Southern California 1958 is when skateboarding emerged. Using a small wooden board with metal roller skate wheels, Californians found a way to bring surfing to land. It wasn’t until 1962 that skateboards began to become mass-produced and sold in stores. However, many people still made their own using clay wheels, leading to many injuries, causing skateboarding to be deemed as a dangerous activity by the media in 1965.
In 1972, a revolutionary moment for skateboarding occurred when Frank Nasworthy invented
wheels made from urethane. These were so effective in a smoother and safer ride that they are still used on skateboards today. Then, in 1978, Alan Gelfand invented a skateboarding trick called the ‘Ollie’ that caused a groundbreaking movement for skateboarding and is the most recognizable skater terms and the foundation for many tricks to follow.
Skateboarding is more than just a sport or means of travel. As a subculture, skaters show value in creativity, risk, and freedom. Traditional sports are organized and ran by adults, skateboarding is not. There are no referees, penalties or set plays. You can do it anywhere and there is not a lot of teaching. Skateboarding gives one the space to make decisions, challenge oneself, and not have to follow strict guidelines. Because of this, street skaters are more often portrayed as ‘self-made’. This D.I.Y. ideal significances that skateboarding is a socially democratic enterprise.
Like most subcultures, there are hierarchies of authenticity in skateboarding. These hierarchies concur with pervasiveness of skater values. For example, street skating is considered more tangible and cooler when compared to skate parks, because it requires more creativity, making it viewed as more authentic.
As skateboarding took off in the 1960’s, several clothing brands jumped on the band wagon, including Vans, Puma, Nike, Adidas and Converse. Skater style has never stopped being in the mainstream. The skater culture style consists of oversized shirts, loose cuffed pants, snap back hats, and hoodies, to van sneakers and tube socks to create the ideal look. The aesthetic can vary, depending on your personal style, and location; elements of your apparel should be equal parts of comfortable, protective, and rebellious.
Skating faced extensive pushback as it became popular, leading to the skaters creating a subculture of rebelliousness, that seeped into their clothing. The clothing they wore were intentionally out-of-style, and unique, and as skateboarding became more popular, the clothing became fashionable. A look that was casual, edgy and considered to be an anti-establishment.
Things that used to be counterculture, anti-establishment will start to be part of the establishment and the mainstream. The underground, coming to the surface. Conquered Kings is bringing the skater look to the surface by bringing you comfortable, rebellious attire that fits your style. Our goal is to be the outlier; to be different. Conquered Kings wants to be known for pushing the edge of everyday apparel.
The skull design; our logo represents objects that have been achieved. Objects achieved are checked off the list; dead, thus a skull. The crown signifies the power and dignity of a king. I put the crown on the skull as a reminder of the power we have to do good in this world, and the ability to achieve our goals. Conquered Kings is underground and we want to bring it to the surface. To bring the establishment to the mainstream.
Conquered Kings is still growing and adding to our products. Currently, we have a variety of
crewneck t-shirts, snap backs, hoodies and socks to give you the skater style. We support having freedom, creativity and rebellion in your style and challenge you to step out to the surface.
Thank you for supporting our business.