Just Don Talks His Signature Hats and Jordan IIs in New Profile

You're probably familiar with Don C and his work—even if you have no idea who the guy is. A co-owner of Chicago's RSVP Gallery, G.O.O.D. Music label manager, and (once upon a time) Kanye's Road Manager, the man behind the customizations of the Just Don label is never not busy.

In an profile with Hypebeast, Don discusses his "many hats"—both in terms of his many projects—and his work under the Just Don label. When Don founded Just Don in 2011, he was on the cusp of a major retro sportswear and customization movement. It's his snakeskin hats, inspired by Chicago's drug dealers, that added a luxe take on retro wear. Guys like Eric Emanuel credit Don's groundwork as the grandfather to their own customization businesses.

Even the Jordan II, an underutilized sneaker when compared to the Jordan III, IV, and of course I, received the Just Don treatment with a quilted version dropping earlier this year. As Don notes in the profile, his rework of the second Jordan sneaker helped put the shoe back on the map.

But for all of Don's creativity, he also credits his partnership with Mitchell & Ness—the brand supplying him with plenty of retro sportswear and team gear to work with. “They’re a timeless brand that have been committed to quality, an element which I adhere to in my design work,” Don said. The partnership has been so strong, that Don has recently branched out into customizing shorts with his luxurious aesthetic.

While there's plenty Don C has already done to change sportswear; with plenty more on the horizon, one thing is clear: he's not slowing down anytime soon.