by The Editors on September 12, 2016
When a footwear company is known for making sports shoes there’s no reason for them to leave their heritage behind just because they’re also into skateboarding, right? Well, that’s apparently what adidas believes. And that’s why their new Adi-Ease Premiere Universal skate shoes look so much like their soccer shoes.
Inspired by the iconic soccer shoe “Universal,” the shoe bridges rich adidas heritage with modern street skating. The Adi-Ease Premiere Universal takes detailed design cues from the Universal yet maintains the silhouette and board control of the popular Adi-Ease Premiere skate shoe. The updated Adi-Ease features a premium full grain leather, deco stitch toe and a PU Molded sockliner.
The Adi-Ease Premiere Universal comes in two colorways of White/Scarlet (above) and Core Black/White and is available for purchase through specialty retailers and the adidas Skateboarding website for $90.
[Link: adidas Skateboarding]
by The Editors on September 9, 2016
Snowboarder Scotty Lago (winner of an Olympic Bronze medal) reportedly “loaned” Keir Dillon $50,000 back in 2011 (the year Dillon and crew founded the Frends brand). Now he wants it back, according to a story on Sea Coast Online.
Lago filed the suit in Rockingham Superior Court Aug. 9 against Keir Dillon, a resident of Carlsbad, California, and who has worked as a television host and sideline reporter for ESPN and FUEL TV. The lawsuit states Dillon and his headphone company Republic of Frends, of which Dillon is CEO, was loaned $50,000 in August 2011 by Lago with the expectation Lago be paid back the following year with 7 percent interest.
As we know from his appearance on Shark Tank, Dillion has spent far more than $50,000 chasing his Frends dreams. Hopefully they can work this out without going to court, because, you know, there is no “i” in friendship.
[Link: Sea Coast Online]
by The Editors on September 7, 2016
It appears that PacSun will live to sell another Volcom T-shirt after a court ruling approved its reorganization plan, according to a story in the Orange County Register.
Under the reorganization plan approved Tuesday by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein in Delaware, PacSun will give all its stock to affiliates of private equity firm Golden Gate Capital, its senior lender. . . In exchange, Golden Gate will reduce the amount it’s owed by PacSun to about $30 million initially from $88 million, Gary Schoenfeld, the retailer’s chief executive officer, said in an interview. Golden Gate has also agreed to invest $20 million in the company, most likely in form of new debt, he said.
And presto, $58 million in debt is gone. Wonder how long it will take Mr. Schoenfeld to blow through this new $20 million? We’re guessing not long. PacSun may have worked wonders on their business, but we doubt any of that is going to bring the kids back to their mall stores (even though some research suggests teen mall traffic is actually increasing).
[Link: OC Register]
by The Editors on September 7, 2016
SLVDR is proud to do some work with their old friend QSTN on a SLVDR Craftsman Guild project
QSTN (pronounced “QUESTION”) has been spinning hiphop, funk, soul and jazz breaks for over a decade. His natural progression to beat making can be attributed to collecting records from an early age. His production style is a mixture of obscure samples, heavy beats, and live orchestration. . . His music has since garnered the attention of global music sites like OkayPlayer, Giant Step Records, and Noisey by Vice. QSTN is also a part of Philadelphia based collective Hot Peas & Butta founded by Skeme Richards of the world-famous Rock Steady Crew and continues to release exclusive tracks & mixes under Mellow Orange Label.
Sounds good to us.
[Link: SLVDR]
by The Editors on September 1, 2016
Christopher Romero, 26, a manager at the Zumiez store in Atlantic City, New Jersey’s The Walk mall, was shot and killed by an acquaintance in his store Thursday, September 1, 2016, according to a story in the Press of Atlantic City.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office said Lewis Maisonet, 55, of Somers Point, fatally shot Christopher Romero, 26, of Absecon, at the store where Romero worked and later shot himself at White House Black Market, officials said. . . . “This was an unfortunate domestic violence … two individuals were involved … I think since this is an active investigation it would be inappropriate for me to release any additional information,” Guardian said.
The shooter has reportedly survived his self-inflicted gunshot wound. Our thoughts are with Romero’s friends and family.
[Link: Press of Atlantic City]
by The Editors on September 1, 2016
SurfStitch the Australian online surf retailer who was formerly owned (partially) by Billabong (and then took over Billabong’s North American online business including Swell.com) had a pretty rough go in fiscal 2016. According to a story on the Orange County Business Journal, the company (which went public in 2014) lost $116.4 million on $176.9 million in revenue for 2016.
