Innovators of the Week (IOW) is a new series featuring people around Greater Boston who are innovating harder than anyone else and making Boston a better city.
Greg Selkoe started his signature street wear company, Karmaloop, in his parents’ basement when he was a grad student at Harvard. He may be the only hipster fashion impresario with a background in urban planning and public policy, and it’s served him well; Karmaloop is now something of a multi-platform global media empire. the company has seen 11 straight years of double digit growth with last year’s revenue topping $130 million.
What are you working on?
Working on so many things! Brickharbor.com which is Karmaloop’s upcoming skate site; Boylston Trading Co. (www.BoylstonTradingCo.com), Karmaloop’s higher-end clothing site for men; Karmaloop TV.com is launching a brand-new, bigger-and-better website in the spring, and we are continuing to work on a longer format Karmaloop TV channel strategy with our YouTube Premium Channel and we’re exploring other great IP TV options. we also have Karmaloop Europe and Karmaloop China launching in 2012.
How are you being innovative?
We continue to make sure we are as technologically advanced as we can be. we were a little behind in the mobile space and will be launching a brand-new, awesome app in February. in terms of fashion & culture, we are constantly traveling the globe and interacting with tastemakers & trendsetters.
What are you reading?
Right now I’m reading a bunch of books which I read in little spurts simultaneously: “Boardwalk Empire” by Nelson Johnson, “Triumph of the City” by Ed Glaeser, “the Singularity is Near” by Ray Kurzweil, “the Checklist Manifesto” by Atul Gawande, “the Wisdom of Crowds” by James Surowiecki
What are you watching?
I was watching How to make it in America on HBO until it was cancelled (must have been my cameo that did it!), I watch Boardwalk Empire, and of course I watch KarmaloopTV.com every day. I’m always on YouTube, Funnyordie.com and VBS.tv.
What are you listening to?
Music for me is about variety and being eclectic: bad Rabbits, Dresden Dolls, Cudi, the Clash, Jay-Z, Pac Div, Tabi Bonney, Diggy Simmons, A$Ap Rocky, Asher Roth, Pharrell, Das Racist, Husky Rescue, Morrissey, J Cole, DJ Chachi, Blade Runners, Kanye, Brek one.
What are your local haunts?
Boston: The Athenaeum, Middlesex, Bobby from Boston
NY: Ace Hotel, Gramercy Park Hotel, Brooklyn Machine Works Garage, Waldy’s Pizza
LA: Roger Room, Bar Marmont, Museum of Jurassic Technology
What are the qualities you most admire in a man and a woman:
I admire dedication, perseverance and creativity.
What is your vice?
Alcohol (former), food, Spongebob, loud music.
If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be?
What natural gift would you most like to possess?
I got what I need. I’m totally satisfied. I can work with what I have.
How would you like to die?
I am gonna live forever, just like AssDan, but if I had to choose – with my wife, we’d die together at the age of 100 in our sleep.
What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
Sit alone in a quiet place, with no devices.
Know anyone else who is innovating hard? Nominate them today. Email us at info at bostinnovation dot com.
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