An Insight On Skating

MARCH 15, 2023

INFORMATION BEYOND AESTHETICS

For many, skateboarding is not just a sport or hobby, it is a lifestyle and more. Originating in Santa Monica, California in the 1950s, it was intended as a way for surfers to practice moves while the waves were flat. Surfers would mount a piece of wood on a deconstructed roller skate, this led to a massive trend that was at the time called land surfing. The first Skateboarding competition took place in 1963 in Hermosa, CA but the popularity of skateboarding took a dive at the end of the 60s. In the 70s skateboards received an upgrade with the invention of fiberglass decks and metal wheels which allowed for speed and easier maneuvering. 

As a bicontinental brand we draw inspiration from the beauty and complexities of our different cultures and backgrounds. This week, we explore the impact of skateboarding on fashion and vice versa as well as the importance of cultivating a lifestyle that improves your person/daily intake. Sports influenced aesthetics are a recurring theme in fashion. Bits and pieces of this influence and merger can be found in skating, tennis, and equestrian aesthetics. However skateboarding has shown the most impact and influence on modern youth culture. Many popular fashion houses are influenced by skate subculture and streetwear or run by African Americans who are the acclaimed originators of hip hop and streetwear culture. Some of these brands are Offwhite, Supreme, and more recently the appointment of Pharrell Williams as creative director of Louis Vuitton. The popularity and inclusiveness of skateboarding can be traced to its nature of diversity and inclusion.

In the 90s, street skating became more popular as skaters began to showcase more intricate tricks. This led to the rise of the signature skater boy style: baggy jeans, oversized tees and chunky shoes. For Skaters, it’s all about convenience, wearing what would allow them more freedom and comfort for movement to perform tricks. The carefree attitude towards their appearance and overall laidback lifestyle seems to make them more appealing to the youth although other influences may be at play. One of these influences may be the denim industry which provides a versatile fabric that gives skaters the opportunity to elevate their style in different ways thereby providing opportunities for skaters to cultivate a lifestyle or a fashion sense that is most suitable to their individual selves. Denim can be captivating in many different ways and at the same time can provide a laidback appearance depending on both the wearer and designer. It is important that the wearer feels comfortable, looks good and serves its purpose and finally be worth the price. With the rise of street skating this saw an uptake in the popularity of baggy jeans, the sturdy nature of the denim would absorb impact from falls.