How Salehe Bembury Became One of the Hottest Sneaker Designers | The Complex Sneakers Podcast

The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week they are joined by Salehe Bembury, a sneaker designer who’s worked with Versace, Yeezy, Payless, New Balance, Crocs, Anta, and more. Bembury talks about his approach to design, how his sneakers are doing on the resale market, and teaching Andre 3000 how to make sneakers. Also, the cohosts reminisce on the simpler days of pep rallies and five-disc changers.
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EPISODE CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - 05:45 Intro / Gold bottle celebrations / raspy voices
05:45 - 11:30 - what was in your 5 CD disc changer back in the day?
11:30 - 13:50 - your best athletic entrance songs
13:50 - 18:50 - Welty joins a soccer league(ish) / Complex's soccer team
18:50 - 25:55 - giveaway of the week / what's your favorite knock off sneaker?
25:55 - 30:30 - Salehe Bembury joins the podcast / hiking talk
30:30 - 35:45 - how the whistle shoe was created, the New Balance 574 YURT
35:45 - 43:00 - the story behind the Crocs that Salehe created
43:00 - 48:00 - royalties for sneaker designers and working with 2 Chainz
48:00 - 52:30 - Salehe being a one-person operation
52:30 - 58:00 - working with Kanye and camping out for sneakers
58:00 - 01:03:30 - becoming famous in the sneaker industry and Andre 3000
01:03:30 - 01:05:00 - discussing the New Balance team
01:05:00 - 01:12:10 - new releases for Salehe and what's next
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COMPLEX is a community of creators and curators, armed with the Internet, committed to surfacing and sharing the voices and conversations that define our new America. Our videos exemplify convergence culture, exploring topics that include music, sneakers, style, sports, and pop culture through original shows and Complex News segments. Featuring your favorite celebrities, authoritative commentary, and a unique voice, our videos make culture pop.

[@Complex]

What's your favorite Salehe Bembury sneaker?

[@omathkyle1]

Personally like his first 2002R in the Orange colorway

[@thapalemexican]

Love the 574s!!!!! Black/plum colorway or the OG olive/burgundy colorway

[@jeffreyvazquez1297]

574s got the brown and the pink ones. Great great shoe

[@SophomoreSlumber]

Crocs Pollex hits different

[@DJLeeland]

I have the pleasure of owning the Anta Nest SB-01s in grey. Absolutely incredible sneaker! I need another pair! SO happy to watch this interview!

[@MrMeMyselfandI]

I love that Salehe incorporated his fingerprint into the Croc. So many people put their identity into a shoe (a logo, some initials or numbers, or a little detail), this man put his whole fingerprint on a shoe. Idk if he’s the first to do it but GENIUS

[@yustinauong4426]

Did that for the peace be the journey new balances too

[@tommyswain3762]

@@yustinauong4426 If I recall correctly, NB is the first time and it's been incorporated into his work ever since.

[@dghehir2]

The Jordan 23 had MJ’s fingerprint as the outsole and thumb print on the tongue

[@brickchains1]

There were these basketball shoes in the late 90s that had fingerprint patterns in the tread on the sole they were so dope I wish I could remember what they were. Idek the brand 😢

[@seanzooky]

The story about convincing NB to design a shoe with a whistle is so incredibly dope. Great interview

[@eugenekang3779]

Every Salehe interview is amazing, this is definitely going to be a Complex Sneaker Podcast that I will remember

[@feddy4969]

As much as I want to hate the guy this interview definitely won me over

[@jaguarb2000]

So happy that they mentioned the Goku connection to the weighted vest because that's what I was think about when I see people training with weights on. Even if Salehe didn't get the reference. lol

[@ahmaddanialmohammad]

Absolutely love how detailed and critical Salehe is. Great conversation by JLP, Matt, and Brendan. Enjoyed it very much!

[@culla99]

Fantastic episode, some real gret insight into the design industry. Props to Salehe for being so genuine!

[@corduroypants1871]

can you guys add more pictures when referring to the sneakers you say. It'd be really helpful but very engaging interview. definitely one for the archive 💎

[@The_Regular_Jo]

This interview was absolute 🔥🔥🔥 Love Salehe’s story about how he got NB to put a whistle on a shoe.

[@tommyswain3762]

Well that explains why I like Salehe’s NB’s… the inspiration came from the ACW Zoom Vomero, my favourite sneaker of all time. The more you know.

[@caprasch]

So much respect for this individual. Mad props to the level of design he had achieved.

[@evanplotnick4454]

Salehe does not interview often. This was a great interview and I have mad respect for this man's creations and uniqueness.

