Following the release of the Nike SB x NOTE Dunk Low ‘Brew and Biscuits’, Conduct went down to the launch event in Manchester’s Northern Quarter to speak with founder Paul “Splodge” Rogers.

What might look like a collaboration on the surface is in reality the result of decades of work .. building something rooted in community, independence and culture. Since opening in 1999, NOTE has grown from a local skate shop into a globally recognised name, without ever losing sight of the people and city that shaped it.

We sat down with Splodge to talk about the early days, the evolution of Manchester’s skate scene, and how it all led to this moment.

Nike SB x Note Dunk Low Pro 'Brew And Biscuits' Shoes

Take us back to 1999 — what was Manchester’s skate scene like when you first opened NOTE?

The scene was smaller in Manchester in ’99 and pretty much focused on street skating, particularly the Gas Works. The council didn’t provide any public skateparks back then but we had the Bones skateparks. Rollerbladers outnumbered skateboarders in those days, then the Tony Hawk computer game had just come out and that kicked off a bit of a skateboard boom.

What made you decide to start a skate shop in the first place?

I needed a job for a start and I knew there wasn’t anywhere to get good skate product in Manchester. Split Skates, American Sports, Sheep and Bored shops had all closed. Exit had some of the skate shoe brands that were popular back then but they never seemed that bothered about actually stocking skateboards or contributing to the scene.

I wanted to do something long term and positive — to supply, support and motivate the scene. We put together a team starting with Tony Da Silva, Ben Grove and Joe Gavin, produced videos, put on events and tried our best to put Manchester on the map in terms of skateboarding.

Who gave you the nickname “Splodge”?

Growing up in the 80s with a common name like “Paul” you really needed a nickname. When I was at school everyone called me “Bodgers” because it rhymed with my surname Rogers. I used to lurk at a shop called Sheep on Tib Street in the early 90s that was run by Chris Hamer — he heard some people call me Bodge and switched it up to Splodge, and it stuck.

Independent skate shops often become community spaces — how has NOTE played that role over the years?

I think the best skate shops encourage lurking and provide a place for people to hang out and meet up. We’ve always employed our mates and a lot of our customers have become friends.

Skateboarding has always attracted creative and interesting people and I’m stoked to see this community that’s developed around the shop — people who’ve met through NOTE.

There are some real characters around Manchester — what’s one of the maddest things you’ve seen happen in town over the years?

One mad coincidence was about 10 years ago when Noel Gallagher had been chatting shit about never seeing a skateboarder land anything in an interview. A few days later we spot Noel walking out of Oi Polloi and Nev nailed a 360 flip right in front of him — the footage went viral. The timing was impeccable.

Another moment was when we had a video premiere and a skate jam outside the shop. Someone walked past carrying a trumpet and got heckled by a skater to play a tune but ignored it. Next thing we know a full brass band comes marching round the corner blasting out Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This — it created an amazing vibe.

Looking back over 25 years, what moments stand out the most for you?

Anytime we get a big gathering of workers and lurkers — premieres, parties, skate jams. It’s especially rad these days seeing how big, diverse and multi-generational the crew has become.

How did the Nike SB collaboration first come about?

Every so often shoe companies invite people running skate shops out to “summits” to check out new products and give feedback. Nike invited me out to one in Amsterdam about 7 years ago and asked all the shops there to pitch a shoe design.

There were some banging designs — Frame Skate “Habibi” Dunk Low, Color Skates “Kebab and Destroy” Dunk High and Riot Skateshop Dunk Low all got produced after being pitched at that meeting. Nike kept telling me they liked our design and wanted to produce a NOTE shoe, and eventually we got round to making it happen.

The concept was just for jokes to begin with. We love Dunk shoes and thought it would be funny to give a British spin on a basketball shoe — making it all about dunking biscuits in brews.

NOTE. The iconic logo

What was the design process like for the shoe?

I had a bunch of Zoom calls with a Nike design team based in Portland, Oregon where we brainstormed ideas and figured out what was possible.

I went through the Nike archives and found a Jordan 6 Retro Wheat that had the right mix of brown and premium suede to look like the perfect brew. For the biscuit swoosh, we couldn’t narrow it down to one biscuit so we decided to offer interchangeable options — plain, chocolate and pink wafer.

I shot a photo of a load of biscuits for the insole and inside of the shoe, and we also ran that image on the laces. A couple of months later we got the first samples and loved them. The swooshes needed a few more rounds to get right, and we added a spillage stain to the sole to stop it feeling too clean.

Suede upper with interchangeable, biscuit-themed Swooshes and laces

Were there specific Manchester references you wanted to include in the design?

It says “NOTE Manchester” on the heel tab to avoid any confusion with other companies called NOTE. We added a hang tag inspired by a popular tea brand founded in Manchester and produced in Trafford Park. There’s also a worker bee hidden on the shoe.

The worker bee has become a powerful symbol for the city — why was it important to include it?

The worker bee has always been around in Manchester but became more prominent in the last 10–15 years. I kept seeing it in architecture, mosaics and crests and learnt it represents Manchester’s role in the industrial revolution and hard-working people.

It fit well with NOTE — our whole Workers & Lurkers thing — and the fact Manchester kept getting called the most productive skate scene in the UK. We put the bee on our clothing and decks and it went down well. Now it’s everywhere and widely recognised as the symbol of the city.

What do you think skateboarding has brought to Manchester culturally?

Skateboarding makes you look at and appreciate a city in a unique and unconventional way. Instead of just being a place to earn and spend money, it becomes somewhere to get creative, find spots and enjoy yourself with friends.

It pushes people into photography, filming, editing, music, art, fashion and design. Even this project shows that — musicians, videographers, photographers, designers — all from the Manchester skate scene working on it. Only that crew could make it feel authentic.

What does Manchester mean to you as a place to run a skate shop?

I love Manchester. To think we’ve built a skate shop that represents the city, has been around this long, is known around the world and feels appreciated — that makes me very proud.

The Nike SB x NOTE Dunk Low Pro ‘Brew And Biscuits’ marks more than just a collaboration — it’s a reflection of a community built over decades.

From Workers & Lurkers to a globally recognised skate shop, NOTE continues to represent Manchester through its people, its energy and its independence.

Read more via Conduct and stay connected for future features spotlighting underground and independent culture.

A Moment Years in the Making: NOTE x Nike SB

N-Type: The Story Behind the Sound