Thomas Claypool is a futurist, entrepreneur, industrial designer, and environmentalist. He grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago to loving and supportive parents who always encouraged him to follow his dreams. After graduating with honors from San Diego State University, degreed in International Business, Thomas was elected as Chairman and CFO to a small non-profit organization on a mission to fund, design, and build a world class skateboard park. The resulting Washington Street Skatepark, received numerous accolades and awards such as the KGTV Channel 10 News Leadership Award, Thrasher Magazine’s “T-Eddy” award for Best Park, an Orchid from the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s “Orchids and Onions” awards.

With a great deal of philanthropic experience under his belt, Thomas engaged the for-profit sector with gusto, co-founding a design and merchandising agency, and relocating to Venice Beach. During eight years of growth at the agency, collaborating with brands such as Apple, BMW, and Red Bull, an opportunity presented itself to start something new, and in 2009, Native Shoes was formed. Thomas is currently Co-Founder at Native Shoes, focusing on innovation, sustainability, collaborations, and IP. His design legacy is interlaced into the brand DNA as a named co-inventor on twelve of the firm’s patents. Thomas’ award-winning contributions at Native Shoes have led to nods from Red Dot and Fast Company’s Innovation by Design. Now located in Vancouver B.C.,Thomas lives with his wife Angela and their son Zephyr. When not busy with work and family life, he can often be found making music, practicing Wing Chun Kung Fu, searching for deep powder in the regional mountains, or hitting some of the local concrete skateparks.