the hermeneutics of skater / surfer clothing brands

if you are really interested in marginalization of women/queers though, you should check out how actual construction workers in workwear converse on site (and they may also be skaters, i've known several semi-pro skaters and surfers whose day jobs were with caltrans, since you can work all night for a month on a freeway bridge, make lots of money fast, and then take two months off, plus great health benefits)

if you are really interested in marginalization of women/queers though, you should check out how actual construction workers in workwear converse on site

there are different associations obv, but I think when you wear that stuff, this is part of what it evokes.

I don't think I'm preoccupied with marginalization or oppression.

they're obviously skaters, because you see them skating around the street with panache, but they're not dressed like "skaters" as is defined on this thread (i.e. not wearing technical skate shoes or skate brand clothing from zumiez)

Yeah, ed.b's post refers to tracing an evolution from when we were kids ourselves, and that's what i'm doing here too, i guess. I agree that this thread so far hasn't made clear enough distinctions between the past and current stages so far. It's true that for a time (relatively recently) most of the street skaters i'd see around here were wearing non-skate brands. But mostly it was very conservative, basic stuff. I think that's shifted more recently to Urban Outfitters-style 90's/Y2k reissue gear, chunky suede sneakers and all baggy everything. At least among teenagers and college students.

Just going to add that the mystery of the general ubiquity of this stuff can probably be explained by the fact that the TJX companies seem to stock all their stores with mountains of it.

I skate (on the street, even!) and I must heartily disagree on some of this - plenty of street skaters wear Thrasher and Dickies. It’s the old standby. Supreme and Volcom and Huf, yes that’s probably not a high percentage of actual skaters wearing those. If you wear Supreme, you are into expensive street wear. If you wear a Thrasher shirt, you either skate or used to skate or wish you skated.

I’ll also say I notice a ton of random people wearing skate brands like Lakai or whatever and clearly do not look like the “street skaters” I skate with. I get the sense that some of them might not even be aware they are wearing skate clothes.

About workwear, skaters wear it because it’s tough. You will fall on the pavement and ruin your clothes. Makes sense to wear tough, sturdy clothing like jeans or heavy twill.

Good thing about skateboarding these days compared to the 90’s/00’s is that all types of people skate, not just the stereotypical street skaters who are cool and intimidating and possibly up to no good. Go to a skatepark and you will see plenty of people over 40, over 50 even, on down to people less than 10 from all walks of life. And everyone is pretty respectful and most people are even jovial. It’s great and encouraging.