Inside Saucony's Collab Playbook with Jason Faustino, Sr. Director of Energy

Mike runs a solo Coffee Time Kicks episode and sits down with a friend of the show, Jason Faustino, Senior Director of Energy at Saucony. Fresh off the brand's Paris preview, Jason breaks down how Saucony builds its creative world: why knowing exactly who you are beats chasing anyone else, how collaborations really get vetted (it comes down to chemistry and gut), and how a small team stays two years out on product while making it look effortless.They get into the Westside Gun partnership and the passing of the torch from Jae Tips, why Jason sees himself as working for the artists as much as the brand, the Ride 1 revival, the slow-burn rise of the Guide 7, and a Crystal Caves colorway coming back on the Triumph 4. If you want to understand what makes Saucony tick right now, this is the one.In this episode:Why Saucony leans all the way into its own identityHow collabs actually get vetted, and why it comes down to a feelingThe Westside Gun and Jae Tips storyProtecting artistic freedom inside a corporate structureThe two-years-out product development timelineRide 1, Guide 7, Omni 9, and the Crystal Caves Triumph 4Why in-person community still beats the transactional stuffFollow Jason on Instagram @um.jf13. Saucony at saucony.com.Subscribe to the Sneaker History Podcast and drop your favorite Saucony in the comments so we know you made it to the end.SUPPORT THE SHOW:Donate Through Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/sneakerhistoryBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/nickengvallEarly Access, Exclusive Videos, and Content On Patreon: https://patreon.com/sneakerhistorySubscribe to The Sneaker Newsletter for industry insights: https://www.thesneakernewsletter.com/If you are interested in advertising to our audience, contact us: podcast@sneakerhistory.comCHECK OUT OUR OTHER SHOWS:For the Formula 1 Fans - Exhaust Notes: https://exhaustnotes.fmFor the Fitted Hat Fans - Crown and Stitch: https://crownandstitch.comFor the Cars & Sneakers Fans - Cars & Kicks: https://carsxkicks.comFor the Creators & Creatives - Outside The Box: https://podcasts.apple.com/id/podcast/outside-the-box-convos-with-creators/id1050172106[Links contain affiliate links; we may receive a small commission if you purchase after clicking a link. A great way to support the pod!]—––––—––––—––––—––––—––––—––––—––––—––––Our podcast is proudly...Recorded on Riverside: http://www.riverside.fm/?via=sneakerhistoryHosted & Distributed By Captivate: https://bit.ly/3j2muPbDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/