We all wanted one skateboard at least once in a lifetime – or rather, be able to walk on skateboard. Someone has succeeded, someone else will have to find an alternative talent: it is certain that no one has had to give up uniting their values through clothes. Vans, Nike Dunk AND All Starsripped jeans and plaid shirts, t-shirts with 3D prints and (not least) colorful personalized boards are now an essential part of the everyday wardrobe, the agenda on the catwalks and in stores. Gucci, J. W. Anderson AND Louis Vuitton (primarily Virgil Abloh and then Nicolas Ghesquière) are just two luxury brands that have introduced skateboards into their collections, and whether they know it or not, there is not a single person today who would not have a single item. clothes and accessories. worn by athletes and lovers of Venice Beach. This is the result of a long journey, during which skatewear has conquered the fashion world, becoming one of the biggest trends.
From the Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2022/2023 menswear collection.
From the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2021 ready-to-wear collection.
From the JW Anderson Spring/Summer 2023 menswear collection.
Understood as a sport, skateboarding, also known as “skating”, “skating”, or “skateboarding”, was born in California in the late 1940s to allow surfers to practice “on land” even in the absence of waves. Thanks to the group Z-boys who began to create trends in the sixties: skaters such as Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta became icons for the people of that time (Alva even created his own line of clothing and skateboards). Since then, skateboarding has been inextricably linked with subcultures, and consequently, the style has evolved both in skating and in clothing: in the spirit of punk rock in 70s; pop and glamor 80sthanks to the success Charlie’s Angels with Farah Fawcett in jeans and Nike Cortez; grunge and underground 90swhen he begins to play a central role in defining the image of skate culture. Children Larry Clark.
Farrah Fawcett Angeles Charlie < em
Tony Alva in 1995.
You can also read about it in an article written by Francesca Milano Ferri and published by Harper’s Bazaar Italystyle is not a central aspect of the film, but the clothing of the characters, including a very young Chloe Sevigny, ends up being the perfect portrait of the time, laying the foundations for a cult following for brands such as Supreme (with whom Clark was reunited on the occasion of the 10th anniversary Children).
John Dettman in 1987
Figure skater in 1984.
There are those who claim that the birth of the skateboard is the first page in the history of skateboarding. Street clothes. Indeed, as Tom Barker re-refers in an article for high snobberyAlso Hiroshi Fujiwara, the avowed father of streetwear, said the first imaginary that caught his attention was Vision, an iconic skatewear brand from the ’90s. “I think streetwear originated from skateboarding,” he stated in an interview. “Skateboarding was a sport that was played on the street, so I think that’s where (streetwear) originally came from.” Just think of the extraordinary success achieved over the years by iconic brands such as castle, Supreme, Vans AND Stassiwho have gone from Venice Beach skateparks to leading trends thanks to numerous collaborations with world-renowned celebrities and designers.
Lucien Clarke at the Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2023/2024 Menswear Show.
Evan Mock in 2021.
Justin Bieber in 2019.
In a mirror image, ever since streetwear debuted on the runways, skateboarding icons have been on the radar of big brands. Dylan Reader AND Blondie McCoy they have been the face of the collections and projects of Supreme and DKNY, as well as Valentino and Burberry. Lucien Clark he became an ambassador for Louis Vuitton, even launching a sneaker model during the Virgil Abloh era. Special mention deserves style icons who independently cultivate a passion for skateboarding and skatewear, such as Zendaya, Evan Mock AND Justin Bieber.
Many wonder why fashion never seems to get tired of skate culture. To answer, Priya Elan del Guardian chose a quote from Niall Kenny, filmmaker and big fan of the discipline: “skatewear is beautiful because it’s made from the skills someone has.”