Looks like a pump, made like a sneaker: a new line of shoes serves up sports technology to fashion

Interview, August, 2003 by Joanna Jacovini

JOANNA JACOVINI: Gordon. I know your background is unconventional for the shoe world, which is probably why your work has been standing out. But to begin, tell us how you landed here.

GORDON THOMPSON: I have a degree in architecture from the University of Southern California and then I got a graduate degree in environmental design from the Art Center College of Design--not exactly your standard footwear/handbag/apparel-design background. Frankly, I think architecture is a great training ground for design, because it forces you to keep a perspective on the overall concept as well as on the little detail that's going to make it special. You could say the same thing about apparel or footwear or bag design. I was hired by Nike to design the first Niketown store in New York City, and after working for the company for a couple of years I became the head of research and development. I think Nike liked what I could offer from a design standpoint and sort of threw me into the footwear game. Then I added apparel, and eventually I became creative director for the company. I moved over to Cole Haan a few years ago, which Nike had bought in 1988.

JJ: Cole Haan's new G Series line is your baby, isn't it?

GT: It is.

JJ: Hence the g in the line's name?

GT: Hence the g.

JJ: What's fascinating about this line is how it dips into several worlds of design.

GT: The G Series takes that Nike technology and does something really unique and "fashion" with it. I used to see so much sport innovation when I was at Nike and think, God, that would make such a great street shoe or such a great heel or something completely unlike what Nike would create. My team and I take all those things and look at them with fresh eyes. When I came over to Cole Haan, it seemed like a really unique opportunity to introduce this new line, one that takes the best of both companies, combining the beautiful manufacturing and materials on the Cole Haan end with the highly innovative world of Nike.

JJ: So what's the next realm to conquer?

GT: We're going to start thinking about accessories for G Series--women's and men's bags. I fly a lot though, so someday I'd love to engineer the interior of an airplane that's completely user-friendly for the business traveler. Like the Concorde, but in a modern way.

JJ: Great, who do we talk to?

GT: I don't know--the Industry of Airline Designers?

Joanna Jacovini is Interview's Fashion Director.