Edson Sabajo, Patta, and the Power of ‘Each One Teach One’

The Man Who Gives the Streets Wings: Edson Sabajo, Patta, and the Power of ‘Each One Teach One’

Anyone walking through Amsterdam, London, or Milan today cannot miss it: the iconic script logo of Patta. What began in 2004 as a rebellious sneaker shop on Amsterdam’s Zeedijk has grown into a global streetwear empire. But if you ask co-founder Edson Sabajo about the brand’s true success, he won't point to multi-million dollar turnovers or exclusive deals with Nike. Instead, he points to the neighborhood youth. To the community. Armed with the Surinamese life lessons taught by his family and the unwritten laws of hip-hop, Edson is building a legacy that goes far deeper than fashion.

A Name With a Promise

The foundation of this success lies within a single, powerful word: Patta. Choosing the Surinamese word for sneaker in the early 2000s was a conscious, proud statement. Edson and his partner Guillaume ‘Gee’ Schmidt used it to claim their identity in a fashion world that was still dominated by white, elitist structures. The word breathes the atmosphere of Paramaribo and the Amsterdam squares; it is a nod to a culture where shoes are not just pieces of clothing, but an extension of your personality and dignity.

Edson, who grew up in a warm Surinamese household, brought the values from his home straight into the corporate world. Hospitality, sharing what you have, and always keeping the door open for someone else. In the early days, he traveled to New York and Japan with borrowed money to buy exclusive sneakers, hauling them back to the Netherlands in heavy duffel bags. That restless energy and entrepreneurial spirit formed the foundation of Patta, but the Surinamese drive for togetherness became the soul of the company.

Each One Teach One: The Patta Academy

That soul took an official shape with the founding of the Patta Academy. The idea is simple yet revolutionary in the business world, and directly inspired by the Surinamese principle of 'kraka' supporting and carrying one another whenever needed. Edson noticed that traditional schools often lacked answers for creative, street-smart youths who were bursting with talent but got stuck in the system.

Under the motto 'Each One Teach One', a philosophy rooted in the struggle for emancipation and equality, the Patta Academy opened its doors. It serves as a safe haven and an accelerator for young, diverse talent. Students do not learn from dry management textbooks; they learn directly from professionals in the creative industry, the fashion industry, and the banking sector. They learn how to write a business plan and how to build a brand, but above all: how to believe in themselves. Edson does not stand there as a cold CEO, but as a mentor, a big brother, and a guide who speaks the language of the street while understanding the codes of the boardroom.

The Community as a Compass

For Edson, entrepreneurship is not a lonely climb to the top, but a journey you take together. You can see this in everything he touches. Whether it is the Patta Running Team, through which he gets people moving worldwide, or the way he gives young designers a platform: the community is always his compass.

When you hear Edson Sabajo speak today, you hear a man perfectly in harmony with his past and his future. The culture of his Surinamese roots is not a distant memory, but the fuel for his daily work. He proves that you can conquer the world without ever forgetting where you came from. By keeping the doors that opened for him wide open for the next generation, he gives the city not just style, but a soul.