Culture

Get To Know: Jason Markk | 10 Questions With Jason Mark Angsuvarn

Jason Mark Angsuvarn grew up in Southern California, he founded his eponymous shoe care label back in ’07 and now lives in Los Angeles – where JM is headquartered. For Jason, the lack of cleaning solution good enough for his prized sneakers was all it took for him to hit the market with the Jason Markk brand, which is now trusted by sneakerheads all over the globe.

With flagships in LA & London, Jason Markk’s brand is now the go-to name for sneaker care, maintenance and resurrection.

As a stockist and an even longer-time fan of the brand, we sat down with Jason to ask him a few questions about his top tips, starting a global business and planning for a more sustainable future.

jason markk coggles

Hey Jason! Firstly and straight up, we want to know where your love of shoes came from…

I grew up in the South Bay and I was into basketball and hip-hop when I was a kid. Naturally, I think sneakers go hand-in-hand with both of those cultures!

What was it like growing up there?

Growing up in the South Bay was a great experience. The South Bay is an interesting mish-mash of cultures. It’s where the beach, suburbs and inner cities collide. I’d say it’s pretty diverse in its ethnic makeup and because of that, you’ve got a plethora of amazing places to eat – especially Asian food.

It’s ‘06 in Los Angeles, where were you when you got the idea to hit the market with a specialist shoe cleaner?

I was cleaning my shoes at my parents’ house with a basic soap and water mix. I thought, “Why am I using dishwashing soap to clean my kicks?!”

jason markk

Expanding from your parents’ house into a globally renowned brand is a pretty big deal…

It’s been an exciting, but surreal journey. Through the years, we’ve had ups and downs, but things seem to always fall into place. I’m thankful that I’ve found my path. I am living a dream.

What’s been the biggest challenge for you?

The biggest challenge so far has been growing too fast. Thankfully we were able to solve it and are now able to stay ahead of demand. For me, when a challenge presents itself and is not extremely urgent, I prefer to take a night or two to think things through before reacting.

I also have an amazing team that I trust, so we’ll work through whatever it is together and make the best decision on how to move forward.

Talk us through a typical day in the life of Jason Markk…

OK… yoga, shower, coffee, emails and meetings.

At EOD, I always carve out some quality playtime with the kids, cook dinner and bath time is a ritual! Then once they’re to bed, I’m either back to work or taking some time for myself. I love camping, fishing, tinkering in the garden and cooking.

What’s your favourite sneaker as of late?

Hoka One One. Especially with all the camping and fishing that I’ve been doing. They’re a durable, comfortable pair that’s easy to wear with anything.

If you could play us 3 songs today, what would they be?

Your latest product – the RTU foam – is a bit of a game-changer, right?

The Ready-To-Use Foam Cleaner has become my daily go-to! Don’t get me wrong, I love our original solution just as much, but now that I have two young kids and not as much time, the RTU Foam has been a lifesaver.

Your products are free from harsh chemicals and the Jason Markk brand is all about prolonging the lifespan of shoes, can you give us an insight into your sustainability plan?

We’ve recently updated our company vision statement: “To foster a culture of care in wearables, self, community, and planet.”

In terms of immediate plans, we’ve begun updating all of our formulations to be even greener while exceeding past cleaning performance. We run a refill program in our flagship stores – although a small step, still a step in the right direction. On a broader level, we are taking a closer look at how we can be better – not only from a sustainability standpoint but as an organization overall. We’re constantly looking for ways to become more sustainable and we have a lot of amazing things coming down the pipeline so make sure to stay tuned!

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Exclusive interview with Jason Mark Angsuvarn. Words by Ciara Martin.



Ciara Martin

Ciara Martin

Writer and expert