Glue Bag | Kane Nugent Interview

Find out everything there is to know about Glue Bag as we chat to the brand's founder, Kane Nugent, about how it started, where it's going and everything in between.

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In case you hadn't already heard, we recently started stocking a very exciting, up-and-coming skate brand called Glue Bag. Although they may be currently based out of Vietnam, they actually have far-reaching roots which spread all the way back here to Cardiff. While we're lucky enough to know the brand's founder, Kane Nugent, from back in the day, we know a lot of you might not be so fortunate; so we thought it'd be a good idea to rope him into doing an interview so you can find out everything there is to know about Glue Bag, and why you should be hyped on it, straight from the horse's mouth. Have a read below!

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Hey Kane! Could you start off by telling us a bit about who you are and where you’re from?

Ahoy there sailors. I’m Kane Nugent, the owner and artist behind Glue Bag, now based in Saigon, Vietnam. I’m originally from South West Wales, grew up mostly in Carmarthen, went to college in Caerleon, then moved to Cardiff around 19.

You’ve been living in South East Asia for a fair few years now, what was it that drew you over there?

Even as a kid I knew I didn’t want to settle in Wales, or the UK in general. I can’t deal with the cold. I had mates living in South East Asia and always wanted to visit, but at the time I was stuck working in a call center, dealing with seizures, and feeling like life had gone flat. I needed something drastic.

A friend told me about a two-week TESOL course in Cambodia and I thought, fuck it, why not. That turned into three years in Vietnam, a few years in Bangkok, and then moving back to Vietnam about six years ago.

I’ve got great memories of Cardiff, but leaving was the reset I needed.

How does the skate scene there compare to Cardiff when you were living here?

The scene here is sick, but skateboarding in Saigon is still in its infancy. There are hundreds of skaters, but no government-funded skateparks. We used to have a solid indoor park, but rent got too high and it shut down.

There are loads of street spots, but security is the constant battle. The city’s overcrowded, traffic’s chaos, and someone will usually complain. A spot might last a few weeks, then it’s dead forever. You’re always searching for a consistent place to skate and hang out, which can get draining.

There aren’t as many super handy skaters as back in Cardiff, but there are still some absolute rippers and everyone makes do with what they’ve got. There are probably only three quarter pipes in the whole country, tranny is basically dead.

Bangkok’s a different beast entirely. It’s like the Barcelona of Asia. Ridiculous scene, endless spots, and a strong DIY culture. People are generally more relaxed with skaters there too, and there’s a bigger expat scene, so you’ve got more people to speak English and chat shit with.

It seems like you’ve always been making art in one form or another, how did you first get into it? Do you have a favourite medium?

I don’t remember exactly what pulled me into art, but I grew up watching loads of cheesy 80s and 90s films and was obsessed with the practical effects, especially the gore. I rinsed Resident Evil 2 as a kid. My mum still has a drawing I did when I was about eight of a crow eating a severed arm, which probably says enough.

My clumsy, cack-handed approach carries through whatever medium I’m using. I tend to move in phases. I’ll get deep into printmaking for a while, then photography, then filming, then clay. I don’t really have a favorite. Glue Bag is what keeps it all tied together and gives the experimentation a purpose.

You’ve said yourself that your artwork’s ‘demented’. Does that come from some form of divine inspiration or is it a result of you having seizures?

I’ve always loved outsider art. I went to uni, but I never studied art properly at school, so I still feel self-taught. I never mastered anything in a technical sense, I just figured out what worked for me. I’m drawn to things that look odd, slightly off, almost effortless.

“Demented” is just an easy term. The work isn’t random though. It’s deliberate. It’s hard to make something look childlike without it becoming childish.

As for divine inspiration or seizures, it’s probably easier to say it’s all Jesus and epilepsy. Praise the Lord and all that.

So, what is Glue Bag and how did it first come about?

Glue Bag is an independent skate-influenced clothing brand rooted in DIY culture. It started in Cardiff around 2011, when me and Taz (Tariq Kinani) began screen printing designs at home using homemade screens, while I was wheat-pasting graphics around the city. It was completely self-made from the start.

The name came from a scene in Made in England where Tim Roth’s character huffs glue and throws a brick through a window. “Bag of Glue” was already taken, so it became Glue Bag which ended up fitting the chaotic early energy even better.

The brand stopped and started a few times over the years, but I relaunched it properly nearly three years ago. This current version feels the most focused and solid. We still make the occasional deck for the love of it, but clothing is the core, it gives the brand more room to grow and experiment without boxing it in.

You filmed the first Glue Bag video when you were living in Cardiff. Do you have any favourite stories or memories from that time? How does filming in SE Asia compare to Cardiff?

Those times were pretty messy. Most of the best Cardiff stories probably aren’t fit for print, but a lighter one would be me and Trix finding a pristine white toilet dumped on the side of the road. We lifted the seat and there was a dead seagull inside. They’re way bigger up close than you expect.

