Never bored by a skateboarder: 80%20's Sneakerista Ce Ce Chin
a Riffin' Interview
Ce Ce's Webjockey Profile
Ce Ce's Rifflist: Sublime Infactuation
Give a guy a skateboard, and he automatically becomes 10% hotter. Give one to a lady, and she half-pipes into the stratosphere. Ce Ce Chin is a skater gurl at heart who has launched one of the nation's hottest sneaker lines, 80%20. Check out more at 8020nyc.com.
Riffin': Tell us more about your gangsta genealogy.
Ce Ce: My great-grandfather was one of the original gangsters in New York City's Chinatown. They called him "Black Lips" because he ruled with a Black Lip! I happen to have inherited his apartment down in Chinatown, complete with ghosts and everything.
Riffin': When did you start your line of shoes?
Ce Ce: I started about two and a half years ago after working for Calvin Klein, Michael Kors and DKNY for several years.
Riffin': Why did you start your own line?
Ce Ce: I always wanted to do my own line, and I thought it would be in handbags because that was where my training was. However I felt the sneaker trend on the street and saw that there was a huge selection for guys but not much for the ladies. I thought, "why should guys have all the fun collecting sneakers?"
Riffin': How did your tenure at Calvin Klein and Michael Kors impact your aesthetic?
Ce Ce: I think that my time at Calvin Klein and Michael Kors gave my designs more polish because both places emphasize attention to detail. For example I always use leather details on the inside of the shoes, and my signature orange and ivory stripe lines the inside of every shoe.
Riffin': What inspires your graphics?
Ce Ce: For Fall 06 we did a Rocky Mountain High collection, and that description can be interpreted a few different ways as its a combination of a little nostalgia, psychedelia and fantasy.
Riffin': Do you have any plans for men's shoes?
Ce Ce: We created two styles for Fall 06, but I still feel my design intuition is for the ladies.
Riffin': What celebs have worn your shoes?
Ce Ce: Shalom Harlow, Gemma Ward and Laura Linney are fans.
Riffin': How much do your shoes retail for?
Ce Ce: $55-$140
Riffin': Who is your customer?
Ce Ce: She's a downtown girl who doesn't want to grow up. She loves sneakers, dates skateboarders, shops at both vintage stores and boutiques. She's into indie rock and going to gallery openings and parties. She's sexy in a rock and roll kind of way.
Riffin': What's your favorite type of music?
Ce Ce: Eclectic, ambient, rock, guitar and bass-heavy beats for girls who rock!
Click here to view Ce Ce's new Rifflist: Sublime Infactuation
Music is the great equalizer -- but not all music is equal -- find out why at Riffin.com
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80%20's Footwear Lineup
 
 
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