How Public School Paved the Way for Designers Like Virgil Abloh, Jerry Lorenzo, & Rhuigi Villaseñor

Complex
•August 7th, 2026
DESCRIPTION
On this episode of The Complex Style Podcast, Aria and Chris sit down with Public School NY founders Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne. The group discusses Public School's rapid rise in the 2010s, designing custom look for Jay-Z, extensive archive of sneaker collabs with Jordan Brand, recent comeback, and more. Chow and Osborne also reflect on their status as pioneers of the streetwear contemporary luxury category in fashion.
This is your inside access into the world of fashion. The Complex Style Podcast is where Editor in Chief Aria Hughes is joined by co-host Chris Chance and a rotating panel of fashion’s biggest voices to break down what’s trending, what matters, and what’s next.
00:00 – Intro
00:36 – Meet Public School's Dao-Yi Chow & Maxwell Osborne
01:35 – The story behind Jay-Z’s Custom Public School Look for MSG
06:17 – The Jay-Z Album That Defines Their Comeback
09:15 – The #1 Lesson From Their First Run: Learning to Say No
15:03 – Why Black Apple Was "Totally a Mistake"
17:28 – Public School Started the Streetwear Contemporary Luxury Category
22:38 – The Biggest Thing They Missed About Designing Together
27:04 – The New Nike Drop Coming Your Way and The Stories Behind Their Air Jordan Collabs
33:14 - Is New York Still the Top Fashion Capital?
37:01 – How to Stay True To Yourself and NOT Sell Out
44:29 – Working for LVMH's DKNY: "Imposter Syndrome" on a Billion-Dollar Budget
49:43 – Dao-Yi Chow Designing The Paper Planes Logo
51:52 – Rapid Fire and Flowers - Their Dream Sneaker Collab and Manifesting Harry Styles
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COMPLEX is a community of creators and curators, armed with the Internet, committed to surfacing and sharing the voices and conversations that define our new America. Our videos exemplify convergence culture, exploring topics that include music, sneakers, style, sports, and pop culture through original shows and Complex News segments. Featuring your favorite celebrities, authoritative commentary, and a unique voice, our videos make culture pop.

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