The loss accounts for “strategic review adjustments,” including impairment, administrative, selling and distribution expenses. Its revenue total includes $157.5 million in retail revenue, $16.82 million from Surf Hardware, and $2.55 million from its media properties (Stab Magazine and Magicseaweed.com).
They were reportedly planning on “rebranding” the entire business under the Swell.com name, but things at Swell.com didn’t go much better in 2016 so they’re going to put those changes off for a bit.
Swell in Irvine, which will shrink to 14 employees after 65% staff reduction is complete in October, contributed $18.92 million to retail total. That’s down 12 % from $21.6 million the brand posted in fiscal 2015. Swell’s gross earnings were down 44% to $5.4 million.
Apparently, the kids just aren’t blowing all their money on expensive, branded, logo’d surf togs anymore. What a surprise.
Oh, and if you know anyone who wants to buy San Diego, California’s Surf Hardware International (parent company of FCS Fins), please let SurfStitch know. They bought the company in November 2015 for $16.6 million, but have now decided that it’s not such a good fit.
[Link: OCBJ]
by The Editors on August 26, 2016
It’s been a rough year for the beleaguered Billabong. Last year they were back on the come-up with a profit of $4.2 million (which is kind of a sad thing to be happy about for the once profitable surf giant), but this year they say the taxes got ’em, according to a story in the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Billabong said more than two-thirds of its decline related to higher tax costs, with a tax expense of $7.8 million this year compared to a $12.2 million tax credit a year earlier. . . CEO Neil Fiske said FY16 was an “extraordinarily tough year” which had seen Billabong hit a significant “speed bump” in its multi-year turnaround strategy. . . But, he said, most of the pain had been outside Billabong’s control and he believes FY16 will be the year the company finally turns a corner.
It’s always next year isn’t it? We all hope for rainbows and unicorns in the coming fiscal year, don’t we? We certainly do and if we can share some of them with Billabong, we’ll do it.
[Link: Gold Coast Bulletin]
by The Editors on August 25, 2016
Our favorite skateboarding photographer (Grant Brittain) prints one of our favorite skateboarding photos (you know the one) of one of our favorite skateboard company owners (Tod Swank). Doesn’t get much better than that, really, but here are the details from SLVDR.
The SLVDR Craftsman Guild series visits the legendary skateboarding photographer Grant Brittain. His career goes back over three decades and began out of a passion for skateboarding and documenting his friends as subjects. In our visit he chooses the negative of perhaps his most iconic photo and develops and prints it in his private darkroom. It’s a lost art and represents the true craft of photography and a real photographic icon.
[Link: SLVDR]
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by The Editors on August 19, 2016
Patagonia is making us feel bad about our old wetsuits and we don’t even know why exactly. Apparently, their new Yulex wetsuits are the first suits ever to be made from natural rubber and that is reportedly better for the environment and just as good as neoprene. Here’s why:
. . . because the main polymer is produced in trees instead of factories, using natural rubber reduces the CO2 emitted in wetsuit manufacturing by up to ~80 percent. The FSC certified rubber is blended with a small amount of chlorine-free synthetic rubber for increased ozone and UV resistance, and to meet Patagonia’s rigorous demands for durability and strength. The Yulex process also removes over 99% of impurities, resulting in a nonsensitizing material.
If you’d like to help reduce your own carbon footprint (while rocking a cool new wetsuit) you might be interested in one of Patagonia’s 21 new offerings. For the official word and all the details, please follow the jump.
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by The Editors on August 4, 2016
Group Y will be celebrating 10 years in action sports and youth culture with a special gathering Wednesday, August 10, 2016 in Huntington Beach, California. The event kicks off at 6:30 PM at SeaLegs At the Beach with food, drinks and a speaking appearance by Ryan Kingman, President of the newly launched Villager Goods coconut water.
“It’s incredible to see how Group Y has grown over the past decade with the support of the sports and entertainment industry, world renowned athletes and creatives, our dedicated marketing partners and the media.” says Mark Sperling, Group Y co-founder. “When we started back in 2006 there was a huge need to create a forum that would allow this community to come together to share ideas and experience that would grow the industry and address the uniqueness of youth culture programs and products. This night will be about sharing stories, creating new ideas and saying thank you.”
We know it seems like the Vans US Open of Surfing just ended yesterday, but it’s time to get back out in the mix. You’ve had enough time to recover, but then who are we to talk. For the official word from Group Y including all the details, please follow the jump.
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