[@Sneakahead555]

Foot game proper !!! Shout out to Bembury, didn't know he was apart of some of them ! Such cool dude, very well spoken These stories are just beyond amazing. Always love the different paths us creatives have taken I've been doing a little older sneaker shopping lately as well of course only on eBay New Balance is really killing it ! Beautiful episode !

[@liamfleming5253]

been waiting for this episode for so long! it definitely lived up

[@myles4947]

Genuinely crazy to me how similar Salehe sounds like Virgil - his tone, words and flow seem to match up in many ways. Super excited to see what more he brings to the sneaker space and hopefully I land a pair of the upcoming Crocs! Great ep.

[@J-J-J-J-J-J-J-J-J-J-J]

Brendan’s the kinda guy that would ask for a shoe on his birthday

[@siddhantshah8585]

Amazing questions, Amazing answers, Amazing insights.

[@Conrad45]

Man's a legend. Love Salehe.

[@omathkyle1]

A great way to start my Friday working from home !

[@jakegetscake4672]

Great episode I have his crocs and love them

[@jaya5920]

you payed resell?

[@Conrad45]

@@jaya5920 Nah I got reps 😳

[@ayekaloji]

Salehe’s too cool! he’s really paving the way for aspiring footwear designers, and designers period!

[@DJLeeland]

THE PODCAST I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!!!!!!!

[@comma_man]

The vibe goes well with Friday🔥🔥 Also, the Goku Weights reference for vests. Dunne’s my guy!

[@joaomendes3801]

We need a teddy santis episode asap!!!

[@dylanorourke1168]

That high king of hiking comment was completely missed.

[@evanmackey2982]

A1 show, quickly becoming my favorite podcast.

[@leroylanda8106]

Another great episode. Salehe is honestly the coolest guy.

[@thomaspayton_]

CLASSSSSIC GOOD GUEST. HAVENT WATCHED YET

[@xdepredatex]

Those consolidated shoes are legendary! I wish I could my hands on a pair today.

[@shady2493]

Salehe reminds me of Darius from Atlanta ✊🏿

[@Martin4scla1]

Picture Matt listening to South Central Cartel, Comptons Most Wanted and Spice 1…. 😂

[@briannavarro5860]

I literally can’t wait to see what amine has to come it’s gonna be fyre🔥🔥

[@andrewshively6475]

Didn’t know Welty had as big of a skateboarding background. Cool to know! Thinking on that ONE perfect song for your skate part was definitely a thing!

[@johnrambo9940]

This was a great episode

[@boptalks]

Amazing episode

[@AMIRAGE2184]

What a chill dude...

[@soleplanter]

enjoyed this episode! maybe joe fresh goods next🙂

[@ax23xr]

It’s hard to unsee JLP nowadays without thinking of his NFT 🤣

[@Jeffreynelius]

Very good episode

[@jacobmperry]

YES FINALLY!

[@DeLaKleve]

Great episode

[@shaitaffe8757]

FINALLY!

[@sinethembagwebu1244]

My favourite episode

[@chasetiemeyer1056]

CLASSIC EPISODE YALL. DOING GREAT THINGS.

[@Jeffreynelius]

Cuban and Lil Wayne story is interesting given their recent interaction 😄

[@julio117100]

Jealous of the giveaway “sneaker” this week 😭. Need those crocs

[@dylanorourke1168]

Torture for everyone living in Europe listening to the lads struggle describing 5 a side football.

[@alvarosanchez3786]

Bro Salehe did the Rock Lee training 😭

[@adamneustaedter4666]

Blink take off your pants and jacket in the 5 disc changed was my high school senior year. I had the pants version.

[@prankstisci2523]

We def need a JFG guest episode

[@tosh6004]

Sick

[@thapalemexican]

YUUUUUUUUUUUUURT!!!

[@GeekyGalore]

BIG EPISODE

[@highbrohumor7218]

Joe : great color combo Wealthy: yea it’s great.

[@kmcw8507]

Atmosphere!

[@bobbybyers7107]

I love the shoutout to 2mex

[@MegaEmorey]

i need the JUNIPERS NOW!

[@AyeeJayyy]

When’s the sneaker give away of the week hitting the international viewers?

[@kubolor1234]

Bruuuh…Enema Of The State, still bumpin that all the way in Ghana 🥹

[@jayg1980]

Anyone know what cap Salehe has on there?

[@nbk6zcj]

This is probably one of my favorite episodes to date.

