Let’s start at the beginning, how was Culture Kings born? S - I was over in America on a working holiday and met up with a friend who was working in a clothing store, I really loved the gear and thought it would sell well back home. When I got back, I started ordering shirts and sneakers, and set up a small stall at Carrara Markets.

Your slogan is Sneakers, Clothing, Art, Music, Life - is that in any particular order of importance to you guys? (both laugh) S - Well it started out as mainly sneakers, but now we’re thinking of changing it up to include hats, because we have a lot of them now too. T – Once you’re involved in something like this, your priorities do change.  They wouldn’t have been the most important things to me a while ago, but then I met Simon,
and they are now.

Sounds like a lot to incorporate into one store, how do you manage it? S – We originally wanted to include art on canvas in the shop, but ended up not having enough room with everything else we’ve got in here. But the hand painted hats and sneakers are works of art, they’re not just hats and sneakers to our customers.

So where did the idea of a back store barber come from?
T - Convenience for the bro’s!  We had a lot of customers looking for a specialty barber, so it developed from consumer demand. Our customers come to buy some clothes and get a haircut
at the same time; they want to walk out looking fully fly.

This feels like the kind of place you could just hang out all day, listening to music and checking out the gear.  What do you think attracts people here?  T – You get regular customers that come in every week for a haircut and new clothes, getting ready for Friday night. Then there’re a lot of people who come in for a haircut and all their mates come too. It’s never really a problem; it’s just part of what we do.

As a couple, what’s the hardest part about working together all day, every day? Both - Ummmmm (look at each other laughing)

I should have asked you separately! T - I say it’s definitely a good thing.  (Simon nods) S - When things get busy and stressful at work it can be hard, even on Saturdays and Sundays we’re up at 4am and heading down to Carrara Markets. T - We really only fight at work.

Any tips on the next big street wear trend? S - Expensive Taste, watch out for that one. They’re an Australian and American brand. They’ve actually designed a range for us, incorporating Aussie culture into the designs.

What’s next for you two? Both – Brisbane! S – We’ve opened a second store, so it’ll be pretty full on. T - At the start both of us will be there quite a lot. I attribute the growth of the business to Tahnee (collective awwww!)