When I lace my shoes I can't stand when they are twisted and dirty. It just looks sloppy. Even if it's a new pair of Chuck Taylors and the laces are all twisted it looks like you don't care.

Basically for everything that comes out of Five Four, I've come up with the idea or changed it in some way. I'm also working with Putnam Accessory Group, a private label hat manufacturer. I'm in the process of re-branding a line they have called Chuck. It was mostly hats and bags, but I'm adding apparel and eyewear and whatever I feel like adding to turn it more into a brand. I'm supposed to be working with Pharrell on Billionaire Boys Club, but that's on hold.

When I was a kid I was very particular. I was actually beyond particular. I would iron my money and spray it with Polo cologne.

I thought the Made in America men's wear push was a big revolution in terms of smaller companies taking charge, but it seems like it's gotten out of control.

Bigger brands like Shinola are capitalizing on what all of us small companies did. Shinola is just totally fake. It's a corporate entity that's taking advantage of what everybody else has done. They say it's all about made in U.S., but one Wal-Mart hires more employees than their whole company.

I really never even seriously considered a book but a few years ago someone approached me out of the blue and I said I would think about it.

When I lace my shoes I can't stand when they are twisted and dirty. It just looks sloppy. Even if it's a new pair of Chuck Taylors and the laces are all twisted it looks like you don't care.