'Think Globally - Act Locally: Michael Kopelman' - Streetwear Today July 2005

Text & Interview: Steven Vogel
Special Thanks to Rob & Marcus

Our title claim and theme throughout this issue isn't about slamming globalization, nor is it meant to stir negative feelings in our readers, nor is it meant to whip you up in a frenzy and go smash up the next McDonalds on next years May Day Riots. More than anything it is meant to promote some more free form thinking in our readers and ourselves which then can and should be applied to our surroundings. There has been a lot of negative press surrounding the phenomena termed "globalization" in recent years, that in combination with an ever growing and merging European continent, combined with an economic recession in Europe has caused a downcast and serious negative vibe among us. Additionally, politicians seem to have nothing more on their agenda than to get re-elected by any means necessary, and that does sadly include stirring up old fears such as losing ones national identity, racial, ethical and religious differences and economic hardship and things don't look to brightly. However, don't let yourself get fooled into depression and helplessness. Sure, the incredible amount of information that we are bombarded with on a daily basis mostly cause a feeling of overwhelming helplessness, since everywhere we turn we are confronted with disdain. Yet, that is exactly where our theme comes in. First the bad news though, no one is going to help you make things better. Secondly, it is entirely up to you to change your own state of mind, your situation and the situation around you. Don't let the mass media fool you, you can change things and make them work for you, which is how we came to the decision to talk to Michael Kopelman, and not just because Stüssy is turning 25 and is driving everybody nuts with their 25 special collaborations. Let's be honest, generally the opinion in our industry is that things aren't too great and that it used to be all better before. Even though that might be a semi-accurate statement, there are people and brands out there that make it work for themselves. It is a question of strategic approach, philosophy and execution that sets brands like Stüssy, Gimme5, Supreme, PAM, Visvim, Good-Enough and A Bathing Ape apart from the rest. Michael Kopelman is the man behind all these brands in Europe, and consequently is also the man that made London and thus the whole of Europe that what it is today. What would London be without stores such as HIDEOUT, Foot Patrol, A BATHING APE BUSY WORK SHOP and the Stüssy Store? Those stores and the brands they carry have always stood at the epicentre of all that's exciting, cool and wanted in London and Europe and they are all incarnations of Michael's doing. Not only does he sell & represent these brands but he's actively involved in their design and marketing, a part of the whole. It might well that Michael took a lot from his Japanese peers when it comes to long term thinking and planning that sets him apart from the rest of the industry and now ensures his success. He took what he saw on his travels around the world, the things he was taught and told from friends and peers such as James Jebbia and Hiroshi Fujiwara and applied it to his home, London. It is Michael's continuous success story that embodies our title claim more than anything else. It is possible to use the positive aspects of globalization as long as you can balance them out on your local level. I had the opportunity to meet up with Michael in London and talk to him about what it means to think globally and to act locally, how it worked it for him and his business, the Stüssy 25th Anniversary and why in time of perceived recession he's smiling.