In the subculture that Freshness has been writing about the past few years, much of the topics involve collecting or collectibles. There are many types of collectors and our friend Clarence Nathan collects Supreme stickers, while some have started to collect them in recent years…

In the subculture that Freshness has been writing about the past few years, much of the topics involve collecting or collectibles. There are many types of collectors and our friend Clarence Nathan collects Supreme stickers, while some have started to collect them in recent years as the Supreme ‘box logo’ became a valuable collectible, Clarence has been collecting them for over 14 years.

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I’ve known Clarence sometime and have seen him many times in and around the Supreme area. I knew he had a history with Supreme and even thought he worked there at one point, he never did. Recently, Clarence sent an email and said that he wanted to show his Supreme sticker collection and that he had a lot. When he showed up at our office and started to pull out his collection, I was completely blown away by what he has collected over the years. Click through below for his recount of collecting stickers since the late 80s and a photo journey through his collection of Supreme stickers.

Clarence Nathan is the owner of Premium Goods in Brooklyn and Houston and a collector of many things including stickers in general.

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We’ve known each other for several years now, what led to your decision approaching us [Freshness] to showcase your collection.



There are 3 reasons why I approached Freshness to have my collection shot.



1- Freshness was the first US based sneaker culture blog if i remember correctly in 2002 when i first opened my shop.



2- You guys were based out of Brooklyn.



3- I saw the Slam Jam post online and i wanted to do it right and really show as many stickers as possible so the heads can see a large selection of Supreme stickers. No disrespect to SJ but so many people who are familiar with my collection always beg me to document what I have. I think they feel like I’m going to wake up one day and sell it all for nothing without ever showing it off. (Shout out to Leo/Starks Laces)

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Clarence Nathan’s Supreme sticker collection shot at the Freshness office on April 29th, 2009.

When did you start collecting stickers?



I started collecting stickers in 1987 from hanging out at Soho Skates(shout out to Ann Z.) when they were on 6 Ave in 987. I used to skate with all the old heads.. Bruno, Jeremy, Aly, Beasley(RIP), Mario, Jumunji, Eli… etc. My dude Martin(most of you know as the 1st NYC Bape Store manager) gave me a ton of stickers my last day in the city before heading off to college. Most of these got plastered on my trunk and that initial collection was lost. While at college in Atlanta, GA around 1992 i got back into collecting. I would hit up the only skate shop in town Stratosphere and the rest is history.

Why stickers?



No particular reason. I was mainly into the graphics and I knew there was a high turn over because so many skate companies came and went during this era. Eventually I started to realize that some of these stickers would never be made again because of this.

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Clarence Nathan’s Supreme sticker collection shot at the Freshness office on April 29th, 2009.

Why the focus on Supreme?



Well to be honest I have all kinds of stickers from different skateboard, surf and shoe companies. Between 1992-1995 i was collecting skate stickers from all over the country and world if I traveled outside of the US. When I did the rollerblading thing in 1995 i would stop by Supreme and peep the glass case where they had the stickers laid out. They had tons of stickers by other brands like most skate shops do so I would literally buy 1 of each… sorry Gio. I was buying and collecting ALL skate company stickers at this point. The first Supreme set i got was the 4 mini logos in blue, green, black and gray all with a white outline. The current box logo size wasn’t standard at this point. The interest in Supreme stickers was sparked because they only made stickers once. The 2nd reason is that Supreme stickers were only sold in NYC at the Lafayette St shop so the only way to get their stickers was to actually go to the shop and buy them. Remeber this was way before eBay, NikeTalk, InStyle Shoes and other streetwear blogsites sites who focused more on sneakers.

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My first set of Supreme stickers. Original Box Logos in 4 colors.



I have never seen anyone else with these or Supreme stickers that pre-date these.

Your collection includes a stack of certain editions, why and how did you get so many?



Well for me it was a combo of things. I was accepted by the original Supreme crew (Gio Estevez, Pooky and Chappy). They allowed me to hang out and be apart of their scene. From 1995-1997 there was a major after hours scene in the back of Supreme each night. I would hang out in the back of the shop with all the staff and the homies. Here is where I met peoples like Ari Marcopulous, Keenan Milton(RIP), Huf, the Keefe brothers, Justin Pierce(RIP), Ssur, Jakuan 360, Peter Bici, Kareem Campbell, Aron, Jamie Story, Fred Gall, Stash, Futura, Lee and Dondi. It was mad ill. Anyway… Supreme stickers at this time weren’t a commodity as it is nowadays so when they were released I would get what I wanted because there was no resell market and the demand was low. It’s like i was the only person in NYC interested in collecting stickers. Also the Supreme stickers were NEVER for sale. Shoppers were given 1 or 2 by the staff at their discretion. As for stickers by other companies usually about cost 50¢ to $1. So I would just pay outright for them or do a trades. Dude I remember when box logo tee shirts would be on the tee shelf for weeks at a time. That’s how it was back then.

