Palladium has a really cool marketing campaign. How did “The Explorers” idea originate, and what is the goal of with this campaign?
With our aviation and Foreign Legion background we have adventure, discovery and travel in our DNA. Our current brand platform of urban exploration stays true to our past but allows a much more contemporary point of view. Our brand communication is based on a series of real urban explorations of cities around the world. Partnering with Vice Media, we shot film of each exploration and we brought New York based photographer Peter Sutherland along to document the trip with his photography. We picked an explorer to find each location and to unearth the stories from these amazing places. We’ve been in the tunnels underneath New York, found hidden oil drills in Hollywood, explored old espionage sites in Berlin and gone onto London rooftops to find pirate radio stations. Our explorations became the brand campaign.

How are Palladium boots designed? How did the original ideas for the Baggy and Pampa originate?
It’s the exact same design as the original 1947 boot. It’s classic, timeless and it works. The key was to leave the design alone. Most of our work is on colors and materials.

How are Palladium boots made? What are the materials used?
The classic Palladium materials are rubber and canvas. That’s what we’re best known for, although we have now added lots of new upper materials to the range, including waxed canvas, oiled suede and distressed leathers.

Where are Palladiums most popular? What markets is the brand trying to expand to?
We first relaunched the brand in the US market in mid 2009, and then opened Germany, Holland and the UK this year. Most recently we added Canada and Japan. Next is Italy and Australia, and then many more countries after that. We probably have the most existing brand awareness in Europe, as Palladiums were huge there in the early ’90s, but people all over the world remember the Palladium brand.

What is Palladium’s most popular item?
The first people to find us, which are always the more fashion forward customers, prefer the Baggy with the fold over collar. Canvas in the summer and leather in the winter.

Will there be any new styles in the future for Palladium?
Yes, we have some new heights coming soon. For Fall 2010 we have the Pampa Parade, which is a knee high version, and the Pampa Peloton which has a high collar and two straps with buckles. All of the styles are on the rugged rubber Palladium outsole. There will be lots more to come as our momentum builds.