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Published
Apr 29, 2016
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Shinola partners with Natas Kaupas on limited edition skateboard

Published
Apr 29, 2016

Shinola announced on Thursday a collaboration with legendary skateboarder turned creative director Natas Kaupas.


Natas Kaupas with Shinola's limited edition skateboard deck. - Shinola


 
Kaupas and the Detroit-based company designed a limited-edition skateboard made with American maple wood that has been hand silk-screened on a cream color lacquer. The skate deck features a multicolor bird-like symbol and Kaupas’ signature.
 
The Lithuanian professional skateboarder received recognition in 1984 when he was featured on the cover of Thrasher Magazine riding off a wall. In 1987, Etnies offered Kaupas his own pro model shoe, and years later he had sponsorship deals with Element Skateboards and Quiksilver. In 2004, he founded Designarium Skateboards, which features global artists work on limited edition skate decks. Outside of the skating world, Kaupas does freelance creative direction for Birdwell Beach Britches.

Kaupas said about the collaboration, “I was into the idea of simplifying and modernizing this skateboard deck idea by also paying homage to my own graphics that were originally done by Kevin Ancell, but I left out the panther on this one. With the colors I really wanted to show off the fact that it’s hand silk-screened because it’s pretty rare and it's just a different feel when you see it in real life. This project is personal, I designed it, and I'm shepherding it through the whole production process. As Shinola opens more stores on the West Coast, I'm excited to maybe have a little more West Coast influence on them, which is fun.”
 
The collaboration skateboard is available now on the Shinola website and at the Shinola Abbot Kinney store in Venice, CA. Only 100 skateboards were produced in Los Angeles.

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