Interview - Nike SB x Note 'Brew & Biscuits' Dunk Low

Considering there's supposed to be some kind of trans-Pennines beef between Leeds and Manchester we've actually always had a pretty tight relationship with the folks at Note. From their home in Manchesters' northern quarter, Note have been supporting skateboarding for over 20 years, and this month they finally get their first Nike SB collaboration. 

So, we thought we'd have a little email chinwag to ask about their 'Brew & Biscuits' Nike SB Dunk Low, the city, being a skate shop, and some other random bits and pieces. Thanks to Splodge for his time on this one and the team at Note for their continued dedication to skateboarding.

I seem to remember you pitching this idea at a Nike SB meeting in 2019, what took so long?

Yeah, they asked all the shops to pitch shoe ideas at that Nike meeting in Amsterdam 7 years ago. If I remember correctly three other shoes pitched that day have already been made, Frame Habibi Dunk, Color Kebab & Destroy Dunk and Riot Bordeaux Dunk. (Welcome's stealth team velcro Dunk and Mowabb Safari inspired colourway are set to never see the light of day). Our Biscuits Dunk idea seemed to go down pretty well and Jay Huckstep in particular was backing us and the concept but then there would be personnel changes at SB and things would go quiet. Then about 3 years ago Rafa and Angela hit me up and started pushing for us to get this shoe, pitched it to “global” and it all got the go ahead but then we still had to wait our turn. Remember the full year of Paris stuff?

Can you tell us about the design? What's your favourite detail?

I wanted to do a very British take on the Dunk and that got me thinking about dunking biscuits in tea. I found this market research about how strong Britons like their tea and 47% picked this one particular shade so that’s what decided for the upper colour. That upper had to sit in a tea cupsole and so we made that ceramic white like all the best mugs. The swoosh is the biscuit getting dunked, but we couldn’t decide on just one type so we decided to put an assortment in the box so you can select. Inside the shoe we put a photo of the contents of a biscuit tin and we thought why not carry that on some laces too. I don’t remember seeing printed laces much recently and if you don't like them you can always switch them up. My favourite details are the hang tag inspired by a brand of tea from Manchester and the stain on the sole.

We always associate Joe Gavin with Dunks, is he involved in this project?

Yeah Joe’s been working hard on this and putting his many talents to use. Filming, editing, designing, painting and skating! Try to get to Manchester on the 25th March to see what he’s been up to.

Did you have any other design ideas that were discarded before you settled on tea and biscuits?

We thought about a few Manchester skate spot inspired designs but I didn’t think they would mean much to many people outside of our scene. We also considered making the Biscuits Dunk a wear/tear away upper that changed colour but sacked that off.

Why does this colourway make sense for Note?

NOTE is fuelled by brews and biscuits! I’m sure all UK skate shops are, there’s always a packet of biscuits by the till and cup on the counter.

On a different note... Manchester city council have a reputation for being pretty anti-skateboarding. Is there anything you would like to say about that?

From what I can gather it's all because one particular councillor claimed that her friend had her leg broken by a skateboarder running in to her and for that reason she hated skating and did her best to make it as difficult for Manchester skaters as she could. Apparently she’s pretty much retired now and the younger councillors taking over are much more pro-skateboarding. Joe and I have been in some meetings recently and they reckon that Manchester is getting 3 big new skateparks in 2026 and the council want to organise a festival to celebrate skateboarding in 2027! 

Note has been going for over 20 years, that’s long! What have you learned in all that time?

It will be 27 years soon. The skate shop business has always been up and down and we’ve had to ride waves of trends and fashions to survive. I like to think we’ve stay true to what we do but been able to change and adapt and keep in touch with what the next generations of skateboarding want. 

There used to be a lot more skate shops, why do you think it’s so much harder for skate shops to survive these days?

Yeah I think that's a real shame because I believe a good independent skate shop can be a huge asset to a town/city or scene. Not only are they a place to get skate proddy but they’re a meeting spot, hang out space and they provide consistency and history to a scene. 

The internet has got to be a big factor why shops have been struggling. People do so much of their shopping and socialising online now. The costs of running a bricks and mortar shop keep going up. Some brands and distributors are blowing it with their direct to consumer shenanigans and choices of shops to supply. 

Can we get a special box?

Yes. Welcome will be top of the list when it comes to dishing out special boxes.

What’s your favourite biscuit?

Milk chocolate Hob Nobs are my all time favourite but in the process of researching and designing this Dunk I have had to buy and try pretty much every biscuit on the market. I’ve discovered a love of some of the plainer and more budget biccys. Big up Bourbon Creams and Malted Milk!

What’s your favourite Dunk?

The white leather Ben-G Dunk Low.

What’s your favourite skate shop (besides us)?

I’m a child of the 80s and was big in to BMX. Towards the end of the 80s me and my mates started getting more in to skating and we discovered a rad shop called Soul Skates in Stockport. I used to lurk there a lot and it's probably what inspired me to start my own shop. They had their own T shirts and stickers with CND and Island Heads printed all over, there was always a vid playing, every now and again they’d spray paint art on the walls and it was owned by Andy Preston who had been a big time pro BMXer who I totally looked up to. Very cool!

Do you want to do a collab?

Hell yeah! You guys rule! 

The Nike SB x Note  'Brew & Biscuits' Dunk Low launches at Note on Wednesday March 25th and at some other shops on Saturday the 28th.

For all your Nike SB hit the link here - https://welcomeleeds.com/collections/nike-sb/footwear