GREATEST: Jason Markk
Jason Markk looks back on 10 years of his premium sneaker cleaning solution and wears his Air Jordan 3s, the first pair he used to document a Before & After on.
We meet at the Jason Markk office in Downtown L.A. where a ping pong table greets you, and later head to Belcampo Meat Co., a favorite of Jason’s.
Jason, I read you were working at a Dairy Queen in your hometown of Harbor City when you were 16, while also making extra money DJing on the side. How much did growing up in Los Angeles in the 80s impact your love for sneaker culture?
From hip-hop to gang culture to the Showtime Lakers – growing up in the 80s in Los Angeles, more specifically the South Bay, made me who I am today. The laid-back SoCal culture and weather definitely influenced my style. I grew up rocking Converse Chucks, Nike Air Max 1s, 90s, 95s, 97s, Cortez, K-Swiss, Vans Eras, Sk8-His, and Jordans.
What other odd jobs did you have growing up?
When I was 15, my friends and I wanted to be DJs. To raise money for our first set of turntables, my parents had us do work around the house. We cleared the entire backyard of knee-high weeds and gave the house a fresh coat of paint, among other things.
Once we got our DJ equipment, we formed a crew and almost immediately began throwing parties. That kicked things off and we started getting hired to DJ house parties, high school dances, and weddings. As teens, we were making pretty good money. Most of everything we made went back into buying more records and equipment. And yes, when I was 16, my first “real” job was at Dairy Queen in Del Amo Mall.
What was your parents’ initial feedback when you pitched them your business plan to start Jason Markk?
Nothing but support. They never doubted me. I think they saw the drive and success I had from DJing and believed in me.
2017 marked the 10-year anniversary of Jason Markk. What were the early years of Jason Markk like? Where were you fulfilling your first orders from? How quickly did you then outgrow your first physical office?
The early years were a lot of hard work, but also very fun. I packed every order and answered every customer service e-mail for the first few years. I ran the business from a small home office in my parents’ house. The business steadily grew and eventually overtook my parents’ living room. At that point, it was clear that I needed to get a real office. This was about three to four years in.
Jason Markk’s offerings are all natural, biodegradable with no chemicals. What was the process like working with chemists during those 10 months of research and development?
The development process was exciting. Seeing my idea come to life right before my eyes was extremely fulfilling. I worked closely with the chemists, giving them direction and feedback. Then they would provide samples for me to test. At times, I’d spend hours in the lab with the chemists getting the details just right.
When did you know you had the winning formula?
Once I felt I was getting close to having a final product, I had a few of my friends who were into sneakers test the cleaner out. After seeing their reactions while using the product, I knew the product was ready.
My pair of white Air Jordan 3s ‘Flip’ were the first pair that I documented a Before & After on. I went to the ‘Watch The Throne’ concert at Staples Center [in 2011]. After the concert, I was eating a danger dog and dropped a glob of ketchup, mustard, bacon fat, and onions directly onto my kicks. The next morning I cleaned them up like nothing ever happened and posted it on Facebook. That post got a lot of attention and people started posting B&A pics of their own using Jason Markk.
Even though you never initially set out to open a flagship store, what is it like looking back on the past three years of Jason Markk’s retail space in Little Tokyo?
I’m so glad I decided to open the store because it has become a special and significant part of our brand and story. In just three years, we’ve created so many memories in the space and it truly feels like our home. Seeing our customers’ reactions when they pick up their shoes never gets old!
How many shoes would you say your S.C.T.s [known in-house as a Sneaker Care Technicians] have cleaned since the store’s opening in May 2014?
Over 40,000 and counting!
Aside from the infamous pair of bloody BAPE sneakers from the customer who almost blew up his hand during Fourth of July and the rare Eminem 4 size 14s that came in, what are other stand-out sneaker instances your staff has encountered at the shop’s drop-off service?
A customer dropped off a pair of suede Sauconys that were covered in cake. He was at a Steve Aoki show.
Every year after Coachella we get a ton of shoes that are just covered in dirt and dust. After Burning Man is always interesting too…
Do you plan on expanding with new brick and mortar Jason Markk locations?
Yes, expansion of the retail and service is in motion now. We’ll have our second location by the end of the year.
Can you tell us more about Jason Markk’s first-ever collaboration – with Undefeated? When was that and how did it come about?
Being from L.A., I’d shop at Undefeated La Brea regularly and the brand was one of my favorites. I reached out to one of the Undefeated designers and sent him a kit.
A couple weeks later by chance, I happened to see him at a Nike party and introduced myself. He called me the next day and the rest is history. I was a new brand at the time and for them to believe in what I was doing still means a lot.
There are a plethora of other outstanding collaborations Jason Markk has done with brands such as Patta, Ebbets Field, Hello Kitty, POOL and so forth. As a sneaker fan first and foremost, how special does it feel with each one of these collaborations coming to fruition for you?
To be able to work with brands that I’m a fan of is special.
You are an advocate for wearing shoes you own as opposed to keeping them stowed away in their boxes. What were the most number of pairs you owned at one time? Which specific pairs did you – or do you still own – that hold sentimental value to you?
I feel sneakers were meant to be worn and enjoyed. Especially those pairs that you’re really psyched about.
The most pairs I’ve owned at one time is probably around 400. The pairs that have memories attached to them are most valuable to me. A few pairs that come to mind…
Nike AM95 OG Neon: I don’t have my original pair anymore, but this sneaker teleports me right back to high school.
Nike AM90 x 360 Footpatrol: One of the last pairs I lined up for with one of my best friends. It was a good day.
Common Projects Achilles Low: I got married in them. Enough said.
Would you say that Jason Markk is also helping with the sustainability of sneakers? In a way, you’re prolonging a sneaker’s lifespan (and wearability).
Absolutely. The more you maintain and care for your sneakers, the more you’ll get out of them.
Congratulations again on 10 years of Jason Markk. Currently, how many retailers do you have worldwide and in how many countries?
Thank you! We are currently in about 5,000 stores in over 30 countries.
How do you balance maintaining relations with all your international retailers not limited to but including London, Philippines, Tokyo, and Dubai?
We are fortunate to have the best distributors in the world. They do an amazing job of servicing and building with our retailers worldwide. We also travel a lot to personally visit our retailers.
If you aren’t at work at the new Jason Markk office in Downtown Los Angeles or at the retail flagship in Little Tokyo, where would we find you?
If I’m not traveling, you’ll find me at home in Los Angeles spending time with my wife and eight-month-old son. Quality time at home has become a luxury that I don’t take for granted.
On your days off, Jason Markk is…
Traveling, cooking, fishing, hanging with friends, and family.
INTERVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY: DIANE ABAPO