behind for a season till we can figure it out, and then revisited later on down the road. There’s a lot of factors at play.

Mike B: Many times when creative minds clash, you can have a lot problems creating something great; were there any problems or conflicts when creating the footwear?

Matthew: Conflict is a bit of a harsh term. We never encounter conflicts along the way, only obstacles and sometimes differing opinions. Most of our time is spent figuring out with adidas how to overcome some of the manufacturing obstacles that arise along the process. For instance we’ll come up with an idea, only to find out what we had in mind just isn’t technically possible in the capabilities of production, so at that point it’s a matter of figuring out how to overcome that setback, and try and achieve what we had envisioned in a different or slightly altered manner. Sometimes that’s possible, and sometimes it isn’t.

Mike B: Hopefully we can see more collections for the upcoming Spring/Summer seasons of the Ransom by adidas line; any information on that subject?

Matthew: It’s not too far from releasing, and I hear some of the styles are already showing up in adidas warehouses, so you’re sure to see more of it soon. There are three new models to bring us into the warmer weather to come, and we’re very excited to see how they are received. We really took consideration of the fabrics for this release, using some lightweight nylon’s and cottons that are much more suited for the summer months. The color stories reflect the season too, you’ll see us adding a slightly brighter palette than last season, just to spice things up a bit.

Mike B: Ransom is also known for clothes and accessories; do you have any future collaborations with other clothing companies?

Matthew: We’re really more focused on developing our own craft in house at the moment, so there’s not much on the horizon in regards to collaborations. We’ve been pretty selective in not getting too bogged down with the whole collaboration thing. We do however have something coming with Stussy in regards to their 30th anniversary that
we are pretty excited about. I can’t really say anymore than that.

Mike B: Lastly what is your new years resolution?

Matthew: New Years resolution…Well , I just took up Hockey. Seriously, I can barely skate, but now I’m hitting the outdoor rinks night and day, learning our national sport. It’s just a good way to keep me out of the office for a couple of hours really. Plus we’re big fans of the post game sports beers.

I’d like to thank Matthew for this exclusive interview. Ransom is one of the premier and most popular boutiques in North America; and the biggest in Toronto, Canada. In the future we will have follow ups about Ransom, so watch out; also, make sure you check out Ransom’s website. Adieu, adieu.

-Mike B.

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