Streetwear Spotlight: Brooklyn Surfer + SOJONES GIVEAWAY

Article written by: Asmara Wreksono
Posted on: February 5, 2010

BROOKLYN SURFER GIVEAWAY

We’ve got 10 super fly Brooklyn Surfer Fitted Caps to give away via a “SoJones Article Comments Lottery”. Here’s how it works:

1. Every SoJones comment posted on this page from February 5 – 12, 2010 counts as a “lottery entry”. Also make sure when you comment, have a link to somewhere we can contact you (like your SoJones account, your facebook, etc.). It makes it easier to contact you if you win.
2. Drawing for four winners will be held on February 13. Winners will be announced on this page and on the forums page (http://www.sojones.com/forums/).

Article Comments Lottery Rules

• One item per winner
• Duplicate comments will not count, like posting “I love this forum” or “hi” 50 times.
• Garbage or nonsensical comments will not count, like “awr#$ASFasdfkl”
• Comments hating on other people will definitely NOT count.
• U.S. residents only

And the prize is: The Brooklyn Surfer American themed FlexFit cap that embodies the spirit and heart of Brooklyn Surfer with the Brooklyn Surfer Brave Eagle Crest embroidered on the front. “We The People” and shooting stars is embroidered on the back, and visible when you lift your chin with pride is Only The Brave under the bill.

If you win, you can rock your colors in style as this cap is available in white with red stiching, yellow rivits for air holes and topped off with a red lining under the cap.  Best of all, the cap comes in sizes S/M & L/XL.

Coming up with the right name for a streetwear brand is crucial. Naming a brand after yourself is one thing, but using your hometown to represent your product is sometimes better. Ask Michael Green, who knows all too well how the right brand name can actually draw worldwide attention.  The Brooklyn-born graphic designer and artist talked to SoJones.com about his streetwear line: Brooklyn Surfer.

Introduce yourself and describe how your brand was started?

What’s up So Jones! Michael Green here, and I’m that kid from Park Slope BK that used to shred it up on 7th Ave and tag with the best of them. Which is, now that I think about it, really where my brand Brooklyn Surfer was born. You see, over the years, I’ve never really changed from being that kid who used to bring his own 40 to those underground loft parties on Lafayette & Houston. Or from that kid who used cut the line at Danceteria, and bump and grind with Madonna. Then jet over to Mars or Save the Planet for the all night action. Shit, I can remember seeing Public Enemy debut their fear of a black planet album. I’ve even witnessed Henry Rollins in Black Flag, and I could go on.

Yup, I’m just that kid that just keep on going on. Through college (SVA) and into the “professional” world of advertising (BBDO) and design (Frog) I’ve managed to keep the me – ME.

Over the years, I’ve noticed that “ME” thing grow from a underground subculture to a global mass market place. You see, for me I starting noticing “streetwear” when I bought that Stussy “Eight Ball” cap. It was the perfect accessory to my shredded Girbuad’s, Thrasher T and Reeboks (Yo, remember this was back in the 80’s!). Then FreshJive came out with those dope parody T’s, and X-Large just pushed everything with pants, jackets and short sleeve shirts. Speaking of, I remember getting trashed with the Beastie Boys @ a Stuyvesant party in the Bronx. To this day, I still can’t remember how I got home.

I keep on keeping on, and then I started noticing all these ethnic kids skateboarding. I was like, DOPE!, my generation did have a positive impact on the world. Then I’d start seeing the same type of kids on mountains shredding it up, and I was like MAN this shit is really starting move. After I saw a group of kids in wet suits carrying surfboards heading for the subway, I was like OK. This is my shit, the ME, all over again but better. Better, because I’m older, wiser and have the tools to speak to these kids. That’s when I started taking all the experiences of my life and manufacturing them into apparel and art.

I originally named the brand, Evergreen, because Green is my last name and this was my culture I was speaking to. Trucker hats were the 1st products I produced and they sold out immediately @ Pieces (which is dope local fashion store here in Brooklyn). However I quickly ran into problems when I tried to register the brand “Evergreen”. It was owned by Nordstroms, and I really didn’t have the capital to take them on. So I was like, damn, what am I going to do. I started this thing, and right out of the gate I have go back to the drawing board. That’s when I decided, if I can’t have my name in the brand then I’ll take the entire planet of Brooklyn. In 2003, Brooklyn Surfer was born and has been keeping on ever since. The brand has been sold all over the world, from Japan to Europe to Costa Rica to Hawaii and of course all over the US.

Describe this season and next season’s looks. Include any sources of inspiration.

What I really loved about my generation, was the ability to discover things and claim them as your own. It made me feel special, although I’m not sure why, it just did. Like when I got that Stussy “Eight Ball” cap, and no one I knew had ever heard of Stussy. Something about that made me feel good. I hope that Brooklyn Surfer does that to the people who carry the brand and buy it.

My SS 2010 is all about that kid, ME, growing up in Brooklyn, Skateboarding, Surfing, Snowboarding, Parting, and Exploring the Planet of Brooklyn. The graphics on the T’s and colors all have some relevance to that experience.

What celeb or well-known figure(s) exemplify the brand?

Shawn Stussy is the 1st person that comes to mind, then I’d have to give props to people like Camella Ehlke, Bansky, Spike Jones, Shepard Fairley and all those creatives out there keeping it hardcore.

Any product placements on celebs, in movies or videos to keep an eye out for?

I just teamed up with my boy Frank who connected me with BuckShot and we’re about to drop winter package of snowbaords hoodies and caps that are just ridiculous! Keep hitting brooklynsurfer.com or follow us on twitter @bknysrfr for store locations.

Any expansion plans?

Really, I’m just looking to keeping on, keeping on. Dropping dope collections, collabs and working with really creative people on dope ass creative shit!

Looking ahead over the next year or two, what themes/looks/styles do you see your brand gravitating to?

The next collection I do, I’m looking to step it up my game with some sophisticated cut n’ sow pieces and exotic fabrics for core industry specific products. By industry, I mean the crossroads where action sports meets streetwear. I really like what LA based Ever is doing.

What themes/looks/styles do you see your brand moving away from?

No more bright colors.

What has been a surprise fashion hit over the last year?

Its really hard for me to be surprised anymore, I mean. I live on the side of the planet where everything and anything happens. But I do have to say, that head to toe bright color look – WTF?!?!

Here are some stuff we love from Brooklyn Surfers’ lookbook.  For the full collection, you can visit their official website at www.brooklynsurfer.com and cop the clothing for a price range of $35 up to $50.