It's exciting to have the chance to talk about Patta’s legacy and its powerful presence in the world of fashion. To start things off, can you share a bit about your personal history and what led to the creation of Patta?

Gee: Of course, no problem. I was born in Surinam, of Maroon descent; Saamaka to be specific. Patta is the means to an end that Edson and I created – to do what we love, meet and work with people we love, and create and push what we think is important. It allows us to explore and invest in our interests: traveling, music, sports, heritage, art... you name it.

Patta has always been more than just a brand. It's viewed as a movement rooted in culture, music, and community. Looking back at its early days, what was the driving force behind starting Patta, and how did you know you were onto something special?

Gee: The driving force from the start was our friendship, our shared roots, the importance of family and friends, and, at the core of it all, our love for music – hip-hop, to be specific.

Building a brand means constantly evolving while staying true to your roots. What are some of the key values from Patta’s early days that still define the brand today? And what has changed the most?

Gee: We know our worth and what we want to do. We’re not afraid to make mistakes. Our mentality is "20 below" – making something out of nothing. The essence is still the same, but we’ve grown. Edson and I have grown and learned. I hope a lot has changed, because change is a good thing.

What’s been the biggest lesson in scaling Patta while keeping its independent spirit alive?

Gee: Each One Teach One. In line with that, trust and giving space to new energy and the next generation is important. Carry on tradition.

Amsterdam played a huge role in shaping Patta’s identity. What made that city the perfect launchpad for what you were building? And now, with Lagos as part of the equation, how is that shaping Patta’s next chapter?

Gee: Amsterdam is our stomping ground and home base, but we keep an open mentality –always looking to connect with like-minded people wherever we go. That’s exactly why we’re based in the locations we are. We clicked, we resonated with the people and culture there. Lagos is no different, except that it’s in West Africa, which, for us as children of the diaspora, feels like coming full circle, for obvious reasons.

Patta has always been deeply connected to sneaker, hip-hop, and street culture. How did those influences shape the brand’s foundation, and how do you ensure that Patta stays authentic as the landscape keeps changing?

Gee: Our interests and passions have always been the foundation of what Patta is. It’s never been purely transactional. That’s just one part of it – man’s gotta eat, and money creates space and provides resources. It’s something we’ll always be trying to balance. One side of it is organic, it’s what has always moved and inspired us. The other side is about no gatekeeping, making room for fresh voices and new ideas.

Patta and Alpha Industries both have strong ties to subcultures and communities. From your perspective, what connects the two brands beyond just aesthetics

Gee: What interests us is that Alpha, the brand and the product, is a true staple. The connection runs deep because, like us, it moves across genres, subcultures, and, ultimately, people. It fits right into the Patta "got love for all" mantra.

You said in another interview that Patta had somewhat of a “clubhouse vibe” in the beginning. What does that sense of belonging and community mean to you, and how do you still cultivate that energy?

Gee: I have to give it up to the people who work for Patta – most importantly, those in our stores. Without question, they’re the ones who carry the ethos and build the brand in real life. I’m very proud of the way they hold it down. They inspire us all.

How would you shape Patta in an ideal, utopian world if you had the power to make changes?

Gee: Patta is like our little baby growing up, which means we constantly have to look inward and strive to do better. It’s not perfect, but what or who is? Working from a place of imperfection is the most real and honest approach. Even in a utopian world, this is where I’d still want to be – because the truth is, there’s always room to do better.

The Patta x Alpha Industries MA-1 bombers have become a staple, available exclusively in-store. As a never-out-of-stock item, you can find them in the Patta chapter stores in Amsterdam, Milan, and London.

Stills by: Butterscotch Isle & Akadre Uno | Words by: Zoe Bab & Renée Diehl