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2nd oldest Supreme Box logo stickers. These are made of paper and don’t hold up well outdoors.



Camouflage, Yellow/Blue, White/Silver, Blue/White, Red/White, Black/Silver, Red/Silver, Green/Black.



There were also mini versions of the last 2 (see page 12).

What’s your favorite box logo sticker?



I can’t say that I like any one more than the rest but I will tell you this… I do APPRECIATE the LV stickers because my dumbass slept on the LV decks. When they dropped I was hanging out at the Supreme warehouse on vestry street like 3 days a week. The decks just arrived and they had a lot of in all 3 colors. So I was like ‘ima come back and get my set’. The next time I went back the rack was empty and Frankie told me that US customs and LV officials came down and trucked all of the decks to Staten Island to be incinerated. I’m was so tight. So I can appreciate the LV stickers because it’s a constant reminder of me sleeping. Now I NEVER sleep! I kind of like the black/white box logo the best since it’s SO rare that they would do a solid color sticker other than red/white. I only have 2 of those stickers. On page 5 you see the original box logos in solids but that’s it. Now they seem to only make the classic red/white.

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Supreme x LV. [2000] White/Brown, Black/White, Brown/Tan.





Will you ever sell any?



Nah. Maybe 1 or 2 here or there but… In time I will figure out what to do with them. I will give some to those that TRULY appreciate these stickers as much as I do.

What else do you collect?



Right now I mainly collect Supreme stickers, Supreme camp hats(5 panels) and Supreme decks. I dibble dabble in collecting art as well. I slowed down on the sneakers, Supreme backpacks and toys.

Anyone you want to thank in making this all happen?



Hell yea! First off James and Maryann for starting Union which led to Stussy that gave birth to Supreme. Without them so many of the current brands/stores would not exist… myself included. Gio Esteves, Pooky, Chappy, Aron, Chris Gibbs, Ryan Hickey, Alex Corporan, Frankie, Brendon, Geoff, Augie, Jakuan and Martin. //

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Pixelated Logo. Green/White, Red/White, Black/White.







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Gucci Logo. Green/Red, Tan/Red. I believe this to be the first Supreme sticker to use clear gel print.



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Supreme x Fuck Bush. Note the clear gel print, 9/11 Remembrance Sticker. Note the clear gel print, Supreme x Jackson Pollack.

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Supreme x Roy Lichtenstein, Supreme x Andrei Molodkin, Supreme x Last Supper by Ssur?



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Assorted Logos.

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Reflective Box Logos. Purple, Royal, Red, Gold, Silver.



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Motion Logo [1998] (Goodfellas Movie credits) Black/Red, Red/White,Blue/White, Green/White. Iced Out Logo Platinum, Gold.

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Vintage Oakley Logo by Phase2.



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Vintage Oakley Stack

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Supreme x Jordan 1 Logo. Red/Black, Carolina/Black, Red/White, Black/White. Mini versions to match.



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Supreme F You Toy, Mini Everlast Logo, mini and maxi Brillo Soap Box Logo, Mini Motion Logo, Mini OG Box Logo, World Famous.

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Supreme x Lodown Magazine. Carolina/Navy, Red/White, Lt Pink/Pink, Red/Royal, White/Black. Minis to match



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Fuck The Police. Minis to match.

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Supreme x Peter Saville New Order Logo.



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Supreme x Peter Saville Joy Division Logo Black/White, Red/White; Supreme Bandana Logo Red, Black; Supreme Buffalo Plaid Blue, Green.

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Death Wish Logo, Juelz Santan and Jim Jones, Raekwon, Elmo and Billy Danze from M.O.P, Corprate Gallery Bullshit.



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Recent assortment of Supreme Stickers. Top two. Supreme x Sean Cliver



Left column Supreme x Kermit by Terry Richardson.



Right Column Supreme x Damien Hirst