Filming in Cardiff was a pain mainly because I didn’t have a car. I still watch Awkward Is In sometimes, it’s rough and choppy. The whole thing was edited in a day right before I left because Christian had organised a little premiere and didn’t realise I hadn’t finished it. I didn’t even have a laptop. No time to rethink bad ideas or smooth anything out just smash, smash, smash.

Filming in South East Asia is hotter, more chaotic, and a lot of fun. Having a motorbike makes everything easier, and post-skate beers hit better out here. The biggest downside is security, especially in Vietnam. Spots don’t last long, and you’re constantly getting moved on. It keeps you on your toes, but it can sometimes make filming feel draining.

The brand started out pretty DIY with you making your own screens to print your designs. How have things changed over the years as Glue Bag has grown? Do you have any little tricks for keeping that DIY spirit?

I’ve kept the circle small. I don’t use big factories. I work with a mate or a local tailor. A friend who skates still screen prints our tees and fabrics, so it stays imperfect in the right way.

I still source the fabrics myself, which is more work but keeps it hands on. Most designs start as messy doodles on scrap paper that end up in an unorganized box. I’m still filming on MiniDV like I always did, trying to keep things physical instead of over polished.

It’s sharper than it’s ever been now, for better or worse. There’s more intention behind it. But the DIY spirits still there. I’m just more focused about how I use it.

Running a brand’s not always all fun and games, but you seem to be having a lot of fun with it. How do you balance running the brand and staying inspired?

The inspired part’s easy, my brain doesn’t really switch off. I’ve always got ideas I want to execute. I lost a lot of years building someone else’s dream, so when I finally got back to focusing on my own, I didn’t slow down.

Opening the physical store above Sector changed everything. I wasn’t living in the shop anymore, and having staff, who are also friends, gave me space to focus on the art side again. The foot traffic helps too. We get a steady mix of foreign customers and tourists passing through. Big up Sector, without that store I’d be miles behind.

It’s still a lot of work. The hardest part is content. I’m not naturally wired for the fast-food pace of social media, so I’ve had to adapt and stop overthinking every post. The stuff that’s gone semi-viral has usually been impulsive, which is ironic, considering I’ve made art my whole life and ended up getting the most attention for a 20-second video of me talking shit. It’s a love-hate relationship, but it opened the brand up to a whole new audience.

You’ve come out with some pretty crazy designs for Glue Bag, especially when it comes to the trousers, and a lot of what you make is cut-and-sew rather than just printing on blanks. What made you want to take on that extra challenge?

I probably still hold back a bit. We’re a niche brand, so I can’t go completely unhinged with every release, things still need to move. But I’ve never wanted to just slap a logo on a pair of trousers and call it a day. If I’m making something, it needs to feel creative and fun.

Cut-and-sew gives me that control. Finding fabrics is like finding skate spots. You put the time in and eventually you uncover gems. When you’re physically sourcing materials yourself, it’s harder for anyone to copy what you’re doing.

That said, we did have a brand bite our leopard trousers once. Part of the game.

What does the design process usually look like, and have you ever had any issues bringing some of these designs to life?

For T-shirt graphics, I usually dig through old drawings. I don’t tend to draw with a specific tee in mind, you lose some freedom that way. The embroidered logos are more planned, but once you’ve nailed the shape you can reinterpret it in different ways.

With trousers, it usually starts with a sample I like, an old pair of jeans or work pants and then I tweak the areas that feel off. I keep the silhouettes fairly simple; it’s the fabric choice that makes them stand out.

Censorship can be an issue here. I once tried to print a tee with a naked cowboy and the words “Attitude Is a Choice” above him. The printer emailed back saying it was “too sexy.” Now my homie Lam prints everything, and he’ll print anything haha.

Vietnam is quite well known for its textile industry. Have you found that’s made it easier running a brand out there?

100%. Having the freedom to drive around and explore different textile areas has changed everything. If I didn’t have that access, the brand would feel a lot more restricted in what I could actually make.

Turnaround times are quick, and being able to source fabrics directly means I can experiment more without huge minimums. It keeps everything hands-on instead of distant.

That said, it’s not perfect. I’m terrible at speaking Vietnamese, so things do get misinterpreted sometimes. But you learn to roll with it. You can’t overstress every small issue, although I definitely still do at times. But that’s part of it.

What’s next for Glue Bag?

We’ve started expanding into more stores in Vietnam and abroad, and the new collection just dropped.

We’re looking at hopefully doing a China tour in October-ish — 3 cities, 3 pop-up kinda gigs. It’s been a hectic year, and I guess learning to try and not overthink or control everything makes it a little easier.

Also, now that sales are consistent, we’re finally looking to sponsor skaters properly. So, if there are any weird, handy sailors out there, get in touch.

It’s shaping up to be a big year. Still got a few months before 2027, and I’m hyped to see how far we can push it.

That's enough chit-chat though. Head to the shop to browse the full range of Glue Bag clothing. Or, check out more skate interviews on the CSC Blog. Safe.