Pair of Kings: A Fashion and Culture Podcast
Pair of Kings is the men's fashion and culture podcast for the next generation of style. Hosted by Sol Thompson and Michael Smith in New York City, each weekly episode breaks down what's actually happening in menswear—from streetwear to archive fashion—and the trends reshaping how men dress in 2026 and beyond.
We cover the full spectrum of current men's fashion: emerging designer brands and Grailed finds, vintage menswear, sneaker culture, and luxury collaborations, Japanese denim, and the Lower East Side revival we called before anyone else.
Our interviews spotlight the creators, stylists, editors, and industry insiders pushing fashion forward—the new vanguard building culture from the ground up.
While Pair of Kings is a fashion podcast, we're also a window into the NYC scene—the Lower East Side resurgence, downtown nightlife, art world crossovers, and the community energy driving Gen-Z and millennial style culture.
If you care about gorpcore, workwear, Salomon sneakers, Rick Owens, Stone Island, Demna's Gucci, runway breakdowns, or just building a personal style that actually means something—this is your show.
Think of us as the bridge between legacy fashion media and the new wave: less gatekeeping, more real talk about streetwear outfits, designer pieces, sustainable fashion, and the relationship between clothing, identity, and community. New episodes every other week.
Topics we cover: men's fashion trends, streetwear culture, archive fashion, menswear podcast, NYC fashion, emerging designers, Grailed, vintage clothing, sneaker releases, luxury menswear, personal style, fashion interviews, Gen-Z style, contemporary menswear, fashion community, trend forecasting, indie sleaze, quiet luxury, relaxed tailoring, New York City culture
Pair of Kings: A Fashion and Culture Podcast
12.5 - The Blackmerle Interview with Terry and Justice (@blackmerle)
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This week, Sol and Michael are joined by the founders of Blackmerle, the South Korea-based brand making some of our favorite clothes of 2025. Tune into the podcast to hear the boys chat with Terry and Justice about how they approach design, how they choose materials, popups, their event at Komune, what they wish they could make, masculine cues in an outfit, double cuffs, color choice, rare Japanese fabrics, uniform dressing, jewelry creation, and why the brand started!
Thank you again to the Blackmerle team for trusting us with such a wonderful interview! We hope you enjoy!
Sol
Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”.
Message us with Business Inquiries at pairofkingspod@gmail.com
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Links:
Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All)