by The Editors on January 6, 2009
Stephen Sprouse was a graffiti artist and designer who did some work with Louis Vuitton artistic director Marc Jacobs back in the day. Sprouse died in 2004 but that hasn’t stopped the fashion house from bringing out a new Stephen Sprouse collection this week. And nothing says street fashion more than a skateboard.
For the launch, the luxury goods company is also creating two limited edition pieces, which will only be available at the SoHo location: a Stephen Sprouse graffiti skateboard replete with a hard case monogram skateboard trunk, and a Stephen Sprouse “Roses” T-shirt. The company hopes to sell three graffiti skateboards with trunks for $8,250 each, and 70 T-shirts for $250 each. “I don’t expect them to last very long,” Lalonde said. “By Friday, there probably won’t be any more left.”
Then again, nothing shouts “I’m a slave to fashion” more than owning a $8,250 skateboard that comes in it’s own Louis suitcase. . . As a well-placed friend of ours said: “Sad to say, but after they sell all three boards (prob in 3 mins) they will be the second biggest skateboard company in the world next to Sector 9!”
[Link: Women’s Wear Daily]
by The Editors on January 2, 2009
Rally driving is apparently the new black skateboarding. Thanks, Ken Block. For the rest of the Subaru/DC uniform follow the jump.
[Link: The Motor Report]
by The Editors on December 31, 2008
Foursquare Outerwear has voluntarily recalled 1,300 hooded jackets after it was discovered that they could be dangerous to kids.
The jackets have a drawstring through hood which poses a strangulation hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist by drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts.
No injuries have been reported.
[Link: Consumer Product Safety Commission via Washington Post]
by The Editors on December 26, 2008
In May, 2008 ESPN sued Quiksilver for copyright infringement on the letter “X,” then a month later Quiksilver sued ESPN for the same thing claiming they had been using the X since 1994. Now, according to a story in the LA Times ESPN has settled the lawsuit with Quiksilver.
Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN network settled a lawsuit by clothing maker Quiksilver Inc. over the cable channel’s logo for the international X Games competition. . . . The companies didn’t disclose the details of the settlement in papers filed jointly Monday in federal court in New York.
Wonder if the settlement included any “free advertising?”
[Link: LA Times]
by The Editors on December 22, 2008
In a letter to Stone Douglass, Chairman of Orange 21 dated December 16, 2008, and recently filed with the SEC, Spy Optic and No Fear founder Mark Simo announced his resignation from the board of directors of the company. It appears to be mostly over the Orange 21 board’s rejection of Simo’s repeated attempts to get the company to buy (or merge with) No Fear’s retail business.
I am convinced, as much as I ever have been, that real opportunities exist for enhancing shareholder value while at the same time doing right by the company’s employees and business partners. I believe that, in this radically changing environment, the merger I have proposed with No Fear Retail Stores offers the best opportunity to achieve those goals. There may be other options that the board also should consider, but the one thing this company cannot afford is to do nothing. That, unfortunately, is the course this board has chosen to take.
We’re going to guess that this came neither as a surprise nor a disappointment to the Orange 21 board. But that’s just a guess.
[Link: Edgar Online]
by The Editors on December 22, 2008
Bob McKnight, Joe Scirocco, Bruce Thomas, and Marty Samuels covered a lot of ground in last week’s conference call, but there was one topic that they didn’t go over: the rumor that Quiksilver is actively negotiating the sale of DC Shoes.
This rumor has gained momentum lately most likely because the deal seems to make sense. On the conference call DC was repeatedly spoken of as a bright spot in Quiksilver’s brand portfolio. If Quik could unload DC Shoes for somewhere in the $700 million range, that would go a long way toward covering the company’s $1 billion debt. It would also allow Quiksilver to get back to basics with its core business after spending a couple years running the whole expansion thing into the ground. Not to mention it being a relief to many DC employees who believe all their hard work is being blown by bad business decision at the mothership. It probably wouldn’t hurt the company’s stock price, either.
So far no “official word” on the sale.
by The Editors on December 21, 2008
Back in the early 80s Rainbow Sandals were the only flips any self-respecting surfer would wear. And now, almost 40 years later founder Sparky Longley is still living the dream and bringing in $12 million in profits on $37 million in sales. Not bad for a guy who still “depends on word of mouth” and a few ads in The Surfer’s Journal to spread the Rainbow message.
The LA Times rus a whole background check on the company and man and we can’t think of anyone who has done the action sports business thing more smoothly than Sparky. Click the link to check it out.
[Link: LA Times]
by The Editors on December 19, 2008
Damon Way discusses collabs, DC Shoes, and Incase, with Bradley Carbone celebrities section of the Complex website.
I think it’s important to work with creative people who are operating in a different area of creativity. The industrial design sector is really compelling for me, and it’s a nice lateral move for me to be going from fine artists to product artists.
Damon also hints at a new footwear project that he’s not willing to talk about yet. Wonder if it’s that “new brand” we heard some “ex-DC Shoe employees” were starting. . . makes sense.
[Link: Complex]
by The Editors on December 19, 2008
by The Editors on December 19, 2008
Ogio President David Wunderli announced today that Mark Kuryak, the former VP of hockey at Easton Bell will be the new VP Global Action/Professional/Sport.
We’ve always had the long-term vision of making OGIO the gear bag maker of choice for all categories of sports,” Wunderli explains. “Mark has proven expertise in elevating sales, service and distribution to the level that innovative products warrant. We’re excited to unleash his skills on what we know to be the category with our highest growth potential.
Motocross, snow, skate, and surf go hand in hand with hockey, right? [click to continue…]
