Collaborator Profile: Palladium Boots

The SlamXHype team had the pleasure of meeting Hommy Diaz, Global Product Director of Palladium. We invited him to our office to chop it up and learn more about his journey – growing up skating NYC back in the ’80s, his stint as an artist at Apple, and eventually landing in the footwear game.

So take us through your resumé, Hommy. Where has your journey taken you before Palladium?

I started out in New York. I was a skateboarder. Back in the late ’80s/early ’90s, it wasn’t the “thing to do” on the East Coast, so I was seen as a rebel. Through skateboarding I found my attraction to art and music. I went on to art school at the Parsons School of Design. I graduated from there and ended up working for Apple because art led me to technology. After 5 years, I landed a job at DC Shoes because of my background in skateboarding, fashion and art, and that’s what brought me out to Cali. That was in 2007, and pretty much jumped started my career in the footwear industry.

How was the transition from DC Shoes to Palladium? Their markets differ so much.

Actually it was a natural progression, simply because I grew up in New York and I wore boots as a necessity – going from skate sneakers in the summer to boots in the winter, you know? So going to Palladium was natural.

So how does the Palladium brand connect with your ideology and creative vision?

Well for me it’s all about taking a heritage, and feeding off of that heritage, and taking it to the next level. My heritage has led to a certain progression. Going from skateboarding to boots may seem like a weird switch, but for me, it fits.

What are your favorite, and least favorite, trends in streetwear?

My least favorite was the saggy pants that were below the waist. It didn’t really sit well with me. My favorite trend … I really like the streetwear youth dressing up a little more dapper. When I was growing up, getting too dressed up was a little too ‘square.’ Now it’s different; now it has more appeal.

Where do you see streetwear going in the next five years?

The next five years? Technology. It’s just getting crazy. Like the Apple watch, you now wear technology.

In your years in the scene, what’s been your favorite streetwear or clothing collaboration?

Concepts. I think the Nike ‘Lobster’ they did was packaged very well; it was fun.

What about yourself? What’s the best collaboration you’ve worked on?

I would have to say the collaboration we just did with Alpha Industries.

How did the Palladium X Alpha Industries collaboration come about?

When I joined in 2012, that was the first thing I pitched. There was a natural connection through both companies’ military background and history. Alpha pioneered the MA-1 flight bomber in the late ’50s, and during the same time Palladium was making tires for the war planes in Europe. Then Alpha started to make field jackets for the ground troops, while Palladium made boots. There was just a natural connection there.

Can you tell us about any exclusives? Any collaborations coming up?

We have a collaboration coming up relatively soon, right after the new year — it’s with SBTG (Sabotage). He’s a good friend from Singapore, and shares our military aesthetic.