[@knappbryan13]

If you’re still looking for the Kaws Bapestas, there is a store called fools judge in harajuku that has the whole line

[@wishzhan8967]

❤️

[@BizzyBethany]

Those consolidated dunks are grails of mine

[@erd2216]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@ghost.hardware4931]

If you were given the opportunity to individually collab with any brand/model, which one would you choose? and what would the collab look like?

[@severinoblaisematuidi6921]

New balance or Puma

[@severinoblaisematuidi6921]

Would love to do a Audemars piguet watch

[@mikem4314]

finally a guest i know to be a pretty humble person. a lot of the guests in the past have had some smugness to them that i havent really appreciated

[@Unbreakzable]

was just listening to ja rule this morning, LeBatardShow just did two days on papa roach and blink 182. I didn't even know he was part of the lunargrands. I got 5 of em. Haven't been able to snag a croc yet

[@paulkersey724]

1:09:05 correct if I'm wrong but Welty said bembury's last name correctly here? He said "Salehe Bembury" and pronounced it right no?

[@marcovargas1232]

salehe joe n teddy needa form a htm type collection

[@DonDon-no6iw]

I’m creative I enjoy designing things. I feel it’s apart of me but I don’t know where to start or get into the industry... I need a few pointers ?

[@JakeRyanMN]

WELTY! SPEAK UP, MAYNE! 🗣

[@Jeffreynelius]

Welty bumpin Aceyalone? OKAY PLAYER!

[@JoshLavis]

imagine winning this sneaker giveaway, RIP 😔

[@areksoo]

Salehe and/or Teddy needs to help refresh the golf shoe line up for New Balance. There's a ton of potential here. Especially with the influx of a lot of younger people getting into golf. Jordan, Nike and Adidas are the only ones doing anything esthetically with golf shoes. New Balance golf shoes have the functionality, but so bland looking.

[@MrMeMyselfandI]

I was gonna say they shouldn’t because people don’t care about golf (at best people buy the Golf Jordans) but if anyone can revamp it Teddy Santis or Salehe Bembury can

[@arcadechris4488]

Crazy how this doesn’t have more views / likes you can tell how many people really f**k with Salahe. Crazy episode 🔥

[@christopherortegadavila3252]

🤯

[@shekutarawallie7679]

Savage Garden is legendary lol

[@thomasm2161]

He love giving shoes to celebs then having more pairs for us to buy

[@padraiccosta4644]

Salehebembury is the man with new balance and crocs he’s killing 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@XX-123]

Does anyone know the intro song?

[@neriogomez1033]

So nobody likes the Fugazi 1s?? That knock off is 🔥

[@nowii1982]

If I can get the Friends and family size 11 and 12 for my birthday? I want to fish 🎣 big Bass with them on!

[@downtownmb26]

Why does this not have the Welty Triggered Meter!?!?!?! The past few episodes, that thing would have been maxed out!

[@kevincollins8620]

I would be upset to win these. Would FLIP!!

[@dylanrupert2357]

I have a six disc changer in my center console

[@jprocha2395]

Gotta love this guy. If you enjoy this check him in the Joe Budden pod as well.

[@brpk6631]

Where do i get the hoodie salehe us wearing?

[@sabastianmolina5439]

Hey! It dropped on his site today! I bought it!

[@simonallum7720]

brotha has the most spicy voice

[@06mikerome]

At 31:38, those aren’t custome 990v3’s…those are custom 993’s

[@coachjmartinez]

you guys should leave the guest in between the hosts. great episode however yall got salehe looking 'away' from the mix🤷🏾‍♂️just my thoughts. keep up the great work looking forwards to the progress💪🏾💪🏾

[@brettcraigie6976]

brendan not understanding what a drop-in game is made me laugh

[@Defenser56]

Why was Welty saying Bemberry for anyways

[@dw5237]

Thanks to welty, i now drink liquid death sparkling water!

[@SkyeDaMan]

Put some respek on his name Welty! 😂🤦🏾‍♂️ can’t believe you got that wrong 😂

[@oak_odell8842]

I feel like he should be the 4th dude on this podcast

[@surcharge1982]

This episode is so nerdy... And I am totally here for that.

[@Scottie_Drippen]

The newness he spoke of is one of the reasons I believe Jordan brand will do so many "odd" colorways of their retros. If everything was a Bred or UNC it wouldn't meet that newness need. Don't u think?

[@Mr.Vega4]

Alright, so I'll keep posting this on every episode in 2022 until eBay and Complex let overseas folks participate in the giveaway... If we can sell on eBay and pay fees, we should be able to participate.

[@jerryvjohn2210]

Love the take, but can someone please ask Welty to sit closer to the mic. It’s really hard to hear him at times.