Meet Myles Stephens and Max Justice : Co-Founder of Masego Footwear

We had the good fortune of connecting with Myles Stephens and Max Justice and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Myles & Max, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
I think the most powerful thing anyone can ever do is to never give up on their dreams. People used to make fun of me for saying I wanted to have my own sneaker brand. It didn’t happen overnight. It didn’t happen in a couple of years. It took time. But now that it’s alive and breathing, I feel like there isn’t a task or a job that I can’t do. It makes me sad that people think giving up on their dreams is a normal thing to do these days.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

There’s this saying in the manufacturing world of fashion – the level of difficulty it takes to make something starts at your feet and goes all the way up to your head. What that means is that it’s super difficult to make a pair of shoes, it’s a little easier to make jeans, it’s even easier to make a shirt or a sweater, and it’s even easier to make a hat or a beanie. So, I guess you could say we were in over our feet from the very beginning! Wow, that was a terrible joke…

Our co-founder, Max Pasamonte definitely keeps me busy too. His passion and his attention to detail elevate every aspect of what we put out into the world.  Having a business partner who really cares about the work just as much as you do is so important. Sometimes when you have a big idea, it’s just nice to know you aren’t alone in it. We hold each other accountable, we keep each other grounded, and we always make sure we never lose sight of our goals.

We think our brand is going to change the way people think about sneakers. We are a high-end, luxury, unisex footwear company, and everything we make is handmade. We are super confident that our customers won’t find a better quality product for the price point. But until everybody knows that, as Kobe Bryant would say: “Job not finished.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Me and Max were born and raised in Los Angeles so this is a hard question. We both have a special attachment to Venice. The Venice Canals are so peaceful, and for creatives, that neighborhood is just always popping with eclectic people. We love to play basketball indoor or outdoor, anywhere we can find some solid runs. Driving along PCH is always a good vibe. We always recommend going to the Arts District and getting lost for a while. There’s a bunch of cool bars, fashion brands, and art down there.

You have to catch a Laker Game at Staples Center too! Or have a picnic at the Bluffs in the Palisades or at the top of Mandeville Canyon.

Fresh Corn Grill, Cha Cha Chicken, Connie’s Sea Food in Culver City, Roscoes Chicken & Waffles, Dulan’s on Crenshaw, The Brentwood Countrymart, Cholada, Reel-in, Ysabel, and Nobu are some of our favorite spots to eat. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I don’t think Masego Footwear would be possible without Luke Tadashi of Bristol Studios. When we were young college kids back at NYU, Luke was wearing samples of raw denim jeans to class, testing out bomber jackets, and working on refining his brand. As a young kid, seeing that, he just kind of showed us that being creative in that way was even possible. He always encouraged us to challenge ourselves. Without him and Bristol Studios, I don’t know if we would be as far along as we are right now.

Website: www.masegofootwear.com

Instagram: @masegofootwear

Image Credits
Lauren Moghavem, (@openforedit), Max Pasamonte, and Myles Stephens.