Ever since an underage Frank Cooke walked into BJ Betts’ shop hoping the tattooer would look the other way and hook him up, the two creative powerhouses have been close friends. Betts struck up a conversation with the renowned sneaker designer and let us listen in as they discussed where they find inspiration, the importance of positivity and how the key to any design is the story behind it.
BJ Betts: What was the sneaker and tattoo scene like where you grew up?
Frank Cooke: As far as sneakers and fashion go, it was a small town but it was kind of rich in content. Of course we had the staple sneaker stores—Sports Connection, even down to Foot Locker. And then having that flavor from Philly 29 miles away and being able to go to City Blue and Dr. Denim to shop. Sneaker culture was pretty prevalent there and everybody always gets fly no matter what. Having that influence really shaped what I wanted to do as a career in footwear and apparel.
As far as the tattoo scene, I was a kid, man. I always went to Borders bookstores and I would get a bunch of tattoo magazines. My mom and dad would be like, “What are you looking at?” I always thought tattoos were super unique and different. Plus having to go through pain to earn something on your body was a different kind of therapy for me. When I first met you at August Moon, that was after the sneakers and it was cool because the shop was less than a mile away from my house. So I could literally walk there. When I was old enough, I would just come home and my dad was like, “What is that? Did you get another one?” I just got hooked after that because I’ve always wanted to be super tattooed.
BB: Hell yeah. Which clearly you are, at this point.
FC: I’m getting there.
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